Woodland Wanderers opens a forest school at Hylands Park: Monday mornings for ages two to five from 9 November, and Saturday sessions for six to 11s. From £16 a child, with free parking.

A forest school for children aged two to 11 opens at Hylands Park on Monday 9 November. Woodland Wanderers will run its sessions in the park’s outdoor education area, beside the main Hylands House car park. Places cost from £16 a child, and each group takes no more than 15 children.

Chelmsford City Council, which owns the park, announced the move on 16 October (Chelmsford City Council). The forest school is led by Clare Houghton, who the council says spent 25 years as a primary school teacher.

The two groups

Group Ages When Parents
Little Saplings 2 to 5 Every Monday, 10am to 11.30am, from 9 November A parent or carer stays
Woodland Explorers 6 to 11 First and third Saturday of each month, 90 minutes Drop off and collect at the end

Both groups are capped at 15 children. Little Saplings is gentle outdoor play, sensory activities and nature crafts. Woodland Explorers covers woodland habitats and longer activities. The council lists woodland walks, scavenger hunts, small animal shelters and leaf art among the things children will do.

The council’s announcement does not give the Saturday start time or the date of the first Explorers session. Woodland Wanderers posts its session dates and booking details on Instagram, and takes enquiries at woodlandwanderers.forestschool@gmail.com.

A clearing in woodland at Hylands Park with log seats arranged around a fire circle, a wooden table in the foreground and a small net in the background
The outdoor classroom at Hylands Park, to the left of the main car park. Photo: Woodland Wanderers, via Chelmsford City Council

What it means for you

  • Price: sessions start from £16 a child. Brothers and sisters who come together get 10% off.
  • Parking: free for forest school families, using a session permit, so ask about the permit when you book. Our parking in Chelmsford page has the city’s other car parks.
  • Where: the outdoor learning space is to the left of the main Hylands House car park.
  • Afterwards: families get 10% off at The Deli cafe in the Stables.

The council does not say whether the £16 is the Monday or the Saturday price. Check before you book.

Why it matters

It gives young children a new weekly outdoor activity in the city’s best-known park. Councillor Jennie Lardge, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for culture and leisure, said getting outside was “beneficial for their mental and physical health” and helped “create an ecologically conscious generation of children”.

Clare Houghton said: “This is an amazing opportunity to take the Woodland Wanderers project to the stunning Hylands Park. I couldn’t think of anywhere better to conduct Forest School sessions.”

For more to do with children in the park this winter, see our pages on things to do in Chelmsford and the Hylands Christmas light trail.

Sources