We’ve enjoyed taking part in #30DaysWild for the first time this year. Having plenty of outdoor time is something I’ve always tried to encourage. #30DaysWild has helped give more of a focus to our outdoor activities. It’s not always been easy. Trying to make time for a wild-focused activity has been challenging at times – Jessica was unwell for part of the month and some days were very busy with other activities. I think we’ve all benefited from the effort to do so though. We’ve learned new things, tried new things and had a lot of fun along the way.
Taking a closer look at nature
We left a corner of the garden to grow wild this month. I have to admit that I am looking forward to clearing away the nettles but it has been a good place for insect spotting. The girls have enjoyed it and I’ve learned a lot while teaching them about the different insects we’ve seen too. Here are some of the things we’ve learned about while taking a closer look:
Wild craft activities
I love doing crafts with my girls. Our craft activities throughout June were inspired by nature. Some of them were very simple, some required a little more time and effort but all of them were fun. These are the craft activities we enjoyed:
- Creating a nature butterfly suncatcher.
- Daisy chains and flower crowns.
- Making a fairy potion.
- Making nature masks.
- Leaf-printing inspired doodles.
- Making a butterfly feeder.
- Creating fairy houses for imaginative play.
- Creating nature fairy wands.
Wild food and drink
Trying new things has been a big focus for me during #30DaysWild. I’ve been keen to grow things in the garden that we can eat. We started off the month with some planting and weeding. We’re now ready to harvest the radishes and lettuce that we planted then. It’s been good for the children to learn more about where some of the food that we eat comes from too. These are some of the ways in which we’ve enjoyed wild food and drink:
- Making nettle crisps
- Enjoying the first barbecue of the year.
- Picking cherries in Grandma’s garden.
- Home-made cherry lemonade.
- Dandelion flower tea
Outdoor adventures
#30DaysWild helped encourage us to get out and explore in all weathers. Some days were busy ones and were all about making the most of the outdoor moments where we could get them. This month’s outdoor adventures included:
- Dancing in the rain.
- A rainbow nature hunt.
- Looking for mini-beasts at Legoland.
- Feeding the ducks at Herschel Park.
- Making a tepee in the garden and enjoying a tea party.
- Taking a walk on the wild side.
- Playing Poohsticks at Denham Country Park.
- A walk into the woods.
- A walk along the canal.
For me, the biggest thing about #30DaysWild has been the way it has really encouraged me to look much more closely at the world around me. I’m more aware of the various insects in the garden and just how fascinating many of them are. I’ve become more conscious of my own impact on this world in which we live and have tried a little harder to re-use and recycle. I’m certainly more appreciative of the many things that nature has to offer.
#30DaysWild might be over for this year but #365DaysWild continues throughout the year. At the start of June, I made a list of all the different wild activities we could try. There are still a lot of things on that list that we have yet to do. Some of them will be added to our summer activity list. I’m looking forward to continuing our outdoor adventures and sharing them.
#30DaysWild is a challenge from the Wildlife Trusts to get outside each day in June, do something wild and connect with nature.
Ahh! How wonderful! It looks like have had such a fun time. You have given me some great ideas of things to do with my girls over the summer holidays x
Thanks Kim. We really enjoyed our #30DaysWild adventures 🙂
It looks like you had a great 30 days wild month – I love all your activities but I think my favourite would have to be the nature wands – they’re so pretty 🙂
Thank you Sarah. We loved taking part in #30DaysWild and making the nature wands was one of our favourite activities too. Thank you for helping inspire us along the way!
I have really enjoyed following your #30dayswild challenge. It has been very inspirational. Thank you.
Thank you so much, so glad I’ve helped inspire you 🙂
It looks like the kids, had really gone wild during those 30 Days. These kind of activities surely helps us to observe the nature and its wildlife in detail.