Crafting connections through outdoor play
A family affair crafting and building quality, open-ended, outdoor toys and furniture from a range of locally sourced timbers.
Meet the family behind Wild Wood Creations; Adam and Ash and their three daughters - Luna (4), Daisy (2) and Nixie (5 months). Based in Mangawhai, Adam, an experienced builder with 20 years in the building industry under his belt, made their first mud kitchen for eldest daughter, Luna, three years ago.
Luna loved being outdoors and getting messy and the couple wanted to encourage this. Word spread among friends and locals as interest in the mud kitchen grew. Identifying a gap in the market for quality outdoor toys that were not made of plastic, Adam and Ash started Wild Wood Creations, which has naturally evolved as a business since. Ash, who is an ex-teacher, and Adam, understand the importance of play for children's learning.
All of their pieces are made with the intention of encouraging children to get outside. Believing we live in times where disconnection from nature, each other and self, can happen easily, the idea behind each of their creations is to get children off screens, outside and connecting with nature.
As children become involved in playing with an open ended activity, such as a mud kitchen, they are developing numerous vital life skills, including creativity, problem solving, collaboration, imagination, perseverance and more.
All Wild Wood Creations pieces are crafted by Adam, in his shed on the family property. The couple pride themselves on knowing each item is handmade to a high standard. The materials used are all sourced locally with a range of different timbers utilised.
Supplying to many families as well as daycares, schools, playcentres and their latest project; a large corner mud kitchen donated by Mangawhai New World for the local Mangawhai Activity Zone playground. Adam and Ash love the fact that children who may not get the opportunity to have one of their creations at home now get to experience one in the local community.
Originally selling their mud kitchens at the Mangawhai Tavern Markets, they now sell primarily through their online store, making them available to customers New Zealand wide. The range has also expanded and now includes workbenches, water and sand tables, and sandpits, with more ideas on the horizon.
As all Wild Wood Creations pieces are made to order, they love creating custom pieces for customers and have made a range of one off pieces including a rustic macrocarpa outdoor bath, indoor and outdoor furniture tables. Get your order in now!