Have you ever closed your eyes in a woodland and counted the number of different animal and bird cries you can hear? Gathered up cones of different shapes and sizes and matched them to the trees around you? Perhaps you’ve wished you could identify butterflies as they flutter past, or tell the difference between a frog and a toad. Become a Nature Detective, and these woodland secrets can be yours.
The Woodland Trust’s Nature Detectives club offers a rich selection of activity sheets, pictorial spotters’ guides and ideas to inspire children, parents and teachers to visit and learn about woods and wildlife.
Download some of the activities below today to get started on your Nature Detective adventure and visit woodlandtrust.org.uk/naturedetectives to discover more than 1,000 hours of age specific activities to choose from.
Step out with our activity sheets in your pocket and you’ll be all set something tricky like writing an invisible message in dandelion sap or something fun like staging a minibeast race. In winter, tick off the treasures on the scavenger hunt and learn about the mammals that may be hibernating near your feet. Themed activities kickstart play; imagination will do the rest. Learn how to fashion a pirate’s peg leg out of a branch or host a tea party for fairies, complete with acorn cups and leaf plates. Follow instructions for building dens and making reed boats; roll up your sleeves and make a creature out of mud and sticks. There are rainy-day craft projects, too, plus guides for adult-led activities, such as pond dipping, stargazing and torch tag.
Woodlands are fantastic playgrounds. Climbing trees, playing hide-and-seek and chasing dragonflies are timeless pleasures that keep children fit and healthy. But Nature Detectives get even more out of the woods. They listen carefully, look closely, and exercise their curiosity and creativity, bonding with the natural world.
