Action Packed Spring Programme Launched for ‘Babes in the Woods’

A Local parent-led charity has recently launched a packed programme of Spring events for their project Babes in the Woods.

Bump, Baby and Beyond created the outdoor playgroup with the idea of organising and running free sessions for parents and their young children.

Based on the edge of Mabie Forest, the volunteer-run project has access to an area of land which is being developed as a children’s nature reserve, where monthly play sessions incorporate storytelling and child-led outdoor play and families are encouraged to interact with the natural environment. As the project has developed, the group has moved beyond its HQ site and, in addition to arranging fieldtrips to other outdoor play sites such as forests and beaches, it is now also offering fortnightly sessions at Lochside Family Centre.

Babes in the Woods Volunteer Leah Belford said: “We have loved having regular drop in sessions at Lochside Family Centre with groups big and small, an enclosed garden with lots to explore but also the toy library on hand for typical Scottish weather. It means little ones can get their fresh air, get in touch with nature and then move indoors for crafts and a snack. And we love a theme! From hedgehogs to mud…we love getting new ideas and the mums who come along make great suggestions too.”

The sessions at Lochside are accessible to families who may have difficulty travelling further afield or who don’t have the confidence to attend the group’s forest-based activities. Recent research has shown children have a largely screen-based lifestyle, with just 21 per cent regularly playing outside compared with 71 per cent of their parents, and the sessions in Lochside are an ideal introduction to the Babes in the Woods Programme which is ultimately about providing opportunities and encouraging children to play outdoors.

Session co-lead Amy Murray, said: “Babes in the Woods helps parents and their children get outdoors to experience the wonders of nature. Frequent outdoor activity benefits people of all ages as it is important for mental and physical wellbeing. At Lochside we also have the use of the indoor play area, we are very environmentally conscious and use upcycled materials for crafts which both parents and children enjoy. The community aspect of the sessions are great as they get parents and children alike socialising and making friends.”

The new Spring timetable is detailed below and, whilst almost all activities are free, you do have to book via their facebook page ‘outdoorplaydumfries’, or contact the group via email at [email protected].