Wildlife and Bushcraft activity days

*Ticket sales will end on Monday 10th August at 5pm to enable us to make our final plans*

We are excited to launch Wildlife and Bushcraft activity days for 8-16 year olds at Hazel Hill Wood this summer! 

Come and join us for fun-filled days where we will find out about the wildlife that lives in the woodland, pond and meadow and have a go at some simple bushcraft (you won't even realise you're learning and building confidence too!).

Free places

Children who receive free school meals can apply for a free place through Wiltshire Council's FUEL programme. Free places are also available for refugees, young carers, and children in foster care through this scheme.

Paid places

Children who are not eligible for a free place are very welcome to attend by booking here.

Places cost £49 per day, or book all four days for the price of three.

What to expect:

• a maximum of 18 young people each day 
• supported by 3 experienced facilitators
• in a peaceful, private setting
• sharing knowledge about birds, trees, bugs and more
• teaching skills like how to build a great den and how to light a fire! (Sadly no fire lighting this time due to the drought and increased wildfire risk.)

Sample schedule:

10am-11.30am - morning exploring the wood as a whole group, with a different theme each day:

• Mon 17 Aug - den building
• Tue 18 Aug - pond dipping and bug hunting
• Wed 19 Aug - tree and flower identification 
• Thu 20 Aug - practical conservation

11.30am-12.30pm - prepare and eat a healthy vegetarian lunch together at the campfire or Roundhouse (weather dependent). There will be a nutritious cooked meal every day - things like soup and bread, chilli and rice, stir fry. There will be an alternative option of sandwich or toastie. We'll also make popcorn on the fire, toast apple slices (instead of marshmallows!), make a simple campfire fruit crumble and cook chocolate bananas in foil. (Sadly no fire lighting this time due to the drought and increased wildfire risk - we will have alternative healthy sweet treats.)

You are welcome to bring a packed lunch if you prefer.

12.30-2pm - using the Heartwood as our base (photo below), there will be options of activities to choose from. This is likely to include: 

• bird watching
• woodland games
• natural crafts
• fire lighting (sadly no fire lighting this time due to the drought and increased wildfire risk.)
• mindfulness in nature

Hazel Hill Wood is a beautiful and secluded 70-acre conservation woodland and retreat centre with simple indoor facilities, including compost toilets. 

Meet your facilitators

Charley Miller started working at Hazel Hill Wood in 2018, managing the wood for wildlife and people. She loves introducing new people to the wood and its wildlife. Charley set up Wildlife and Wellbeing as a community interest company in 2024, running nature connection events in and around Salisbury. As well as knowing loads about wildlife, Charley is also a trained mindfulness teacher, specialising in mindfulness in nature. 

Emily Edwards is a qualified Level 3 Forest School Leader based near Salisbury, where she runs withINsight Coaching. She's delivered inclusive, learner-led outdoor sessions for children since 2018, and has supported neurodivergent young people in Alternative Provision settings using the woods to build confidence, resilience and practical skills. As someone who is Autistic and ADHD herself, Emily brings both professional training and lived understanding to how she works with neurodivergent people.

Ella Abbott is an experienced outdoor facilitator who is passionate about nature and nurturing our connection with it. She loves nothing more than creatively supporting diverse ranges of people under the open sky. Her professional expertise enable her to adapt to all settings from woodlands, to rivers, to farms and beyond. Ella brings a relaxed yet jovial, upbeat approach to each and every session; her energy is infectious! She looks forward to meeting you soon.

Clay Ingram is currently studying palaeontology at Portsmouth university but has lived in Salisbury his whole life, surrounded by forests and wildlife. He's hopeful to work on protecting and restoring UK ecosystems (especially wetlands) and their native inhabitants by comparing palaeo-climate change impacts to modern day. Clay loves our native flying friends, and is always around to talk about bats and birds!

Joining instructions

Arrival and departure

Please arrive at Hazel Hill Wood between 9.45-10am. 

Hazel Hill Wood, Grimstead Road, near East Grimstead, SP5 1AU. The postcode is for the farm opposite, you'll see our big green and yellow HAZEL HILL WOOD sign out on the road. Follow the track down and go straight on/right at the fork.

Please collect your child at 2pm.

What to bring

This kit list is designed as a guide to help keep you comfortable and safe. Please wear or bring:

• Comfortable clothing suitable for the weather and that you don't mind getting dirty - bear in mind that it tends to be a few degrees cooler in the woods, so bring one more layer than you think you need
• Waterproof coat (and trousers if you have them)
• Old trainers or walking boots that you don't mind getting dirty. Or there are spare wellies at the wood which you can borrow.
• Water bottle - this can be refilled on site.

Ticks are present in the wood - please read NHS tick and Lyme disease guidance.

Anything else?

If this hasn't answered all of your questions, please contact Charley on charley@waw.org.uk or 07519 464023. Otherwise, we look forward to meeting/seeing you!

The Heartwood will be our base - sheltered, shady and spacious

We'll have access to the lovely Oak House (though we plan to spend most of the time outside!)

We'll explore the amazing wildflower meadow and discover what plants and bugs live here