BUDS Outdoor Stay & Play

Forest School for Summer Term with giant pinecones and Benjamin Zephaniah, magic and new waterproofs. Wellies and puppet shows, bug pots and ribbons. Lots of rain, pretty much the whole day until 3pm, then the sunshine came out! But we love the rain (that’s a fib) and had the best time anyway (that’s the truth!)

July Stay & Play dates have been added to Bookwhen and with schools breaking up for summer, siblings age 7 and under can join in the fun 🫶🏼

BE QUICK! There are only FIVE (!) dates available throughout July!

🌞 There are also a handful of dates left for June which is unusual so don’t sleep on those!

🪻I only have capacity for one Baby Buds session in July which I will upload this evening around 7pm.

🚾 There will be no toilet facilities available on site throughout July, travel-potties are welcome for the littles and I have a baby change station in the barn. Please ensure nappies/ waste is taken away with you.

If you are waiting on a transfer please drop me a DM or email and I’ll get your ticket swapped asap x

Please share ✨

I am seeking woodland/ outdoor space in Northamptonshire.

A home for Stay & Play sessions for under 5’s, forest school sessions for primary age children, adult nature based wellness events, community driven events, birthday parties and holiday clubs.

I don’t need a huge amount of land and I am able to be very creative and work with what I am given. I believe Buds is really special and it is time to create space for it to grow 🌱

If you think you may be able to help then please get in touch!

📧 [email protected]
💬 DM via Instagram or FB

A little reminder, my upcoming grown-up gatherings at Buds are just around the corner… and spaces are now limited for both! ✨🌿

🌸 The Cosy Club Women’s Circle
📅 14th June | £35 | Buds HQ Brampton Grange

In collaboration with , this beautiful evening will see us slowing down and honouring the goddesses we are; creating flower crowns, crafting botanical bookmarks, floral hand painting and sharing savoury s’mores around the fire.
All resources, nibbles and drinks are included.

🥐 Swap & Swish Sunday Market
📅 7th June | £15 | Buds HQ Brampton Grange

In collaboration with , join us for a slower Sunday morning of swapping homemade, baked or homegrown treasures, enjoying a wholesome brunch and creating your own flower posy at the oh-so-rustic (but totally adorable) Buds Bloom Bar. Don’t forget to bring along any children’s clothing or toys your little ones have grown out of to donate to the Swish bin and swapsies for something else on their rails!
A beautiful blend of community, conscious swapping and thoughtful seasonal living.

Booking for both events is via www.bookwhen.com/buds ✨

👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼

📣More than 60 schools joined Wootton Park School’s inaugural Department for Education (DfE)-backed RISE Reception Network event on Monday 18th May, bringing together early years educators from across the region in a highly collaborative virtual session. 🌟

Wootton Park was selected by the DfE as a Reception Network Lead School for the East Midlands region last month following a highly competitive national process. This appointment recognises Wootton Park School’s strong early years provision and its role in supporting wider system leadership.

As a Lead School, Wootton Park will facilitate collaboration between schools, share high-quality Reception practice and contribute to national efforts to improve early years outcomes. The network supports the government’s ambition for 75% of children to achieve a Good Level of Development by 2028.

🚀The event marked the launch of the RISE programme (Reception Improvement, Support and Excellence), designed to strengthen Reception practice through shared expertise, professional dialogue and evidence-informed approaches.

Schools from across the East Midlands and beyond joined the online session to discuss best practice and explore strategies to improve outcomes for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). 🧸

The session also gave teachers and leaders the opportunity to connect, reflect and begin building a professional network focused on ensuring every child receives the best possible start to their education. The strong turnout reflects a shared commitment across schools and local trusts to work together and continuously strengthen provision.

🌟Through the RISE Reception Network, participating schools will benefit from regular professional discussions, shared resources, and opportunities to observe high-quality practice in action. 💭🤝🌱

💬Dan Rosser, CEO of Wootton Park Academy Trust, said: “We are truly inspired to have welcomed so many schools to our first RISE session. The level of engagement reflects the shared ambition across our region to give every child the very best start in life.

“It is a privilege to support this important work and to bring colleagues together to shape meaningful conversations that will have a lasting impact on children’s futures.

“We warmly invite all EYFS settings to join us at our next DfE-approved event next half term. By working together locally and regionally, we can continue to strengthen practice, inspire one another and transform the learning experiences of every child in our care”.

💬 Event attendee Fliss Dewsbery, Deputy Head of Pen Green Centre and East Midlands Early Years Stronger Practice Hub lead, said: “I found attending the first virtual RISE Reception Network meeting incredibly valuable. It was a fantastic opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the aims of the programme, connect with colleagues across the region, and begin thinking collaboratively about how we can strengthen support for children in Reception.

“As the East Midlands Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, we are really looking forward to working alongside the RISE network to share knowledge, develop practice and build strong partnerships across the region in support of high-quality early years education.”

Further sessions are planned throughout the year, as Wootton Park School continues to bring together practitioners locally, regionally and nationally to strengthen EYFS provision.

🌟The next online meeting is scheduled to take place at 4.00pm on Thursday 25th June, with a focus on Communication and Language.

Schools interested in joining the network are invited to email [email protected].

Further information can be found at www.woottonparkschool.org.uk/rise-reception-network-lead-school.

Don’t think because I’m little that I can’t… I can! ✨🦋

Our pre-schoolers enjoyed using the hammers this morning. Strong hands and focused minds learning through real tools, outdoor experiences and creativity 🔨🌺👷‍♂️🌸🌳

Baby Buds Hallelujah 🌱

I’ve popped a few Baby Buds sessions onto Bookwhen for June 🤱🏾🌞

I thought I might share a few of my fave snaps from our summer ‘25 sessions 🫶🏼

If you appreciate slow mornings outdoors, connecting with nature and having a good yap with other new mamas, then Baby Buds is for you 🌿

We begin gently in the barn with a few songs, bubbles and a warm welcome before heading out to explore nature through the senses ✨

Babies are invited to touch, squish, listen, watch and discover the world around them through simple sensory experiences inspired by the world around us 🌎

Expect simple water play, natural textures, flowers, herbs, light, reflections, messy play and plenty of time to simply be outdoors together 🌿

I’ll be there offering a warm up of tea and a light snack to nourish you, some questionable singing and a smile ☕️

Sessions are open to babies, crawlers and cruisers 🌼

Please note: Sessions take place outdoors. Babies will encounter mud, dirt, uneven ground and natural loose parts such as sticks, leaves and petals throughout the session. Blankets and mats are laid down, but it is important to be wary. Water play will mean babies may get wet and so a change of clothes is recommended. In the event of adverse weather, the session will be rescheduled to ensure comfort for all.

You can book via www.bookwhen.com/buds (link in bio - Instagram). I’d love to welcome you 🌳

Celebrating the incredible Sir David Attenborough, who turns 100 this Friday!
🦍🦕🦜🐠🦇🐳🦥

Tuesday Tots gathered in a circle and learnt about the amazing things Sir David has done for our planet and how his groundbreaking documentaries have helped us understand wildlife and ecosystems, inspiring generations to care for and protect the Earth. I do suspect the main take away from this conversation will be that he will need 100 candles on his cake, WOW! 🤭🕯️

We then became explorers 🧭 🗺️

🐾 Everyone searched for animal tracks and learnt how to identify them
🏜️ We dove into different landscapes, from the desert to under the sea
🦜 Some of us created our own beautiful Birds of Paradise (one of David’s favourites) with sticky dough
📺 Others became documentarians and presented live on Forest School TV, just like the main man himself!
🎨 We painted beetles and headed out on a minibeast safari.

Our celebrations concluded by singing Happy Birthday and baking mud cakes in the outdoor kitchen. Not to forget the Hawthorn and Lilac confetti!🪻

100 years of curiosity, wonder, and protecting our precious planet 🌍💚

Happy Birthday . Your life will be celebrated up and down the country by many children this week, which really is a heartwarming thought 🌎