5 Fun Outdoor Play Centres for Kids in Gloucestershire
Looking for fun, screen-free ways to keep the kids busy?
Gloucestershire is bursting with green spaces, woodlands, and nature reserves, making it the perfect backdrop for outdoor adventures.
In this blog, we’ve picked five hands-on outdoor projects that are not only fun but also spark creativity, curiosity, and a love for the natural world.
1 - Wild Kids Forest School
Location: Stroud
The Wild Kids Forest School, based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, is a community organisation which aims to provide accessible and affordable sessions for children of all ages. Their nature-based learning sessions are led by qualified practitioners, encouraging kids to explore the nature and its beauty around us.
With hands-on activities, your little ones can explore with confidence and creativity. Each week, the team has a new focus, from spring watch to making art in nature, pondland explorations and investigating insects. Whatever the theme is, we’re sure your kids will thrive in the Wild Kids Forest School!
Find out more about this fantastic organisation on their website. Not only do they run weekly sessions, but they also offer nature play parties and work with the ADHD Collective for kids and adults. Their site is fully accessible, featuring a 200-metre surfaced pathway and a compost toilet, and can support a range of abilities and needs.
2 - The Outdoors Project
Location: Cirencester and Cheltenham
Hove parents Joel and Sam founded The Outdoors Project after struggling to find kids’ clubs that offered relaxed outdoor exploration rather than being focused solely on sport. The Outdoors Project was born and now caters to 1000s of kids up and down the country.
Whether you book for an hour, a day, a week, or the whole of the 6-week holiday, the Outdoors project combines fun with being outdoors and allows kids to explore the natural world around them. Activities include den building, bushcraft, spy games, wand making and many more!
Keeping kids off screens is a significant aim for Joel and Sam, which is something every parent battles with in a digital world. The Outdoors Project encourages kids to spend more time outdoors, making new friends and learning new skills they wouldn’t necessarily know from sitting behind a screen. If you think this project will be a hit with your kids, get in touch with them today to secure your place!
3 - Nature Tots with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Location: Robinswood Hill, Crickley Hill and Angus Buchanan
Nature Tots with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is designed for little explorers aged 3+ who can walk independently. All activities are ideal for pre-school-aged children and help promote their confidence in nature.
With three locations across Gloucestershire, Nature Tots with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust operates in all weather conditions, ensuring that your child's outdoor experience is not limited by the elements. They believe that early contact with nature is crucial for a child's development and confidence outdoors, and their activities are inclusive and enjoyable for all children.
You can book sessions on their website, and two adults per child can accompany them. Activities include: storytelling, outdoor exploration, imaginative play, and natural crafts, available two days a week.
4 - Hoppity Poppits Outdoor Play
Location: Tredington, Tewksbury
Instagram or Facebook: @hoppityplay
Hoppity Poppits Outdoor play caters to kids between the ages of 1 and 5. Based in Tredington, Tewksbury, this site offers creative play in an outdoor setting. Run by a farmer's wife, Julie, the play centre sits amongst a farm with an array of farm animals and pets to keep her growing family entertained. Parents can rest assured that their little ones are in safe hands, with Julie's years of experience and dedication to providing a nurturing environment.
It was set up to give parents and carers a well-deserved break while providing a safe space for little imaginations to run wild. It has since grown into an inspiring outdoor play centre complete with sand pits, mud play, animal feeding and a huge barn filled with indoor play stations for when the heavens open!
Book your session on their Facebook or Instagram and check out the socials for themed weekends.
5 - Little Muddy Boots
Location: Cheltenham
Little Muddy Boots was established in 2014 by a nature-loving mum who wanted to create an outdoor space for her kids to play in. Creating a safe and stimulating outdoor environment has always been their goal, and now, over 10 years later, it has been a success across the UK.
The Cheltenham group is led by Gerda, who is also a mum and grandmother with a passion for gardening.
Each session at Little Muddy Boots is curated to be both fun and educational, with a weekly learning topic that encourages kids to explore the garden, make mud pies, care for plants and create a craft to take home.
This unique approach ensures that kids not only have a great time but also learn and grow in a stimulating outdoor environment.
If you have a birthday celebration coming up, Little Muddy Boots also offers children's parties, which include a bespoke play time, craft to take home and all props and activities. They also include a fire with marshmallows and juice to end the celebration!
A final note from us
From woodland adventures to letting their imagination run wild, Gloucestershire is packed with outdoor play centres that offer fresh air, freedom, and fun for the whole family. Our five fun, outdoor play centres are perfect for kids to explore, climb and connect with nature.
So pack the snacks, grab the wellies and make some unforgettable memories in the great Gloucestershire outdoors!
