Wildheart Wood

A forest school in the wood

Wildheart Wood

Brave little wild hearts, just as you are.

Granny Gladys runs a forest school deep in an old English wood, where a little owl, a bunny, a squirrel, a robin, a fox cub and a badger learn to light fires, build dens and look after their big feelings. Gentle animated stories for children up to six, and the grown-ups who watch with them.

Meet the friends Try it at home
The forest school clearing: log benches in a circle round a mossy stump with a steaming teacup, a willow den and chalkboard behind, sunlight through the trees
Wild hearts, gather round! The clearing, where every day begins.

Meet the friends

There’s always room in the circle

Every friend in Wildheart Wood is a little bit different, and every one of them belongs.

Granny Gladys Sage, a cream goat with a herb crown and a rose teacup on her head, holding a crystal staff

Goat · Forest school leader

Granny Gladys Sage

The wise, nurturing forest school leader

She can turn her hoof to anything. She lights the fires and leads the camps, paints, sews, builds and whittles, and knows every herb and old country way. Firm but fair, and so, so loving.

Wild hearts, gather round!How every forest school day begins
There’s always room in the circle!Whenever someone is hanging back
Come as you are, wild heart!Her welcome to every little one
Cup of kindness, anyone?Teacup raised, to sort out a squabble
Just as you are.How every story ends
Pebble, a small brown owl with a pink flower, holding two smooth stones

Owl

Pebble

The careful little owl

  • Holds her worry stones when things feel scary
  • Always checks it’s safe first
  • Notices what everyone else misses

Pebble says“But what if…?”

Immy, a dove-grey bunny with one floppy ear, flowers and a pink waistcoat, hopping through a meadow

Bunny

Immy

The bouncy, brave little bunny

  • The fastest hopper in the whole wood
  • Picks flowers for everyone she loves
  • One ear up, one ear down, all heart

Immy says“Are you my best friend?”

Arlo, a fawn squirrel with an acorn necklace and paint palette, at the forest school

Squirrel

Arlo

The clever, crafty squirrel

  • Paints, builds and makes things
  • Uses hand signs to help him remember
  • Never without his lucky acorn

Arlo says“Hang on, hang on… ta-da!”

Lola, a round robin with a twig-nest hat, perched on a mossy stump

Robin

Lola

The round, cheery little robin

  • Sings the whole wood awake
  • Talks even faster than she flies
  • Small, round and full of kindness

Lola says“Wait, what was I saying?”

Theo, a fluffy orange fox cub curled up shyly on the moss

Fox cub

Theo

The shy, gentle fox cub

  • Loves cosy, quiet corners
  • Notices how everyone is feeling
  • Hugs his tail when he feels wobbly

Theo’s wayA tiny shake of the head

Monty, a young badger holding his satchel strap, with the forest school friends behind him

Badger Comes when he can

Monty

The badger who’s finding his way

  • Knows amazing facts about bugs
  • Feels safest snug in his sett
  • Welcomed back, every single time

Monty says“Did you know worms have five hearts?”

Forest school

A day in Wildheart Wood

Every story is a forest school day, with the same gentle shape each time, so little ones always know what comes next.

  1. Good morningLola sings the wood awake and the friends gather at the Wildheart Tree.
  2. Today’s activityGranny Gladys sets the task: apple picking, a tree swing, a den, a race.
  3. A wobbleSomeone has a big feeling, a worry or a tricky moment.
  4. Finding a wayThe friends help in their own ways. Nobody has to change.
  5. A calming momentA simple nature ritual settles the feeling, one you can copy at home.
  6. Just as you areGranny Gladys closes the day the way she always does.

Around the wood

  • The Wildheart TreeThe heart-shaped tree where the day begins and ends
  • The clearingLog benches in a circle round the mossy stump and Granny’s teacup
  • The willow denThe forest school classroom, with Granny’s chalkboard
  • The fire circleStories, songs, toasting and hot chocolate
  • The streamPaddling, pooh sticks, and watching feelings float on by
  • The reflection pondStill water where you can see yourself; the quiet, calm spot
  • Monty’s settWhere Monty feels safe on the days he can’t come

Through the seasons

Autumn

Apple picking, conker games, leaf piles and the Lantern Walk.

Winter

Frost hunts, bird feeders, bonfires and hot chocolate.

Spring

Planting seeds, frogspawn, blossom and nest building.

Summer

Stream days, a midsummer camp-out and Wild Wood sports day.

Full moon

A cosy evening forest school by lantern light, with a pebble and a wish for everyone.

Try at home

Little rituals for big feelings

In the stories these look like games. They are simple ways to help children calm, breathe and let go, and you can do every one of them together.

For cross, fizzy feelings

Lion breath

  1. Sit up tall and take a big breath in through your nose.
  2. Open your mouth wide and stick your tongue out.
  3. Breathe out with a big “haaa” roar.
  4. Roar three times, then have a stretch.

The friends roar it out after the Great Apple Race.

For settling down at bedtime

Secret tunnel breathing

  1. Gently press one finger on one side of your nose.
  2. Breathe in slowly through the open tunnel.
  3. Swap sides and breathe out through the other tunnel.
  4. Go back and forth five slow times.

Granny Gladys teaches it on Lantern Night.

For slowing down

Smell the soup, blow the soup

  1. Cup your hands like a warm bowl of soup.
  2. Smell the soup: a long, slow breath in.
  3. Blow the soup to cool it: a long, slow breath out.
  4. Three spoonfuls, then pretend to eat it up.

Lola needs this when her ideas get too busy.

For a long breath out

Dandelion clocks

  1. Find a dandelion clock, or hold up a pretend one.
  2. Breathe in through your nose.
  3. Blow slowly until every seed has floated away.

A spring favourite at forest school.

For letting go of a hurt

The worry leaf

  1. Pick a leaf and whisper your worry into it.
  2. Drop it onto a stream, a puddle or a bowl of water.
  3. Watch it float away, then shake out your hands.

Pebble keeps her worry stones close for this one.

For sad days

Watching the stream

  1. Sit by running water, or watch a tap trickle.
  2. Notice that the water never stays still.
  3. Feelings are the same: they always move on.
  4. Say together: “Tomorrow’s a new day.”

Where the friends take Monty on a hard day.

For finding calm

The reflection pond

  1. Fill a bowl with water and give it a swish.
  2. When it’s splashy, you can’t see yourself.
  3. Sit quietly together and watch it settle.
  4. When it’s still, there you are. Busy minds settle too.

Pebble’s quiet spot after the rain.

For feeling steady

Stand tall like a tree

  1. Stand on one foot and rest the other on your ankle or leg.
  2. Imagine roots growing from your foot into the ground.
  3. Lift your arms like branches and sway in the wind.
  4. Swap feet. Wobbling is part of it.

The friends try it before the log balance.

For the end of the day

Thank you, tree

  1. Put a hand on a tree, or on the bedroom wall.
  2. Each say one thing you were happy about today.
  3. Finish with “thank you, tree”.

How every forest school day says goodbye.

Always stay with children near water, fires and plants, and stop any breathing game if a child feels dizzy.

For grown-ups

The real Granny Gladys

Granny Gladys is named after a real grandma. She was a Cub Scout leader, the kind who could light a fire in the rain, camp, sew, paint and build something out of nothing. She knew every herb and every old country way.

She was firm but fair, and so, so loving. Everyone loved her.

Wildheart Wood carries her spirit: a place where children learn by doing, with mud on their hands, and where every big feeling is met with kindness.

Why every friend is a little bit different

Each character has a quiet difference: a floppy ear, a worry, a busy mind, a shy streak, a learning style, days when coming in is hard. We show these differences, and we never label them. Children recognise themselves, and learn that everyone belongs.

What Wildheart Wood stands for

  • BelongingEvery friend is welcome, just as they are.
  • Nature as teacherFires, herbs, seasons, moons and making things from nothing.
  • Feelings are welcomeWorries, wobbles and big emotions are named kindly and soothed.
  • Learning by doingHands in the mud, not sitting at desks.
  • Firm but fair, and so, so lovingThe Granny Gladys way.

Made for children up to six, ideally watched with a grown-up. Each story is short and calm, built on a gentle routine, and ends with something you can try together.

Watch

Episodes are on their way

The theme song and the first forest school stories are coming soon. Follow along to be first to see them.

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Letters from the wood

Free activities for your little wild heart

Printable rituals, colouring sheets and seasonal nature ideas, sent to grown-ups now and then.

For parents and carers only. We never collect children’s details.