Outdoor woodland play for curious little explorers in Doncaster.
Forest Friends is a completely outdoor playgroup and forest school at Squirrel Wood, offering weekly woodland sessions, family forest school, birthday parties, story trails and outdoor adventures for children aged 0–11.
Sessions run all year round in most weather — occasionally cancelled after significant rainfall.
A place to play, explore and get muddy.
Forest Friends gives children the space to enjoy nature through hands-on outdoor play. Sessions include mud kitchen, bug hunting, rope swings, den building, hammocks, crafts, story trails, music, water play and much more.
Every session is a little different, with themed activities, crafts and play trays designed to encourage confidence, curiosity, creativity and problem-solving.
Sessions for every kind of little explorer.
Woodland Playgroup
Weekly outdoor stay-and-play every Monday and Friday morning. Recommended for under 7s — perfect for families, grandparents, carers and childminders.
Book PlaygroupFamily Forest School
Outdoor forest school for children up to 11. Ideal for families who want more time outside, more confidence and more nature in their week.
View SessionsBirthday Parties
Private woodland birthday parties with outdoor activities, nature play and themes tailored to your child. Adventure, mud, dens and fun.
Book a PartySchools, Nurseries & Childminders
Bookable woodland sessions for nurseries, schools and childminder groups who want children to access outdoor learning and nature-based play.
Enquire About Group SessionsStory Trails & Events
Seasonal story trails, school holiday sessions and themed outdoor events throughout the year.
See What's Coming UpThemed Seasonal Sessions
Spring planting, summer water play, autumn leaf hunts, winter lantern walks — the woods change with the seasons and so do we.
See EventsWhat children can do at Forest Friends.
- Mud kitchen
- Bug hunting
- Rope swings
- Den building
- Hammocks
- Crafts
- Story trails
- Water play
- Music area
- Book tent
- Baby area
- Ninja slackline
- Tinker tool station
- Nature play
- Themed trays
- Outdoor exploring
Some activities vary by session, season and location.
Meet Sharon and Paul.
Forest Friends is run by Sharon and Paul, a husband-and-wife team with a lifelong love of children, family, creativity and the outdoors.
Sharon is a qualified Nursery Nurse with a degree in Supporting Learning, and has spent her life working with children — as a childminder, in schools, and now in the woods. Paul is a keen fisherman, talented woodworker, lifelong outdoor enthusiast and proud Sheffield Wednesday fan.
Married for 37 years, proud parents to 3, grandparents to 4, and adoptive parents to 2 amazing sons — they bring warmth, care and playful energy to every session.
Contact Sharon and PaulNature is good for children.
Regular outdoor play helps children become healthier, happier, more confident and more creative. It gives them space to take safe risks, solve problems, use their imagination and connect with the natural world.
At Forest Friends, children are encouraged to explore at their own pace. They can get muddy, ask questions, build, climb, make, imagine and discover — all within a safe woodland environment.
A few practical things.
Where to find us
Squirrel Wood, Doncaster, DN6 9JQ — a scout camp just outside Burghwallis, with easy access from the A19 and A1.
When we run
Woodland Playgroup runs Monday and Friday mornings, all year round. School holiday sessions, story trails and events too.
Weather
We run in most weather, but sessions may be cancelled after significant rainfall, or for thunderstorms, high winds, lightning or severe weather warnings.
Toilets & parking
There's a disabled toilet and baby change on site. Parking details are sent after booking.
“There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.”
Ready for some woodland fun?
Book a single session, save your spot at an event, or get in touch with Sharon and Paul about parties, schools and childminder groups.