You can experience the thrill of discovering something new about the wildlife that lives around us. The natural world- whether it’s a window box or a wildflower meadow – has so much to discover and offers many fascinating opportunities to learn.
Continued learning throughout our lives helps build self-esteem and confidence. It also encourages us to interact with other people and lead a more active life – both physically and mentally.
Ideas for activities
If you have one hour, you could…..
- Download some apps on your phone to help you identify trees, flowers and birds whilst you re about and about.
- Print out a wildlife spotter sheet from the Wildlife Watch website for a family nature ramble
- Sit out in your garden on a clear night and see learn to name the star constellations
If you have half a day, you could…..
- Take part in a national nature survey such as the Big Garden Birdwatch or the Big Butterfly Count. These are opportunities to learn whilst contributing wildlife records to conservation scientists.
- Go rock pooling and learn more about the plants and animals that live between the tides
- Visit a bird hide on in a nature reserve and learn to identify the different species
If you have more time………
- Learn a countryside craft such as willow waving, wood turning or hurdle making.
- Keep a nature journal and through the year keep records of the plants and animals that you see on your walks.
- Join a local history group and discover how your locality has changed over the centuries.
- Focus on a group of species as bumblebees, trees, butterflies or beetles and spend time learning about them