Engaging Nature
By Sam Lister
Now lockdown restrictions are easing it’s time to get together with friends or family again and what better way than by going for walks in nature! To help you get engaged with the nature on your walks here are some activities and games to play on your walk.
Activities
Blindfolded walking
Being able to see your surroundings often overpowers your other senses, however by closing your eyes you can really enhance your experience of the natural world around you, by focusing on the sounds smell and the feel of the nature on your walk. If you are with someone or even taking your little one on a walk it can be a great challenge to have them walk round blindfolded whilst holding your hand. If you are more the solo walker then finding a bench or grass to sit on and close your eyes can work just as well.
A – Z Journey
Another great game to play on your walks which will help you notice the nature around you is the A-Z journey, using a pen and paper or your phone try noting down one thing you see on your walk for each letter of the alphabet! This can be done as a team or competitively but is always a great chance to learn something new on your walks. Don’t forget to lift things up and look closely, bugs count too!
Activities
Blindfolded walking
Being able to see your surroundings often overpowers your other senses, however by closing your eyes you can really enhance your experience of the natural world around you, by focusing on the sounds smell and the feel of the nature on your walk. If you are with someone or even taking your little one on a walk it can be a great challenge to have them walk round blindfolded whilst holding your hand. If you are more the solo walker then finding a bench or grass to sit on and close your eyes can work just as well.
A – Z Journey
Another great game to play on your walks which will help you notice the nature around you is the A-Z journey, using a pen and paper or your phone try noting down one thing you see on your walk for each letter of the alphabet! This can be done as a team or competitively but is always a great chance to learn something new on your walks. Don’t forget to lift things up and look closely, bugs count too!
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Flower pressing
A great way to bring a bit of nature back home is flower pressing, this will create beautiful prints of the flowers you have collected on your journey to frame at home. Whilst out on your walk try looking for a selection of beautiful flowers you would want to print, being careful not to take too many. Keep them safe in a bag on your journey so they are ready for when you get home. Once you get back open up a large book and line it with newspaper or regular plain paper. Then place your flower or flowers as flat as possible on the paper and carefully close the book. Add additional weight on top of the book – for this you could even use other large books. Leave in a warm dry place until the flower is dry (usually a week or two). Alternatively, You can press flowers more quickly using a warm iron with no water in it, simply lie the flower flat on a sheet of paper, placing another sheet over the top, and then press with the iron on a low temperature for 10-20 seconds. |
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Tree hunting
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Alder
Mostly found in moist grounds like marshes and wet woodland with small brown cones all year round. |
Common Beech
The queen of British trees Beech trees are usually found on dry well-drained soil, their leaves have hairy edges. |
English Oak
The second most common tree in the U.K. growing up to 40m tall, their leaves have short stalks with rounded lobes. 
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Scots Pine
Our only native pine this tree can grow to 35m tall and live up to 700 years and is mainly found in heathland 
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Silver Birch
Most common in dry woodlands, downs and heaths, these trees have white bark with triangular leaves. 
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Sycamore
Thought to be introduced to the U.K. by the Romans the Sycamore is extremely versatile being found in many woodlands across the U.K. 
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If you found that tricky, here is a girl scout quiz from 1936!
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Try learning more about nature in your spare time and having a go at completing it!
Please send in any completed copies to the Under the Sky Team
sam@undertheskyevents.org
jacki@undertheskyevents.org
Hope you enjoy the walks and don’t forget to send your pictures in!
Please send in any completed copies to the Under the Sky Team
sam@undertheskyevents.org
jacki@undertheskyevents.org
Hope you enjoy the walks and don’t forget to send your pictures in!
