GUIDANCE | outdoorplaydumfries

We ask all attendees to read through our guidance before joining us at our HQ sessions.

Babes in the Woods is a pre-school outdoor playgroup that meet on a regular basis to run outdoor play sessions.

Some things to consider before joining us:

Outdoor play is fun but it is also messy and it can be cold. We go out in all seasons and all weathers so please ensure the whole family are dressed appropriately. The site can be muddy so wellies, change of trousers and plastic bags to store any wet things are highly recommended!
You are in charge of yourself and your child – the environment can present hazards and although we will try our best to minimise these, you are responsible for your own and your child’s safety.
Familiarise yourself with the guidance on tick bites

We recommend a ratio of one adult to each child, but as a minimum certainly no more than two children under 5 years old, per adult.
We may need to cancel sessions at short notice if we felt the weather conditions or the site conditions were hazardous, as such please give us as full contact details as possible. Our preferred option if the site is unusable is to relocate to another venue, e.g. Mabie Forest.
At present the site is not suitable for buggies / prams. We actively encourage you to bring your little ones from birth but for accessibility reasons you will need to use a sling – we will happily lend you one if necessary.
We have limited mobile reception on site but access to a landline in case of emergencies.

On the day:

Please check the facebook page for any news – any changes to plans made at short notice will be posted here;
We do not have a toilet facility, so you will be required to ‘relieve’ yourself in the woods, so consider this before leaving home;
We will provide tea, coffee, water and snacks but you are welcome to also bring your own snacks/lunch;
Please dress appropriately – even if the weather is warm, trousers tucked into socks are recommended to avoid insect bites;
If you haven’t been before arrive in plenty of time to get parked and be guided into the wood;
We will take photos on the day, which may be used on the facebook site, in funding bids or future marketing materials. We are happy to share these with you also. We will ask you to sign a photography consent form at your first session with us.

Directions

From Dumfries, head towards Dalbeattie, a few minutes out of town you will see a sign for ‘kennels and cattery’. Turn left here and follow the road down the hill. The wood is on the right hand side.
Please park on the old road at the top of the field. When you come down the hill from the turn off there is a white house straight ahead with an old road running in front of it into our field. Go up the road, turn round and park on the verge to the left. This means if people need to leave they won’t be blocked in. Please do not park at the kennels.