Garden and Outdoor Things to Do in Winter
Things to do in Winter
There are lots of ways to get outdoors, get fresh air and get active this January! Here are some ideas to help you….
The RHS has a Winter Wellbeing Calendar, with 31 things you can do to keep gardening in winter and beyond! From simply stepping outside for 20 minutes, greening up your home, visiting a garden, assessing what you might want to do with your outside space and more, they’ve got ideas to keep you going in January! There will even be things you can do indoors, with houseplants or small vases of flowers. Take a look at the RHS’s Winter Wellbeing Calendar here.
The National Trust has some tips to help you grow snowdrops at home. They've got the when, where and how - or if you don't fancy growing your own snowdrops, you could always find out where you can see snowdrops at National Trust properties. (They've also got their best places to see beautiful wildlife - gallop off to see them here.)
This is the world’s annual largest wildlife survey runs from the 24th to 26th January this year. It’s really helpful to the RSPB, a conservation charity because the findings help them work out which bird species are doing well and which ones need our help and support. It only takes one hour of your time (you choose the hour) on the weekend of 24th to 26th January. You then let the RSPB know what you saw. There are more details on the RSPB website, and registration is free and easy to do. The RSPB has lots of helpful resources online, including how to identify birds. This could be a great way to improve your knowledge of our feathered friends! Fly off to the RSPB here.
Garden Wildlife Direct have everything your feathered friends and wildlife need, including some great offers and products such as a High Energy Autumn and Winter Mix to get them through the winter. They also have budget bird foods, sunflowers, peanuts, mealworms and suets, as well as accessories such as bird baths, bird nesting boxes, feeding stations, storage boxes, and window sticker alerts as well! They've also got products for hedgehogs, squirrels, duck and swan food, bee houses and insect hotels and bird feeding starter kits! Fly off to see what they've got!
Find out how you can help hedgehogs, both in your garden and in your community. For instance, you could put a small hole in your garden fence so that hedgehogs can pass through it. Ask your neighbours to do the same, and hedgehogs will have their own "motorway" system!
Take a look at Hedgehog Street, and find out about becoming a Hedgehog Champion – there are over 130,000 of them in the UK, all volunteering to help hedgehogs! Scramble over there now
Have a go at the National Trust's 50 things to do before you're 11 3/4
The National Trust have come up with 50 things to do before you're 11 3/4. Even if you're no longer near the age of 11 3/4, there will be things on their list that you can do - such as stargazing! These activities may include some which are probably better in better weather - but there are still a number they have to do in winter! How many have you done? Which would you like to do again, or try? Why not go on a wintry adventure? Find out more here.
Get out and walk!
The National Trust has lots of walks you can do, as do the Woodland Trust and the Wildlife Trusts. The Wildlife Trusts (46 throughout the UK) have lots of wildlife for you to see this winter. And they’ve got a family activity guide, full of things to do, and also ways you can help wildlife in your garden – get planning and active! Find your local Wildlife Trust here. You could also listen to the Wildlife Trusts podcasts, Wild About Wellbeing.
On behalf of all the animals, please take your rubbish home with you, or they may think it’s something to eat – which can have devastating consequences for them.