Tree Tots group helps introduce toddlers to mud pies, bugs and nature in Milton Keynes

This weekly group is based at Howe Park Wood in Milton Keynes and sessions take place every Thursday morning for children aged between one and five.

Sessions, which run between 10am and 11.30am, are designed to develop the toddlers' social and fine motor skills through playing in the great outdoors.

They also help build confidence, encourage physical play and support children’s imagination and creativity, says the Parks Trust.

A spokesman said:"The sessions vary each week to keep them engaging and interesting and to give children the opportunity to learn something new."

The activities include playing in the mud kitchen, taking a wander through the woods to discover wildlife, crawling through tunnels, painting, playing musical instruments or even

swinging in hammocks.

At the end of each session the children and their parents are invited to enjoy a story and a hot chocolate in the woodland clearing.

The spokesman said: "Tree Tots is an outdoor session but in the event of very bad weather we do move indoors to our education centre at Howe Park Wood, where a variety of activities

such as exploring natural treasure baskets, making nature crowns or leaf kebabs from items found in the woods and a story for the children to enjoy all take place."

Each sessions costs £2.50 per child and there is a maximum of three children per adult.

Visit www.theparkstrust.com to book a place.