Wellies in the Woods

Wellies in the Woods is a project that runs courses for under 5 year olds and their families in South Wales. The courses introduce families and early years workers to the outdoors as a learning and playing environment, and as a place to improve their health and well-being. The eight-week course equips parents/carers with ideas that are low or no cost to do in local green spaces. The aim is to build confidence in natural environments, and to appreciate the benefit outdoor activities have on children’s development.

All three of us have really enjoyed being in the woods together and learning about nature and new activities.
Wellies in the Woods participants Gemma and her two daughters Holly (2) and Milly (4)

Young Wellies in the Woods participant collecting autumn leaves, with a parent/carer looking on in the background.

The Activities provided incorporate the environment into playtime and learning. Examples of activities include:

Scavenger hunts
Building dens
Feeding birds
Collecting sticks
Making bird feeders

Cooking on campfires
Searching for bugs
Making clay characters
decorating stones

Esme loves coming here, she really gets so much out of it and at home she now plays at being in the woods!
Wellies in the Woods participants Denise and her daughter Esme (3)

Numeracy and Literacy learning opportunities are integrated into each activity through identifying, counting, measuring, adding up, singing, using water squirters to identify numbers and colours, reading, weighing and comparing. Through these activities families and school staff become more confident in practicing numeracy and literacy with children. Wellies in the Woods is aiming to help the next generation to develop a long-lasting relationship with the natural environment whilst creating positive experiences for them and their families.