We encourage lots of self-directed play so children can explore and discover at their pace and in their own way, while learning and truly connecting with nature.
The cost of each of our classes varies – ranging from free to £12. We also operate a sliding scale for payment of sessions, more information is below.
Forest Friday – Weekly
Who: 6-12 year olds
(for children living within postcode areas EH16 and EH17. Please make contact if you live out of catchment areas as spaces can often become available)
Where: Craigmillar Castle Park and Gracemount Mansion
When: Friday from 1.30pm – 4.30pm.
Mixture of child-led free play and pre-planned activities, these are often planned from previous sessions or on the walk to our sites. We just never know where the interests will lie…..
Activities include: den building, natural art and crafts, swings and hammocks, tool use, bush-craft skills, campfire cooking, nature ID and foraging.
Nature Play – Weekly
Who: under 5s and carers
Where: Bridgend Farmhouse and walking into Craigmillar Castle Park
When: Wednesdays 10am – 12pm
Fully child-led active play for children under 5 and carers. All sessions include sustainable activities that can be replicated at home, in the garden and in local green spaces including: scavenger hunts, nature trails, mud kitchen, water play, small world play, loose parts and much much more….
Beach Schools – Dates TBC
Who: all children
Where: Musselburgh Beach, Longniddry Bents 2 & 3 and Granton Bay
When: between March and October
Beach School sessions tend to follow the same principles as forest school sessions whereby children are encouraged to explore the natural environment with its constantly changing appearance, offerings, and potential learning experiences and opportunities.
Activities include: simple woodwork using tools and drift wood, shelter building, buckets and nets for rock pooling, sea glass art and crafts, shell collecting, sand castles, beach games, beach clean and more.
Hungarian Forest Families – Monthly
Szeretnél találkozni magyarul beszélő családokkal? Szereted a természetet? Akkor az Erdei Családok (Forest families) következő foglalkozását Nektek találták ki. Szeretettel várunk minden olyan családot, akik a magyar nyelvet szeretnék gyakorolni természetközeli környezetben.
A Trees and Seas Outdoor Adventures játékalapú tanulást biztosít szabadtéren az Edinburgh-ban élő gyermekek és családjaik számára.
A foglalkozásokat a helyi erdőkben és gyönyörű tengerpartokon tartják.
A foglalkozás során kuckót építünk faágakból, tüzet gyújtunk, makramézunk, függőágyból felhőket nézünk, barkácsolunk, kézmüveskedünk.
Do you want to meet Hungarian-speaking families? Do you love nature? Then this Forest families session was invented for you. We welcome all families who want to practice the Hungarian language in a close-to-nature environment.
Forests For All – Monthly
Who: primary aged children with additional support needs and their families.
Where: Bridgend Farmhouse and walking together into Craigmillar Castle Park
When: every 2nd Saturday of the Month 10am – 12pm
These sessions are led by Jill Purves and Leanne Reid from The Very Inclusive Play Club who are trained Therapeutic Forest Practitioners and Forest School leaders.
The sessions are mainly child-led with some games and activities to assist in the development of independence, language and social and emotional skills. We can use Sign-along, Picture Exchange Visuals (PECs) and other communication strategies to support your child.
Sessions are tailored to ensure they meet the needs of each child. Siblings are welcome to attend and we promote sibling bonding to help create special family memories.
Sliding Pay Scale
At Trees and Seas we try to make sessions affordable to all and we use a sliding scale payment system known as “pay what you can” which is income based and self-assessed. We hope this makes sessions affordable for all. More information is given when you proceed to book.
Pay It Forward
We are all feeling the pinch at the moment with the cost of living. We are asking those who are able to ‘Pay it Forward’ and make a donation to help us offer spaces at sessions and support the work we do at Trees and Seas, allowing us to reach more children and young people.
Testimonial
Trees and Seas have been an absolute life line for my son over the last year. Jill and her incredible team have offered a place for young people in the area to thrive, become more confident, resilient, try new things and take pride in a community space. I am so grateful that Christopher has a safe outdoor space to run around in with a diverse group of friends in all weather as there are not many opportunities to play out where I stay. The sliding scale of fees makes it affordable for everyone.
Christopher say “Friday is my favourite day of the week. When I get to forest school and see my guys I feel so happy inside. Sometimes I get there and take a deep breath and I feel better.”