Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

A new forest play park has opened in Machen, offering a safe and fun space for kids as well as a social hub for adults every Friday.

Located next to Machen Village Hall, Auntie Heather’s Forest Friends has been a project that nursery teacher Heather Street has been working on for the past ten months. 

After being locked away for two years during the pandemic, Heather spoke of how the outdoors became such a priority for her.

She said: “There wasn’t much space here before and I never thought much of it.

“Now that it’s completed, you realise that most people don’t have anywhere near this much garden space. It gives the kids freedom they probably wouldn’t get at home.”

It means that Heather and her team can take their nursery class of around 30 children, all aged between two and five, to the woodland during the day.

The project was partly funded through the Community Empowerment Fund – which is a scheme allocating each councillor around £4,500 each to invest in community projects such as these. 

Heather and Forest Friends received £5,100 to help renovate the garden, with the rest of the work paid for by Heather herself, as well as donations from local businesses and parents of the children at the nursery. 

Machen and Rudry ward councillor Amanda McConnell said: “Auntie Heather’s Forest Friends is a truly fantastic new facility in Machen and is the ideal place for exploration and fun in a safe outdoor environment.

“Opportunities for play within nature offer countless benefits to children and often are the source of standout childhood memories. It is also important for children’s learning and development.

“Well done to Auntie Heather and her team for providing this amazing outdoor adventure space”.

Speaking about the project, Heather said: “It’s been worth it.

“We’ve had local schools and a disability group in Machen approach us to use the facility as it’s easily accessible.”

As well as the activities you’d expect at a forest play park, such as musical instruments, water play, rope swings and sand pits; a shed has been built, housing a kitchen to allow the nursery to spend all day in the forest.

Despite the success of the project, Heather explained that it’s “always evolving” with the woodland area recently opening up for community use every Friday between 5pm and 9pm.

“I’m looking to run a summer holiday club out of here so that the kids can use the space for most of the year,” Heather added.

“We’re also looking at applying for a grant scheme to get solar panels on top of the shed and become more sustainable.

“We held a nativity concert over here at Christmas and it felt like the real thing. If we have a chance to run more events like that again too it would be great.”

For more details about the forest, Heather can be contacted on 07763544955.