Forest Families – weekly forest school for families with disabilities, neurodivergency or anxiety across North East Wales. Forest Families was established in 2011 to provide a safe space for parents and carers of children with ADHD to meet for peer support and enjoy a range of activities outdoors. It is now supported by Wrexham Families First and runs in Wrexham at Alyn Waters Country Park and Felin Puleston, part of Erddig National Trust estate. In Flintshire, Forest Families takes place at Halkyn Castle Woods and in Denbighshire at Ruthin Community Garden.
“I love the sessions because its a chance to meet and talk to other families in a relaxed environment. I’ve also liked doing the craft activities during parent sessions especially the cross wool stick things and foraging berries to make jam. My son enjoys being able to have the space to run and free play with children his age in a safe space. My older teens have enjoyed learning new skills such as knife skills, campfire cooking & hedge trimming while at sessions and on camping trips. ”
Forest Families Parent
“Thanks for a lovely few hours forest school friends, just what I needed xx”
Forest Families Parent
“events like this are a lifeline to families struggling with children with additional needs”
Parent attending a half term outdoor session for families with disabilities
Benefits of Forest School: Campfire Cymru’s experience of working with and observing the effects of forest school and outdoor experience on children and families supports the findings of substantial research into the benefits of Forest School. Some of the research into Forest School and its impact on children can be found here. Research into Outdoor Learning can be found here.