Easter egg hunts

Happening all over in public places but also really easy to do at home. Just grab some chocolate eggs and hide them in the garden and challenge the kids to see how many they can find.

If you’re based in South Wales check out our first Easter Egg hunt event here.

Make a different type of Easter bonnet

Nurseries and infant schools are full of ribbon and plastic chicks. Can you make an Easter bonnet without going to a shop? Just from what you can find growing around you?

Head to a farm park

Farm parks are always great but this time of year they should be filled with lambs, chicks and other baby animals. A great way to get kids focusing on the natural world and introducing them to farming.

See what you can spot

Bluebells; wild garlic; daisies; dandelions; elderflower and hawthorn blossom should all be arriving soon. Can you find them?

Go animal tracking

We can recommend deer tracking. If you have a deer park near you, tracking them down (finding their poo, looking for footprints, etc) can be very exciting.

That said you can do it with any animal. We look for hedgehogs in the back lanes and rabbits in fields. Poo, footprints and holes left in hedges are the best signs. It’s very cool when you find them. (nb. for parents – a bit of cheating, like a confined areas where they’re definitely there – is absolutely allowed!).

Get involved in nesting

There’s a lot of nests being built now. Can you spot a bird building one? If you do, maybe you can help it by finding some twigs and leaving them where it can find them?

Why not have a go at making your own nest? It might get a bit muddy but there’s lots of fun to be had. Once you’ve made it, see if you can find a place for it in a tree.

Look out for tadpoles

If you’re passing a pond keep an eye out for some tadpoles.

How big are they? Are some bigger than others? Can you spot a froglet? Or a frog?

It’s a great time of year for kite flying with lots of windy days but slightly warmer weather.

Check out the Playing with the wind in winter blog for tips and some other windy play ideas.

They’re finally back! The little flowers who offer so much entertainment value. I struggle to make holes in the stem that don’t break but B’s little nails can still do it beautifully.

Will you make a head chain? Or have a go at something different?

A perfect activity for holiday time as you need to be around at all times of day to see how it’s changing.

Check out our sundial day back on the 365 day nature play challenge for more info.

The list game

Great for trains. Write a list of things you’re going to spot and see who can see them first.

Our recent efforts include: a seagull; a horse; a person with a dog; a pink flower; a red brick chimney; a canal or a river; an aeroplane; a number 4.

It’s also a good option if any of you tend to travel sickness as it keeps you looking out the window.

The bird game

How many standing birds can you spot? Points for each different type. We do 5 points for a pigeon, 10 for a seagull and 20 for anything else.

It’s great for station platforms but works in cars as well (not for the driver!).