Be inspired to enjoy nature and the outdoors, even in isolation, even without a garden
If you’re struggling for ways to occupy yourselves and the children whilst in lockdown, I’ve come up with a list of ideas for you to try out. It is important to keep using that outdoor exercise – fresh air and sunshine will do wonders for your sense of wellbeing as well as maintain your bodily health while other forms of exercise are harder to come by right now.
If there had to be a lockdown at any time, spring might have been the best possible season to choose. The sun is making itself known again and the beams making their way through your windows will already be lightening the mental load you’ve been carrying and improving your physical health too. Even though we can’t go out and about like we would usually, there are still so many ways to enjoy the sunshine and all the magic of springtime.
Your children will be desperate to spend time outside under the blue skies and frothy white clouds. Nature is a wonderful healer and we should embrace the excitement of new life and potential that spring brings. BUT if you’re not so lucky as to have your own garden, just walking around the block once a day might be getting tiresome.
If you’re lucky enough to have your own garden, then you’ve got a whole playground for your children to explore. Even if it’s just a patch of grass with a football goal, you can still use that good green earth to search for insects or sow some seeds. You could find new ways to encourage wildlife by building insect and hedgehog friendly homes – or even building a small pond. You really don’t need much, just what’s already lying around the house or in the recycling bin.
If you’re not so lucky as to have your own garden, then you might need a bit more inspiration to make sure you and your family are enjoying your time out in the fresh air. I hope this list of ideas will help you get excited to be outside and to engage with nature in whatever way you can.
Front garden tour
A beautiful tree blossoming round the corner from my house
If you’ve been following us on Instagram (@rhinogreenhouses), you might have noticed my somewhat red-faced morning antics: when I go for a jog around the block in the morning, I take a gander at the front gardens I pass by. It sounds a bit odd out of context, but people are proud of their gardens and stopping to admire them is only a compliment!
No matter where you live, I bet you won’t need to venture far from your own home to find some little wonders in the front gardens nearby.
Set the kids on the task of finding the most beautiful flower or counting birds or searching for rainbows in windows. And don’t forget the old favourites – wax rubbings of trees and leaves. Create a scrapbook!
One of my favourite front gardens near me
Plant Investigation
If you’re already a plant-fanatic, you’ll be able to stroll along with your family and identify plants as you go – but can your children? I certainly can’t!
There are some fantastic apps out there that you can use to identify trees, flowers and plants. How many plants can they name? Who can find the prettiest flower?
Here are a few apps you can try out:
British Tree Identification – Woodland Trust
Wildlife Hunt
Spring means new life – and no matter what’s going on with the humans right now, the rest of the natural world trundles on, more or less as normal. It has been observed already that a lot of wildlife is absolutely basking in the respite from humanity. Maybe it’s the pollution clearing away, or maybe it’s just that I suddenly have the time to notice – but there are so many birds singing and frittering away their time in my own garden and close by.
So when you go on your daily stroll, see what animals you can spot. What insects are taking flight once again and what birds are tweeting in the trees close by? Download a questionnaire or checklist and get exploring, whilst still keeping safe and having fun.
Grow your own
It doesn’t matter if you have a garden, or even a balcony – if you’ve got a window, you can still grow your own plants!
You don’t need to spend lots of money on tools and resources, either.
You don't need much to grow you own at home
Who needs tools anyway? Gardening without gardening tools.
All you need are some seeds and a bit of soil. Everything else can be done with everyday household items – I use empty fruit punnets for seed trays and casserole dishes to sit them in. Who needs a garden fork, when a dinner fork will do for smaller plants? Don’t have a watering can? Try passing water through a sieve or colander over your