Base Camp, Baldersby Park

Base Camp runs Forest School and outdoor sessions in 90 acres of private parkland on the Georgian Baldersby Park estate, south-west of Thirsk. Its main work is with schools and groups, and it also puts dated sessions on sale to the public. For a family in the area at the right time, that means a morning or a whole day in the woods with qualified leaders, on a site that is closed to everyone else.

The programme covers woodland exploration, forest games, archery, pond dipping and natural art. On a holiday day, children aged 5 to 11 can build forts and dens, play hide-and-seek across the woods, try the slackline, rest in hammocks, and learn knots and whittling with Myra, the Forest School Leader. The Pre-School Adventures sessions, led by Early Years specialist Catherine with founder Hannah Secouet, let walking pre-schoolers play in the woodland with their parents or carers alongside them.

From Tea Time Cafe at 87 Market Place, head south-west out of Thirsk towards the A19 and the A1. Base Camp says it is about ten minutes from Thirsk. The address is Base Camp, Baldersby Park, Park Road, Thirsk YO7 3BZ, and the operator gives the entrance as ///rebel.louder.callers on what3words, which is the surest way to find the right gate on a large estate.

Turn in at the entrance and park on the gravel inside. The gates are closed once everyone has arrived, so be on time. Plan on driving, as the estate sits out in the countryside between Thirsk and Ripon.

Start on the Bookwhen calendar, which lists every public session with its date and time. In November and December 2026 the public sessions are the Bright Start Pre-School Adventures on Tuesday mornings at 9.45am. Holiday days for older children are posted when they are planned; in 2026 they ran at Easter and at the end of the summer holidays.

On the day, sessions gather at the Deer Shed, a historic building that once sheltered the park's deer and now serves as the base for eating, making things and warming up. Beside it is the Enclosure, a secure space with two fallen trees for balancing and climbing. From there the group heads into the woodland. Snacks and drinks are provided, and on a full day children bring a packed lunch.

The setting is the main draw: a large, private stretch of Georgian parkland with only the session group in it. The team is the other. Base Camp's leaders are qualified and DBS-checked, and the about page describes experience of supporting children with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities, with reasonable adjustments made case by case. Fresh water comes to every session, with running-water hand-washing stations and soap.

Book early. Both of the 2026 holiday days for 5 to 11s sold out. Dress children in long sleeves and full-length trousers against nettles, scratches and ticks, with several thin layers rather than one thick coat, full waterproofs even on a dry day, and wellies or sturdy boots. Pack a change of clothes with spare socks, a named water bottle, a warm hat and gloves in winter, and a packed lunch for a full day. If your child has additional needs, email hannah@basecamplearning.co.uk before booking. After a morning session you are back in Thirsk in time for lunch on the Market Place.