Mums Matter - Week 4: Candles, Connections, and Cosmic Creativity in the Forest

The Mums Matter – Nature & Wellbeing Programme, delivered by Time to Connect CIC in partnership with Forest Frontiers and supported by Bolton CVS, continued this week with another beautiful morning in the woods - this time for our 2–4s toddler group.

Led by Sam and the Forest Frontiers team, this session blended creativity, sensory play, and community connection against the crisp backdrop of an early winter’s day. Despite the cold, the forest buzzed with warmth - from the crackle of the campfire to the laughter of children (and mums) exploring the space.

This week marked Jan’s first time attending the Mums Matter sessions, and it offered a new perspective - not only on how much the programme has grown since week one, but also on how differently mothers engage in nature-based play compared to the dads who completed their Dads Matter journey earlier in the year.

A cosy, informal start to a chilly morning

The session began in a relaxed and welcoming way. As the forest filled with the smell of woodsmoke and freshly brewed coffee, the mums arrived - some with toddlers wrapped in colourful coats, others carrying babies who had joined from the under-twos group.

“We started off thinking we might only have one or two families because it was so cold,” Jan recalled. “But before long, we had seven children and their carers - and the forest suddenly felt alive again.”

Hot drinks and chocolate biscuits helped keep fingers warm and spirits high as the group gathered around to hear the morning’s plan.

Sam, from Forest Frontiers, explained the range of activities on offer - from earth candle making to sawing logs, bug exploration, and free play for anyone who wanted to follow their child’s lead.

This open, flexible structure was a response to feedback from the previous week, ensuring mums knew exactly what options were available while still keeping the relaxed, child-led feel that defines Mums Matter.

“It was clear, welcoming, and full of choice,” Jan said. “Everyone could join in at their own pace, which worked perfectly for this age group.”

Earth candles and woodland magic

The earth candle-making activity quickly became the heart of the session. Mums and children gathered around the fire as Sam demonstrated how to pour melted wax into small forest moulds, decorating them with leaves, petals, and tiny treasures from the ground.

Some added glitter and “fairy dust” to make their candles sparkle. Others pressed in fern leaves or red berries, talking about the shapes and colours they found.

“Everybody made their little candle with wax and leaves, and they looked so beautiful,” Jan said. “It was something lovely to take home — a bit of the forest to light up later.”

For the children, it was a magical sensory experience - feeling the warmth of the wax, smelling the earth and pine around them, and watching the transformation as their creations cooled.

And for the mums, it was something more: a mindful moment to slow down, focus, and enjoy making something together with their children.

Buzz Lightyear and bug hunts: play in all directions

While some families made candles, others ventured into bug exploration. Equipped with magnifying glasses and white sheets, the children hunted for tiny forest creatures under leaves and logs.

It was here that one of the day’s brightest characters appeared: Jacob, a returning child from the Dads Matter programme - though on this occasion, he insisted on being called Buzz Lightyear.

“Jacob wasn’t Jacob this week - he was Buzz Lightyear,” Jan laughed. “Everything he did had a space theme. He was space sawing, making space candles, and talking about flying through the forest. He was absolutely delighted.”

This kind of imaginative play captured the very essence of Mums Matter: blending learning and creativity through play that feels entirely natural to children.

Nearby, other toddlers experimented with log sawing, carefully guided by facilitators and parents. They helped saw small wooden rounds, which they then coloured in — another opportunity to engage their senses and motor skills.

And for those who simply wanted to wander, the forest offered free play - digging, climbing, collecting, and chatting.

“What I loved most,” Jan reflected, “was how everyone felt comfortable doing what worked for them. Some mums did all the activities; others just explored with their children. There was no pressure - just connection.”

Mums connecting through nature - and each other

Even as the air grew colder, the warmth of community carried the group. Jan noted how differently the mothers interacted compared to the dads in earlier sessions.

“Women mingle differently,” she observed. “They seemed to drift between conversations, chatting easily with different people rather than sticking with one group. It was a really relaxed, open atmosphere.”

The forest became a space of quiet connection - not just between mums and children, but among the women themselves. Some conversations were lighthearted - about favourite activities, or how to keep little hands warm outdoors - while others touched on deeper reflections about motherhood and the challenges of finding time for themselves.

A few mums had even crossed over from the baby group, bringing their younger children along. They said they simply wanted to get out, enjoy the company, and share the experience again.

“They told me they came because it’s just nice to get out for an hour,” Jan said. “To be in nature, to break up the day, and to be around other mums - even if you’re not talking the whole time, you still feel that connection.”

A sense of continuity - from dads to mums

One of the most heartwarming moments came when Jan recognised a few familiar faces - not just children, but the families themselves.

“There was Aoife, whose dad had been part of the Dads Matter group, and Jacob - or Buzz Lightyear - whose dad was part of it too,” she said. “It was lovely to see that continuity. The dads had enjoyed it so much that now the mums were coming along. It really shows how the two programmes are connecting families.”

This bridge between Dads Matter and Mums Matter is one of the most powerful outcomes of the work Time to Connect is doing - building not just individual confidence, but shared experiences across families, generations, and genders.

Reflections from the forest

As the afternoon drew to a close, the group gathered for a final few minutes around the fire, warming hands and chatting as children played nearby. The mums completed their evaluation sheets - no small feat in the cold - and shared smiles as they admired their finished candles.

The light was fading, but the energy was still bright.

“Everyone seemed happy,” Jan said. “You could see how much they valued just being there - outdoors, connected, and doing something creative with their children.”

Even as the temperatures dropped, the mood remained warm and grounded - the perfect reflection of what these sessions are all about.

Looking ahead: art and reflection

Next week’s session will move indoors for the first time, with a special art therapy-inspired activity led by a visiting artist. The change of setting will offer a new way for mums and children to express creativity, share stories, and reflect on the themes they’ve explored outdoors.

Jan summed up the feeling perfectly:

“We’re looking forward to the next session - not just because it’ll be warmer,” she laughed, “but because it’s art, and it’s being led by an art therapist. The mums are intrigued - and so am I!”

A growing community

As Mums Matter reaches its fourth week, the sense of community continues to strengthen. The forest may be getting colder, but the bonds forming between families are growing warmer with every session.

Each week brings something new - whether it’s creativity, mindfulness, or simple togetherness - but the thread that runs through it all is clear: when mothers and children are given space to play, reflect, and connect, something beautiful always grows.

“It’s not just about being outdoors,” Jan said in closing. “It’s about being part of something - a network, a team, a community that reminds you you’re not alone in this journey.”