Forest School and Outdoor Play Options
Stay & Play Sessions
BUDS at Welford
Buds is nestled within the woodland of Welford Christmas Tree Farm, at Portly Ford Farm, Northampton Road, Welford, Northamptonshire NN6 6JF, just off Junction 1 of the A14.
Surrounded by fragrant Christmas trees and tucked amongst the woodland, Buds feels a little like stepping through the wardrobe into a corner of Narnia; magical, green and an unmistakable air of enchantment. There’s plenty to discover at the farm too. The Barn Café serves freshly prepared food, homemade cakes, coffee and delicious treats, while the shop is filled with lovely gifts and artisan finds. Families can meet the friendly farm animals, explore seasonal trails and hunts, and enjoy a wonderfully wholesome morning or afternoon together. There’s even a dedicated dog-walking field for four-legged family members to stretch their legs and enjoy the countryside.
So, whether you’re joining us for a Forest School session at Buds, stopping for cake at The Barn, wandering amongst the Christmas trees or heading off on one of the farm’s seasonal adventures, there’s a little bit of woodland magic waiting to be discovered around every corner.
Getting here is easy too, with two large, free car parks offering plenty of space for visitors. If you’re visiting Buds, we ask that you use the first car park, which is located directly next to the Forest School site, making arrivals and departures as easy and convenient as possible.
Sessions for Under 5s, Home Ed and SEND children will be available on weekdays, and these will run during and out of term time. Brampton BUDS sessions are free play and child-led. I set up the environment, and the children bring the magic! Refreshments will be available.
‘Toasty Sessions’ will also involve the opportunity for children to toast marshmallows and make s’mores around the campfire.
Pre-booking is essential, and bookings are taken through the bookwhen.
On-site parking and toilet facilities are available at Brampton HQ. Children must be supervised at all times.
Please note, The Grange Livery is situated on site. As you enter, you will pass stables on your left and see lots of horses grazing in the fields. To ensure safety for all, BUDS customers are not permitted to wander around the stables or fields, and children are advised to take hold of parents/ carers hands as they walk to and from site in case horses are travelling from paddock to stables.
The horses are very friendly and do like to come over to the fence to have a nosey and say hello!
Please do not feed the horses, and be aware of the electric fencing.
Forest School Stay & Play
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Home Ed. Forest School
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Buds School and Nursery Sessions
BUDS are proud to offer a bespoke package for schools and nurseries, delivered in your own outdoor space. All sessions are delivered by the owner and founder of BUDS, Nat.
We’re incredibly proud to work alongside some fantastic schools and nurseries, bringing the magic of Forest School and outdoor play into children’s everyday learning and experiences. We currently work with Wildflowers Nature Nursery, based at Purys Hill Business Park, Totstop Day Nursery in Brackmills, Stonewell Cottage in Moulton, and Earls Barton Primary School, creating opportunities for children to learn, explore and grow outdoors.
Through our sessions, children are encouraged to get curious, get muddy and connect with the natural world around them. From woodland adventures and imaginative play to discovering minibeasts, building dens, learning practical outdoor skills and simply having the freedom to explore, our Forest School and Outdoor Play sessions are designed to nurture confidence, independence, creativity and a real love of being outside.
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Best BUDS Birthday Parties
Children’s birthday parties can be held at BUDS HQ, offering a relaxed, nature-inspired alternative to a usual soft play or village hall setting. Little ones are free to explore and self-access our outdoor play space, which can be specially themed to match the birthday child’s interests.
Spread provides party food, served as child-friendly packed lunches (sandwich, crisps, snack, drink) and enjoyed in the rustic barn, beautifully decorated for the occasion. To make the celebration extra magical, weather permitting, guests can gather around the campfire to toast marshmallows.
BUDS parties run similarly to our stay and play sessions, relaxed, child-led and all weather.
Think of it as a private hire of the space.
What BUDS can offer for your setting:
I recommend that children attend weekly sessions for a minimum of 6 weeks, so that they can build on their curiosities and confidence as the weeks go on. Ideally, sessions last 1.5 hours and are led in groups of no more than 15, with at least one additional supporting adult.
I am aware that this may not be possible due to staffing and budget constraints, and I am a firm believer in something being better than nothing; the frequency and length of visits can be discussed and tailored to suit your setting.
As an alternative to regular sessions, you may wish to book me for a one-day visit to offer children a ‘wow’ experience to enhance their learning or celebrate a particular event, such as British Science Week.
Themed outdoor learning sessions
Children’s stories are a great hook for learning. From building bridges for the Three Billy Goats Gruff, cooking up potions like the witch in Room on the Broom, exploring woodland trails inspired by We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, or creating dens like the Three Little Pigs, children are immersed in stories that fuel creativity and connection with the natural world.
Other story adventures might include:
- Creating fairy tale small worlds inspired by Goldilocks and the Three Bears
- Exploring nature’s textures through The Gruffalo
- Planting and growing are linked to Jack and the Beanstalk
- Sensory play and movement through The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Team challenges themed around The Enormous Turnip
Equally, if you are studying a particular theme or topic in the classroom, I can plan sessions to complement this. For example, if you are learning about The Great Fire of London, we can bake in the mud kitchen, learn about fire safety around the campfire, use natural materials to build Tudor-style houses and learn how close construction caused devastation on Pudding Lane.
Whatever the theme, there will always be a wide range of activities set up for children to explore freely, including natural arts and crafts, bug hunts, games, den building, tool use, storytelling, etc. Themed sessions work really well if your outdoor space doesn’t have much wildlife.
Forest School sessions
Perhaps you are looking to provide your children with more of an authentic Forest School experience, no themes or links to classroom learning, more nature based and skills driven. I can plan sessions based around tool use, building campfires, dens, nature studies, habitats etc. These sessions tend to centre around your children’s interests and developmental stages, as well as the weather and season. Forest School sessions work particularly well if your setting has an outdoor space with an abundance of flora and fauna.
Pricing
Please get in touch for your bespoke quote.