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How to go fossil-hunting on the beach with kids

How to casually try out fossil hunting on the beach with kids without getting stressed about it.

Read the blog here
A fossil on a purple scarf.
A rock with another colour inside it on the beach
A map of the bit of common land near the house
B's feet walking over the grass ahead

How to get kids finding the way…

One of our ‘eureka!’ moments last year was clocking into wayfinding as an activity. B was so excited by it. We’re so used to google maps these days I sort of forgot the joy of being 10 and finding your own way places. Here are all our wayfinding challenges from the 365 day nature play challenge.

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The 365 day nature play challenge newsletter goes live….

In January 2026 we’re launching the 365 day nature play challenge newsletter. Every week we’ll send out 7 ideas for playing outside that are seasonally appropriate and, as far as we can predict, fit the weather! Check out the new newsletter page for more information.

More about the newsletter here

The 365 day nature play challenge on ITV Wales news…

On the 30th December L & B were featured on ITV Wales News doing their penultimate challenge…

Watch the clip here
A big stick damming a little stream on a beach

10 ways to play on the beach in spring

Spring is a great time to visit a beach. It’s too cold to faff about with swimsuits and towels so you can focus on all the other ways there are to have fun. Wellies are a MUST, as tall as possible. Here are our top 10 activities…

a fox in London

Getting kids interacting with the natural world in London

Here’s some thoughts and our list of favourite places and activities.

A daisy chain on a child's head

10 ways to play outside in the natural world in spring

The days are longer, it’s getting a bit warmer and summer is just round the corner. Here’s 10 things you don’t want to miss with your kids this spring:

Seedlings

Spring planting for the 365 day nature play challenge

Last year we really failed to seize the opportunities of spring planting. Now, though the 365 day nature play challenge is technically over, we’re going to do it properly! Blog starts here and will grow with the plants.

Green and yellow easter egg for hunt

Best ways to get the kids playing outside this Easter

Spring is springing and there’s lots to see and do. Here’s some recommendations for playing outside with the kids this Easter

Frogspawn

10 ways to play outside in the natural world in March

10 different ways to play outside in the natural world in March. Most should be do-able anywhere without needing too many resources or too much expertise.

Tree climbing

11 different ways to play with trees

Trees are everywhere, wherever you are, and they’re great to play with. That said they’re definitely not all equal in the play stakes. Some are much more fun. The best is probably one you can do all these different things in and with. Can you find one?

The good and bad bits of stargazing with kids

Stargazing is one of those challenges that we still haven’t cracked, despite several high octane attempts. I’m beginning to realise we probably won’t crack it until B is about 25. It’s a lovely idea but there are some serious practical issues involved in negotiating it. Here’s my list of pros and cons of stargazing for other single mums out there thinking of it.

A game to play outside in a new area

A family geography game inspired by the This Way Up book by the Map Men. We wrote down some directions, went to a place we didn’t know well but wanted to know better and played. It turned out to be a fun abstract way to explore a new area. I’m writing it up in case any one else fancies a go.

The best equipment for playing outside with kids in winter

Not an expert’s view this. Just a mum who constantly forgets stuff and gets to a great opportunity to find I left the most important bit of equipment at home. Here’s the 6 key things we try not to be without in the wake of the 365 day nature play challenge!

How to play with nature on holiday in Tenerife

In February 2026, we went to Tenerife for a week. It was B’s first time she could remember going somewhere with a tropical climate. Here’s some nature play ideas for anyone else heading off on a warm holiday (free ones first, with some specific pay-to-do Tenerife ones later). Also some thoughts on what you need to pre-plan and what sounds great but is practically tricky with kids…

How to make and enjoy fires safely with kids

From being a complete novice a few years ago, we’re now, as a family, getting quite good at making fires. Here’s the instructions I wish I’d had when we started and some ideas of how to play with fire safely.

10 ways to play outside in the natural world in February

10 different things to have a go at playing outside with the kids in February. These are based on our favourites from the 365 day nature play challenge we did last year. Most are do-able anywhere. More tricky ones at the end.

What can kids collect when out and about in winter?

Finding things to collect is a good way to keep kids alert and tuned into the world around them when out and about. Check out our list here.

Nature play ideas for the February half term holiday

February half term is coming up. It looks a bit wet. Here’s some ideas for getting the kids playing outside whatever the weather.

A basket full of scavenger hunt clues

Ideas for scavenger hunts

Ways to play outside when it’s been raining for days…Our favourite scavenger hunts from the 365 day nature play challenge and some thoughts on how to make a good one.

Black boots splashing in a puddle.

Ways to play outside when it’s been raining for days

It’s all well and good wanting to play outside but what about when it just keeps on raining and raining and raining? Here’s a list of ideas for playing out in the rain in the winter.

A board saying 'the windy challenge'

Playing with the wind in winter

B and I have another go at a windy winters day challenge, and sum up all we learnt about playing with the wind on the 365 day nature play challenge.

Tree climbing

10 ways to play outside in January

Ten easy things to play outside with the kids in January in the UK. These are our top 10 from the 365 day nature play challenge (based on the weather it looks like we’re likely to get!).

Handshadows on a school yard wall

Playing with shadows

Playing with shadows was one of the unexpected discoveries for me last year. I had a lurking anxiety about my inability to make shadow puppets. It turned out a) there are lots of shadow puppet possibilities and the best thing is to roll with it and b) there were lots of other things you could do too.

A clue being knocked down from a tree with a stick

Making treasure hunts

Our thoughts on making treasure hunts and a few examples.

About us

Find out more about us here…
L&B and the sea
365 written in the sand in the dunes

The 365 day nature play challenge

In 2025, L (age 49) & B (age 10), took on a challenge.  Every day they went outside to do something fun in the natural world. They started on January 1st making a den from sticks lying near a tree on a North London housing estate.  Then they discovered beach combing and wayfinding; became Nature Detectives; made fires; raced snails; watched frogspawn grow into tadpoles; climbed lots of trees; searched for wands in the woods and potions ingredients in overgrown backyards; made sundials and worked out how they work; made friends with seagulls; stargazed and watch the full moon rise; flew kites and fished for crabs along with many other things. When autumn came they picked pumpkins, made a witches broomstick and did an awful lot with leaves. They finished the challenge on 31st December by throwing a bottle (glass and corked) with a message in it into the Bristol channel.

They keep a blog and they post daily to Instagram and Facebook.  L thought it would be a good idea to start at number 365 on January 1st and count down.  B always found this a bit weird but they’re stuck with it and it certainly made the last few challenges countdown more dramatic.

Now a new year is starting and they’re excited to see what it brings. They’re looking forward to going back and rediscovering what they did last year as the seasons change. They’re also going to keep looking for new things they haven’t done before. L’s going to try to shape all the challenges into something that’s a bit easier to access. She’s also going to start a newsletter with 7 outdoorsy things to enjoy each week. They’re still on the lookout for ideas (they know they missed loads of stuff) and want to keep discovering what other families favourite outdoor activities are.   Find them at Trails, Bales and Snails on Instagram & Facebook and check out the blogs here.

Looking up the big trunk of an old tree
Exploring a big old tree
The message in the bottle
Playing out after school in winter
Playing AND getting ready for Christmas
Finding fossils and playing with stones
Winter outdoor events which get kids outside
Hunting for a waterfall
More things to do in nature in London
Looking at the world from a different point of view
Halloween display
Halloween nature play
Bird made out of pear leaf
Autumn outdoor fun
Stick holding rope
The Stick – Best of toys!
Paddleboard on the beach
Paddleboards and 10 year olds
Trug with grass and written instructions
An action based sort of Scavenger Hunt – For late summer…
A storm on the beach
Really really rainy days
View from the tent
Camping for mums with 10 year old daughters
Cwm yr Egwlys beach in summer
Wild swimming when kids are not so keen
A multi-coloured kite flying
Flying kites
A wallaby sniffing the camera
Farms, zoos & wildlife parks
Entrance to a maize maze
Adventures in the Forest of Dean & Wye Valley
Grass whistling
Grass whistling and dog walking
The list game
Travelling Games
Sunflowers and strawberries in the boot of the car
Picking stuff
Baby fox on doorstep
Urban wildlife encounters
The view from inside a stick den
Porthkerry Country Park
Tadpoles in a pond
Frogspawn, tadpoles and weird worm things
A kitten with number 257
Does playing with pets count?
Ducks on the lake
Nesting season
A big splash
The joys of throwing stones in the sea
Snail racing
Snail racing and more bug fun!
A broken tree in the woods
Playing in the woods with kids
Girl wearing a daisy chain
Things to make
Girl's feet walking on grass
Wayfinding for kids
A deer
Being NATURE DETECTIVES!
Sundial on roof
Making sundials
Starling at Camden Lock Market
Nature play in North London
Making a makka pakka stone pile on the beach
Beach combing and playing with driftwood
Leaf boats
Playing by rivers
B on a treasure hunt
Treasure Hunts
Throwing bread to seagulls
Bird Challenge week
Foot dangling from a tree
Playing in trees
335 School yard shadow
Playing with shadows

Ideas for scavenger hunts

Our favourite scavenger hunts from the 365 day nature play challenge and some thoughts on how to make a good one.

Read more here

How to make a treasure hunt…

We love making treasure hunts (even more than doing them). Here’s some ideas…

Read more here
A 348 in treasure hunt clues.
A clue being knocked down from a tree with a stick

Treasure Hunts

Treasure hunt in red phone box
Sign 16, A fallen giant
Sign 13, a tall tree
Round treasure hunt tag hanging from tree
Clue 11 hanging from tree
Treasure hunt starts here sign
Sign 7, under the balcony
Sign 2, The Kiln
Treasure bag

Christmas Twinkle Trail

  • How to get kids interacting with insects

    It’s May and the BUGS ARE BACK! Here’s our favourite bug related activity from the 365 day nature play challenge for anyone else out there looking for some ideas to get you going.

  • How to go fossil hunting on the beach with kids

    How to casually try out fossil hunting with kids without getting stressed about it.

  • How to get kids finding the way…

    One of our ‘eureka!’ moments on the 365 day nature play challenge was when I realised I could get B wayfinding. We’re so used to google maps these days I sort of forgot the joy of being 10 and finding your own way places. Obviously different abilities at different ages with this one but all…

  • 10 ways to play on the beach in spring

    Spring is a great time to visit a beach. It’s too cold to faff about with swimsuits and towels so you can focus on all the other ways there are to have fun. Wellies are a MUST, as tall as possible. Here are our top 10 activities…

  • Getting kids interacting with the natural world in London

    We spent a lot of time during the 365 day nature play challenge working out good places to go which offered the best nature interactions. Here’s some thoughts and our list of favourite places and activities.

  • Spring planting for the 365 day nature play challenge

    Last year we really failed to seize the opportunities of spring planting. Now, though the 365 day nature play challenge is technically over, we’re going to do it properly! Blog starts here and will grow with the plants.

Twinkle Light
3 - Card (Twinkle Trail)
Elf (Twinkle Trail)
22 (Twinkle Trail)
Wreath light (Twinkle Trail)
Candy Cane Light (Twinkle Trail)
16 - Snowball (Twinkle Trail)
A squirrel
B looking at light (Twinkle Trail)
Christmas card (Twinkle Trail)
Click here to see ALL the posts for the #365DayNaturePlayChallenge

  • 10 ways to play on the beach in spring

    Spring is a great time to visit a beach. It’s too cold to faff about with swimsuits and towels so you can focus on all the other ways there are to have fun. Wellies are a MUST, as tall as possible. Here are our top 10 activities…

  • How to get kids interacting with insects

    It’s May and the BUGS ARE BACK! Here’s our favourite bug related activity from the 365 day nature play challenge for anyone else out there looking for some ideas to get you going.

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