Nottinghamshire &amp; Derbyshire


<p>Whether you’ve got a wild child who loves making messy masterpieces and mud pies or you’re keen to coax older kids off the sofa and into the great outdoors, we’re lucky to have a batch of brilliant forest schools on our doorstep. Here are our top spots for kids to go wild in Notts and Derbyshire (psst! there are even some gorgeous grown-up sessions up for grabs).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forest-folk-play-nottingham"><a href="https://forestfolkplay.com/">Forest Folk Play</a>, Nottingham</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/ForestFolk-sarahstorybookphotography-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12889" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/ForestFolk-sarahstorybookphotography-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/ForestFolk-sarahstorybookphotography-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/ForestFolk-sarahstorybookphotography-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/ForestFolk-sarahstorybookphotography.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Forest Folk Play / Image by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sarahsstorybookphotography/">Sarah Story Book Photography</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>A previous Muddy Award winner, this awesome outdoor stay and play place is hosted by Jo, a Level 3 Forest School Leader and early years specialist (a former primary school teacher and deputy head). You&#8217;ll need to stay with your kids for these sessions, which run from the Scout Hut at Blackwoods on Hucknall Road. Children can have a go at whittling, fire lighting, water and play, as well as cooking up tasty treats on the campfire. Facilities are impressive, with a slackline, role play shop, music and tool stations, mud kitchen and more. Sessions run on Mondays, Thursdays and some Fridays.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-roam-wild-forest-school-derby"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Roam-Wild-Forest-School-61560032501491/">Roam Wild Forest School</a>, Derby</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/Roam-Wild-FS.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12856" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/Roam-Wild-FS.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/Roam-Wild-FS-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/Roam-Wild-FS-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/Roam-Wild-FS-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/Roam-Wild-FS-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Littlies can get stuck into everything from nature based play and role play to messy play, crafts, stories and singing (not forgetting the popular campfires and s&#8217;mores). Aimed pre-schoolers from 12 months and primary aged kids, there are all sorts of seasonal specials and outdoor stay and play days to pick from. Next up? A <a href="https://bookwhen.com/roamwild#focus=ev-sq19-20250525150000">World Bee Day</a> special with bee-themed crafts, play and honey tasting. Sweet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boots-and-brambles-tollerton"><a href="https://www.bootsandbrambles.com/">Boots and Brambles</a>, Tollerton</h2>



<p>Head into the woods to collect sticks, build dens and mix mud pies.&nbsp;What started as a pop-up outdoor playgroup has gradually expanded to include sessions for children of all ages &#8211; from the youngest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bootsandbrambles.com/weekly-groups/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baby Brambles</a> and preschool&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bootsandbrambles.com/weekly-groups/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forest School</a>&nbsp;sessions, to <a href="https://www.bootsandbrambles.com/holiday-sessions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">holiday sessions</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bootsandbrambles.com/parties/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parties</a>&nbsp;open to families of all ages. Can’t wait for your baby to be here? There’s even antenatal classes and wellbeing events, as well as calming, healing sessions with Zephyr’s to support families that have lost a child.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-derby-forest-school-derby"><a href="https://www.derbyforestschool.com/">Derby Forest School</a>, Derby</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/Derby-Forest-School-1024x683.jpg" alt="kids outside in overalls at derby forest school" class="wp-image-12872" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/Derby-Forest-School-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/Derby-Forest-School-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/Derby-Forest-School-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/Derby-Forest-School.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Set in runs in 10 acres of community woodland at Whistlewood Common between Melbourne and Ticknall in south Derbyshire, this forest school helps kids build resilience in the great outdoors through cooking on campfires, creating woodland crafts and building dens. Start ‘em young with Nature Nursery sessions (aimed at kids from 2.5 upwards) on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Derbyshire term time. Don’t want to miss out on the fun? Join Tree Tots stay and play sessions &#8211; an hour and a half of forest school&nbsp;fun for parents or carers to enjoy with their child. Older kids (5-11) can join school holiday sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-little-tots-nature-playgroup-newthorpe"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/littlenaturetotsplaygroup/?hl=en">Little Tots Nature Playgroup</a>, Newthorpe</h2>



<p>All sorts of themed days and fun holiday sessions on offer at this one. Gruffalo Crumble special anyone? Animal encounters? Or campfire summer specials? All sounds lots of fun at this stay and play outdoor playgroup for children from toddlers to 5 years. Located near Beauvale House, it’s nature-inspired play whatever the weather at Nature Tots and Nature Babes sessions, plus parties, special events and weekend play is on offer.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-little-wildlings-nature-play-swadlincote"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/little_wildlings_natureplay/?hl=en-gb">Little Wildlings Nature Play</a>, Swadlincote</h2>



<p>I love the strapline for this outdoor nature playgroup &#8211; &#8216;inspired by nature, mud and imaginations&#8217; &#8211; it says it all. Set in a pretty private woodland, it&#8217;s aimed at kids up to age 9 and offers incredibly creative themed sessions. There&#8217;s even a Butty Box on site providing fresh hot, food and drinks to warm you up.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-out-forest-school-glossop"><a href="https://insideoutforestschool.com/">Inside Out Forest School</a>, Glossop</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/InsideOut-forest-yoga-1.jpg" alt="kids doing yoga in the forest bulwell" class="wp-image-12893" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/InsideOut-forest-yoga-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/InsideOut-forest-yoga-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/InsideOut-forest-yoga-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/InsideOut-forest-yoga-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/04/InsideOut-forest-yoga-1-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Connect with nature in all sorts of ways at this forest school-cum-wellbeing centre. From parent and child Little Explorers groups (18 months to 4 years), to Inside Out autism and SEND sessions, there&#8217;s a lot on offer here. Weekend Forest Family sessions, forest yoga, Baby sessions, holiday camps, Just For Dads sessions and themed birthday parties, they do it all. There are even adult-only woodland retreats if you fancy escaping into the wild without the kids.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bulwell-forest-garden-bulwell"><a href="https://www.bulwellforestgarden.co.uk/kidsclubs">Bulwell Forest Garden</a>, Bulwell</h2>



<p>One for bigger kids who love a spot of wild time. Wednesday forest school, weekend kids&#8217; clubs and family holiday sessions are all on offer at this community garden and nature space. Forest school is aimed at kids aged 6-11 and is filled with trench digging, den building, whittling, bug hunting and crafting with natural materials (as well as the obligatory marshmallow toasting on campfires of course). Saplings Saturday club is aimed at older kids aged 10-15 and Grow, Cook &amp; Play sessions run for families to harvest, cook and play together during the school hols.</p>



<p><em>Main image taken at Forest Folk Play by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sarahsstorybookphotography/">Sarah Story Book Photography</a></em></p>


Go wild! Fab forest schools and outdoor playgroups near you

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