Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION
It can be difficult to resist the urge to stay indoors when it's cold outside. So in today's blog post we share some upcoming events, places to explore and other great ways to get outside during the colder months, which also incorporate ways to help nature recover!
In the summer when the sun shines, being outdoors seems easy. It’s warm, dry and inviting, but as the darker mornings and evenings roll in and temperature takes a turn, our impulse can be to retreat inside. But, if we can resist the urge to stay indoors, there are enormous health and wellbeing benefits to being outside in nature for adults and children.
Danielle Brown, Mobilisation Manager at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, recognises the importance of people spending outdoors but understands we might need a little bit of inspiration to entice us outside. Here she shares some upcoming events, places to explore and other great ways to get outside during the colder months, which also incorporate ways to help nature recover!
The Great Outdoors
Halloween Family Bushcraft
Why not put a spooky twist on the outdoors this Halloween and join our team for an afternoon at Carsington Water learning some basic bushcraft skills? Enjoy fire-lighting to make your own magic potion and use tools to make something magical to take home, all done outside in our outdoor classroom. Everything you need for the activity, including parking, is provided with your ticket.
Halloween Family Bushcraft (bushcraft with a Halloween theme!) | Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Family Dusk Walk
Mark Ollet - Mark Ollett
As the light fades, don’t rush inside and miss the sun melting into the horizon! It’s time to get out for a walk and watch the day drift away. On our wellbeing walk you can listen as some nature prepares to sleep and the rest becomes active. And what better way to end an evening outside than to gather around the fire for a warm with a hot drink and a toasted marshmallow!
Explore a Nature Reserve
Lea Wood (c) Kayleigh Wright
You don’t need to wait for one of our events to get outside, you can explore one of our 50 nature reserves across Derbyshire for free, whenever you like! From woodlands to wetlands, stunning open spaces to hidden gems, you’ll find a nature reserve near you. Visit our website and use our interactive map to find your local reserve, what wildlife you can spot there and any other activities you might be able to get involved with.
On your Doorstep
Go Potty
Whether you have a small garden, patio, balcony, driveway, doorstep or window ledge, you can make space for pots and containers. They are a great way to have a go at growing your own vegetables and herbs, inject some colour and greenery, and they provide food and shelter to insects and pollinators in areas where there might not be any. This is great news for wildlife, but also a great way to get creative and get outdoors while you lovingly put them together.
Pond in a Pot
(C) Edda Dupree
Another great activity to help you escape outside and enjoy your outdoor space is to create a pond. No, ponds don’t need to be big! A small, shallow pebble pond, or upcycled washing up bowl is a great feature to enjoy and will support a greater range of wildlife than any other garden feature, attracting damsels, dragonflies, frogs and newts, and creating a feeding ground for birds, hedgehogs and bats.
Bring Birds Back
Time for a little project outside. Build your own bird box from scratch using wood and nails, assemble a ready-made bird box kit, or purchase a pre-made bird box or nesting cup. Whatever option suits you, having a bird box in your garden or outdoor space can make a real difference to the success or failure of a breeding species in an area, especially when accompanied by the regular supply of suitable food and water. Plus, you’ll benefit for seeing birds right outside your window!
Hopefully these tips have given you a few ideas of how get outdoors despite the chill. Make a plan, dress for the weather and enjoy being outside with nature this autumn/winter!