A FOREST school which encourages children to enjoy the great outdoors is celebrating its first birthday.

Little Woodland Explorers hosts sessions for youngsters and their parents or carers in Castle Gardens in Old Malton.

The sessions are run by Donna McAnulty-Rickard, a fully qualified and insured forest school practitioner, who provides an array of woodland activities that complement the natural environment.

She said: "This first year has been a momentous inspiring experience and it seems as if it was only yesterday when the nurture enrichment team was considering whether forest school sessions were an option for Malton families.

"One year on and it's a resounding yes. Little Woodland Explorers is well established and has a regular group of families each week alongside a huge participation during most school holidays."

The group has just completed the process for official Forest School Accreditation and a further Friday morning has been added to the existing Wednesday session.

Donna said: "We have simply the best central venue in Castle Gardens Malton, this safe enclosed space is great for little ones as it is in a completely dog free area. There is a host of wildlife to see and stacks of activities to do each week."