Look no further than your local Clyde valley woodland for FREE, fabulous and healthy fun with ‘Growing Up Wild’ play sessions this spring school holiday.

Heritage Lottery Fund supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP), are piloting the woodland play project ‘Growing Up Wild’ to give children and their families the chance to simply get out and play.

“We have wonderful woodlands right on our doorstep that are perfect for families to enjoy,” explains Karen Dobbins, CAVLP Development Officer. She continues, “For many reasons, these days, children don’t get the opportunity to play freely outdoors and this project will create a safe environment for them to play, explore and let their imaginations run wild.”

There is growing evidence to support the idea that nature play is much more than just fun – it is essential for our children’s physical, social and emotional health and wellbeing. Yet, even a brief internet search will find a worrying number of reports on how little time our kids get to play outdoors.  According to a report from the National Trust (Natural Childhood by Stephen Moss), fewer than 1 in 10 children regularly play in wild places.

To address this issue, CAVLP have developed and funded several school and community natural play projects including the weekly Little Pips Outdoor Play in Morgan Glen, Larkhall.

Inspired by their success, CAVLP hope to give more communities the chance to get in touch with their wild side. ‘Growing up Wild’ has been developed in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council, the RSPB and Little Pips Outdoor Play.

“The Growing Up Wild sessions have been launched as pilot play projects to determine how much appetite there would be locally for this sort of initiative,” said Donna Marshall, CAVLP Manager. “We are in the process of applying for funding to extend this to a wider programme which would be availbale to more communities and groups. We are delighted that so much interest and support has already been shown by families booking to attend.”

Sessions will take place in Mauldslie Woodlands (Tuesdays 5 and 12 April), RSPB Baron’s Haugh (Wednesdays 6 and 13 April) and Lesmahagow Woodland Walk (Thursdays 7 and 14 April).

For more information or to book any of the sessions for FREE, go to www.Growing-Up-Wild.eventbrite.co.uk.

Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership

www.clydeandavonvalley.org