The Smaller Explorer
  • Adventure
    • Activity
      • Camping
      • Climbing
      • Cycling
      • Expedition
      • Festivals
      • Running
      • Walking
    • Environment
      • Beach
      • Mountains
      • Nature
      • Snow
      • Water
      • Woodland
  • Explore
    • Farms
    • Garden centres
    • Galleries
    • Museums
    • National Trust
    • Parks
  • Travel
    • Responsible travel
    • Overseas
    • UK
  • Seasons
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
    • Winter
  • Age ranges
    • Teeny
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Going solo
  • What’s on
  • Reviews
  • About

The Smaller Explorer

family travel and adventure

  • Adventure
    • Activity
      • Camping
      • Climbing
      • Cycling
      • Expedition
      • Festivals
      • Running
      • Walking
    • Environment
      • Beach
      • Mountains
      • Nature
      • Snow
      • Water
      • Woodland
  • Explore
    • Farms
    • Garden centres
    • Galleries
    • Museums
    • National Trust
    • Parks
  • Travel
    • Responsible travel
    • Overseas
    • UK
  • Seasons
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
    • Winter
  • Age ranges
    • Teeny
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Going solo
  • What’s on
  • Reviews
  • About
EnvironmentNatureWildlife

What we did on the 30 Days Wild Challenge: week 2

written by smallerexplorer June 16, 2019
What we did on the 30 Days Wild Challenge: week 2

What a rainy week it has been. I won’t lie, it’s been harder to find the motivation sometimes to get outdoors and into nature with the kids, but I’ve learnt from week 2 of the Wildlife Trust’s #30dayswild challenge that you really don’t need to do anything major or organise anything crazy, just a wander around the garden or a splash in some puddles for five minutes is enough to raise the mood, get some fresh air and feel a bit more connected with the outside world. Rain or shine 🙂

This week we did a mixture of things – some at home, some out and about, and we enjoyed nature that was very, very big (trees) and nature that was very, very small (bees and bugs).

Gardening with kids

After the success of planting our wildflower seeds that came with our #30DaysWild pack, we went to the garden centre to buy some more bee-friendly plants and seeds, and had a marathon plantathon in our patio. The beauty of this activity is you are helping wildlife as well as getting kids into the outdoors and enjoying learning about nature. Find out what bee-friendly flowers we planted in the link above.

A visit to the British Wildlife Centre

The British Wildlife Centre is close to me but we’d never been so this was a good opportunity to visit to see what it was all about. Verdict? A great day out for all the family. If you want to earn a ‘good parent’ badge, this is a good place to go as it’s educational as well as being really good fun for all ages. We saw British Wildlife you generally never get to see out in the wild like otters and badgers. The red squirrels were feeling a bit shy when we visited but the foxes and owls were quite happy to be seen out and about.

Eggbox scavenger hunt in Staffhurst Woods

Defying the rain we headed under the canopy to the Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Staffhurst Woods. This is a lovely spot for a walk. In summer (or when it’s dry anyway) there trail walk is even suitable for pushchairs. We didn’t walk too far as our eyes were kept peeled to the ground for beetles, bugs and butterflies.

Exploring a local street tree

The Wildlife Trusts have some good activity sheets to print out and follow with kids. Great if you are feeling a bit uninspired. We took our little legs to explore our local street tree. We climbed it, examined it, hugged it and drew it. Then used all our clues to work out just exactly what tree it was.

Reading nature books outdoors

So simple, so why have I never read to my kids outdoors? It makes such a routine task much more enjoyable. I could have sat out all day reading with my son. Bonus was we actually had some sunny weather too – hooray! Find out what nature books we read in the link above.

Going on a minibeast hunt

Another woodland trip. What is it about kids and their obsession with bugs and beetles? We had great fun turning over logs and tree stumps and rifling through piles of wet leaves looking for critters. Taking some spotting sheets from The Wildlife Trusts turned this game into something a bit more interesting too as we got to put names to faces. Hello bloody nosed beetle.

Making a bee watering station

We went full circle and back to making our garden patch more wildlife-friendly with a homemade bee watering station. Find out how easy it is to make, and what you definitely should not do in the blog post link above!

Onto week 3!

30 days wild week 2

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
30 Days WildWildlife Trusts
3 comments
0
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
smallerexplorer

previous post
30 Days Wild Day 14: Making a bee watering station
next post
30 Days Wild Day 15: Making an insect house

You may also like

30 Days Wild Day 13: Going on a...

June 16, 2019

How to adventure responsibly and beat plastic pollution

June 4, 2018

Dorset with kids: family beach guide

July 16, 2018

What we did on the 30 Days Wild...

June 30, 2019

The best walks in London

February 10, 2019

30 Days Wild Day 22: We photograph nature

June 25, 2019

30 Days Wild Day 6: Planting wildflowers

June 8, 2019

30 Days Wild Day 18: Nature colour art

June 21, 2019

Fun things to do in Northumberland with kids

November 26, 2018

30 Days Wild Day 29: A run in...

June 30, 2019

3 comments

What we did on the 30 Days Wild Challenge Week 3 - June 25, 2019 - 8:21 am

[…] Here’s what we did on the 30 Days Wild Challenge for week 1 and week 2. […]

Reply
Lauren July 2, 2019 - 10:46 pm

We’ve seen so many bees around our house recently. I think we might have to have a go at a bee watering station. Could maybe use some old takeaway containers – save them ending up in landfill. Thanks for the idea.

#AdventureCalling

Reply
Lauren The Helpful Hiker July 3, 2019 - 11:51 am

Some great ideas, I shall have to find some of the Wildlife Trusts activity sheets as that sounds like a fab way to get the kids engaged. I like the idea of reading outside as well, like you say it’s so simple and I know the boys would love it. Thanks for sharing so many of your fab ideas #AdventureCalling

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

About

About

for families who like to explore

The Smaller Explorer is a blog for adventurous families. I search out the best of what's out there that's fun for kids AND adults (and maybe a bit of a break from the norm), plus provide lots of achievable ideas for exploring and having adventures in the UK and overseas.

What’s on

April 2021
MMonday TTuesday WWednesday TThursday FFriday SSaturday SSunday
29March 29, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

30March 30, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

31March 31, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

1April 1, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

2April 2, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

3April 3, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

4April 4, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

5April 5, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

6April 6, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

7April 7, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

8April 8, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

9April 9, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

10April 10, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

11April 11, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

12April 12, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

13April 13, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

14April 14, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

15April 15, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

16April 16, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

17April 17, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

18April 18, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

19April 19, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

20April 20, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

21April 21, 2021

Category: GeneralN/A: National Nest Box Week

February 14, 2021 – April 21, 2021 N/A

22April 22, 2021 23April 23, 2021 24April 24, 2021 25April 25, 2021
26April 26, 2021 27April 27, 2021 28April 28, 2021 29April 29, 2021 30April 30, 2021 1May 1, 2021 2May 2, 2021

Recent Posts

  • 15 simple ways I’ve reduced my carbon footprint (plus how to get involved in climate action)
  • What we did on the 30 Days Wild Challenge week 4
  • 30 Days Wild Day 30: River paddling
  • 30 Days Wild Day 29: A run in the countryside
  • 30 Days Wild Day 28: WoWo Camping

Instagram

  • I dont post photos of myself very much but Ihellip
  • I think all kids collect stuff dont they? This littlehellip
  • This week has run away from me Been super sociablehellip
  • Sycamore Gap the most photographed tree in Britian
  • Oof feeling a bit low today B is not sleepinghellip
  • happyhumpday We are half way through the week and myhellip
  • Ive just uttered the words dont throw that coconut inhellip
  • Can we go back to Northumberland please? I forgot howhellip
  • This is as good as it gets for the Lewishellip

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Email

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss a blog post

Trips100 - Travel Blogs
Trips100
BritMums
Lonely Planet Pathfinders badge image

About us

the smaller explorer is an online magazine for adventurous parents. We search out the best of what's out there that's fun for kids AND adults, plus provide lots of achievable ideas for exploring and having adventures in the UK and overseas.

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Family-friendly mountain climb at Pen y Fan, Wales

    May 30, 2018
  • 2

    The best walks in London

    February 10, 2019
  • 3

    Wild and remote places in the UK to explore with and without your family

    January 4, 2019

Archives

  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube
  • Email
  • Bloglovin

@2017 - PenciDesign. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by PenciDesign


Back To Top