About Iris + Birch
Hi, I'm Donna
My journey into childcare began on the other side of the world, in Australia, back in 2009. While living in a remote outback town, I helped to care for the owners’ grandchildren, surrounded by wide open spaces, red dust, and endless skies. It was there that I first discovered just how powerful early childhood can be, and how much of an impact gentle guidance, time, and care can have on a child’s growth and development.
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When it was time to return home to the UK in 2011, I brought that spark with me and stepped into the world of early years education. I worked across a variety of day care and pre-school settings, taking on roles from Early Years Practitioner to Room Leader and eventually Pre-School Manager. Along the way, my passion for supporting young children continued to grow.
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Gaining my Forest School qualifications was a truly pivotal moment. Watching children’s confidence blossom, imaginations run wild, and resilience grow through outdoor, child-led play felt like magic — muddy, joyful magic! That was the moment I knew I had found where I belonged, and it’s what led me to create our Woodland Stay & Play group.
​I have a real love for nature, early childhood, and the magic that happens when young children are given time, space, and permission to play outdoors. I started this group because I believe childhood should be full of muddy hands, curious questions, and unhurried moments.
The woodland is a wonderful place for toddlers to explore at their own pace — whether that’s mixing “soups” in the mud kitchen, collecting treasures, climbing over logs, or simply watching the leaves move in the breeze.
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I am truly a huge advocate for outdoor play, not only for the learning benefits but for the wellbeing of both children and adults too.
A morning in the woodlands is the best kind of medicine for us all.
How Iris + Birch got its name
Iris + Birch was created from a leap of faith, a whole lot of heart, and a belief in new beginnings.
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When starting this business, the name had to be meaningful — something that told our story and reflected everything we stand for. Rainbows have always held deep significance for our family. Our daughter Amelie is our rainbow baby, arriving after repeated miscarriages and bringing light, hope, and joy in the most powerful way. She gave a whole new meaning to the phrase “like a rainbow after the rain, there’s always something beautiful after the pain.”
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Rainbows have also always felt like a gentle connection to family we’ve lost. As a child, I was known as my grandad’s “little rainbow,” and since his passing they’ve felt like his way of saying hello. Because of this, rainbows simply had to be part of our name.
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After searching for the right fit, the word Iris stood out instantly — the Greek goddess of rainbows. It felt like it was meant to be.
The second half of our name came from another big step: leaving my full-time role as a preschool manager to follow a dream.
I wanted Iris + Birch to represent new beginnings, growth, and fresh starts. The birch tree symbolises exactly that, making it the perfect match — especially for a woodland stay and play where little ones can explore, imagine, and just be children.
And so, Iris + Birch was born.
Finding the right location was just as important. After exploring village halls, church halls, and outdoor spaces, nothing quite felt right — until Walton Firs. It had always been the dream, and after some incredible conversations where our values and ethos aligned, everything fell into place.
Iris + Birch is all about connection — to nature, to play, and to each other. It’s a space where children can explore freely, grown-ups can slow down, and families can make meaningful memories together.