I think its brilliant, especially for anyone struggling financially and anyone who isn’t quite sure about the activity.  The programme gave me the opportunity to try something new for my children, I don’t think I would have without Sophie offering this opportunity, it gave me the push I needed to sign up my son.  Having seen how welcoming they were I then decided to sign up my daughter who is a very shy girl, this was a perfect opportunity for someone like her to also try something new, I definitely would not have tried something like this if she wasn’t given this opportunity as she is quite an anxious little girl. But since coming she has been telling her teachers about the forest school she attends, told her friends how much fun she has and has encouraged them to join too!!

I loved how the staff wished us Eid Mubarak, how aware they were of our religion  and the needs of the children, making sure there was halal marshmallows etc this all made such a difference to our experience!! They are all brilliant, very diverse in their thinking to make everyone feel welcome!

Wild Ideas was a really imaginative way for our team to get out of the office and in to nature and reflect together. The woodland really is a special space that uses the benefits of the natural world to relax and refresh, open your mind and to find different ways to think. We worked collaboratively with the Wild Ideas team to create a bespoke session that brought out the best in our team and helped to creatively answer those things we wanted to think about for the year ahead. The day was well managed and everyone was friendly and welcoming. It was great to be given ‘permission’ to play – and we all thoroughly enjoyed it! You will not experience a team day quite like it anywhere else!

My girl started at the under 5 group after she just turned two and has been going for the last 18 months. It has been a huge part in developing her deep connection with nature and her confidence in the outdoors. Our son has been going since he was born, and has now got his forest legs. It’s a great programme, that I also loved as an adult. We would still be there if we weren’t moving away. Really miss it.

We have noticed a reduction in [our son’s] OCD-related behaviours, which were initially prominent during the sessions, and an increase in his willingness to engage in activities independently and with less specific direction, both at forest school and at home.

Volunteering with Stomping Grounds is the highlight of my week! Forest School is everything I hoped it would be – a space for children to be themselves, be wild, have some freedom and autonomy and to learn and play outside of the classroom. It’s such an important opportunity for the children and it really does feel like a privilege to be part of it and to spend my Friday mornings with this bunch of vibrant, inquisitive little explorers.

I’ve spoken to Sophie who shared her aspirations for these woods and it will be fantastic for children to learn about our countryside and its diversity as well as its maintenance. I am really excited about these woods and that they have been saved for future generations.??

I have just completed my first term of Forest School with my almost 4 year old and 1.5 year old. It’s been a wonderful experience, the kids have flourished in the environment and they have had the freedom and responsibility to try activities that they would never have been able to try in a different setting. Sophie is a great facilitator, nothing is too much trouble and overall the atmosphere amongst the group has been really welcoming and friendly. Will be back again soon!

Myself and my little boy Oliver (13 months) have been going to the under 5’s session every Monday and we both love it! So nice to see kids getting involved in outdoor activities and being exposed to risk taking, decision making, nature and crafts in a family friendly way! Brought my 5 year old niece to the launch day and she has absolutely loved it and is really looking forward to coming for a few summer school sessions!

Our son had been out of education for a prolonged period. We were unsure how he would respond to working with new individuals or to being in an environment that he has previously found challenging. From the offset, we were reassured by the professionalism of the Stomping Ground practitioners; particularly how they managed the communication with us, the local authority, and the multi-disciplinary team working with him to ensure that his EHCP and previous experiences were understood, and their willingness to seek guidance when considering required supports for managing potential challenging behaviours driven by his autism and mental health difficulties.

My toddler has been going to the under 5s sessions in Brockwell Woods for over a year now and we both love it. Sophie is wonderful and very good at getting small children engaged! MJ enjoys using tools and having the space to get clarty. She still has a small car which she made in forest school and carries everywhere proudly telling people that she made it. Its a lovely group for adults too – everyone is friendly and lends a hand. Would highly recommend

Back to nature. Joseph really enjoyed his time with the Forest School,
just what every kid needs! Would recommend

My two boys had the best two days with Stomping Ground Forest School during the Christmas holidays. They absolutely loved it. I dropped them off both days feeling great trepidation, especially on the first day when it rained literally all day, and both days they came home so full of everything they’d done and all the fun they’d had: crafts, making dens, campfires, roasting marshmallows, splashing in mud (or the ‘mud on your face game’ as my oldest called it)… My washing machine may never recover but am delighted they had such fun! Would recommend to anyone.

Fantastic bumps & babies session this afternoon. A very welcoming group to meet other parents and share a love of all things outdoors.

A huge thank you to the forest school leaders for trialing these new sessions! I can’t wait to bring my little one along to join in once he arrives ♥️

Stomping Grounds have been providing regular forest school sessions at our school for the last 4 years. Every class who work with them love the lessons and the opportunity to get up close to nature.
The forest school teachers are always highly professional and have excellent regard for the needs of individual children, as well as for the safety of the group.  They form great relationships with the pupils and never fail to create interesting and inspiring learning that ensures our pupils always want to come back for more!

Tim Godfrey, Mountfield Primary School

My 6 year old attended the Chopwell Forest School for the first time and he absolutely loved it! He’s not stopped talking about how much fun it was! Thank you!