The Outdoor Environment
At Country Pumpkins we are passionate about the freedom and extensive learning opportunities the outdoors offers. We spend a vast amount of our day outdoors, whether it be in our nursery gardens, the surrounding fields and play areas, or the wider community. Some of our favourite places we visit regularly include Beckford Nature Reserve, the ‘Secret Garden’ and allotment at The Old Post Office in Beckford, the Church and the nearby bridal way. Our Country Pumpkins children are cherished members of the local community. Since opening we have formed secure connections with our neighbours and are always greeted with a wave and a smile as we make our way on our adventures.
Some examples of ways that we give back to our community include baking cakes for church coffee mornings, singing carols to local residents and fundraising for the local wildlife rescue centre, we’ve even made a scarecrow that stands proudly in the nearby allotments!
Forest School
She has her level 3 forest school leader qualification and co-ordinates our outdoor provision across the nursery.
We visit Bredon Forest School once a week which is a beautiful woodland area made up of a mix of sycamore, oak, pine and beech trees, as well as hazel and elder bushes that provide habitat for an array of wildlife.
Children can learn about the natural world, the wildlife that live in the forest and see the changes throughout the seasons. There is also opportunity for children to challenge themselves on the high ropes and swings, dig for worms in the popular mud pit, and construct through den building and weaving with natural materials. Most of all the forest offers children the freedom to explore without walls or ceilings, and after a busy morning of play, we come together around the campfire to share a warm drink and snack and reflect on the fun we have had.
2024 will see the creation of our own on-site forest school area, and whilst we will continue to visit the woodland, we are excited to develop our own site that we can explore daily. Watch this space!!