Tall Tales and Seasonal Stories 2025
There is magic in the woods whenever families join us for Tall Tales & Seasonal Stories, hosted by the wonderful Amanda from Merry Go Round Storytelling. Every school holiday we host Tall Tales & Seasonal Stories sessions for families.
A Cosy Autumn Afternoon in Harmony Woods - Awesome Autumn Storytelling, Pumpkin Carving & Bulb Planting
We were back again this week with our second Half Term woodland session on Thursday 30th October, and what a lovely afternoon it was! Harmony Woods was full of laughter, creativity and warm autumn magic.
We began in the cabin with pumpkin carving, and the imagination on display was brilliant. From dancing skeletons to pumpkin cars, every design was completely unique. With 16 children and 8 adults taking part, the cabin was buzzing with concentration, shared ideas and happy chatter. Top marks to all our pumpkin carvers! We were genuinely impressed!
After all that creative energy, it was time for hot chocolates and a cosy story session with the wonderful Amanda from Merry Go Round Storytelling. As always, Amanda brought the room together with her lively voices, captivating storytelling and warm presence. Every child (and adult!) was hanging on to her every word.
To finish the session, we headed outside for something special. Each child planted a wildflower and added wild daffodil bulbs to the raised bed at the front of the Cabin. These small acts today will bring colour, life and delight to the woods in the spring. The perfect start to our ‘Super Spring’ theme and more Tall Tales of nature and its wonders still to come
It was the perfect way to spend an autumn afternoon.. candles glowing, pumpkins lined up, spring bulbs being planted, wrapped up in the magic of the woods and Halloween!
Children left proudly carrying their pumpkins, ready for Halloween tomorrow. We hope they bring joy to doorsteps and windows across Andover!
Share your photos!
If you joined us today, we’d love to see your pumpkins, carving setups and woodland moments.
Please share and tag us so we can celebrate them together!
More Woodland Events Are Coming Up
We’d love to welcome you back soon. See what’s happening next → https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/events
See you soon in the woods!
A Magical Morning in Harmony Woods: Room on the Broom Half-Term Adventure!
This week, Harmony Woods came alive with storybook magic as we welcomed families for our Room on the Broom half-term special, and what a joyful morning it was! On Tuesday 28th October, we were joined by children, parents, grandparents and friends, all coming together to share a morning of storytelling, creativity and nature.
We were lucky enough to be blessed with a burst of warm autumn sunshine, which meant we could enjoy the whole event outside among the trees. The perfect setting for a witch, a cat, a dog, a bird… and a dragon, of course!
The Magic Begins…
Our morning started with the wonderful Amanda from Merry-Go-Round Storytelling, who brought the beloved tale of Room on the Broom to life in the clearing. With her exciting voices, movement and imagination, Amanda had children and adults up on their feet, swooshing broomsticks through the sky, roaring like dragons, and laughing together. It was one of those moments where you look around and see everyone, big and small, completely absorbed in the magic of the story.
These are the moments that remind us why stories told outdoors feel different, the woods become part of the story themselves.
Make Your Own Broomstick!
After the storytelling, it was time to get creative. Using fallen branches and natural materials collected from Harmony Woods, everyone set to work making their own broomsticks and wands.
Some were tiny and delicate, some large and wild, and every single one was unique. We saw sparkly twine, leafy tassels, twig bundles, handle shapes and a whole lot of very proud broomstick-holders taking them for test flights!
The best part was watching families help each other by tying knots, choosing branches, offering ideas, cheering on designs. This is what we love most about our events: people connecting with nature and each other.
Mornings like this remind us that storytelling brings us together. Creativity belongs outside, not just at tables and nature is the best classroom whilst on half term! And when children spend time in the woods, they learn to love and care for them too.
This is core to our mission at Andover Trees United to support the wellbeing of people, wildlife and the planet by helping our community work and learn together in nature. It’s all about happy trees, happy planet, happy people!
We’d Love to See Your Photos!
Did you capture any magic moments, broomstick flights or forest fairy wand creations?
Please share them and tag us. We love celebrating your creativity! Instagram + Facebook: @andovertreesunited
Join Us Again Soon!
We have lots more events, activities and seasonal woodland days coming up - there’s always something growing here in Harmony Woods. See what’s coming next: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/events
We can’t wait to see you soon in the woods!
Summer 2025
This summer, Harmony Woods (Diamond Wood) came alive with the laughter, curiosity, and creativity of Andover’s young adventurers. Across four magical sessions, our Nature Explorers Summer 2025 programme invited children to discover the wonders of the natural world through storytelling, crafts, games, and exploration.
Session One: The Awongalema Tree – Thursday, 7th August
The season began with a morning brimming with discovery, creativity, and laughter. Beneath the shade of the woods, Natalia set the tone with the enchanting tale of the Awongalema Tree, told with warmth and wonder. Inspired by the story, the children set off on a woodland forage, gathering natural treasures before transforming their finds into imaginative Awongalema Trees of their own under Matt’s guidance.
After a well-earned snack, the morning closed with lively parachute and team games—sparking teamwork and joy before tired but happy explorers headed home.
Session Two: Little Red Riding Hood – Thursday, 14th August
Harmony Woods welcomed back our young explorers for a joyful second session. This time, Amanda from Merry-go-Round Storytelling brought the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood to life in the heart of the woods. Captivated by her performance, the children’s imaginations were soon overflowing with ideas.
Led by Hebe, the adventurers crafted their very own grandmother wolf masks, filling the woodland with colourful, playful wolves. After snacks, parachute games and team activities once again had everyone working together and laughing in the summer sunshine.
Session Three: Wildflower Fairies – Tuesday, 19th August
The third session was filled with wonder as Amanda and Hebe enchanted the children with tales of wildflower fairies. Surrounded by real wildflowers growing all around them, the explorers listened in awe before diving into a hands-on craft activity: creating their very own wildflower fairies from natural woodland materials.
The day rounded out with parachute fun and energetic team games, the woods echoing with laughter as the children worked together before heading home with stories to share.
Session Four: Teddy Bears Picnic – Tuesday, 26th August
The grand finale of the programme was a much-anticipated Teddy Bears Picnic—a lively three-hour celebration in Harmony Woods. Amanda, joined by Natalia and Hebe, led an interactive retelling of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, before the children crafted their own teddy bear ear headdresses in preparation for the adventure ahead.
Following clues through the woodland, the group discovered a very special guest—a teddy bear waiting to join them for a woodland picnic. After sharing food beneath the trees, the children worked together on a collaborative hanging mobile, now proudly decorating Harmony Woods. The day closed with energetic games and a gentle Teddy Bears Picnic tale read by Natalia.
A special thank you went to George Chin, whose beautifully detailed map of Harmony Woods guided the bear hunt and became a treasured resource throughout the summer’s sessions.
Gratitude and Looking Ahead
A huge thank you goes out to our wonderful young explorers, our dedicated volunteers, and all the behind-the-scenes supporters. Your efforts made this summer’s Nature Explorers programme such a success, helping the children of Andover connect with the magic of the natural world.
The Teddy Bears Picnic was a fitting end to a summer of discovery, creativity, and joy—memories that will stay with Andover’s young adventurers long after the season has closed.
Stay tuned for future Nature Explorers adventures in Harmony Woods—where stories, nature, and imagination meet.
May Half-Term
This May half-term was full of adventure, curiosity, and creativity for our young Nature Explorers, who joined us at Harmony Woods for two exciting outdoor sessions—The Gruffalo Trail and Freshwater Adventures. Here's a look back at what they got up to and a big cheer for the brilliant youth leaders who made it all happen!
Nature Explorers - Gruffalo Trail
Tuesday morning saw our explorers don their adventure hats (and later, crowns!) as they set off on a magical journey along the Gruffalo Trail. Surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells of the woodland, they collected natural treasures—sticks, leaves, feathers, and more—to craft their own Gruffalo crowns, each as unique and wild as the woods themselves.
The day was packed with woodland games and free exploration, sparking imaginations and connecting everyone with the natural world. The woods came alive with stories, laughter, and muddy boots!
We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us, and a massive congratulations to Matt, Natalia, and Hebe—who not only planned but delivered their own sessions for the first time! Matt and Natalia, both graduates of our Youth Team, are now fully-fledged Youth Leaders with ATU. This was a huge milestone, and they absolutely smashed it.
Nature Explorers - Freshwater Adventures
Thursday morning brought warm sunshine and fresh excitement as we headed back to Harmony Woods for our Freshwater Adventures session. This time, it was all about exploring the watery world of our pond.
Our Nature Explorers grabbed nets and trays for a pond dip, discovering an underwater universe teeming with life—from dragonfly larvae and diving beetles to the magical sighting of newts! After a snack and a bit of shade, the children used their discoveries as inspiration to create their own pond creatures using craft materials.
The fun didn’t stop there—there were more games to play, including the ever-popular "Meet the Trees", a game that combines nature connection with sensory exploration and teamwork.
Again, a huge thanks to our brilliant team—Matt, Natalia, and Hebe—for leading another incredible session. Their enthusiasm, planning, and energy made the event a hit!
Looking Ahead
Both sessions were a testament to the power of nature, play, and youth-led leadership. We’re so proud of the team and grateful to all the families who joined us. Keep an eye out for more Nature Explorers sessions over the summer—there’s plenty more adventure to come!
Want to be part of it? Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events, and don’t forget to follow our journey through the woods, water, and beyond.
See you next time, Nature Explorers!
What a brilliant couple of weeks we’ve had in the woods with our wonderful Nature Explorers! Over the Easter Half-Term, Harmony Woods was filled with laughter, learning, and a whole lot of chocolate. Here’s a little look back at the two fantastic sessions we hosted.
🥚 Week One: Traditional Easter Fun with a Lithuanian Twist!
So many cheerful Eggsplorers joined us in the woods for a magical morning of traditional Easter activities!
We were thrilled to welcome artist Jolanta Rolt, who led a beautiful Easter Egg decorating workshop, inspired by the traditions of her home country, Lithuania. Using onion skins, red cabbage, and flowers and plants foraged from the woods, our Eggsplorers created stunning natural patterns on their eggs. The process was as delightful as the results – and a perfect way to celebrate springtime in harmony with nature.
While the eggs were gently boiling in their dye baths, the Eggsplorers joined Matt, Natalia, and Hebe for a good old-fashioned Easter Egg Hunt (yes, the chocolate kind!), followed by some fun and silly nature-themed games.
We ended the session with the perfect seasonal snack – hot cross buns, enjoyed together under the canopy of budding trees.
A massive thank you to Jolanta for sharing her culture and creativity with us, to our brilliant volunteers, and of course to all the parents and Eggsplorers who made it such a special morning.
🐛 Week Two: Building Bug Hotels & Woodland Stories
In the second week, a smaller group of budding conservationists joined Matt and Natalia for a peaceful, creative session in Harmony Woods – and what a time we had!
We began with a scavenger hunt to collect natural materials for our next mission: building bug hotels! With their lists in hand (but full creative freedom), the children brought back an impressive haul of feathers, leaves, twigs, and even a few daisies.
After a mini feast of biscuits, juice, hot drinks, and (you guessed it) more hot cross buns, a very special guest made a sneaky visit… the Chief Supporting Officer of the Easter Bunny (Matt in disguise, perhaps?) dropped an Easter surprise into everyone’s collection of woodland treasures.
As snacks were finishing up, Natalia captivated the group with a lively retelling of the beloved tale "Stick Man", while Matt gave an Oscar-worthy performance acting it out – much to everyone’s amusement!
Then it was time to get building! Using bamboo sticks and their natural finds, the children got stuck into making their own bug hotels – a fiddly but fun project that got everyone involved (adults included!).
A huge shoutout to Matt and Natalia for running their first solo session – and smashing it! Thanks again to everyone who came along to both sessions and helped make this Easter Half-Term one to remember.
🌳 See you again soon in the woods! Keep your eyes peeled for more family nature events from Andover Trees United coming soon.
Storytelling, Crowns & Worm Hunts: A Magical Half-Term in the Woods
There’s something truly special about stories told beneath the trees.
February half-term, we swapped screens for sticks, stories, and songs as Amanda from Merry-Go-Round Storytelling joined forces with Andover Trees United for a woodland adventure that captured imaginations and sparked creativity in kids (and grown-ups!) of all ages.
Two Sessions, One Magical Day
The day was split into two sessions, with the morning tailored for our youngest nature lovers aged 2 to 5. Amanda brought the classic tale of The Three Little Pigs to life with rhymes, songs, and playful participation from everyone—yes, even the parents and volunteers joined in! Afterward, the children set to work making their own little piggy houses using twigs, leaves, and other natural treasures they found in the woods.
The afternoon welcomed older children, who were treated to a weather-themed story before diving into the creative chaos of crown-making. Nature crowns, made with sticks, grasses, and woodland finds, transformed the kids into forest kings and queens. The session ended on a high with our ever-popular game Bird and Nest—a high-energy race to gather “worms” (aka colorful wool offcuts) while avoiding being caught. Competitive? Absolutely. Hilarious? Without a doubt.
What the Grown-Ups Had to Say
We heard so much lovely feedback from parents and carers, who clearly enjoyed the experience just as much as the kids:
“Lovely to be in the woods again. Good open-ended activities. Atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. Amanda was great. Well led by Matt and Natalya – thank you!”
“Both girls thoroughly enjoyed the workshop with Amanda and Natalia. The storytelling was interactive and engaging, and foraging and making the nature crowns was great. The girls also enjoyed the game afterwards. We would definitely want to join future workshops. Thank you.”
“Effy loved this session and came away absolutely buzzing about what she had crafted! She will definitely be back.”
And from one of our own volunteers:
“I’m used to nature-based activities, but working with Amanda was a new and unique experience that I thoroughly enjoyed.”
A Word from the Team
Matthew Thomas, Youth Group Co-leader at Andover Trees United, summed it up perfectly:
“We are so lucky to have the space we do, and it is great that the children are able to come and make use of it.”
We couldn’t agree more.
What’s Next?
If February half-term’s event was anything to go by, it’s safe to say more storytelling-in-the-woods adventures are definitely on the cards. Keep an eye on our socials and newsletter for upcoming sessions—you won’t want to miss them!
Until then, keep exploring, keep imagining, and never underestimate the power of a good story shared among the trees. 🌳📖✨
