About Wild Hearts Nature Play

Wild Hearts is run by Jade Morley, a nanny with over 10 years of experience, and a mother who weathered the early waves of the pandemic with nowhere to take her infant other than outdoors. Here's her story:

Ruth was six months old when the first lockdown came into effect. Our daily walks were spent in the woods, where Ruth would gaze up at the trees and clouds from her cosy spot in the sling. As the seasons changed, I watched her explore the flowers and grass, play with her shadow in the summer sun, and wait for the blackberries to ripen so she could smash them in her tiny fists. Then she learned to walk and a new set of joys revealed themselves: climbing tree stumps and benches, crunching through the leaves, stomping in puddles.

The world may be opening back up again, but my first year with Ruth reminded me of a truth I once lived every day as a child myself: that we learn better, grow more and feel most connected - to ourselves and the world around us - when we have regular opportunities to be in nature.

The pandemic also changed things for our family, as it did for many of us around the world. Our perspectives, our priorities, our values have all come under the microscope, and many of us are moving forward with a clearer sense of who we are and what we want (and don't want) for our lives and the lives of our children.

For me, this meant leaving London and moving Bristol, as well as quitting my job as a charity marketing manager to return to nannying - this time with a deeper understanding of the kind of parent and carer I want to be. I now care for other toddlers alongside Ruth with a gentle, nurturing approach that values nature, play and letting the children lead wherever possible. I offer my big mama bear heart, a sprinkling of Montessori, a dash of Waldorf and forest school, and the promise of fun and opportunities for outdoor learning in all weathers.

This became Wild Hearts: gentle childcare meets wild nature play!

Our goal to provide babies and toddlers (and their grown-ups) with regular opportunities to socialise in covid-safe outdoor settings through a combination of organised nature-based activities and child-led play.

If you're looking for childcare, activities for your little one, or to connect with other families in the community, you're in the right place. Welcome.