Adventures in Nature this Summer
The summer holidays are fast approaching and parents don’t know whether to be excited, relieved or panicked. The children, however, are over the moon! They are planning adventures, dreaming of sun, sea and sand and bubbling to the brim with anticipation and giddiness, imagining what this summer could bring.
As the end of term draws near, let’s try and embrace our inner child and plan some magic for the little ones. The great outdoors has an abundance of fun to offer and you don’t have to look far to find a wild and wonderful idea. To get you started, I have had a think about a few of my own plans that will hopefully inspire you too.
Nature Spotting
I discovered these gorgeous little books when I was looking for spotting guides for young children. Sometimes it’s hard to find something that will entertain a range of ages. My 5-year-old girl and 3-year-old boy absolutely love these! They are beautifully illustrated, easy to use and they even have a chart to log each new flower/bug/etc, you spot. Whether you are going away or planning to stay at home, there’s a book for every situation. https://usborne.com/gb/books/series/usborne-minis
By Ruby Simpson, Garden Designer
Wildlife Ponds
We recently created a tiny wildlife pond in the garden. The children helped me to purchase the plants, dig a hole, fill it with water and plant it up! It was messy but we had a great time and within days, we were seeing more insects and birds in the garden. We spotted some creatures in the pond and scooped them up into bug pots with magnifying lids so they could see what damsel fly larvae look like and we check on them every day to see if they have grown!
Please note: It is important to try and collect the larvae whilst making as little impact as possible to any plants or substrates in the pond as these are important breeding and sheltering features for a variety of aquatic creatures.
Wild Walks
Depending on how brave you are feeling, you could disappear into the countryside with maps, compasses, sketch pads and a picnic. Alternatively, you could visit a nearby park, reservoir or woodland and have a wander. Being immersed in nature is good for the soul. My children often go down the hill to our local reservoir and walk around it, listening to the birds and the bugs, watching the fishermen and spotting wildflowers. On our walks, we talk about how important nature and wildlife are for our bodies and minds and how we must look after our planet.
Flower Pressing
I used to spend hours collecting and pressing all sorts of flowers, leaves and petals when I was young. I would then make them into pretty, little notecards or make pictures with them. This is a great way of combining nature with creativity and showing our kids the beauty and fragility of nature.
This can be done with flowers in your garden. However, this should not be done with wildflowers as this can impact your local biodiversity. Collecting leaves is a good alternative if you want to collect samples on a wild walk.
Garden Camp Out
Your garden is the perfect place to introduce your little ones to the delights of camping! Close to any facilities you might require, as well as being in the safety of your own garden, pitch a tent, grab some cushions, blankets, snacks and torches and snuggle up in the great outdoors. You could even pack a little bag for them so they feel like they are off on a big adventure! If your little ones are anything like mine, they love a den! So even if you don’t want to brave sleeping outside, a den is the perfect way for the children to play during the day, especially with the unpredictable British weather.
Toasting Marshmallows
Every great camping experience involves a campfire – albeit a small firepit in my case. Light the fire, source some marshmallows and tell fantastical tales, sing silly songs and stay outside until it gets dark to make it even more special… it is the holidays after all!
As a parent to a pair of wonderful, wild children, I would love to hear your ideas on how to make a magical summer for the whole family. It doesn’t have to be expensive, grand or complicated – keep it simple and let’s have some fun within nature this summer.
Share your ideas with us on Instagram and tag us @nicholsons_uk
The top three most creative ideas shared by the end of August 2024 will win a £10 Nicholsons Voucher!
