Little Gardeners
nature stay & play for under 7s
Let your little ones play, explore, dig, create and connect with nature in a safe and stimulating outdoor setting.
This is an outdoor, unstructured, free play session. Rather than running structured activities, we encourage the adults to take a step back, relax, and let the play experts (our children) take the lead. Have a cuppa and chat with like-minded parents or just enjoy being in our peaceful garden sanctuary.
Each week we put out a changing set of resources for free garden-based play, including…
- magnifying glasses
- mini gardening tools and watering cans
- a kids’ raised bed for digging and growing food
- a dressing up box
- a mud kitchen
- wildlife pond
- loose parts for creative play
- friendly chickens
- a story den
- painting and craft activities
There are always hot drinks for the adults, snacks provided by Organix (and sometimes hot chocolate) for the children in our dry outdoor classroom space.
Dress for the weather and join us rain or shine!
Booking Information
Thursdays in school term time
10.15am to 11.45am
Suggested donation of £5 per household group, or pay-what-you-can afford.
The Secret Garden, St Clements Road, Boscombe BH1 4DJ
Numbers are limited so please book in advance.
Please book one ticket for each family household group that is attending.
What is the aim of this group?
- To let children enjoy free play and make that important first connection with nature & growing food. We define play as “freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated”. The children choose what they want to do whilst you sit back, put ya feet up and have a cuppa!
- It may take some children a while to choose what they want to play with or how they want to play. Opting out of play and resting, chatting etc is fine!
- Adults are welcome to join in and support their own children but we do ask them to follow their child’s lead.
- If you’d like to learn more, please read The Playwork Primer – essential reading for all playmates!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
- Little Gardeners is funded soley by supporter donations, whilst we continue to seek funding.
- There is a suggested donation of £5 per household group to cover costs.
- However, we would like the group to remain accessible to families on lower incomes. You may amend the donation amount to what you can afford, or reduce it to £0.
- It is also possible to donate by cash/card on the day.
- Or join the Friends of Grounded to minimise processing fees and give regularly to our charity.
What if I need to cancel?
- We are keen to keep this group free and we ask people to book ahead due to limited space in the garden.
- The downside of this is that it can book out very quickly and we often get no-shows.
- If something comes up and you can no longer make it, please tell us by replying to your booking confirmation email. Then we can let those families on the waiting list know that a space has come up. Thank you!
How do I get there and where can I park?
- If it’s your first visit then please give yourself a bit of extra time to find us…
- We are tucked away in a corner of St Clements Churchyard, St Clements Road, Boscombe, BH1 4DJ.
- Our gate is in the churchyard. Walk towards the church along the path leading from Knole Road and our gate is on your right.
- Unfortunately there is no visitor parking allowed in the churchyard but there is some on-street parking available on Knole Road and the surrounding streets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there wheelchair access?
- The secret garden is wheelchair friendly although there are some uneven surfaces. Our WC is not wheelchair accessible. Please let us know whether you will need access to a wheelchair friendly toilet when you book.
Are there any water hazards?
- We have a medium sized wildlife pond. Children are supervised around this area and are encouraged to investigate the wildlife sensibly without causing harm. However there are no physical barriers to stop children jumping in, if they are really intent on it. Please bring a change of clothes if you think appropriate for your child!
Will there be any refreshments?
- Hot drinks and childrens’ snacks will be available.
How will the session be affected by weather?
- The session will go ahead in most weather conditions. Children do not dissolve in the rain! Please look at the forecast and dress appropriately. If weather is predicted that poses a risk to our safety (e.g. very strong winds, thunderstorms or hail) then an email will be sent to ticket-holders confirming that the event has been canceled.
- If you don’t have wet weather gear, we have a small supply of kids’ wellies at the garden. For the full kit, contact the lovely folks at Bournemouth and Pooly Wellie Bank.