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Home » The Legal Stuff

The Legal Stuff

Privacy Notice – Hopyard Wood – Nature’s Healing (thehappyhippy.co.uk)

Cookie Policy – Hopyard Wood – Nature’s Healing (thehappyhippy.co.uk)

Disclosure Policy – Hopyard Wood – Nature’s Healing (thehappyhippy.co.uk)

thehopyardwood

🌳 Forest School - all ages welcome | Roots & Wings - seasonal nature connection | Women’s circles & family rituals 💚 Meet me in the wood or online.

Hopyard Wood is still and quiet… well, apart from Hopyard Wood is still and quiet… well, apart from the torrential rain, the howling wind, and this little guy.

He’s a fab reminder that while nature rests, I’m busy being productive and creative behind the scenes at Hopyard HQ.

From February, our weekly Little Explorers sessions return, and the new dates are now live on the booking site — along with the Holiday Club sessions for February half term. I’m also planning to introduce sessions especially for home-educated children. 🌿

And… I’m working on something very special for 2026. I can’t wait to let you in on the secret towards the end of this month.

Drop an emoji below if you’re curious and I’ll make sure you’re the first to know 😉

#forestschool #hopyardwood #whatsnew #getchildrenoutdoors #natureschooling #holidayclub #2026
Hey, I’m not ready to say much just yet — only thi Hey, I’m not ready to say much just yet — only this:

Something new has been quietly coming to life behind the scenes… something rooted in connection, ritual, and the gentle magic of childhood.

2026 will bring a new offering from me. Not a project, but a calling.

Something that weaves together everything I love… nature, rhythm, emotional well-being, and the kind of slow, soulful family bonding we all long for.

For now, I’m tending the idea like a seed in winter soil — nurturing months of dreaming, planning, and quietly building something that feels powerful, needed, and deeply aligned.

I can’t wait to share more when the moment is right. But for now… I am letting it grow in its own time.

If you can feel the energy of this already…
if you’re curious… excited… or just want to be part of the journey…

🌟 Drop an emoji below and you’ll get a heads up in early 2026 as I prepare to launch this magical, heart-inspired offering.

#newyear #familybonding #ritual #2026 #rootsandwings #hopyardwood #soulfulparenting #familytime
“There’s something about bringing a real tree indo “There’s something about bringing a real tree indoors… the scent of pine, the twinkling of fairy lights, the promise of the festive season and that gentle reminder that nature knows exactly how to slow us down at this time of year.”

#realchristmastree #christmas #trees #festive #natureconnection #calm #hopyardwood #slowdown #christmasmagic #yule #magic
LOOKING FOR A SIMPLE, NATURE INSPIRED ACTIVITY FOR LOOKING FOR A SIMPLE, NATURE INSPIRED ACTIVITY FOR LITTLE HANDS? 👋🐦

Bird feeders are a great go to for a nature based activity and the possibilities of how to create these little treats are endless.

Toilet roll tubes are a favourite as are little wooden discs or sticks (as per our reel) which can easily be hung in a tree. Here at Hopyard Wood, making birdy snacks is one of our favourite activities. 

These bird feeders are simple enough for even very young children to help make.

To make a DIY bird feeder, you will need:

A used toilet roll tube or a chunky stick from the wood

String or twine

A butter knife or lollipop stick

A bowl or plate

A variety of bird seed

A digestible fat, such as lard, vegetable shortening or peanut butter

Then following these easy steps:

🦉Using the butter knife or lollipop stick, spread a thick layer of lard, vegetable shortening or peanut butter over the outside of the toilet roll tube. Not only does this help the seeds to stick, it also makes the tube waterproof, ideal for putting out homemade bird feeders in UK weather. Fats also help birds survive during the winter.

🦉Once the tube is completely covered, roll it in a bowl of mixed bird seed so the seeds stick to the fat

🦉Loop some string or twine through the inside of the toilet roll tube and use to hang on the branch of a tree or from a hook in the wall.

🦉Once the birds have finished all the seeds, you may be able to make another DIY bird feeder from the toilet paper roll. If not, don’t forget to recycle it!

This is a great, easy activity for your little ones. Even after they have finished making them, I guarantee some quiet time as they watch from the window to see if any feathered friends come for a snack.

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#forestschool #hopyardwood #natureactivities #birds #birdfeeders #recycle #upcycle #kidsactivities #kidsplay #naturekids #outdoorlearning #wildschooling #wildlings #wildlife
NEW DATES ANNOUNCED FOR HOPYARD WOOD! Carrying us NEW DATES ANNOUNCED FOR HOPYARD WOOD! Carrying us all the way to the end of March 2026 

While the wood is settling into its winter rhythm my head is already in 2026 focusing on delivering a packed programme of Forest School sessions.

🌱 Little Explorers (0–4 yrs)
Our gentle, magical tots sessions return from February 2026, running on alternate Tuesdays & Fridays.

🍃 Woodland Explorers (0–11 yrs)
A small shift in our start time to ease into the morning and give everyone a calmer start. 
From January 2026, sessions will begin at the new time of 10.30am.

🔥 February Half-Term Holiday Club
Our most popular sessions are back!
Join us on:
🌟 Monday 16th February
🌟 Wednesday 18th February
Booking early is recommended as demand is usually high for our holiday club.

Bookings now live — grab your spots while they’re fresh! Follow the link in my bio. 

I am currently working on scheduling some seasonal woodland family sessions and women’s circles, which will embrace "the wheel of the year." So be sure to give me a follow and you'll get all the details as they drop 💚

#hopyardwood #forestschoolderbyshire
#forestschool #derbyshiremums #whatsonderby
When I dreamt about having my own Forest School, I When I dreamt about having my own Forest School, I had visions of how it would be, how it would feel, and what the best way would be to serve my community — what impact it would have on the children who came. So many what if moments.

Then the dream became a reality, and I opened the gates to this beautiful woodland in November 2023. Since then, I have hosted many children’s sessions and women’s circles… and I am so grateful for the opportunity.

But I know there is more to do — more children who need to discover the joy of nature, the freedom of child-led play and open-ended discovery. The confidence and development that come from introducing them to controlled risky activities such as fire lighting and using tools.

Hopyard Wood is so much more than nature’s playground; she is a place of healing and restoration. There is great power when women gather to sit in circle — a remembering of the old ways, of community and sisterhood, a chance to share, to stay quiet, or simply to just be.

In 2026, the Hopyard journey will take me deeper as I bring more of my experience and qualifications into the wood. I want to reach further and offer more opportunities for nature’s healing, grounding and sense of security in a world that can, at times, feel scary and unpredictable.

✨ If any of this resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts below — what does Hopyard Wood mean to you, or what would you love to see here in the future? ✨

#hopyardwood #woodlandretreat #forestschoolderbyshire #outdoorlearning #natureconnection
A little note about reviews… I never ask for fee A little note about reviews… 

I never ask for feedback to collect gold stars or boost my ego. For me, reviews are gentle signposts — reminders that the experience I strive to create together in the wood is landing in the way I hope it is.

I am always open to feedback, in all its guises as your words help me understand what’s working, what’s being felt, and what truly matters to you and your little ones. They help me keep growing, keep refining, and keep offering a space that feels safe, soulful and fun. A place of learning and healing.

So if you’ve spent time in Hopyard Wood — whether at Woodland Explorers, Little Explorers, InWood circles, or any of our seasonal gatherings — and you feel called to share a few words, I appreciate it more than you know.

Not for points.
Not for praise.
Just for the simple, heartfelt knowing that I’m getting it right - and everybody needs a little reassurance now and again. 

Thank you, always. Tracey 💚
❄️ WINTER NEWS FROM HOPYARD WOOD ❄️ During the wi ❄️ WINTER NEWS FROM HOPYARD WOOD ❄️

During the winter months, the estate hosts events that require access to Hopyard Wood, so from November to January we’ll be open on selected dates.

Alongside our Woodland Explorers sessions, we’ll be running a few seasonal gatherings, including our Winter Solstice in the Wood on 20th December.

Keep an eye out, too, for a special children’s Christmas Woodland Workshop — more details coming soon! 🎄
Two years of Hopyard Wood.... I am so blessed to Two years of Hopyard Wood....

I am so blessed to be custodian of this beautiful woodland. Each and every time I open the gate and walk inside, peace prevails and magic greets me as I see nature in all her seasons. 

It is an absolute honour to welcome children and grown-ups into this space and it is never lost on me, that Hopyard Wood and the sessions I run are a choice for them - that each person who books has an option and they choose me. 

2025 has been personally the toughest of my life, losing both parents within just 7 weeks of one another earlier this year. That coupled with some pretty full on health issues for me have meant that the gates of Hopyard have been closed for large parts of the last 11 months and I am thankful to everyone who has stuck with me and supported me through a very emotional year. 

I am currently working on some big plans for 2026 which will see the return of Woodland Babes along with some new seasonal workshops for all....and a few other exciting projects both in the wood and online, including "Roots & Wings." program of gentle, playful, and soul-nourishing bonding moments for families with children 0–11. 

So watch this space. Make sure you don't miss out, give us a follow. Remember "Hands on the Trees - Hearts in the Moment."
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, w At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them 🥀

#lestweforget
Just FAB..U..LOUS darlings.....It's a 10 from me!! Just FAB..U..LOUS darlings.....It's a 10 from me!!Keeeep dancing 💃

#hopyardwood #ForestMagic #strictly #strictlycomedancing #woodlandexplorers
Working with children is a blessing, but also a re Working with children is a blessing, but also a revelation. I often find myself holding their childhood up to my own, and at times it makes me sad. Working in a primary school, I see so much emphasis on validation instead of adventure. More posing than playing.

We’re living in a world that filters the freckles, edits the joy, and teaches our children that how they look matters more than how they feel.

But the children who come to Hopyard don’t scroll — they explore. They connect with wildlife, not competition. Their confidence isn’t built on likes; it rises with every fire they light, each log they saw, every twig they whittle. When they get their hands in the earth, swing in a hammock, mix a mud-kitchen potion, or sit quietly beneath a tree listening to the birds — they belong to something bigger than a screen. 

No filters.
No followers.
Just freedom.

It feels like the world is raising influencers.
But here at Hopyard, we’re helping to raise little humans — humans who know they’re part of something bigger than the web or the latest trend.

They are Curious. Creative. Wild. Whole.
And the world is better because they’re in it 💚
❄️ Winter Solstice Cacao Ceremony at Hopyard Wood ❄️ Winter Solstice Cacao Ceremony at Hopyard Wood ❄️

As the wheel turns once again and the longest night falls, we will gather in the heart of Hopyard Wood to honour the dark and welcome the returning light.

A sacred pause in the stillness of winter… a time to rest, reflect, and reignite the spark within.

Saturday 20th December 2025
1 pm – 3 pm
£37 (includes ceremonial cacao & nourishing nibbles)

Hosted by Tracey & Angela, this Winter Solstice, you’re invited to journey through —

🌛 Embracing the Dark – honouring reflection, introspection, and the quiet wisdom winter holds.
🌲 Forest Bathing – a gentle, mindful wander through the woodland, connecting with the land that cradles us.
🍫 Cacao Journey with Angela – a heart-opening experience with ceremonial cacao to guide you inward.
🙏 Ritual & Intention – release what no longer serves, plant seeds for the year ahead, and realign with your truth.
🔥 The Return of the F**k It Fire Bucket Ceremony – gather your doubts, fears, and old stories, offer them to the flames, making space for your light to rise in 2026.

Wrap up warm, bring your journal, and let the magic of the Solstice hold you.
A nourishing pause before the turning of the year.

Places are filling quickly, so head to the link in bio to book your place.

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.#cacao #cacaoceremony #wintersolstice #Derbyshire
✨ Samhain in the Wood ✨ Families gathered in the ✨ Samhain in the Wood ✨

Families gathered in the heart of Hopyard Wood for our Samhain celebration — a morning of magic, memory, and togetherness. 🍂🕯️

Little witches and wizards set to work crafting broomsticks & magic wands before heading to stir their very own potions before creating their very own familiars to accompany them on their woodland adventures.

We paused to gather around the fire to sip hot chocolate and toast marshmallows as I shared the story of Samhain — the ancient festival of endings and beginnings, when the veil between worlds is thin, a sacred time to remember those who walked before us.

We finished up with a short, gentle ceremony. Each child — and a few grown-ups too — wrote down a wish and the name of a loved one passed, offering both to the flames with love and intention. It was a beautiful moment of quiet reflection and shared magic. 

Before leaving, each family took home a pumpkin and candle to honour their loved ones no longer here — along with a few sweet treats, of course! 🎃🍬🕯

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and helped keep the spirit of Samhain alive. We are, after all, keepers of magic here at Hopyard Wood. 🌙✨

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#samhain #halloween #celticmythology #ceremony #ritualforkids #ritual #forestschool #keepersofmagic
Give them wings... At Hopyard Wood, we are keeper Give them wings...

At Hopyard Wood, we are keepers of magic✨️ Here, children are free to grow, explore, and belong. Curiosity blooms, gratitude flows, confidence builds, rituals connect, friendships are nurtured, and imaginations take flight.

This is where little hearts discover freedom, wonder, and connection — a place where every moment is enchanted and every child feels seen as they connect with nature. 

Step into magic with us — come explore Hopyard Wood and let your child’s adventure begin 🌿

Head to the bio for a link to our online booking page. 

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#childdevelopment #getchildrenoutdoors #forestschool#keeperofmagic #naturekids
The roots of Hopyard Wood run deep — into the soil The roots of Hopyard Wood run deep — into the soil and into the souls of our visitors, young & old alike. 
⠀
But did you know, there’s another part of the journey too — one that rises from the same roots, reaching for light, healing, and soulful connection.
⠀
That space is @happyhippyrising - my space!! It's where I’m gathering all the pieces of my heart led offerings together:

 🙏wellness & self-care
🌙 family rituals & soulful living
🌿 gentle healing & grief coaching
🍄 and of course, a good sprinkle of happy hippy energy (on the days I can muster it)

A place where this Forest School Leader meets the Wellness, Grief, Mindfulness & Meditation Coach, meets.....well me - my little squares of gentle reflections, encouragement and healing, ritual, and real-life.
⠀
If you’ve felt at home here among the trees, come walk a little further with me — from soil to soul 💚

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#nature #healing #ritual #mindfulness #grief #familybonding #meditation #soiltosoul #wellness
Any excuse to listen to Yungblud, run this reel ag Any excuse to listen to Yungblud, run this reel again and remind you it's time to wrap up warm when visiting Hopyard Wood. It's all about the layers - your welcome 😉
No, they are not cherries... We have a beautiful No, they are not cherries...

We have a beautiful tree on the edge of the playground at school laden with what look like cherries 🍒 

Throughout this week, kids have come up to me with their precious harvest in hand and asked two questions "is this a cherry?" or "can I eat it?"

The answer is no and yes (well kind of...)
They are crab apples, a tiny relative of our traditional apple and they are given the name due to their diminutive size - being smaller than 2 inches across, hence the cherry mistaken identity. 

They are edible but very tart, so eaten raw can induce some funky face pulls 🥴😵‍💫😬 So maybe leave the raw stuff for the wildlife. 

The fruits themselves are small, sour, and packed with pectin — which makes them perfect for jellies, jams, chutneys, and even cider blends. 

What I love most about crab apples is their links to folklore. In Celtic tradition, crab apples were sacred — symbols of love, renewal, and the balance between worlds. Their blossoms stood for beauty and hope, while their fruit represented wisdom, transformation, and the sweetness that can grow from something sharp.

The crab apple reminds us that even the smallest things can hold great power. 

#crabapple #harvest #fruit #folklore #celtic #celticmythology #nature #funfact
Why Samhain, not Halloween... This year, you migh Why Samhain, not Halloween...

This year, you might notice that we’re celebrating Samhain here at Hopyard Wood, rather than hosting a Halloween party — and I wanted to share a little bit about why.

Halloween is fun, of course — the costumes, the sweets, the giggles, and the trick or treat. But underneath all of that is something much older, much more connected to nature.

Samhain (pronounced Sow-in) is the ancient Celtic festival that marks the end of the harvest and the turning of the wheel into winter. It’s a time for gratitude, reflection, and gentle letting go.
It’s about celebrating nature’s cycles — light and dark, growth and rest — and helping our children feel part of that natural rhythm.

In a world that can often feel fast, loud, and sugar-fuelled, Samhain offers a slower, deeper kind of magic. It invites curiosity, creativity, and connection — making natural crafts, telling stories by the fire, and remembering the people and creatures who came before us.

These are the moments that nurture emotional well-being, empathy, and wonder. They help children feel safe in the dark, see beauty in change, and understand that endings are just another part of life’s beautiful circle.

So this year at Hopyard Wood, we’re choosing Samhain over Halloween — not to take the fun away, but to add the meaning back in.
To give our little ones a space where the magic is real, the play is gentle, and the connection — to nature, to each other, and to themselves — runs deep.

Samhain at Hopyard is about belonging, balance, and the simple, sacred joy of being part of the turning seasons.

Celebrate the season in a gentler, quieter, more meaningful way and head to the link in the bio, and book your seat around the fire.

#samhain #autumn #magic #nature
It's been forever... Three weeks post-surgery, I’ It's been forever...

Three weeks post-surgery, I’m recovering but still a little tired, and figuring out life without a gallbladder 😳

Right now, I am resting and recuperating and planning on being back in the wood for our family "Samhain" session, offering a gentler and more authentic celebration of the season. So, just another few weeks and the gates to Hopyard will be flung open on Saturday, 1st November....and I can’t wait. 

It would be great to have you join me to mark the spooky season, and hopefully, by then, I won't look like the main character. Places are limited, so head to the link in the bio and get booked on 🎃

#HopyardWood #samhain #woodlandfamily
#whatsonderbyshire
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