Parents
Let nature spark the play!
Did you know that children today are spending 50% less time playing outdoors in nature than just a generation ago?* Nurturing Wild is on a mission to champion change because every child deserves a healthy and happy childhood spent playing outdoors in nature.
(*Raising the Nation Play Commission report, 2025)
Nature nurtures
Research shows that being outdoors in green spaces with trees and natural sunlight is beneficial for our health and wellbeing. Time spent with nature can reduce our cortisol levels (stress hormone) and boosts our immune system to help protect us against illnesses.
Come along to a Nurturing Wild session to explore wildlife and spend quality time outdoors with your child for a healthy dose of nature.
Protect our planet
Children today are the future caretakers of our planet, so spending time connecting with the natural world is very important. Even simply going on a walk through your local park gives your child a chance to experience nature, such as the crunch of fallen autumn leaves on the ground, the bumpy texture of a tree trunk or listen first-hand to a robin’s bird song. Help to pick up litter on the ground and allow ‘wild’ untidy areas to grow to help invite more wildlife in your own garden.
“If children don’t grow up knowing about nature and appreciating it, they will not understand it, and if they don’t understand it, they won’t protect it… and if they don’t protect it, who will?”
Sir David Attenborough
Less screen-time more green-time!
Spending time outdoors offers you and your family a great opportunity to take a break from screen-time devices, be active and enjoy the many benefits of reconnecting with nature.
Children learn best through play
PLAY is at the heart of all we do. Nurturing Wild sessions are aimed at supporting your child’s learning through a play-based approach outdoors. We encourage you to follow your child’s interests and curiosities as they explore the outdoor space.
“Play is the highest form of research.”
Albert Einstein
Play is learning! The outdoors offers endless opportunities to learn through play.
Simply talking about the minibeasts you find under a log supports your child’s speaking skills and builds their vocabulary.
Reading an information book with your child about a bumble bee you spotted on a flower helps them to learn that print (the words) has meaning (early reading skills).
Making marks mud painting with a stick supports your child’s early writing skills and their hand-eye-coordination.
Playing alongside other children at the mud kitchen supports your child’s social skills development.
Moving along a log supports your child’s physical development, balance and coordination.
What my clients say
My son and I have been taking part in Nurturing Wild sessions for over a year and he absolutely loves it! The sessions enable children to follow their interests and explore the beautiful outdoor space through play. These are the only sessions that have kept my little one engaged and that is testament to Julia and Jane’s fantastic provision and ideas!
Both of my children have been lucky enough to enjoy forest school sessions with Julia from a young age. They quickly became a highlight of our week and are such a nice way to spend time outside. With lots of different things to do each week, we always have lots of fun and it’s wonderful to play together in a properly child-led, engaging group. I highly recommend Nurturing Wild.
I’ve been bringing my son to Nurturing Wild for almost a year and a half. He loves it and I feel that he’s really engaged with nature from our time at the sessions, developing not only his language but his curiosity for the natural world. Julia is always very welcoming, friendly and brilliant with all the kids.
The Nurturing Wild Approach
Nurturing Wild sessions aim to support your child’s early learning following the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS). The Nurturing Wild approach is influenced by the teaching and learning of Forest School, Reggio Emelia, Froebel (Kindergarten) and Montessori. Founder Julia Packwood has spent over 20 years in education and draws upon her own teaching experiences and expertise. To learn more, read the ‘What is Forest School?' blog post.
Be a play partner
As a busy parent with an endless to-do-list, Nurturing Wild sessions offers you a chance to slow down and spend quality time with your child by playing together. Let your child lead the play and simply join in alongside them to stir a pot of ‘leaf soup’ in the mud kitchen or use your imagination to pretend-play a fallen stick is a wand to carry out magic spells!
Community
Join our welcoming community of local families with children under five. These sessions give you an opportunity to connect with other parents and carers too.
For ALL families
Nurturing Wild sessions aim to provide inclusive sessions which offer ALL families a chance to join in. 20% of Beckenham Place Park sessions are offered at a discounted rate for low-income families. Please contact Julia for further information.
Expert led
Nurturing Wild sessions are developed by Julia Packwood, who has over 20 years’ experience working in education. She is an early years’ consultant, qualified primary school teacher and Level 3 Forest School leader. Julia is DBS checked and is paediatric and outdoor first aid trained.
On Mondays, Nurturing Wild sessions are led by Julia Packwood and Jane Lewis, a qualified child art and play therapist at Bloom Therapy. She teaches a parent and child wellbeing breathing exercise and leads a mindful nature walk each week. She is DBS checked.
Outdoors All Weathers
Inspired by the Forest School ethos, Nurturing Wild sessions aim to take place all year round in all weathers, if safe to do so. Wearing appropriate clothing and footwear is very important for both children and adults to enjoy the outdoors. This guide is a list of recommended clothing. However, ultimately as a parent/carer, you can judge what is best for your child.
Autumn/Winter
In the colder months, wearing layers is key to keeping warm:
All-in-one fleece lined waterproof outfit
Thermal vest
Thermal leggings/tights under trousers
Long sleeved top
Thicker fabric e.g. woolly jumper/fleece
Warm hat to cover head and ears
Snood or scarf
Gloves or mittens
Wellies or outdoor footwear with thick socks
Spring/Summer
Although the weather is likely to be dry in the warmer months, there will be water play in the mud kitchen. Long sleeves and trousers are recommended to protect your child from contact with brambles and nettles in the woods.
lightweight waterproof coat
lightweight all in one e.g. dungaree style (perfect for puddle splashing!)
long-sleeved top
light-weight trousers/ leggings
wellies or suitable outdoor footwear for water play in the mud kitchen
sun hat to protect head and eyes
apply sun cream before the session
For further guidance and tips for parents, read our blog on what to wear outdoors.