Now that I’m not working full time, I’m really enjoying taking my 2-year-old to different toddler activities to keep her entertained. It’s good fun to try out different activities, and find things that she enjoys. Ivy really loves being outside and exploring, so when I heard about Tree Tots at Howe Park Wood, I had to take her along to have a go.
Howe Park Wood is a woodland area between Westcroft and Tattenhoe. The park is home to lots of wildlife including woodpeckers, owls, badgers, foxes and 30 different species of butterflies in the summer. Howe Park Wood also has more than 200 plant species, some so rare that English Nature has designated it a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its wildlife value. It’s a really stunning place to walk around, and every time I’ve visited it’s felt really peaceful, and a lovely quiet part of Milton Keynes to walk around.
Tree Tots is for pre-school children and their parents or carers to experience nature play at Howe Park Wood. Activities change every week depending on the weather and can include anything from mud kitchens, playing with water, collecting nature items, helping to develop the play, creativity and sensory skills.
We started the Tree Tots session meeting outside the cafe and sang a song about playing at Tree Tots. The volunteers then led us to the play area where we got to see the activities we had set up for us.
Once we arrived at the play area we were free to go and play with whatever we liked. Free play sessions always go down well with my 2-year-old, as she loves to go and explore and do things on her own terms. I find I sometimes need to show her how to do activities, but she prefers to learn from watching other children playing.
There were loads of activities to choose from, some of our favourites included rolling balls down a drainpipe, painting icy logs with water, and pining leaves on a washing line. There were loads of things to play with, and get involved with. During the session, the volunteers came around and spoke to the children and showed them different things they could play with.
We really loved playing at Tree Tots and exploring nature through play. It was great to see Ivy running around and finding new ways to play and explore. I liked visiting a toddler session that was different from the usual soft play, or indoor play and getting a chance to explore some of Howe Park Wood. The sessions run throughout the year, so it would be great to visit during different seasons with different activities.
How to Find it
Tree Tots takes place at Howe Park Wood, Tattenhoe Ln, Tattenhoe MK4 3GG – use the map below for directions. There’s free parking outside.
Good to Know
- Tree Tots is suitable for under 5’s and each session is 50 minutes long
- Sessions are at 10am and 11am
- Sessions cost £1 per person – you need to book online
- A maximum of 3 children per adult
- Tree Tots takes place whatever the weather, so make sure you dress apropriately!
I’ve Enjoyed Tree Tots, Where Can I Go Next?
If you’ve had fun at Tree Tots, then you can always go for a walk around Howe Park Wood afterwards. There are various walking routes that you can see on the Parks Trust website, and see what wildlife you can spot. There’s a lovely cafe called Grounds that’s the perfect place to warm up with a hot drink and cake afterwards. Opposite the cafe is a play area with a balance beam, stepping stones, and a climbing frame with a slide that’s perfect for toddlers.
