FAMILIES were welcomed to the first forest school of the decade at a popular woodland centre.

The first forest school of 2020 at the Belfairs Woodland Centre, off Eastwood Road, Leigh, on Sunday, welcomed new and old faces to join the family-orientated day out.

The centre, opened by BBC Springwatch presenter Martin Hughes-Games in 2013, held Sunday’s session, in conjunction with the Essex Wildlife Trust, was focused on exploring the woodland and showing the children how to make new paths through the trees.

The families were also able to create their very own journey sticks to remember where they had been in the woods.

Children were also able to play on the rope swings, experiment in the mud kitchen, use their imagination when using wildlife puppets, and took part in minibeast hunts.

Plenty of dens were also built, with some help from the parents.

Staff at Belfairs told the Echo that repeat visits from families help develop a connection with nature, as well as building confidence in children.

The next event at the woodland centre is a parent and toddler group, where children aged from 18 months to five, are given the opportunity to go bug hunting and leaf painting.