Mums Matter - Week 3: Nature Art, Networks, and the Wonder of the Forest

This week’s Mums Matter – Nature & Wellbeing session brought a fresh kind of magic to the woods. Led by Russ,  the morning invited our under-twos group - and their mums - to experience the forest in a new way: through art, sound, and storytelling inspired by the natural world.

Delivered by Time to Connect CIC, in partnership with Forest Frontiers and supported by Bolton CVS, this 12-week programme continues to create space for reflection, connection, and play in the lives of mothers and their children.

Following last week’s session on affirmations and self-kindness, this week took a more exploratory path - focusing on nature art, teamwork, and understanding how the world around us can mirror the bonds we share within our own families.

Listening to the forest come alive

From the moment the group stepped into the forest, Russ’s infectious enthusiasm set the tone. His deep knowledge of woodland life and his ability to translate that for children - and parents alike - made the session as educational as it was enchanting.

The group began by tuning in to the sounds of the forest. With the under-twos nestled in carriers or toddling along beside their mums, everyone paused to listen. The air was filled with the rustle of leaves and the chirping of birds, and Russ began to point out the different calls that surrounded them.

He encouraged the group to notice not just the sounds themselves, but the patterns - teaching them to recognise which bird was calling and how to tell one from another.

As the group listened, mums smiled at how their children tilted their heads and watched the trees, captivated by sound. For some of the babies, it was their first time really noticing the forest - not just as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing world.

“He let them touch the trees and pick up leaves, showing them how to look at the spine of a leaf and know which tree it came from,” shared Julie. “It’s fascinating every single time Russ speaks - he brings the forest to life.”

Nature art for the very young

After the sound exploration, Russ led the group into nature art, adapted beautifully for the under-twos. Instead of structured crafts, the focus was on sensory discovery - touching bark, feeling the ridges of leaves, and observing how light danced through branches.

For the mums, it was a reminder that even the youngest children are capable of engaging deeply with the world around them.

Small hands explored the ground, holding sticks, tapping on logs, and gently arranging leaves and acorns into simple patterns. The mums joined in too, showing how to make colours and textures stand out against the earth.

It wasn’t about creating perfect art - it was about the process. The soft crunch of leaves, the coolness of bark, and the rhythm of nature offered both mindfulness and connection.

“It’s amazing watching how the babies respond to the textures,” said Julie. “They explore differently than the older ones, but they’re still completely engaged - it’s all new and full of wonder.”

Learning from the trees

One of the highlights of the session came when Russ explained how trees - and the ecosystems around them - teach us about resilience and teamwork.

He spoke about how birds keep themselves warm using trees, how insects and animals rely on one another to survive, and how even the lines of a tree trunk have an effect on the human brain.

The mums listened in fascination, many noting how his stories connected science and mindfulness in such a natural way.

Russ also introduced the group to a rare and extraordinary forest phenomenon - a wild fungus network that, despite having no brain, can navigate, communicate, and work as a team to survive.

He used it as a metaphor for families and communities:

“Just like the forest, we’re all connected,” he explained. “We share energy, we look after each other, and we grow stronger together.”

Julie later reflected,

“He talked about the fungus as a network, and related it to how mums are part of a network too - a team with their babies, their families, and their communities. It was really moving.”

The mums nodded in agreement - a reminder that parenting isn’t meant to be done alone, but in connection with others.

When nature meets nurture

As always with the under-twos, the session flowed gently and flexibly. Some of the little ones had just woken from naps and needed cuddles; others were full of energy, exploring every corner of the woodland floor.

“It’s always unpredictable with this age group,” Julie laughed. “Some were sleepy, some were fascinated - and that’s exactly as it should be.”

One or two families had to leave early when nap time caught up with them, but the rest of the group carried on, enjoying the slower rhythm of the forest.

A few new mums joined this week - including two who had heard about Mums Matter through their partners who attended the Dads Matter programme earlier in the year.

“Their husbands spoke so highly of it,” Julie said proudly. “They wanted to come and see what it was all about for themselves. That felt really special - to see both parents finding their way into these experiences.”

A moment of gratitude and grounding

As the session came to a close, the group gathered once more beneath the trees to reflect. The children, now calmer after their explorations, cuddled into their mums’ arms as the conversation turned to gratitude.

They spoke about what they had learned - about the forest, about teamwork, and about themselves.

For many, it was a rare pause in the week - a moment to simply breathe, listen, and feel present.

“Russ always finds a way to connect the science of nature with the emotion of family,” Julie said. “You can see the mums leaving lighter, with something to think about - not just for their children, but for themselves.”

The ripple effect of connection

Week by week, Mums Matter continues to show how powerful these small moments can be. Whether it’s mirror affirmations, creative play, or exploring bird songs, each session builds connection on multiple levels - between parent and child, between families, and between people and nature.

The arrival of mums whose partners attended Dads Matter was also a heartwarming sign of the project’s impact rippling outward into the community.

It shows that these experiences aren’t isolated events - they’re building a network of families who are learning, reflecting, and growing together.

“It’s exactly what we hoped for when Time to Connect started running these programmes,” said Julie. “When dads, mums, and even grandparents begin to share these same values, it changes the culture of parenting.”

Looking ahead

Next week, Mums Matter continues with wild play, a session designed to embrace freedom, movement, and imagination - a perfect next step after the calm exploration of this week’s nature art.

As the sessions progress through the winter, they’ll continue alternating between under-2s and 2–4s, each exploring the same themes through age-appropriate activities.

From listening to birds to building mud sculptures and creating stories beneath the trees, the programme continues to remind families that the best learning happens not through perfection, but through curiosity and connection.

A final reflection from the forest

As the group packed up for the day - muddy boots, sleepy toddlers, and smiles all around - one thing was clear: these mornings are about more than just outdoor play.

They’re about rediscovering what it means to slow down, listen, and belong.

In a world that often expects mothers to juggle everything, the forest offered something different - stillness, simplicity, and a sense of being part of something much bigger.

Or as Russ himself might say:

“In the forest, everything works together - the trees, the birds, the fungi, the families. It’s all one beautiful network.”