Mud Pies runs weekly preschool nature classes for children aged 2 (from 24 months) to 5 years (not yet in P1) and their adults. The aim is to give you and your child some quality time together, discovering nature and playing and exploring outdoors! Each class lasts 90 minutes and is part of a block that runs for half a school term, usually between 5 and 8 weeks.
Autumn 2025
Join me in a wild wood in Hazlehead Park, Aberdeen, on Monday mornings or afternoons! Squelch in mud, jump off rocks, climb mountains, have snack outdoors, make things and find out about wildlife!
Mondays 27 October to 15 December – 8 weeks
Times – 10am to 11.30am or 1pm to 2.30pm
Cost – £80 for 8-week session, payable in advance. Adults go free.
Sibling (10%) and twin (15%) discounts available – just enter “sibling discount” or “twin discount” in the “Coupon code” box on the cart page when you book.
Meeting point
We meet in the small play park on Groats Road, in between Hazlehead Academy and the rugby ptich. Here’s a map. The park’s nearby cafe is also open for coffee and lunch.
What we do
Each weekly 90 minute class has a theme (eg colours, numbers, wildlife etc) for which we collect things in a little bucket on our way through the woods. We arrive at our camp area (with temporary tarpaulin shelter if weather is bad) about 40 minutes later and have snack. Then, we find out about the things we’ve collected and use these to make something to take home. The last 20 minutes or so is free play. I bring along a bag of spoons and plates for digging and making mud pies, chalk for drawing and toy diggers and soft toys. We usually finish with a game of hide and seek on our way back to the car park too!
The idea is for your child to have fun outdoors, either playing on their own, beside or with the other attending children. The weekly format is so children know what to expect and therefore feel secure. It is however totally fine if they want to go off and explore in their own way. I also hope that you will learn a few things too – either something about nature or some ideas on things to do outdoors with your friends and family the next time you’re all out together!
