Forest PLAY (Autumn 2026)

£0.00

We’re excited to be bringing back Forest PLAY to Beckton Woods for 2026- 2027. Come and enjoy some special time together outdoors at our free sessions for Newham families with babies and toddlers aged up to 2 years. Mums, dads and other carers welcome. Sessions run Fridays 10am- 12pm.

Co-led by a qualified Forest School Leader and an Early Years Educator, our sessions offer a relaxed, supportive space for you and your little one to explore nature, play and connect together.

We believe that spending time in nature can be good for the whole family. Our sessions offer little ones opportunities to learn and grow, while giving parents and carers a chance to slow down, enjoy the outdoors and nurture their own wellbeing.

We explore meadows, woodland edges and other suitable natural spaces, using buggy-friendly paths wherever possible. Sessions take place throughout the seasons and in a range of weather conditions, so please come dressed for the outdoors! Sessions may be cancelled during extreme weather, such as high winds or heatwaves.

What to expect

  • Explore nature— Discover leaves, sticks, textures, sounds and all the little wonders of the woodland.

  • Play at your own pace— Give your child the freedom to explore, roll, crawl, walk and discover in a safe, supportive outdoor environment.

  • Enjoy time together— Take a break from the distractions of your daily life.

  • Grow in confidence— Get gentle support to understand your child's cues, explore their emotions and support their development through play.

  • Connect— Meet local parents and carers in a friendly, inclusive space where everyone is welcome.

Good to know

  • Slings and buggies welcome

  • Comfort toys and teething toys welcome, but please leave anything electronic at home

  • Dress for the weather. We meet in most weather conditions and will provide a shelter for wet weather, but waterproof coats, trousers and shoes are recommended for participants of all ages. Email us for recommendations!

  • Sessions are aimed at babies and toddlers aged 0-2 living in Newham and their parent/carer. Older siblings, under 5, are welcome but please let us know in advance if they are joining

  • These funded sessions are for Newham families, so unfortunately we cannot offer places to families living outside of Newham at this time.

Getting here

Will Thorne Pavilion Car Park, Stansfeld Road, Beckton E6

  • DLR: Royal Albert (7 minute walk)

  • Bus: 376 (Will Thorne Pavilion), 262 or 300 (Beckton District Park- 7 minute walk via the Capital Ring)

  • Parking: Free 2hr parking in Will Thorne Pavilion Car Park (no need to buy a ticket or register), paid parking on Stansfeld Road. 

Ready to join us?

Sessions are free but booking is required to manage numbers. Our first 3 sessions are ‘drop in' (booked weekly) and after that we will run sessions in blocks in line with the Forest School principle of long-term, regular nature connection. These funded sessions will run roughly with the school terms Autumn 2026, Spring 2027 and Summer 2027.

Dates:

We’re excited to be bringing back Forest PLAY to Beckton Woods for 2026- 2027. Come and enjoy some special time together outdoors at our free sessions for Newham families with babies and toddlers aged up to 2 years. Mums, dads and other carers welcome. Sessions run Fridays 10am- 12pm.

Co-led by a qualified Forest School Leader and an Early Years Educator, our sessions offer a relaxed, supportive space for you and your little one to explore nature, play and connect together.

We believe that spending time in nature can be good for the whole family. Our sessions offer little ones opportunities to learn and grow, while giving parents and carers a chance to slow down, enjoy the outdoors and nurture their own wellbeing.

We explore meadows, woodland edges and other suitable natural spaces, using buggy-friendly paths wherever possible. Sessions take place throughout the seasons and in a range of weather conditions, so please come dressed for the outdoors! Sessions may be cancelled during extreme weather, such as high winds or heatwaves.

What to expect

  • Explore nature— Discover leaves, sticks, textures, sounds and all the little wonders of the woodland.

  • Play at your own pace— Give your child the freedom to explore, roll, crawl, walk and discover in a safe, supportive outdoor environment.

  • Enjoy time together— Take a break from the distractions of your daily life.

  • Grow in confidence— Get gentle support to understand your child's cues, explore their emotions and support their development through play.

  • Connect— Meet local parents and carers in a friendly, inclusive space where everyone is welcome.

Good to know

  • Slings and buggies welcome

  • Comfort toys and teething toys welcome, but please leave anything electronic at home

  • Dress for the weather. We meet in most weather conditions and will provide a shelter for wet weather, but waterproof coats, trousers and shoes are recommended for participants of all ages. Email us for recommendations!

  • Sessions are aimed at babies and toddlers aged 0-2 living in Newham and their parent/carer. Older siblings, under 5, are welcome but please let us know in advance if they are joining

  • These funded sessions are for Newham families, so unfortunately we cannot offer places to families living outside of Newham at this time.

Getting here

Will Thorne Pavilion Car Park, Stansfeld Road, Beckton E6

  • DLR: Royal Albert (7 minute walk)

  • Bus: 376 (Will Thorne Pavilion), 262 or 300 (Beckton District Park- 7 minute walk via the Capital Ring)

  • Parking: Free 2hr parking in Will Thorne Pavilion Car Park (no need to buy a ticket or register), paid parking on Stansfeld Road. 

Ready to join us?

Sessions are free but booking is required to manage numbers. Our first 3 sessions are ‘drop in' (booked weekly) and after that we will run sessions in blocks in line with the Forest School principle of long-term, regular nature connection. These funded sessions will run roughly with the school terms Autumn 2026, Spring 2027 and Summer 2027.

Forest PLAY is funded by Best Start Family Hubs, Newham Family Hub Network.