EST
2018
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PHILOSOPHY
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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 sessions.
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 an outdoor workshop I launched a Crowdfunder to help make this space have the essentials I need to get going! Thank you to all that donated, plans are now developing. The gate adaptation is complete, a canopy with pulley system in place and more developments along the way.
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 sessions and events 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.
Work with me
I can provide workshops on a freelance basis for a variety of settings including rainbow groups, special needs charities, primary schools, private nurseries, art centres, environmental groups, WI groups, festivals and more!
Whether you’d like me to work directly with pupils/kids, families, parents or educators I can create a bespoke package to meet your requirements with prices starting from £80 up to £300 I believe in ensuring sessions are as accessible as possible. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and igniting generations to connect with nature.
Nature Connection Workshop - this is my most popular session in schools! £150 for a half day session, up to 30 pupils (split into two sessions approx 45 mins each) this can be delivered in whatever space you have be it a tarmac playground, tiny over grown patch of green or a school field. highlighting that nature is everywhere - you don’t need a forest. Using our immediate environment, the seasons and weather we focus on 4 key aspects:
Senses Hunt
Oral seasonal story
Time to explore (with resources provided to enhance connection to the environment)
A natural craft or foraging
Get in touch to discuss with me how I can support 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!
Celebrations
Let me help you create an unforgettable celebration whether it’s a child’s birthday, hen do or family gathering, life’s worth celebrating and I’m here to make it as magical, memorable and unique as possible!
Packages can be tailored to you/your child and their interests.
Starter Package
£12.50 per head (minimum 12, maximum 20)
2 hours
Tea/coffee station for parents
1 game/activity (treasure hunt, hide and seek, foraging, bug hunting, etc.)
1 craft (charcoal pencils, nature body paints, nature crowns, clay creations etc.)
Giant bubbles
Campfire cooking - choice of pancakes or tortilla pizzas
Free play (hammocks, swings, tree climbing, mud kitchen, den building, storybook area etc.)
Please get in touch to discuss availability and to create your unique celebration.