We offer woodland sessions for families and adults, alongside drop-off woodland sessions for children aged 5+, running throughout the year and during school holidays. Our sessions take place in Shining Cliff Woods and Shaw Woods, Oakerthorpe, led by trained woodland practitioners.
Alongside our group sessions, we also offer bespoke 1:1 woodland sessions for children and adults, as well as tailored sessions for schools, community groups and organisations, either in the woods or at your own location.
Explore our upcoming sessions below to find out what Woodland Connections can offer you.
Workshops at Shining Cliff Hostel
Photography in Nature Workshop
Join experienced photographer Roger Morgan for a relaxed, hands-on workshop exploring how to capture the beauty of the natural world. Suitable for beginners and those with some experience, the session offers practical guidance alongside time to be outdoors, notice more and experiment with your camera.
Moon Bathing
Moon Bathing is a gently guided nighttime woodland experience in Shining Cliff Woods, inviting you to explore the sights and sounds of the woodland after dark. Rooted in forest bathing practices, these slow-paced walks encourage deep connection through simple mindfulness exercises, with minimal distance covered. Participants use red-light headtorches to preserve night vision, with moments of darkness to fully experience the woodland at night, and UV torches to discover what fluoresces in the dark. These one-hour sessions are offered at a reduced cost as part of a University of Derby research project, supported by Amber Valley Borough Council CVS.
Woodland Chill & Chat Sessions
Chill & Chat is a relaxed woodland gathering for adults, offering time to connect, chat or simply sit quietly in nature. Sessions take place around the fire, with hot drinks and gentle activities available if you’d like to join in.
There’s no expectation to talk or take part — you’re welcome to come along in whatever way feels comfortable.
Family Woodland Sessions
All-ages woodland sessions designed for families to enjoy together. These sessions create space for shared experiences in nature, with gentle activities, seasonal crafts and time to explore the woodland as a family.
Family sessions run at different points throughout the year and are suitable for a range of ages.
Women Gathering
A supportive woodland gathering for women of all ages, held in Shining Cliff Woods and Shaw Woods. These sessions offer time to slow down and reconnect with nature, yourself and others, with guided forest bathing moments, time around the fire with hot drinks and conversation, a shared campfire lunch and an optional natural craft activity. You’re welcome to attend just once or come along regularly as we build a connected, supportive group. Thanks to support from the National Lottery Community Fund, we’re able to offer these gatherings at a lower cost.
“What an amazing day we have had today. Bonnie and Kate provided such an enjoyable session in the Shining Cliff Woods, great crafts that the kids really got into, they are kind and patient and just all round fantastic. We can’t wait for the next one. Thank you so much. The tea, cake and hot drinks around the fire pit just ended it amazingly”. (A review from our Easter Family session)
Birthday Parties
Celebrate your child’s birthday with an outdoor woodland party. Sessions include guided woodland activities, nature-based games and space to play and explore, with optional campfire elements.
Parties are suitable for small groups and can be tailored to the age and interests of the children.
“I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for the wonderful party yesterday. It was perfect and all of the children and adults had a super day!” (feedback from a Dragons & Fairies themed party)
Forest Bathing
Guided forest bathing sessions focused on sensory awareness, presence and connection with the woodland. These slow, mindful walks invite you to notice the small details of the natural world and your own experience within it.
Sessions take place in Shining Cliff Woods and Shaw Woods and are led by trained Forest Bathing Guides, Bonnie & Kate.
Children’s Woodland Sessions
Playful, nature-based sessions for children aged 5 and over, running throughout the year and during school holidays. Sessions are child-led and responsive, offering space to explore, create, play and build confidence in the woodland.
Sessions take place in Shining Cliff Woods and Shaw Woods, Oakerthorpe, and are led by trained woodland practitioners. Children are supported to develop resilience, curiosity and a positive relationship with the natural world.
“My 6 year old daughter attended the woodland explorer day at shining cliff with Bonnie and Kate, she had a wonderful day and couldn’t wait to tell me all she had done, including showing me some yoga moves they had learnt and how to listen like a deer , Bonnie and Kate were extremely professional and organised … looking forward to the next one“.
Woodland Adventures for Home Educating Families
Woodland Adventures for Home Educating Families offers relaxed, outdoor sessions for home educating families to spend time together in nature. Sessions are rooted in a Forest School ethos, with a focus on child-led learning through play, and optional nature-based activities available for both children and adults. Activities vary with the seasons, weather and interests of the group, and there is no pressure to take part in anything beyond enjoying time together in the woods.
Fettle, Kettle & Cake volunteer Sessions
Friendly volunteer sessions focused on caring for the woodland, sharing skills and enjoying time together outdoors. Sessions include light practical tasks, hot drinks and cake around the fire.
Open to anyone who would like to help look after the woods and be part of the Woodland Connections community.
Bespoke Woodland Sessions
We offer tailored woodland sessions for children, adults, schools, community groups and organisations. Sessions can be shaped around wellbeing, learning, creativity or simply time outdoors together.
Bespoke sessions can take place in Shining Cliff Woods, Shaw Woods, or at your own location.
Forest school
We are available to run Forest School for children aged 5 years +
We need a group of at least 6 children to be able to run the sessions. If you are interested and would like to go on the waiting list, or are able to get a group together yourself, then please get in touch.
We can run Forest School as a 2 hour or full day session. A 2 hour forest school session costs £10.50 per child, and a full day from 9:45-3:15 costs £26 per child.
We run Forest School as a termly block of either 5 or 6 weekly sessions.
Gallery
Any Questions?
