Hetty's Hedgehogs at Cogges Manor Farm

Forest school for 0-4s and their adults

Mentored by

Anna Howey

Cogges Manor Farm, Witney

Ages: 0 - 4 years

Jan-Feb 2026 £65

Next date: Tuesday 3rd Feb, 09:30 – 11:30

Hetty's Hedgehogs at Cogges Manor Farm block mentored by Anna Howey

What we'll do

Starlings and Sticks Forest School looks forward to welcoming you for outdoor fun and learning at our Hetty's Hedgehogs sessions! We run Tuesdays 09:30-11:30 term time- come rain or shine! Hetty's Hedgehogs takes place on the island of Cogges Manor Farm. Not every session will look the same and will change according to the season -but generally there will be a craft activity, bug hunting, mud kitchen, hammock, stories, den building, rope swing, etc! The sessions will end with a story around the fire pit and a campfire cooked snack. We have an ethos of child led, free play. This won’t be a structured session with laid out “entertainment’ – we hope the children will be able to make their own play whilst the adults may mindfully observe, gently support, wander or chat to one another!

About your mentor

Anna Howey

Forest school leader, parent

I came to know and love forest school when my own children were little. We loved the mud, the nature discovery, experiencing the changing seasons, making friends, campfire cooking, the adventure of climbing and learning to use tools. I didn't want the fun to stop when my kids started school so signed up for forest school leader training! Having seen my own kids gain so much from forest school, I now love seeing others thrive in the forest school environment. Since qualifying as a forest school leader, I have been providing forest school sessions for preschoolers and their adults, running a primary age after school club, family forest church sessions, and helping at forest school holiday camps. I have been running the preschool Cogges Farm sessions on behalf of Hedgehog Club for the past 3 years, and am now taking these sessions over fully (admin as well as the fun stuff!), as the wonderful Mandy from Hedgehog club is off in her campervan, enjoying semi-retirement from term time activities. My background is in medicine, where I am still to be found when not at forest school. I thoroughly believe in how good it is for our physical and mental wellbeing, at all ages, to be outside in nature, playing freely, in connection with others. I am DBS checked, as is Anvita who helps, and outdoor first aid, food hygiene and therapeutic forest trained.

Useful Information

** Please be aware, you will need to pay for entry to Cogges Manor Farm separately for everyone 3 yrs and over . This is in addition to buying a Hetty's Hedgehogs ticket. Season and day tickets are available. Cogges Manor Farm and Starlings and Sticks are separate entities. ** 1 ticket covers 1 child and the adult(s) accompanying them. Baby siblings under 1 year old are free. Directions: https://www.cogges.org.uk/getting-here FREE Parking available at Cogges Hill Road car park OX28 3FR You will be greeted by Anna and Anvita from Starlings and Sticks at Cogges Manor Farm reception. If you're running a bit late, that's not a problem, the Cogges reception volunteers can direct you to the island. We welcome children aged 0- 4 years at Hetty's Hedgehogs. Whilst nature is a great space for all ages we do recommend your little one is a confident walker to get the most from the session. However, we do welcome many younger, non walking siblings. Children are the responsibility of their adults at all times. There are good toilet facilities at Cogges Manor Farm, including baby changing facilities. They are short walk from the island where Hetty's Hedgehogs is based, so if you are at the potty training phase, you might want to bring your own potty with you as the walk might be a bit far for short legs when the urge strikes. The pathways to the island are traversable by buggy/pram. On the way, there is plenty to see, farm animals, the walled garden and the orchard. Hot drinks, drinking water and vegan 'hedgehog cookies' will be available at the refreshment table throughout the session. A small campfire snack is also provided, but do bring extras for your child if needed - the outdoors makes us all hungry! Do get in contact if anyone in your party has allergies so we can keep you safe. Please come dressed for the weather - adults and children! Spare clothes are handy.

Learning aim

Aim 1

To play and have fun! Skills that forest school helps develop include - social skills, gross and fine motor skills, proprioception and balance, nature discovery, relaxation and mindfulness, time to get in a flow state in play, quality time with adults, communication, speech and language, social skills, learning about safety using tools and fire, development of imagination, boost to the immune system, trying new foods cooked on the fire, developing resilience in all weathers, and a good afternoon nap!

Feedback

'Genuinely our favourite day of the week!' 'She has grown in confidence, is willing to get messy and try new things. She loves nature and this club has really supported that' 'Love it! Adult contact for me and a reason to leave the house during bad weather. Love all the activities, especially the crafts' 'Deep contentment sharing food round the campfire in the dappled shade of trees' 'Gaining such confidence navigating uneven ground, encountering wildlife with curiosity.' 'I love it, very sociable group and have made good friends' 'He loves that there is lots to do outside with friends, crafts, firepit, mud kitchen, hammock, cakes' 'We love all of it!'

Pricing information

Ticket namePriceInformation

Ticket nameJan-Feb 2026

Price£65

Information1 ticket per child over 1year (includes accompanying adult(s) )

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LEARNER REFLECTIONS0 reflections

Where we'll be

Cogges Manor Farm, Church Lane, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 3LA

WHAT’S PROVIDED

Drinks

Snacks

Equipment

Safety

Enhanced DBS

Basic DBS

Risk Assessment

Public Liability Insurance

Safeguarding Training

First Aid Training

First Aid Kit

Please note

Please note, it is the responsibility of the booker to satisfy themselves about the adequacy of the safety measures. This platform is merely an introducer and does not verify the items listed here.

Cancellation Policy

Refunds are not generally available, but may be considered with sufficient notice.If you are unable to attend, you are welcome to pass the place on to a friend. Do let me know if so, so I can ensure I have their details. Refunds will be issued if the session has to be cancelled by Starlings and Sticks eg due to safety concerns over high wind, illness, or other drastic unforeseen circumstances!

My experience consists of a leisure activity, on a specific date(s), and therefore the 14-day ‘cooling off period’ under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 does not apply.