Auchinairn Afterschool Care & Forest School

09/09/2026

We were all set up for our first Stay and Play this year – Meet the Key Worker session yesterday! 🌿💚

As it was also Literacy Day, we shared some of the wonderful literacy experiences the children have enjoyed throughout the week. 📚✏️

Thank you to all the parents who joined us. It was lovely to give you a glimpse into your child’s time at Forest Kindergarten, meet their key worker and enjoy the experience together. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! 🍃

07/09/2026

03/09/2026

A fallen tree in the forest won’t stop our campfire fun! 🌲🔥 We found the perfect new spot and enjoyed some delicious, gooey s’mores together! 😋🍫

03/09/2026

A large tree has fallen down in the recent adverse weather conditions at our Forest. It has fallen right across our entrance, so we will need to get this removed before using the forest again. We will update you once complete. Thanks as always for your understanding and continued support.

01/09/2026

🌳 yesterdays forest adventures! 🌳

Our children have been busy exploring and climbing trees today. Tree climbing gives children the opportunity to challenge themselves, assess risks and test what their bodies can do—all while having great fun outdoors!

Through this experience, the children developed their:

🌿 Confidence and independence
🌿 Balance, coordination and physical strength
🌿 Problem-solving and decision-making skills
🌿 Understanding of risk and how to keep themselves safe
🌿 Connection with nature

There is always so much learning happening through play in the forest! 💚🌳

01/09/2026

🌧️ Weather Update 🌧️

Unfortunately, the weather isn’t looking great for outdoor play this week, with high winds and heavy rain forecast on most days.

Today will be an indoor day. We will continue to monitor the forecast and provide parents with an update to let you know if the children will be based indoors.

Thank you for your understanding! 🌲

31/08/2026

Our new team members recently completed forest skills training, covering fire lighting, tool use, basic knots, tree identification and safe tree climbing. Our longer-standing staff also refreshed their fire and tool skills.

Now that our whole team is trained and confident, the children will have even more opportunities to take part in exciting, carefully risk-assessed experiences, including fires, tools, climbing and other forest-specific activities.

These experiences help children build confidence, independence, resilience, problem-solving skills and an understanding of how to assess and manage risk safely. 🌳🔥🪢🪚

28/08/2026

🦉 A Very Special Birds of Prey Visit! 🦅

Yesterday, our kindergarten and aftercare children enjoyed an incredible visit from some magnificent birds of prey—including two Harris hawks, a falcon and a beautiful barn owl!

The children had the opportunity to see these amazing birds up close.

This experience supported the children to develop:

🌿 Knowledge and respect for wildlife and nature
🗣️ Confidence in asking questions and sharing ideas
👀 Observation, listening and concentration skills
🦅 An understanding of birds, habitats and food chains
💛 Gentle, respectful and responsible behaviour around animals

The children were completely fascinated, and we are sure this will inspire lots more bird-related play, artwork, discussions and outdoor exploration!

A huge thank you to Big Andy for making this wonderful experience possible and his 2 amazing helpers Kai and Laralouise. What a memorable day for everyone! 🦉🦅

📸 Here are some photographs from our fantastic visit!

26/08/2026

🌬️ A little wind won’t stop our woodland fun! 🌿

When the high winds arrive, we adapt our plans safely and continue doing what we do best—enjoying meaningful forest-school experiences, with a little added indoor fun!

Today, the children have been:

🪵 Chopping wood and whittling new fire sticks
🛞 Enjoying the swings, tyres and carts outdoors
🦉 Learning about birds of prey ahead of our special visit
🪽 Decorating wings for a large pair of wings, which will become a wall display filled with all the fascinating facts we discover
🌿 Creating nature bracelets
🎨 Fabric painting
👐 Exploring lots of messy play

Every experience supports important learning. Using tools helps children develop concentration, coordination, responsibility and an understanding of risk. Outdoor play builds strength, balance, confidence and problem-solving skills, while our bird-of-prey activities encourage curiosity, creativity, teamwork and respect for wildlife and the natural world.

Adapting our day also helps children learn that plans can change while the fun and learning continue—whatever the Scottish weather brings! 🌧️🌲🦉

26/08/2026

🦅 WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL VISITORS TOMORROW! 🦉
1pm kindergarten
3.30pm out of school care

We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming some incredible birds of prey to visit us tomorrow! 🤩

The children will get the chance to meet:

🦅 2 Harris Hawks
🦅 A Falcon
🦉 A Barn Owl

What an amazing opportunity for the children to see these beautiful birds up close, learn all about them and ask plenty of questions! 🌿

A HUGE thank you to Big Andy for making this special visit possible for our children. 💚

We can’t wait! 🦅🦉✨ #