A Muddy Start to 2026 & Looking Ahead to Spring

Our first Monday afternoon session of 2026 took place this week, and it felt really good to be back outdoors together. There was plenty of laughter, curiosity, and — as always — mud. It was a joyful and grounding way to begin the year.

Our Monday afternoon sessions are funded by the National Lottery and run weekly. They are suitable for pre-school children and home-educated children, and we’re pleased to be able to continue offering these sessions as a free and inclusive opportunity for families.

Booking updates

Bookings now open 10 days prior to each session. We are trialling this system to make access fairer for everyone and will continue with this approach until the end of March, after which we’ll be inviting feedback. If you have thoughts or reflections as we go, we’d love to hear them.

Please note there will be no Monday sessions on:

• 26th January

• 9th February

• 2nd March

  
  

Half term

Half term falls in the week commencing Monday 16th February. We would usually deliver a wider family community session during this time, which is a paid event. Details will be shared once confirmed.

Weekend Sessions Return

Our first weekend sessions of the year take place on Saturday 31st January.

• Morning: Fully funded Family SEND session

• Afternoon: Wider community session

  
  

Bookings open Thursday 22nd January. If you’re hoping to join us, keep an eye on our usual channels for booking information.

Forest School Parties

This month we hosted our earliest ever Forest School party. Although it was cold, the winter sunshine made it a really special day. Celebrating outdoors, even in the quieter seasons, always feels meaningful.

If you’d like to find out more about Forest School parties, you’re very welcome to get in touch for an informal chat.

New Projects Launching This Spring

I’m really pleased to share that we’ll be starting two new projects in Spring, thanks to funding from Knowsley Council and Northern Rail.

These projects will focus on supporting women’s wellbeing, using nature as a therapeutic tool to help mitigate social isolation and mental health challenges. One project will be specifically designed for mothers of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) — a group of women who so often give so much of themselves to others.

Before designing this project, we want to listen first.

Consultation now live

We are inviting mums of children with SEND to take part in an initial consultation so that this project is shaped around your needs, priorities, and experiences — not the other way around.

Consultation closes Saturday 14th February

See link to the consultation here: https://forms.office.com/r/n3LP7B440Z

If you know someone who may be interested, please feel free to share this opportunity with them.

Governance & Advisory Updates

Due to workload and capacity, our quarterly Director’s meeting and Parent Advisory Board has been rescheduled and will now take place on:

📅 Thursday 26th February

If you’d like to be involved as part of the Parent Advisory Board, or if you’re interested in becoming a Director — particularly if you have experience in finance, bookkeeping, budgeting, or bid writing — please do get in touch. We’re always keen to strengthen the team with a range of skills and perspectives.

Wider Work & Commitments

2026 has already begun at pace. Alongside two external training bookings with Kingsnorth English Hub, I’m also looking forward to speaking at the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Wales event on Thursday 26th February.

School Improvement visits for my current seven schools have all now been allocated ahead of Easter, which falls earlier than usual this year. This means the next few months will be very busy, balancing travel, delivery, and preparation alongside Journeys Leave Seeds work.

Our final term of the therapeutic nature group with Growing Sudley begins next week. This has been a two-year project, and I’ll be particularly sad to say goodbye to this group of children I’ve come to know so well — some of whom have attended every single session over the last two years. It has been a real privilege to walk alongside them and witness their growth over time.

A Personal Reflection

As the year gathers momentum and diaries begin to fill, I’m very aware of the need to move through busy periods sustainably. Much of this work is rooted in slowing down, noticing, and reconnecting — values that can be easy to lose sight of when life feels full.

It’s about noticing when to pause, when to ask for support, and when to step outside and breathe — even briefly. Holding onto this balance feels especially important as we move towards spring, a season that invites both growth and renewal.

Thank you, as always, for being part of this community — whether you attend sessions, share our work, take part in consultations, or simply follow along. Every connection helps these journeys leave seeds 🌱