GroWild’s Forest School Group for Babies Under 18mths
WildBabies is our calm, nurturing Forest School group for babies and their grown-ups, offering gentle woodland sessions designed especially for our youngest explorers (approx under 18 mths).
Sessions are baby-led, sensory-rich and unhurried, with time to slow down, connect and explore nature together. WildBabies is rooted in care, connection and the rhythms of the natural world, providing a peaceful introduction to outdoor learning.
FOR YOU, AS WELL AS YOUR BABY
Alongside the gentle sensory experiences for your baby, WildBabies offers space for you too. A chance to meet other parents, grandparents and carers, share a cup of tea and cake, and feel part of a small, supportive group outdoors.
There is space for nappy changing, breastfeeding is always welcome, and sessions are designed so you can arrive, settle and take things at your own pace, with no pressure to join in.
During A WildBabies Session You Can Expect:
- A calm woodland environment designed especially for babies and their grown-ups
- Baby-led sensory exploration using natural materials such as leaves, bark, soil, water and seasonal treasures
- Time on blankets and in sheltered spaces to lie, sit, crawl or explore safely
- Gentle songs, simple rhymes and shared moments that support connection and early communication
- Warmth and comfort around the campfire where appropriate, with simple, familiar rituals
- Opportunities for quiet observation of nature, including light, movement, sound and weather
- Space to slow down, bond and enjoy being outdoors together without pressure or expectation
- Sessions shaped by the seasons, offering a peaceful introduction to Forest School and outdoor learning
How WildBabies Sessions Work
Each session follows a familiar, reassuring rhythm so your child can feel settled and confident, building room for curiosity, imagination and moments you can share together in nature, while you settle into the group and connect with others at an easy, unhurried pace.
WildBabies sessions run on Tuesday mornings and are led by our team of experienced Forest School practitioners in small groups.
WildBabies runs as a term-based programme, with two booking options depending on how much flexibility your family needs. Both options offer the same high-quality Forest School experience: the difference is whether you’d like a regular weekly place or occasional attendance.
Choosing the Right WildBabies Forest School Session for Your Family
WildBABIEs Membership - Best value for families who want weekly rhythm
The WildBabies Term Membership is ideal for families who value routine, consistency and a familiar group as their baby grows and explores.
What’s Included
- 1 WildBabies session per week: Tuesdays
- Small group size: maximum 10 families per session
- 10% off WildTots workshops and special events
Important To Know
- Membership is for one fixed weekday
- Missed sessions are not refundable
- A pause option is available for exceptional circumstances
- One month’s notice is required to cancel ongoing membership
Price
£8 per session: depending on which half-term you join us, the weekly cost for the remaining half-terms for 2026 is calculated and then split into monthly payments. Monthly amounts are shown in the section ‘WildBabies Forest School Themes throughout the year’ below.
Sibling add-ons are not available for WildBabies, to keep the group calm and focused on babies’ needs.
WildBABIES Seasonal Pass - flexible option when you can’t commit weekly
The WildBabies Seasonal Pass is designed for families who need flexibility but still want to enjoy the WildBabies experience.
What’s Included
- Attend any 3 WildBabies sessions within a half-term
- Small group size: maximum 10 families per session
- Priority booking for seasonal WildTots events
Important To Know
- One-off payment per half-term
- Sessions are to be chosen in advance and are subject to availability
- Seasonal Pass places are limited per session, as priority is given to weekly members
Price
£10 per session
Sibling add-ons are not available for WildBabies, to keep the group calm and focused on babies’ needs.
Which WildBabies Option Is Right for Your Family?
WildBabies Forest School Themes Across the Year
WildBabies Forest School themes change with the seasons, giving your baby the chance to explore the woodland with you in different ways throughout the year.
Members can join at the start of any half-term block, simply select the earliest block (below) that you would like to start with us, monthly payments are calculated to reflect the sessions remaining.
This first block of WildBabies sessions follows the woodland as it wakes into spring, helping your baby begin to take in the sights, sounds and textures of the natural world as the season shifts around them. Through gentle, sensory-led exploration, your little one will be held within experiences that connect them to the earth, to living things, and to the rhythm of the outdoors.
Spring Half-Term 2 Dates: Tuesday 14th April to 19th May (6 weeks)
Members Price covering this and remaining 2026 blocks: One child £27.20 x 5 mthly payments
Seasonal Pass Price 3 sessions: One Child £30
Activities across the half term may include:
- Patting soil, touching compost and feeling the difference between wet and dry, heavy and light
- Handling natural textures — bark, leaves, moss, feathers, clay and seeds
- Spotting the first signs of spring: buds, shoots and the quiet changes happening on the forest floor
Your baby will also be part of sessions exploring:
- The life that lives beneath the soil: worms, insects and composting
- Eggs, nests and baby animals as wildlife begins to stir
- Pond building and early water exploration
- Planting bulbs and getting hands into compost and roots
- Birdsong, bird watching and the creatures beginning to appear
This block of WildBabies sessions arrives as the woodland reaches its warmest and most alive. Everything is flowering, buzzing and moving, and there is no better time to be low to the ground with a baby, noticing what's happening at their level. Sessions slow down to look closely at the small world: the insects, the flowers, the creatures going about their work.
Summer Half-Term 2 Dates: Tuesday 2nd June to 14th July (7 weeks)
Members Price covering this and remaining 2026 blocks: One child £29.33 x 3 mthly payments
Seasonal Pass Price 3 sessions: One Child £30
Activities across the block may include:
- Touching and exploring wildflowers, petals, leaves and grasses
- Watching bees, beetles and mini-beasts up close with magnifiers and bug pots
- Sensory play with flowers, herbs and seasonal natural materials
Your baby will also be part of sessions exploring:
- How flowers and insects need each other: simple, hands-on and unhurried
- Building bug hotels and small habitats using natural loose parts
- The summer solstice: marking the longest day with seasonal celebration and outdoor ritual
- Observing and protecting the small creatures that share the woodland with us
This final block of WildBabies sessions moves through the quieter, slower months of the year, from the last warmth of harvest through to the stillness of winter. Each month has its own distinct feel, and sessions follow the woodland as it changes colour, drops its leaves, and settles into rest. A gentle, unhurried term that is as much about cosiness and connection as it is about exploration.
Autumn Term Dates: 8th Sep, 6th Oct, 3rd Nov, 1st Dec (4 sessions)
Members Price covering this last remaining 2026 block: One child £30 one off payment
Seasonal Pass Price 2 sessions: One Child £20
Activities across the block may include:
- September, Apple Harvest: Handling apples, conkers and autumn leaves; sorting and comparing natural materials; mud kitchen soups and harvest-inspired sensory play
- October, Fire & Folklore: Pumpkin and potion play; touching herbs, fabric scraps and seasonal loose parts; making a simple charm or lantern jar to take home
- November, Light & Dark: Exploring light and shadow with lanterns and firelight; wrapping up warm around the fire; watching sparks and shadows with adult support; settling into cosy storytelling with blankets and hammocks
- December, The Giving Tree: Making simple natural decorations with clay, wool and pinecones; bird feeders and seed balls; a woodland winter tea party with oranges, cranberries and spices
WildBabies FAQs
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Choose the WildBabies Term Membership if you are looking for a regular weekly Forest School session, the best value, and a consistent group to help your baby settle and feel confident.
Choose the WildBabies Seasonal Pass if you need more flexibility and prefer occasional attendance rather than a fixed weekly place. Both options offer the same high-quality parent-and-baby Forest School experience.
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We are unable to offer refunds or session swaps for missed sessions. This applies to both Memberships and Seasonal Passes and helps us maintain a stable programme for all families.
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The Seasonal Pass reflects the added flexibility of occasional attendance without a fixed weekly place. Term Membership offers the best value and supports the consistent staffing, planning and group rhythm that are central to our Forest School approach.
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Sibling add-ons are not available for WildBabies, to keep the group calm and focused on babies’ needs.
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Yes. WildBabies is a parent-and-baby Forest School group. Grown-ups stay with their baby throughout the session and remain responsible for them at all times.
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Yes. We provide a calm, supportive environment where breastfeeding is always welcome, and there is space available for nappy changing so you can feel comfortable throughout the session.
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Dress for the weather and for getting muddy. Waterproof coats and trousers, wellies, and warm layers are essential. Sessions run in most weather, allowing babies to experience the seasons safely and comfortably.
We have a helpful Winter Layers Guide here. -
WildBabies is designed for young children aged under approx 18mths attending with a parent or carer. Sessions are gentle, child led and inclusive, with activities adapted to suit a range of early years ages and stages.
If your child is older than 18mths then please have a look at our WildTots sessions here. -
If you choose a Term Membership, you will have a weekly place for the duration of the term. Seasonal Pass holders attend on the dates they have booked, depending on availability.
During the Autumn Term there is one session per month for Sep, Oct, Nov and Dec.
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Sessions run in most weather, including rain and cold conditions, as this is part of the Forest School experience. In the event of unsafe weather, families will be contacted directly.
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We use a separate entrance to our main GroWild Kindergarten entrance for our WildBabies sessions. You can park on Falcon Road East, Sprowston, NR7 8XY and we meet you at the woodland gate.
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