Bushy Tail Tribe Forest School
BEST FOR
Ages 0-7
ENTRY
from £10
WHERE
Chertsey
What it’s like
Den building, fire lighting and mud kitchens in the woods, with Stay & Play sessions for under-7s at £10 a head.
Sessions here are proper outdoor stuff: shelters and dens to build, a real fire to cook over, saws and whittling knives for the older ones, plus a mud kitchen and a slack line for anyone who fancies wobbling about. There's an old wooden boat to explore in the woods too, and scavenger hunts and storytelling to break things up if little legs need a sit down.
Stay & Play is £10 a child for the under-7s, and if you've got a baby along they go free riding on a paying sibling's session. An extra sibling who isn't really taking part is £8, which feels like a fair way to handle it rather than charging full whack for a toddler who just wants to watch the fire. Cancel within 24 hours though and you lose the fee, so it's worth being sure of the date before you book.
Rain doesn't stop play here. The site is upfront that kids get sent out to splash and dance in it as long as they're dressed for the weather, so spare clothes in the bag are non-negotiable. It's only proper thunder, lightning or a severe weather warning that calls a session off, and that gets you a full refund.
Birthday parties run here too, with a minimum of 15 children and up to 30 in a session before they split the group in two. You bring your own food, there's a half hour pack-up slot at the end, and they ask for no nuts, no fruit shoots and eco-friendly decorations, so leave the confetti and party poppers at home.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Babies through to age 7, with fire and tools for the older ones
- Parties
- Birthday parties available. Minimum 15 children, maximum 30 per session (can split larger groups)
- Worth knowing
- Under 1s go free with a paying sibling on Stay & Play sessions
- Stay & Play needs a minimum of 10 children booked, so it's not really a solo drop-in
- Cancel inside 24 hours and you lose the session fee
- Parties allow eco-friendly decorations but no confetti, piñatas or poppers
- Session times can be shifted from what's advertised if you just ask
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£10 a child for a Stay & Play session if they're 7 or under. An extra sibling who isn't fully joining in is £8, and under-1s go free with a paying sibling.
Do we need to book, and what happens if we cancel?
Stay & Play sessions need a minimum of 10 children booked in. Cancel less than 24 hours before and the payment isn't refunded.
What age is this suitable for?
Stay & Play is aimed at children 7 and under, with under-1s going free alongside a paying sibling.
What happens if it rains?
The session goes ahead as normal, rain or shine, as long as the kids are dressed for it. Pack spare clothes.
Would a session ever get cancelled?
Only for thunder, lightning, or a severe weather warning for wind. If that happens you get a full refund.
Can we book a birthday party?
Yes, minimum 15 children and up to 30 per session, with larger groups split over two. You bring your own food, and there's no nuts, fruit shoots, confetti or party poppers allowed.
What time should we arrive for a party?
You can come in half an hour before the session starts, and they ask you to arrive at least 10 minutes early. They hold off leaving the forest school until 45 minutes into the party, so late arrivals aren't a disaster.
What do the kids actually do?
Den and shelter building, cooking over a fire, sawing and whittling, mud kitchen, slack line, a climbing frame, scavenger hunts and storytelling. There's also an old wooden boat tucked in the woods to explore.
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