All About The Calm

04/11/2024

Well I hardly ever get on to this page anymore as I'm busier than ever with Woodland things! BUT, in an All About The Calm update, I'm excited to be back in a school this afternoon for a 6 week block of children's mindful relaxation classes. Helping children notice different feelings as they come and go, having fun through movement and games and learning how to calm and relax our bodies and minds.
See you soon Cotmanhay Infants :)

11/09/2024

Winter Wreath Workshop - on sale now!
Our winter wreaths have a focus on keeping things natural - there's no plastic or metal in sight. But there is an array of locally foraged natural materials to create your own, unique and very beautiful winter wreath. We begin at the private car park and take a wander through the woods to harvest your own hazel (with landowners permission) to create your wreath bases. We then continue our amble down to the warm and cosy Shining Cliff hostel where complimentary hot drinks and delicious cakes await you. There's then time to select your materials and get creative. In the supportive, welcoming environment, our approach is that 'having a go' is far more important than what we produce! But from past experience at these sessions, everyone leaves with something to be proud of.

01/08/2024

24/06/2024

Who’s up for some adventuring?! Kids Sunday drop off session, 30th June 11am-2pm
Taking bookings now. See image for booking details

19/05/2024

***Only 3 places left for the 28th!***
A few more on 29th!
Get your kids outdoors for some fantastic fun at Woodland Connections Half Term Adventure Days.
Feel free to share and help us get these days fully booked!

17/05/2024

Would you like to step into the weekend feeling calm and refreshed, with a clear mind and a slower pace? Then come and enjoy a couple of hours of Forest Bathing in a beautiful ancient woodland. Tomorrow, 18th May, we will connect through guided sensory activities to the nature around us. Join me from 10:30 - 12:30 for some much deserved time out in the woods.

15/05/2024

Yesterday morning I led a Forest Bathing taster walk in Shining Cliff woods. I think the rain put people off as just one lady arrived, but what a lovely rainy mindful time we had, really slowing down and taking notice.
The skies then cleared for the home ed family session in the afternoon and we had a wonderfully busy time discovering the little creatures that call the woodland home. We found centipedes, millipedes, a variety of woodlice, oodles of worms, a scorpionfly, spiders and colourful beetles.
Life in the woods is good, rain or shine!

13/05/2024

It’s Mental Health Awareness week this week, with a theme of Move More for your Mental Health. Amber Valley Borough Council has a great suggestion of things to try to get you up and moving. Take a look at the website. If you feel stuck in a rut and don’t have the oomph to do anything, just one step at a time will get you going in the right direction. Have a look at what’s on offer and choose something to try.

This is the description of Mental Health Awareness Week

04/05/2024

So excited about this year's Women Supporting Women Day in Shining Cliff Woods.
Over at Woodland Connections we have gathered a fantastic group of women to provide a wonderful retreat day in the woods. These women will run a variety of well-being sessions throughout the day, helping you to feel calm, relaxed, restored and connected. This all takes place in the stunning ancient woodland.
Bring along your own lunch to enjoy around a campfire, we will provide hot drinks and delicious cakes.
Our practitioners on the day include Beth, an occupational therapist and complimentary medical practitioner, Corinne from Yoga with Corinne, Stacey, Reiki practitioner from Light as a Feather and Lisa from The Coach House Health & Wellness Centre.
Tickets are on sale NOW! Places are limited so don't miss out on this wonderful day.

02/05/2024

So much hard work from Kate to get this!

Whoo-hoo!
Feeling very proud that the hostel, and the Woodland Connections at Shining Cliff Woods sessions we run collaboratively with All About The Calm have been assessed and awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge!
This award tells teachers and others organising educational visits that they can be assured we offer good quality educational experiences and manage risk effectively. All of the hostel and woodland session policies, procedures and risk assessments were thoroughly reviewed, with an onsite check that what we say we do is actually being done at the hostel and in our sessions; Bonnie and I were grateful to hear ourselves described as 'highly professional practitioners' after a woodland session was observed!
So now it's time to try and get an affordable Duke of Edinburgh residential set up for July if we can!

26/04/2024

Things have been a little quiet on this page, but that's because most of what I do these days is based in the woods and gets posted about over in the Woodland Connections at Shining Cliff Woods page. So I feel like I'm just repeating myself if I put that news here too!
But I am still available for school bookings. Either for the children's mindful relaxation classes or the outdoor nature connection mindfulness kids sessions. Recently myself and Kate provided a staff inset day session, so if that's something you're interested in, get in touch.
On my days off, like today, I still head off to the woods! A different woodland today though, with the most stunning bluebells 💙
If you've not followed us at Woodland Connections at Shining Cliff Woods yet, get yourself over there. We've got lots happening in the woods. You can book us for corporate team building or staff well-being days too!

22/04/2024

CALLING ALL ADULTS… are you free tomorrow, Tuesday 23rd April? If so, why not give yourself some time out in the woods? Come and join us for a day of nature connection calm. It’s only £5 for the day!! We begin at 10am with some Forest Bathing, then head to the campfire where we will all help prepare, cook and enjoy a meal together. You can then have a go at some nature based crafts, with time to reflect and share before we finish the day at 3pm. We would love you to join us. If you have any questions please get in touch.
Photos from our previous Nurtured by Nature days.
See events listed for more details and ticket link.