A birthday adventure in Byford’s forest in Belgrade, Serbia

Hello everyone, I hope you have a lovely day! Recently I was happy to have a wonderful day that I will share with you today. That was the day with our young neighbor, who turned seven. Instead of a typical birthday party at home or in a playroom, his parents chose something different: they invited friends and neighbors to Byford's forest, better known to many as Banjička šuma (šuma means forest), a large green oasis in Banjica settlement in Belgrade.

The location was perfect, just by the amphitheater in the forest, where the trees rise high above your head, offering cool shade, and where the sound of Banjički potok (stream) adds a touch of nature.

We wandered a bit until we found this place, and when we finally arrived we were delighted, as if we had discovered a little paradise in our town.

From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this would not be a "traditional" children's party. There were no clowns, no organized games, no inflatable castles or loud music. Instead, the children had something far better: freedom. They ran across the grass, climbed on fallen branches, and chased each other along narrow forest paths. Every corner of the forest seemed like a new adventure waiting to happen.

Parents also had the opportunity to relax and rest while watching their children play.

One of the most memorable moments for my daughter came with the balloons. There were colorful balloons, which children tossed into the air, laughing as they floated around in the gentle breeze. Of course, in the middle of all this excitement, some balloons escaped and tumbled down into the stream.

But that didn't stop the fun, it only made it better. The kids quickly found sticks and started fishing the balloons out of the water. Shouts of triumph filled the air each time a soggy balloon was rescued. It was a game of teamwork, patience, and lots of laughter.

Instead of a decorated birthday cake with candles, there were donuts that the kids love. The kids were looking forward to them. Somehow, donuts felt even more festive than cake: bite-sized, fun, and perfect for sharing.

Watching them play so freely reminded all of us adults of something important: children don't always need structure to be happy. Sometimes the best gift we can give them is space and freedom, to invent their own games, to get dirty, to feel the cool water of the stream, to test their own ideas and limits. In today's world, where many children's activities are carefully planned, timed, and organized, this party stood out as a refreshing reminder that unstructured play is deeply valuable.

It was a party that showed us all that sometimes the simplest moments such as a forest, a picnic, donuts, balloons, and a group of curious children create the most lasting memories. Sometimes you don't need a lot of effort for happiness, nature arranges everything just right by itself.

Thank you for reading and have a great day!

Jelena