Looking for something to do with the kids this October half-term?
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is on hand with a range of activities and many free or low-cost ideas to keep children entertained, both inside and out.
Whatever the weather, there is plenty to be enjoyed during the half-term week –October 24 to October 28.
It’s a great time of year to get out and explore the autumnal colours, kick the leaves and look for conkers!
Plus, the Trust has a bookable programme of events planned to help celebrate all this and more across the region.
These include free sessions looking at mighty oaks at Panshanger Park and planting acorns to nurture the trees of tomorrow, as well as exploring autumn with scavenger hunts, spotter sheets and making autumn-themed crafts.
For those of a crafty nature, an in-person ‘Wildlife Mosaics for Children’ workshop, an online mindful doodling course ‘Learn to Draw Nature Zentangles’, and a family-orientated Autumn Smartphone Safari can all be booked for a fee.
The Trust has also published seven ideas to cover the half-term break for free or low-cost activities on its website with step-by-step guides and resources.
These include visiting the Trust’s wildlife garden in St Albans, and meeting its newest resident ‘Willoughby’, a giant willow hedgehog, finding out about hedgehogs and how to protect them, making a bird feeder or a bug mansion, and considering how to help wildlife and the planet by making Halloween plastic-free.
Heidi Carruthers, the Trust’s engagement manager, said: “We really hope that the Trust’s younger audiences will connect with nature this half-term and enjoy all the benefits that a date with nature can bring.
"It’s so easy to step outside your front door and enjoy the natural world – even in an urban environment, you’ll be surprised by what you can find.”
Heidi continued: “Getting outside can help top up Vitamin D and boost immunity ahead of children going back to school and the hectic run-up to Christmas.
“It’s also good for physical fitness and mental wellbeing, too.
“Plus, learning about the wildlife and the habitats that it thrives in helps to install an appreciation of nature from an early age and encourages young people to take responsibility and protect nature.
“It’s a sad fact that over the last 50 years, nearly one fifth of species locally face the threat of extinction.
“The good news is that by getting young people involved we can help to protect our wild spaces and reverse this trend.
"With action, the children of today will see a better tomorrow for our local habitats and enjoy seeing wildlife populations grow.”
Here are Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust's pick of the top ideas to enjoy this half-term.
- 1. Come and say hello to Willoughby the hedgehog and pick up a Nature Activity book
- 2. Make your own bird feeder
- 3. Become a leaf detective on a half-term nature walk
- 4. Help save the hedgehogs
- 5. Take some Wild Snaps!
- 6. Build a Bug Mansion
- 7. Have a plastic free Halloween.
To find out more about the Trust’s ideas for October half-term activities and to book events, go to https://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/wild-half-term
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