NURTURING WILD
OUTDOOR NATURE-BASED LEARNING
Nurturing Wild Sessions
Supporting parents with their child’s development through play
Nurturing Wild offers parent and child (12m – 5yrs) outdoor nature-based learning sessions which follow a play-based approach. Sessions are led by highly experienced teachers and take place at community sites in South East London.
Nurturing Wild has a growing online parent and carers community. Follow our social media pages and read our latest blog posts for inspiration and helpful tips.
WELCOME TO NURTURING WILD
Nurturing Wild’s outdoor nature-based sessions follow a child-led, play-based approach with activities linked to key areas of learning such as early literacy. Join our Nurturing Wild community to connect with your child, others and nature.
As a primary and early years teacher for over 15 years, I always wished that I had more time to spend supporting parents.
Since becoming a parent myself, I qualified as a Forest School leader and took a leap of faith to follow my passion and Nurturing Wild was formed. Drawing upon my years of experience and expertise, my goal is to guide and support parents with their child’s development.
I am looking forward to meeting you and your child very soon!
Julia, Founder of Nurturing Wild Ltd
My goal is to inspire and motivate parents to get outdoors in nature with their children.
SESSIONS
SYDENHAM GARDEN
10am – 11.30am
Mondays
Saturdays (monthly)
Weekly parent and child sessions take place at Sydenham Garden. This fantastic site is run by the Sydenham Garden charity.
It is a wonderful woodland space to explore with your child. We set up a mud kitchen, mini-beast hunting and there is a pond to explore nature first-hand.
As your child builds in confidence we are permitted to use tools on site, such as Y peelers to whittle sticks. In the colder months we light a campfire.
BECKENHAM PLACE PARK
10am – 11.30am
Wednesdays & Thursdays
We are fortunate to be based in beautiful Beckenham Place park which provides a variety of trees to explore, logs to climb and lots of natural loose parts such as sticks and pinecones for play.
Using a trolley on wheels, all our kit is taken to the site to provide mud kitchen play, dens and an explorer kit bag per child. In the event of wet weather, tarp shelters are put up above the ‘basecamp’.
As a big outdoor space we make the most of the opportunity for physical activities. Join us for log balancing, parachute games and bubbles!
“My son has absolutely loved the sessions! It was evident to see how he progressed and developed each week, learning something new each time. We loved the well chosen story, activities and bubbles!”
Amy, mum to T
Children learn best through play
OUR APPROACH
Nurturing Wild sessions are play-based and child-led building upon the key areas of child development in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Inspired by the Forest School ethos, we encourage children to connect with nature and we take a holistic approach.
We want children to experience managing risks in their play by running on uneven ground, balancing on logs and having freedom to explore the natural world around them. We hope to build a community of families in which parents and children connect with others and form friendships.
COMMUNITY
We aim to support parents by sharing our knowledge and skills in child development, early language and literacy and the importance of play. We want to educate and inspire others to get outdoors and play with their children in nature.
We hope to build a strong in person and online community of like-minded people who want to help make the world a better place for children. Follow our social media pages and sign up to receive our blog posts for ideas and inspiration!
Community is at the heart of all we do
“Attending Nurturing Wild sessions has become a highlight of our week! My son happily explores the beautifully set up environment. It is clear the focus on nature and the activities that Julia creates are full of awe and wonder for him. We have both thoroughly enjoyed attending and look forward to the autumn term.”
Helen, mum to R
Latest Blog Posts
Bluebells
We explored our local woodlands and were delighted to see a carpet of bluebells along the ground. These are native British bluebells.
Keep reading
Colours in Nature
Colours in Nature Out and about with your little ones spend time observing the different colours all around us. Look out for all the beautiful vibrant summer colours in nature.
Keep reading
What is Forest School?
“Forest School is a child-centred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions.” The Forest School Association History Forest School was originally inspired by the Danish outdoor approach to education. An Early Years department from Bridgewater College visited Denmark in 1993. This started the development of the Forest School ethos in…
Keep reading
”First-hand experience is important. Young people need to engage with wildlife, meet it, smell it, touch it, get slimed, stung and bitten. It’s those sorts of things which fuel a curiosity and develop an affinity.”
Chris Packham
Connect with nature, connect with your child, connect with others
(copyright) Nurturing Wild, 2025. All rights reserved
Nurturing Wild is a registered trademark