Our Sites and Activities
Higher Wheal Martyn Site, Carthew. PL268XG.
Our Higher Wheal Martyn site is located adjacent to the Wheal Martyn Clay Works, Carthew, and consists of classroom buildings that have sensory rooms and therapeutic spaces; poly tunnels and developing gardening areas; an orchard and ‘crib hut’; wildlife ponds; outdoor kitchen and pizza oven; woodland spaces; private parking; and fully accessible pathways around some of the site.
Cardinham Woods, Bodmin. PL304AL.
As a long-term Learning Partner with Forestry England, we have two private sites at Cardinham Woods, Bodmin. Our Meadow Site is located off the Lady Vale trail and includes safe access to the river as well as an adjoining smaller stream, willow dome, mud kitchen, two fire circles including one under a cosy canopy. The main car park is approx. 10mins walk from our site.
Term Time Groups
Badger Cubs
Badger Cubs is a parent toddler forest school and outdoor learning session. It is designed for children up to 5 years old and their families. Come and join us for some fun in the woods, what better way to start the week!
These sessions are very child led and focus on free-play, exploring nature, meeting new friends and learning to play together through a variety of games and activities. Each week there will be a cosy campfire with some campfire treats and hot drinks, singing and stories around the campfire, outdoor play and seasonal crafts, mud kitchen, sensory play and Makaton signing.
We currently have sessions happening at both Cardinham Woods and our Higher Wheal Martyn sites.
Mamas In Nature
A support group for mothers and their new babies.
This group welcomes all parents and carers but is specifically aimed at women to help support them through the transition into parenthood. Claire our Founder and Director established this group around the same time she had her own daughter and was struggling herself.
We are currently supporting a closed group through a funded project with Forestry England’s Active Forests Programme. Further opportunities will be shared soon!
Woodland Explorers
These are family Forest School and outdoor learning sessions designed for those families who wish to attend sessions and stay with their children. They are best suited to primary school aged children (4-10years), flexi-schooling and Home Educating families with the opportunity to mix, play and learn from one another.
Sessions will be child-led, exploring our woodland spaces, and developing relationships with each other and nature. We will also offer gentle science and STEM inspired activities to support seasonal learning, as well as nurture life skills including ID and cooking.
At each session there will be a cosy campfire with snacks and hot drinks for everyone, whilst varying opportunities to participate in stories, songs, crafts, sensory play and Makaton signing.
NEW FOR 2026!
Home Ed Drop Off
This is our forest school and outdoor learning group aimed at home-educated children aged 5yrs+.
These drop-off sessions focus on providing hands-on learning opportunities through exploration of a termly topic as suggested and chosen by the children attending. Example topics over previous terms have been: storytelling, pirates, ancient civilisations, historical events, uses of woodland, weather and survival skills. The sessions allow time for group discussion, free-play, exploring nature, and of course working on woodland skills such as knot tying, whittling, firelighting, den building, etc.
Each session includes a campfire snack which ties in with the week's learning. We ask that families commit to the blocks of sessions each term so the children can establish and develop relationships with each other.
We currently have our Growth group at our Higher Wheal Martyn site on Tuesdays, and our Woodland Skills group at Cardinham Woods on Wednesdays.
Weekends And Holidays
Making Tracks
A monthly group supporting children and young people who might identify as being neurodivergent or with additional needs.
For each session there will be a campfire with some campfire treats and hot drinks, singing, Makaton signing and stories around the campfire, relaxed outdoor play and seasonal activities, as well as lots of sensory inputs.
Making Tracks also offers support to parents and carers in the SEND community, allowing time and space to share, connect and be there for one another.
Sessions are currently once a month on Saturday mornings at our Higher Wheal Martyn site. Free parking on site. Wheelchair accessible.
Dangerous Dads*
*We are part of the Dangerous Dads Network which offers groups and activities across the UK for fathers and male carers with children of all ages.
Led by the wonderful Wayne of Rhino Bushcraft, we offer fun monthly sessions all year round. There are opportunities for both adults and children to learn some bushcraft skills (such as using tools for wood working, or various traditional fire lighting methods)!
Bring suitable clothing and footwear, and additional snacks and drinks as required, we have some clothing available if you don’t have any.
Please share with Dangerous and not so Dangerous Dads!
Note: These sessions are once a month and are at either Cardinham Woods or Higher Wheal Martyn so please check carefully before booking.
Badger Holiday Club at Cardinham Woods
Give your children a different experience and drop them off for a whole day of exploration and adventures in the woods where they will take part in a variety of activities including bushcraft, survival skills, fire lighting, team games, nature crafts, tool use, rope swings, map reading, river play and much more!
A substantial campfire brunch or snack (vegetarian) is included.
They will be supported by a minimum of two experienced forest school leaders and have fun enjoying the beautiful site.
Warning! Your child is very likely to get wet and muddy so please bring a spare change of clothes.
We are a registered provider for ‘Childcare Choices’ (the government tax-free childcare credits) - see if you eligible here: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk If you are, then set up an account and contact us for the info required so you can benefit!
Birthday Parties
We run bespoke birthday parties in woods for your child’s special day. Each party is unique and designed around the child. We follow the Forest School ethos with our parties by being very child led and offer a range of activities to suit the needs of the group. Some of the most popular activities include den building, learning to light a mini fire, nature crafting, scavenger hunts and woodland games.
Please email badgercommunity1@outllook.com and ask Jo to send you the party information with your preferred site (Cardinham Woods or Higher Wheal Martyn) and your preferred dates and times.
Our parties are available throughout the seasons (from February to November) and in all weathers. Party timings are usually from 10am-12pm or 1-3pm (however we can often be flexible, so please ask!).
We invite you keep it simple for food and bring along some pre-cooked sausages that the children can ‘cook’ on a stick to create hotdogs and of course a birthday cake! We provide hot chocolate and marshmallows for everyone.
For under 8yrs old the adults must stay and play too, but if the children are over 8yrs we just need a couple of adults to stay and support.
Cost: £200 for maximum of 15 children (recommended size), or £250 for up to 30 children (additional leader required).
Volunteering
Our site takes a lot of upkeep and there is a lot to learn from gardening or maintaining our wild spaces, to creating exciting new additions through our site development projects, to growing our own food…
Weekly adult volunteering sessions: Thursdays 9am-12pm at our Higher Wheal Martyn site, Carthew.
Other volunteering opportunities include: our steering group, Sprout!, supporting community events or sessions, distributing our information/posters.
We also host numerous community volunteer sessions throughout the year - check out our social media for the latest events.
Everyone is welcome! You can email Jo here to find out more.