ALICE Holt Forest welcomed youngsters for another round of outdoor holiday clubs run by Wild Learning during the summer holidays.

Between 16 and 24 children, aged five to 11 years old, took part each day from 10am to 4pm - exploring the woods, tracking and trailing down to Wild Learning’s main camp hidden deep in a hidden valley in Alice Holt.

There they built shelters, told stories, made rope bridges and assault courses, learned woodland crafts, played wide games, practised safe fire lighting and finally toasted marshmallows around the camp fire.

Wild Learning’s days are as child-led as possible, with the leaders present to keep the children safe and facilitate activities rather than to tell them what to do.

Comments from parents included: “They love it and always have a great time whatever the weather. They love the freedom, adventure and chance to get dirty. They always come home buzzing (and in need of a bath!) They love the staff and being outdoors all day.”

Another said: “When he was attending Wild Learning my son said in the evening that he couldn’t wait to go to bed and wake up again, so that he could go back to the woods!”

One more added: “My children always, without fail, have a marvellous time, whether it’s wet or dry, whether they have been allowed free rein or had more structure to the day.

“All I care about is that they are safe, well-looked after, having fun and spending time running around outdoors, exploring, investigating, getting mucky and generally doing all the things that children are meant to do.”

For more information or to book a place for the autumn half term, priced at £38 per child per day, visit the website www.wild-learning.net.