Forest School and Outdoor Play Options
Stay & Play Sessions
BUDS at Brampton
BUDS HQ is located at Brampton Grange, nestled between Church and Chapel Brampton, Northamptonshire. Situated amongst beautiful countryside views and between two horse paddocks, it is a dedicated, secure space that allows children to explore freely and engage in risky play.
BUDS HQ is currently under construction and is due for completion late June 2025. The space will include a firepit area, mud kitchen, storytelling area, role play, hammock, climbing opportunities as well as themed tuff trays. The site is rich in wildlife, including rabbits, badgers, foxes and Muntjac deer, which makes a fantastic learning experience for children.
Sessions for Under 5’s, 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, 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.
Little BUDS at Busby’s Meadow
Working in conjunction with Moulton Library Health and Wellbeing Hub, Stay and Play Forest School sessions for under 5s are held at Busby’s Meadow, Moulton. Sessions are on Wednesday and Friday, 9.30-11 am and include refreshments.
Here we listen to stories, sing songs and play games, as well as having lots of free time to explore the site and opportunities that are set up. Mix and pour in the pop-up mud kitchen, relax in the hammock, engage in sensory tuff trays and the showstopper at this location…splash in the stream.
Busby’s Meadow has a shallow stream, perfect for little feet to stop and jump in, so don’t forget your wellies! Pre-booking is essential, and block bookings are taken through Moulton Library Health and Wellbeing Hub.
Children must be supervised at all times.
Please note there are no toilet facilities available at this location. The Artichoke Pub have kindly allowed use of their carpark for the duration of these sessions for those who drive.
Best Buds Birthday Parties
BUDS would love to host your birthday party at BUDS HQ in Chapel Brampton. What better way to celebrate than in the great outdoors with all your best buds? Parties can be themed however you wish; dinosaur enthusiast – we’ll have a ROARsome time! Harry Potter fan – let’s create some magic! Unicorns and fairies – this is going to be fairy special!
What does a BUDS party look like?
- The birthday boy/ girl should arrive 10-15 minutes before the start of the party
- Guests are greeted, and we will play some party games
- Guests will have 60 minutes of free play time
- Food will be served, toast marshmallows, and make s’mores, sing happy birthday around the campfire before home time.
Pricing
Party for up to 20 children, includes toasting marshmallows and making s’mores – £250
Party pack ups included (sandwich, snacks and drinks). Please provide information on allergies and dietary requirements beforehand so these can be catered for. Marshmallows and s’mores for each child.
Birthday decorations in the barn
Tea and coffee station for adults
Water for children
Themed party bags can be included for an additional £7 per child.
Additional Party Information
- Parties can be booked on a Saturday 9-11am or any time on a Sunday and consist of outdoor, nature based party games and free play.
- Parties go ahead, come rain or shine, with the exception of thunderstorms or high winds.
- At least two adults must stay at the party, but all are welcome! (Please be advised that any children who are dropped off at the party will be the responsibility of the adult who booked the party.)
- Birthday cake and candles can, of course, be brought; however, I am unable to refrigerate birthday cakes and knives, paper plates and napkins must be provided by yourselves.
Book a Party for you and your BEST BUDS
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.
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.