During September and October 2024, OUTSIDE's Waymaking project will open up Dimmingsdale in the Churnet Valley to people living locally who access services provided by Home-Start, Staffordshire Moorlands. We are specifically targeting parents with very young children who are able to be carried, aged between 0 – 2 years. This is a special chance to join a group walk once a week with your baby led by sound and voice artist, Eleanor Hooper; and outdoor facilitator, Beth Riley.

Information about Dimmingsdale: https://www.ramblersretreat.co.uk/

With this group of people, going out with very young children can feel daunting, particularly in the early stages of parenting babies. We want to enable access to wild green places by demonstrating what is possible through simple, pragmatic decisions; and we to show how parents can use wild wooded areas to support their own movement, and connection with their babies.

Waymaking seeks to help you to:

• Walk gently

• Encourage play and rest within the trees

• Remain flexible according to conditions, basic needs of individuals and group.

This will be taking place weekly on Tuesday's between 10:30am and 2pm from the 10th September until 15th October.

We are working with Staffordshire Moorlands artist, Emma Varughese; and outdoor early years practitioner, Beth Riley; with support from Callum Smith, Active Forests Coordinator, Forestry England; and Home-Start Staffordshire Moorlands.

Photo by James Brunt.