Information for families
Children in nature © Matthew Roberts
Time spent in nature is fun and good for you!
Time spent playing outside has sadly dropped by half in just one generation. A recent survey showed only one in five children aged 8-12 has a connection with nature.
However, studies have shown that time spent amongst nature increases levels of physical activity, alertness, health and wellbeing in kids – and adults too! Swap screen time for wild time
Our work gives children and their families a chance to reconnect with the wildlife on their doorstep - why not take a look at what you can join in with?
Encouraging children to connect to nature
Explore the bounds of your creativity with these fun and simple activities combining crafts with nature!
Colours of nature
The outside world is full of colour and a great source of inspiration. This activity focuses on engaging with the natural colours we see, and the natural items we spot to create an art palette.
- Download our template or draw out a paint palette
- Cut out your palette (you may need an adult to help you)
- Look out of your window or go into your garden.
- For each different natural item you spot, either stick it to your paint palette or use a colour to represent that piece of nature. How many colours can you find in nature?
Wildbeach Officer, Kelly Wetherick, demonstrates our Colours of nature activity.
Wildlife top trumps
Create your own set of Wildbeach Top Trumps.
We will be posting a series of craft activity videos making a puppet of a select species to feature on our top trump cards. Get inspiration from our videos and create your own, or simply draw the wildlife you want to feature.
- Download our template or draw your own
- Get inspiration from our videos or search a species you may want to create
- Make a puppet of the species and then photograph, or draw the species directly onto your top trump card.
- Research some facts about your chosen species and add to your top trumps card. Species fact files - https://www.hiwwt.org.uk/wildlife-explorer
- We would love to see your finished creations so upload them to social media using our hashtags #HampshireWindowWilldife #IslandWindowWildlife
Make a suncatcher
This simple craft using natural items is a fun sensory experience with beautiful results. We've made a short video to illustrate the process.
You'll need:
- PVA glue
- clear lids or similar
- string or similar
- something to pierce the lids
- paint brush
- natural materials
If you're looking for a great day out to have fun, learn or spend time with your family, why not come along to one of our events?
Events
Regular events and walks include:
- Blashford Lakes Buggy Walk
- Forest School sessions
- Isle of Wight Wildbeach Nature Nippers and Tots sessions
- School holiday events
- Testwood Lakes Natural babies
- Testwood Lakes Dads and Tots
- Wildlife Rangers for 12-18 year olds
- Wildlife Tots events for under 5’s
- Wildlife watch events for 5-15 year olds
- Young Naturalists for 13-17 year olds
Wildlife Watch and Tots local nature clubs
Get your children involved with nature. Bring them along to their local Wildlife Watch or Wildlife Tots group:
Wildlife Watch sessions are suitable for families with children aged 5 – 15. children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.
Wildlife Tots activities are for under 5’s, children must be accompanied by an adult.
These regular nature based events help young people to learn about wildlife and develop their understanding of environmental issues.
Head to our Events page to find upcoming Wildlife Watch and Wildlife Tots events – you don’t have to be a member to attend an event.
Upcoming events
Testwood Lakes Forest School taster session
Have a go at a variety of hands on activities in the lovely woodland at Testwood Lakes.
Wild Day Out: Splash!
A Wild Day Out for 5-8 year olds. Discover the weird and wonderful denizens of the deep on a pond and river exploration.
Barton Meadows Wildlife Tots
A fun session for toddlers, following the story of Billy Bunny.
Wild Day Out: Wet 'n' Wild!
A Wild Day Out for 7-12 year olds. Discover the weird and wonderful denizens of the deep on a pond and river exploration.
Wild Day Out: Wild In The Woods
A Wild Day Out for 5-8 year olds with den building, camp fires, wildlife discovery, outdoor play and fun
Wild Day Out: Woodland Survival
A Wild Day Out for 7-12 year olds with den building, camp fires, wildlife discovery, outdoor play and fun
Support the work we do with families
Nature needs champions now and into the future. Help us create the next generation of wildlife lovers to protect our local flora and fauna for years to come.
Safeguarding and Child Protection
We take child protection and safeguarding very seriously. Our Child Protection and Safeguarding Statement sets out how we implement child protection and safeguarding across the Wildlife Trust and who to contact if you have questions or concerns.