Trust Links Forest School Club HAF 2026

Outdoor and nature-based activities

Mentored by

Trust Links

Transforming lives through nature

Collection links

St Laurence Orchard, Southend-on-Sea

Ages: 7 - 11 years

HAF Eligible Child FreeNon-HAF Eligible Child £60 per session

Next date: Monday 27th Jul, 10:00 – 14:00

Funded by Southend-on-Sea City Council

Universal provision with SEND support

Trust Links Forest School Club HAF 2026 block mentored by Trust Links

A summary

St Laurence Orchard is a 100 year old, one acre off-grid community orchard with an adjoining half acre meadow that Trust Links has managed for the past 20 years on behalf of Southend City Council. The site includes a small indoor space , tool storage, and composting toilet, and has good transport links via the Number 9 bus. The orchard provides a flexible, nature-rich environment, offering quiet areas, shaded zones and small group spaces that support children with additional needs, anxiety or sensory sensitivities. Activities can be adapted for different abilities and comfort levels. Our HAF Programme will be in line with Forest School practices and principles, child-led and led by trained Forest School Practitioners. Some activities may include but are not limited to: Physical Activities: - Woodland games (tag variations, hide and seek games) - Nature trails, scavenger hunts, exploration challenges and orienteering - Shelter building and team challenges - Balance logs, and natural obstacle courses - Nature walks and sensory exploration - Gardening, digging, and practical orchard maintenance tasks Fun and Creative Activities: - Nature crafts: leaf printing, clay creatures, weaving, stick frames. - Tool use (age appropriate): whittling, palm drills, mallet use, simple woodcraft. - Fire based activities: safe fire lighting, cooking, storytelling around the fire. - Environmental art projects using orchard materials. - Bushcraft skills: knots, shelter building, tracking, identifying plants and wildlife. - Drama, role play, and storytelling inspired by the orchard environment. - Other activities designed to help children develop new skills, build confidence, make friends, and experience new challenges in a supportive outdoor setting.

send accessibility checklist

1:1 care

2:1 care

Qualified to administer medication

Epilepsy trained

Secure environment

Accessible toilet

Assist with personal care and toileting

Hoist and changing bench

Wheelchair accessible site

Autism awareness trained

Sensory or quiet spaces

Makaton trained

PECS trained

More information available on request

Contact the Mentor to discuss your specific needs regarding this list item.

Please note:

It is the responsibility of the booker to satisfy themselves about the adequacy of the the measures provided above. This platform is merely an introducer and does not verify the items listed.

About your mentor

Trust Links

Transforming lives through nature

Trust Links is a local, independent mental health and wellbeing charity, supporting adults, young people and families across Essex with the aim of improving mental health, wellbeing and the environment.

Important Information: Please Read Before Signing Up

St Laurence Orchard contains lots of brambles and nettles and as such, children are strong encouraged to wear long trousers and long sleeves. Sturdy, closed-toe footwear is essential to attend. Flip-flops, crocs or opened-toe shoes are NOT permitted due to Health and Safety. Please note - although we try our best to accommodate, the site is not fully enclosed so may not be suitable for children who present a high flight risk. Each session will be spent outside, other than in exceptional adverse weather. This means we are not put off by the rain or sunshine, so please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. This includes sun hats, water bottles, sun cream, rain jackets, waterproof trousers. We are off grid and will be having lots of fun in nature so please wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty! We do not have running water on site, so while we bring our own supply of water for the day, we encourage parents to supply large water bottles for their children. We are a no phone area so encourage all devices to be left at home. If electronics are bought on site, they will need to remain in bags for the duration of the session. St Laurence Orchard is well connected on transport links. Bus: St Laurence bus stop located 4 minute walk away from site - Number 9. Car: Free car park opposite St Laurence Orchard drop-off point.

Learning aims

Aim 1

Connect with nature, make new friends, learn new skills and build confidence through sensory experiences, den building, nature crafts and other outdoor exploration and games.

Aim 2

Children will take an active role in fire lighting and preparing a range of campfire foods.

Aim 3

Build children’s nutritional knowledge, giving them hands-on experience in foraging, food preparation and cooking in a safe, supervised environment.

Pricing information

Ticket namePriceInformation

Ticket nameHAF Eligible Child

Price£0

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Ticket nameNon-HAF Eligible Child

Price£60

Information-

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LEARNER REFLECTIONS0 reflections

Where we'll be

St Laurence Orchard, Eastwoodbury Lane, Southend-on-Sea, England, SS2 6UY

WHAT’S PROVIDED

Drinks

Snacks

Meals

Equipment

Safety

Enhanced 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

Free bookings do not require refunds but as places are limited, please cancel if you cannot attend so that your place can be offered to someone else.

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.