Woodland Learning

Woodland Birthday parties for 8 - 16 year olds

Woodland Learning offers birthday parties in the woods at Stanton Park, Stanton Fitzwarren, near Swindon and Cuckoo Pen Plantation at Coleshill, between Highworth and Faringdon or another location of your choice. The parties are great fun. They can be centered around any activity but the most popular ones are den building and cooking on a fire.

The parties last two hours. They are for up to 10 children and cost £10 per child with a minimum fee of £80.00. This is payable before the party. The amount is refundable except for £20 if a cancellation is made 7 days before the party. The children are given a short health and safety and caring for nature talk before they go into the wood. In the wood they are told how to make dens and are put into small groups. They all then make their dens. If the weather is wet each group are given a tarpaulin to help keep their den dry. We all then come back together and collect sticks and make a fire. We toast marshmallows, pop popcorn, make toast and make hot chocolate. Parents are very welcome to bring along anything else simple they may like to cook. People have brought chipolatas and bananas and chocolate in the past. We all sing happy birthday and if the parents bring a cake this is when it is cut. There may be some time for playing and climbing trees. The children then take down their dens so we leave the wood for nature. We put the fire out and it’s time to leave.

We ask at least one adult to stay at the party. Woodland Learning supplies the invitations. The invitations include a reply slip where parents can let us know about any health or behaviour problems or dietary requirements the children may have and give us emergency contact details.

Ruth Parsons, who leads the parties, is a fully qualified and experienced Forest School leader. She is CRB checked. She is a trained first aider and has basic food hygiene and tree safety certificates. She has £5 million public liability insurance. Each party is risk assessed, there is always a first aid kit on site and a mobile phone. Please note there are no toilets in the wood. Children have to go behind a tree. They tell an adult when they are going and when they get back. There is always toilet roll and a spade available. There are no hand-washing facilities. Everyone is given wet wipes to clean their hands before cooking and eating.

To organise your party:

Check availability of your chosen date/time either by telephone on 01367 - 250369 or e-mail info@woodland-learning.co.uk. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Compete the Birthday Party booking form and send together with your cheque to Woodland Learning at the address on the form. This will secure your booking.
You will receive invitations to send out to the party guests. Let us know of any special dietary requirements. Otherwise, just have the guests bring the "reply slips" so that we have all the emergency contact information on the day.
Arrive at the party with all the children and of course the cake.
Gave a great time
Please supply your own part bags. Lots of people do not do this. It is possible to choose party activities where the children make something to take home. Some good ideas for gifts have been enamel camping mugs with the child's name painted on the side, compasses and whistles. Twig pencils and wooden toys.
Go home and relax with no clearing up to do!!