Make bugs feel welcome in your garden by creating a special spot just for them. Collect leaves, sticks, bark and rocks and place inside a crate. Fill it to the brim so there are plenty of nooks for bugs to explore. Wrap twine around the box to keep materials inside, then place your hotel in a shady spot. Head back the next day to see which bugs have checked in – and which ones are snug as a bug in a rug! Age: 3+
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A nature journal – part diary, part sketchbook – is a great way to encourage kids to spend time outside and connect with nature. The best thing about this activity is that you don’t need a lot to get started – just a notebook and pencils. There are no rules, but journalling ideas could include drawings, leaf rubbings, flower pressings or tracking how your garden changes during different seasons. Age: 5+
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Biodiversity is the different types of living things you can find in an area: animals, birds, plants and microorganisms like fungi and bacteria. Help kids understand the huge variety of life in your garden by conducting your own biodiversity count. On a sheet of paper, draw a line down the middle and write ‘Animals’ on one side and ‘Plants’ on the other. Grab a pair of binoculars, then encourage your kids to make notes about what they see, what different creatures look an...
This activity nurtures curiosity and introduces kids to the variety of insects living in their backyard. Head outside to look for bugs and, once you find some you’re sure are harmless, encourage kids to use a bug viewer to observe. Ask them questions about their shape and colour, and even get them to sketch what they see. Remember, catch and release is the name of the game! Age: 3+
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