CHILDREN loved getting closer to nature during a special sensory play session.

The Essex Wildlife Trust hosts a Nature Tots session at Fingringhoe Wick every Friday.

The weekly group is for children under fives and focuses on child-led play in the beautiful woodland.

Activity stations on offer include the mud kitchen, woodland games including mini golf, and, of course, the trees themselves which the children loved to hide in.

Kirsty Groves, education and community officer at the Essex Wildlife Trust, said the event is a huge success every week and the children enjoyed the outdoor experience.

She said: “Activities included minibeast hunting, balancing on logs, den building, playing with the mud kitchen and painting.

“The purpose of the sessions is for the children to enjoy time spent outdoors, development of both fine and gross motor skills, developing their ability to assess risk and hopefully to inspire them with a love of wildlife and nature that will last a lifetime.”

She said the children had a great time leading the activities.

She added: “The children responded really well to the sessions, and always enjoy it, even with activities that are as simple as playing with a stick.”