A walk on the wild side
Families explore nature together at a free Forest School in Clapton Park Children’s Centre
Books hang on a string in the Forest School outdoor library
In a quiet corner of Hackney Marshes, Genevieve is carefully hanging a collection of colourful books on a piece of string tied between two trees.
A couple of metres away, a few plush forest animals are waiting patiently for children to come.
Genevieve works at Clapton Park Children’s Centre and she is setting up for one of the free, weekly Forest School sessions that the centre offers to local families.
The drop-ins are open for parents and carers and their children from 18 months to five years old.
Genevieve explains: “The environment lends itself to sensory play. There are so many loose parts – there are leaves, there are sticks, and these are all enjoyed very much by children.
“They can pick them up and they can become part of their imaginative play. That’s the beauty of it.”
There are many benefits of bringing a child to a forest school. Genevieve continues: “This is a place where you’re away from screens. It’s an opportunity for you and the child to have that time together to play and explore.
“The children are calm, the parents are calm, and it’s just a really wonderful place to be here in the forest.”
Genevieve prepares the mud kitchen
Parents that join us on this sunny November morning clearly agree. Hannah, who brings her daughter Marla to the Forest School regularly, says: “You can tell she’s calm and had a really nice time.”
Hannah encourages other parents to join. She says: “I think it’s really nice when the kids first come, they don’t know what to do, they get ready, hold on tight. They get a basket and they go foraging.”
Genevieve has prepared a number of activities. Every new thing captures the children’s attention, and helps them learn.
They explore the area, play with natural clay, make leaf rubbings, forage, ask questions, and learn to socialise and adapt.
“Sometimes children may struggle with change – but if they can see that the environment is constantly, naturally changing, they can get used to it,” explains Genevieve.
Dad Kevin and daughter Freda love that the Forest School is open all year around.
Kevin says: “We like the chance to be outdoors, even when it’s cold and wet, showing my daughter that it is a really nice place to learn and there are lots of fun things to do outside.”
Children overcome their shyness quickly and start playing together in the mud kitchen, which is by far the most popular activity.
Play doesn’t have to be structured to be fun; when Hannah discovers an earthworm under the leaves, she is surrounded by a captivated circle of small children.
Marla holds an earthworm found by mother Hannah, as Diego and Lucki look
A few steps away, Diego has led his mum Anna to the clay play area, where Kevin and Freda are building small sculptures and decorating them with brightly coloured leaves.
The Forest School is also a chance for parents to connect. Kevin continues: “There are so many opportunities for playing around here, and meeting other families who also love playing outdoors.”
As the seasons change, so does the Forest School. During the winter, it can get quite cold, so Genevieve prepares activities that can still allow families to stay warm, such as a walk in Hackney Marshes. Last year, they organised a campfire and made flatbreads.
Genevieve says: “These events foster this lovely sense of connection, with everyone reminiscing about their own childhood in their own countries. Because Hackney is so diverse, they bring people together to share their own stories.
“We are here throughout the winter. Children can come, they can see the seasons change. There’s always space available to everybody.”