Little Bats Learning CIC

So, two days of HAF down, and surprisingly not many photos yet. We are nearly full for HAF, so if your child has a HAF code (is eligible for income-related free school meals), and lives in Bolton, and enjoys being outside in nature, please get them signed up.

But, exciting news for all. This year, we are offering more.

We are being brief, so booking QR codes are all below:

Family sessions - each Wednesday morning and some Saturdays - for parents/adults with children up to around 12 years old. Free to attend, at The Roost at Bright Meadows

Specialist SEN sessions for those aged 5-13. These are smaller groups for children with higher needs, who don't cope well in a busier setting. 8 places for each day. PS these will have higher ratios, but we do not have the capacity for any one who absolutely needs 1-2-1 support. Please contact us if your child has their own support, and you think they will enjoy it, or if they are older - we may be able to take them too. These will be at The Roost at Bright Meadows Fridays 10am-1pm.

Teens group - for those aged 13-16. These will be in Seven Acres Local Nature Reserve but will meet to start at The Roost at Bright Meadows This is also a smaller group so places are limited and must be booked to guarantee a spot.



Play & Youth Bolton Department for Education Bolton Together Charity

🌿 Two posts in one day! Yep, we're back with our Nature, Nurture & Natter sessions. 🌿

💚 FREE weekly outdoor wellbeing sessions for pregnant parents, babies and toddlers in Bolton 💚

🦔 What is it? 🦔

A chance to slow down, take a breath, enjoy a brew, and connect with other parents in a relaxed outdoor setting.

Our trained mental health peer supporters will be on hand for a chat, while your baby explores, plays and discovers the natural world.

🐞🐝🪱🐾

Whether it's digging in the sandpit, splashing at the water table, mixing potions in the mud kitchen, searching for bugs, exploring sensory experiences, relaxing in the hammock, or simply taking in the sights and sounds of our woodland garden, there's something for everyone.

🧠 Did you know? 🧠

A baby's brain develops more rapidly during the first 1,000 days of life than at any other time, laying foundations for future learning, wellbeing and health.

Life can be stressful, especially during pregnancy and the early years. While we can't always remove life's challenges, we can create opportunities for connection, calm, play and support.

🌳 Research shows that spending time in nature can help reduce stress, support wellbeing, and encourage healthy development for both babies and adults.

🌻 These sessions are designed to support both parent and baby wellbeing, helping little ones explore, grow and thrive while giving parents space to connect and feel supported.

🌿 Who are they for? 🌿

Bolton residents who are pregnant, or families with babies and toddlers up to their second birthday. Older siblings welcome with a baby under 2.

🫄🤱🧑‍🍼👶👧

🗓 Every Thursdays for 10 weeks -10.00am–11.30am
📅 11 June – 13 August 2026

📍 The Roost at Bright Meadows

Our beautiful forest garden - a calming, welcoming space filled with nature, wildlife and opportunities for exploration.

You'll find us between 8 & 10 Ashley Avenue, Bolton, BL2 5AR.

No commitment. Come as often as you need or want to.

Please note: children may get wet, muddy and messy... and will almost certainly have lots of fun!

Waterproofs are available to borrow for both adults and children.

Older siblings are welcome too.

🤝 Our peer supporters are professionally trained through NHS England's Mental Health Peer Support training programme, delivered by WithYou.

We offer a safe, non-judgemental and supportive space, led by people with lived experience of many of the challenges that can affect mental health during pregnancy and the first 1,000 days.



Funded through our partnership with Bolton Together Charity :::

For more information, please WhatsApp or text us on 07818925678.

So we promised an update on some of our other activities.

Little Bats Learning has been working weekly with the children of St Chads RC Primary in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, since February, delivering forest school programmes across all year groups. Not just a 'random' school in Manchester (for a Bolton-based forest school) but smack bang in the middle of the same area our forest school leader Elanor's grand parents and great grandparents lived over 100 years ago, where she did her own cycling proficiency as a child, and where she took car driving lessons in her 20s 😊😀

We have taken over the leading of forest school here, following the retirement of the previous forest school leader, 'Miss Ellie' of Two Hoots Outdoor Learning. It's always interesting to follow in someone else's footsteps - but like individuals, forest school leaders each have their own style, strengths and sensibilities.

We are loving the opportunity to work regularly with school age children again, and we think the children are happy to have forest school back.

We have done everything, from crafting, basic tool use, mud play, bug hunting, plentiful digging and digging for worms, games, hammocks, swings and planting/growing and looking after our fledgling plants. The school has its own mini woodland space, and a huge space with polytunnel for growing food etc. We have planted a small orchard, and a mini tree nursery, and are growing strawberries, raspberries, sunflowers and much more.

Children are loving having the space to pursue what interests and engages them, be it sensory exploration, building, going out of their comfort zones with blindfold games, using their imaginations, creating - most of all having the autonomy to embrace outside.

We are back HAFing this half term, thanks to some extra funding through Bolton Together Charity Play & Youth Bolton - and as it is so hot, it got off with a huge splash!

It was all about the water at The Roost at Bright Meadows as well, although no pictures of that yet.

Lots of physical activity - even in this heat, with water blasters, paddling, plunging and water exploration. Sensory play with hammocks, mud, and sand, and creativity for some of our attendees.

Lovely to have a mix of older and newer faces with us this week, and to be fully booked. Thanks to all our volunteers for yesterday too - Renee, Emma, Marie, Steph, and Alun.

And looking back, we haven't really posted since last HAF at Easter - oops - but that doesn't mean we have just done that. We have been continuing our regular early years work in the family hubs. We also work weekly in Chad's RC Primary School in Cheetham Hill, but more on both of those later - but for now, we are getting ready for another busy day in the sun.