By Jade Hughes
Whether looking for Outdoor Nurseries in Glasgow West End, an outdoor play space to get mucky, or a perfect picnic spot for the family? Then the Children’s Wood is for you!
You’re certainly sure of a big surprise! The Children’s Wood and North Kelvin Meadow makes up the last wild space in the West End, so it’s incredibly important to the local community. The Wood can be accessed any time of day or night, and its purpose is for people to enjoy—including little ones! Nestled in North Kelvin, just off Queen Margaret Drive, this woodland area is a place where families can connect with nature through outdoor play, exploration, and learning.
Whilst attending one of their toddler classes, we’re encouraged to eat our lunch together around the firepit. “Our focus for our learning community is to engage our local nurseries, schools, and further education establishments in outdoor learning and play to gain understanding of the natural world around them,” says Community Officer Andrea Fisher. “We recognise the need for kids to play in a safe and stimulating outdoor environment. Good physical and mental health is key to being happy, so we hope The Children’s Wood can nurture this.”
Activities
There are many activities to keep wee ones entertained including a sand pit, a labyrinth, a treehouse, a sensory garden, an outdoor kitchen, swings, and plenty of mud and puddles! The Wood was even highly endorsed by Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo: “This is such a great inner-city open space, a real ‘secret garden’ which serves as an open-air community centre and a place where kids can climb trees and discover nature.”
Spending time outside offers numerous benefits for kids. It helps them stay active, building strength and coordination whilst keeping them healthy. Being outdoors also sparks their imagination, letting them play freely and come up with fun, creative ideas. Nature can bring a real sense of calm which helps kids feel less stressed and boosts their mood. Plus, it’s a chance for them to learn and love the world around them.
Andrea passes around the marshmallows for us to toast over the fire, and I start to settle in nicely to this outdoor way of life. “Being outside, even if it’s just to play and have fun, can reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem and attention span in children,” she says. Once lunch is finished, it’s time to enjoy some outdoor play, surrounded by the beauty of the trees.
Community
But The Children’s Wood isn’t just for children: Their aim is to connect people to nature, raise aspirations, and involve others in the management of the land. It’s a place for people to get together, have a picnic, and use the garden. The Wood offers adult gardening and land maintenance volunteer sessions, and they run regular events celebrating nature whilst nurturing social connections and friendship. The goal is to maintain the land, maximise its biodiversity, and support wildlife in an organic and sustainable way… but the space can only be as good as the community leaves it. Treating it with respect and kindness and leaving no trace is key to keeping it open to the community.
The Children’s Wood is a cherished green space that fosters a sense of belonging while promoting well-being and environmental awareness in the heart of the city. It’s somewhere we can take our kids to appreciate nature, and we should do our best to protect this little gem of urban wilderness as best we can.
The outdoor toddler group is run on a Wednesday and Friday during school term times between 11am-1pm. There’s no booking required, and its donation based. To find out more about The Children’s Wood, including all their other events, check out their website:
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