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“What I've felt was holding. So much holding I hadn't felt in a long time. No judgments, no fake smiles, nothing to do except for being.”

One mum’s feedback brings to life the impact of Babes in the Wood, the Occupational Therapy-led mum and baby forest school at Hakeford in North Devon, designed to support attachment, connectedness and occupational identity.

Experiencing significant mental health difficulties, she initially questioned how 'forest school' could meet her needs. She associated it with children’s activities and expected another baby group where she would have to mask how she felt. Instead, she found a welcoming, non-judgemental space where she could simply be herself.

Selina Dare, Occupational Therapy Lead with the Perinatal Team, provided this feedback from the mum:

"It's like an oasis where time doesn't exist. Getting out of my own four walls and not entering another depressing baby class building with intense noise and lighting was bliss!!! My mind was allowed a break from the intense anxiety that lived at home.

"I'm not sure how you could have described forest school to my dark past self in a way that would make me go without a doubt, but I'd tell myself that before you need any sort of therapy allow yourself to breathe for a few hours. That the long way there in the car is worth it because every time I felt lighter and more joyful and capable."

The woodland environment offered respite from anxiety, everyday demands and the noise and lighting she found overwhelming in other settings. With support to hold her baby, she could enjoy a cup of tea, watch the fire or take part in crafting—without immediately returning to a to-do list. Connecting with mums experiencing similar difficulties helped her feel less alone and removed the pressure to appear to have everything together.

The difference she described:

• Calm that extended beyond the session: she reported feeling calmer for a day or two afterwards.
• Connection and belonging: she could be herself without judgement or comparison.
• Space for her own needs and interests: simple, meaningful activities offered opportunities to reconnect with herself beyond daily caring demands.
• Greater confidence in everyday life: she left feeling 'lighter and more joyful and capable'.

Her account illustrates how environment, meaningful occupation and supportive relationships can work together to make participation possible. While it does not establish a direct change in attachment, it highlights the value of supporting the mum’s wellbeing within a programme designed for both mother and baby.

Not just a baby activity: a therapeutic space where a mum could breathe, belong and begin to feel more like herself.

Thanks to funding from The Little Something Fund at our charity Open Up, this initiative has been able to thrive, offering a much-needed escape into nature for Mums who are being supported by the perinatal mental health team.

When the space changes, the possibilities grow.

OTs consider the relationship between the person, their activity and their surroundings. Adjusting a space or routine can help make an activity more accessible and better suited to someone’s needs.