It’s so easy once the nights draw in to forget about the great outdoors but research has shown that spending time outside is very beneficial. Not only will you and the kids get some sunshine and stock up on vitamin D before the winter months, being with nature is known to help with everyday stress and anxiety.
Here’s our round up of the best things to do outside this autumn.
Get Creative
Go for a walk and find lots of different autumn leaves on the forest floor. Try to find as many different leaves as you can and have fun identifying them all. Then take them home and use them to create your own art work from pictures with real leaves to forest creatures with faces or turn them into a forest crown.
Build a Den
Kids love nothing better than creating their own woodland hideaway. Use branches, leaves and twigs to build a sturdy den. “Remember, never cut anything down or damage the wood to construct your den”, say our friends across the pond, The Woodland Trust. Here their top tips for building the best den!
- Find a good foundation – look out for a strong tree with suitable knobbly bits.
- Build your framework – find a couple of large branches and wedge them against the tree or use the trees branches instead.
- Build the walls – collect more branches and rest them against your framework. Pack them closely so they are strong and secure
- Protect from the elements – use smaller branches and twigs to cover your den. Push them into any gaps so that your den shelters you from the wind and rain.
Clean a beach
Children love going to the beach and are often fantastic at picking up litter. Combine the two and find things to recycle on the beach. Or join forces with an organised beach and river clean. Clean Coasts organise regular events across Ireland and have some great advice.
Make a Bug Hotel
You can attract beneficial insects and other creatures into your garden and add to garden biodiversity by building a bug mansion or even a more humble abode! To cater for a variety of bugs put your hotel where it will get some sun and shade, perhaps partially under a tree or hedge. Build a firm base. Try to use recycled or reclaimed materials. You can fill the gaps with dead wood, old bamboo canes or hotels drilled into blocks of wood make good nests for solitary bees. Straw, hay, dry leaves and loose bark also make great places for beetles, centipedes, spiders and woodlice to stay.
Go Camping
If the weather is good head off for the weekend to spend days and nights outdoors camping! Catch the last of the autumn rays and toast marshmallows around the campfire. Children love being outdoors. Find your perfect campsite on Camping Ireland.
