Little Puddle people
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EST

2018


 

 

PHILOSOPHY

I’m Helen from little puddle people. I live in Sheffield with my family, Calum, my husband, Ajay who is thirteen and Harvey who is six. After having Harvey who has a genetic disorder I felt a new approach to work was needed so I could spend more time with him… Little Puddle People was born!

I believe a gentle, caring and nurturing approach to children’s care and development is key. Children need love and secure responsive relationships to support early brain development that will shape their lives forever. The early years are so important. I have worked in a range of different nursery settings taking on various roles over the last 15 years gaining knowledge and my own style along the way. We will be basing our experiences around child led learning in nature. I have been a qualified forest schools practitioner since 2013 and a Skogsmulle leader (Swedish nature teacher) since 2015. I have experience in running various outdoor groups including a fully outdoors Kindergarten. The great outdoors has a huge influence on the way I teach and the opportunities for learning I provide. Influences from nature, the world, weather and seasons are integral to my setting with trips out to local woodland, parks and the peaks planned daily as well as time out in the garden.

 

forest schools

take me to the woods

I have been trained as a Forest School Practitioner since 2013 when I trained with Archimedes (now FSE) the Forest Schools ethos and approach influence my teaching style and equips me with the knowledge to keep children and families safe in outdoors when accessing my groups and joining in with accessing variety of experiences such as fire lighting, nature based crafts, foraging, mindfulness, bug hunting, learning to identify plants growing onsite and tool work.

Sessions always have the environment and our impact at the forefront, using resources that are natural, found, donated, upcycled, collected, sourced from a scrapstore, if purchased I try my hardest to buy consciously from small independent eco friendly brands and retailers. I try and be has low waste as possible and bring minimal plastic/resources onsite. We will only have campfires if it plays a part in our session for a learning purpose, to cook or heat water, there won’t always be a campfire at every forest school session. (if there isn’t hot water is provided in flasks for hot drinks and hygiene.)

I am based at a site called Nature’s Nest in Fulwood, Sheffield. This is a new site that is in it’s very early stages of development. It is beautiful, peaceful and clam. A place where we can lean into nature together in a safe and secure environment. During sessions there are hammocks in the trees, gutters for rolling pinecones, acorns and hunks of earth, there’s silverware for mud kitchen creativity, a huge pile of rotting logs perfect for bug hunting, wildflowers and tall grasses swaying in the breeze, storybooks on blankets nestled in the dappled shade, a collection of branches just perfect for den building. And I’ll be there getting stuck into play, telling stories, scaffolding learning, sharing my knowledge and passion.

As we work towards developing the site including installing a new gate, a compost toilet and gaining a ‘change of use’ I am Crowdfunding to help make this space have the essentials I need to get going! Please do check it out, share with friends, collegues, businesses and family, even just a pound will help!

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-little-puddle-peoples-new-forest-school

The land at Nature’s Nest is owned by Sheffield Hospitals Charity, a percentage of my income is donated to them in return for use of the site, in coming to my sessions know that you are helping them do great things. Find out more about their work here:

https://sheffieldhospitalscharity.org.uk/

For more information on family/parent and child/childminder sessions please see the ‘shop’ section of the website.

I am available to work with your setting or group delivering forest school sessions, Skogsmulle sessions and anything in between. We don’t need a forest for forest school - I love a challenge and can apply the forest school principles to different outdoor spaces. I can create bespoke workshops and training sessions to staff. Nurture groups, school groups, after school clubs and more! Please get in touch to see how Forest Schools can work for your setting.

 
 

Peaks and Puddles

for home educators 

What we're About and Who We Are

Peaks and Puddles offers an outdoor home education programme rooted in the natural rhythms of the seasons. It's designed for wild, adventurous souls who want to slow down, connect with nature, and build real-life, transferable skills.

Peaks and Puddles is a collaboration between Sarah Reichert from Little Peaks and Helen Wilson from Little Puddle People. We place strong value on care, listening, self-awareness, and risk assessment, helping children grow with confidence and resilience.

Where We Are Based

We’re based at Nature’s Nest in Fulwood, nestled on the edge of the city with sweeping views across the valley and direct links to the peaks.
Despite its wild setting, the site is easily accessible by bus and cycle routes.

Nature’s Nest features:

  • Composting toilet

  • Bell tent and canopy

  • Hammocks, tree swings, and a mud kitchen

  • Fallen trees for climbing and a sky-gazing net

  • Clay pit, fire pit, and a giant play nest

  • Expanses of field and meadow

  • Beautiful ancient trees

What We Will Focus On

Each season will bring a focus woven into our day but with a balance of free play and exploration, child led time in the inspiring space at Nature's Nest.

Autumn – Fires, Foraging and Food

As autumn brings nature’s abundance, we’ll explore safe, sustainable foraging, various fire-lighting techniques, including different lays, chopping firewood and collecting natural tinder. Together, we’ll cook over the fire, experiment with recipes, and share nourishing communal feasts.

Winter – Hikes and Navigation

We’ll learn to navigate using maps and compasses—exploring features, keys and distances, as well as old-school techniques like sun and land navigation. We’ll plan hikes, follow maps, and create our own for new adventures.

Spring – Growth

Growth in nature and ourselves. This season we'll be taking the change from winter to spring slowly like an emerging butterfly with a focus on mindfulness, wellbeing, yoga and breathwork. Helping us connect deeply with the land as we notice its slow emergence from winter.

Summer – Story Spaces

We'll be focussing on creating stories, learning how to tell an oral story, how to create a book, a storyboard, a performance influenced by our outdoor space and experiences. Not only that we'll look at where we'd like to read and perform, do we need a den, a tent, a stage, a tree house?

Woven throughout each season will be opportunities for nature journaling, each child will receive a journal when they start with us and be given support to spend time building up the pages through art, mark making, writing and reflections.

Further Details

When: Thursdays

Who: Ages 6–11

Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Cost: £35 per session

Term Dates:

Autumn/Winter Term: Thu 11 Sept – Thu 18 Dec 2025

(3 weeks break)

Winter/Spring Term: Thu 15 Jan – Thu 19 Mar 2026

(3 weeks break)

Spring/Summer Term: Thu 16 Apr – Thu 16 Jul 2026

Interested?

Come along to our Open Day on Saturday 9th August, 3–5pm to meet us and explore the space.

To express interest, please send us an email at wearepeaksandpuddles@gmail.com

We'll then send you a form, and places will be allocated from 20th August onwards.

 
 
 

Be Prepared

 
 

A few years ago I was lucky enough to train as a Skogsmulle Leader (Swedish nature teacher) and they let me in on their clothing secrets and now I’m going to share them with you! This technique applies to parents and carers too! So many times I’ve had shivering grown-ups soggy and wet as they bundled up their precious little one in the best waterproofs money could buy and forgot about themselves! Happy parents, happy kids so dress yourself well too! And don’t forget ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing!’

The 3 layer system

Base layer – thermal base (brushed or merino being extra warm) in colder months, cotton/technical cooling base in warmer months

Mid layer – knitted jumper/fleece/Sherpa fleece when very cold and a thinner jumper or hoody as it gets warmer.

Outer layer – this is your coat so when it’s cold it may be a big thick ski jacket or down jacket, in spring or autumn a lined waterproof and summer just a waterproof.

This system applies to top and bottom layers!

The Skogsmulle Leaders top tip!

Cover your glands – this means if you’re feeling cold instead of adding a layer all over add a layer to your glands.  Wrists, necks and ankles lose the most heat – not your head! Trust me this works! I have suffered for years from cold feet and if I wear some funky knitted leg warmers on top of my socks my toes are warm!! Avoid cotton next to the skin when it is cold as it has cooling effects.

My favourite brands are Muddy Puddles, Toastie Kids, Decathlon, Acai, Buffalo, Didricksons, Kozi Kidz…ooh and quite a few more! You tend not to go wrong with Swedish brands and there are some pretty fab environmentally conscious UK brands too! Second hand is fab too!

Take care of your outdoor gear, don’t wash too often and when you do use a Tech Wash to retain it’s waterproof qualities. Usually twice a year I reproof all of our gear too! At the end of a muddy day I either let everything dry and sweep off the loose mud or rinse off under our outdoor tap then hang to dry. Normal washing detergents break down the waterproof qualities on outdoor clothing so it is best to avoid. 

So, now you know! You are all guaranteed to enjoy your outdoor time so much more if you are kitted out well, happy exploring!

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