Things To Do In Half Term

Walk And Talk

Walks with the family are a great way to catch up with each other and re-connect. Ask a local charity if they have any ‘great outdoors’ events coming up - like sponsored walks and hikes that the whole family can get involved with - or set up your own mini-event with neighbours or community groups if there’s nothing already planned in your area, and have some fun as you fundraise for a good cause. The National Trust has hundreds of walks at its locations around the UK with trails, parkland paths, coastal climbs and historic grounds for everyone to enjoy.

We’re Going On A Bug Hunt

Get the kids looking for creepy crawlies with a Bug Hunt sheet downloaded from The Woodland Trust and make an afternoon of it with a picnic on a sunny autumn day, or just a quick foray into the garden on the damp ones.

Make Your Own Fun

Literally, make your own fun with a ‘kitchen’ day. Bring on the breakfast with a pancake-making session, enjoy a light bite at lunchtime thanks to our sandwich ideas, whip up some easy bakes for afternoon tea at home, and top it all off with a DIY pizza supper.

Visit our recipes page for more cooking inspiration

Visit Your Wild Side

When you’re not searching for insects under mossy logs and stones, keep your eyes peeled for funny-looking funghi, flocking birds and spiders’ webs - as well as Conkers (more on that in a moment), toadstools...and opportunities for den-building.

Leaf The Indoors Behind

This time of year is all about colourful, falling leaves. Younger children will love a leaf-kicking expedition (get them to see who can make the biggest flurry), while older kids might like to make collage masks (simple eye and mouth holes in a piece of cardboard and stick leaves to it for a forest monster look) - and you can test your older brainiacs on which leaf is from which kind of tree...after they’ve finished climbing them of course.

 

Hide And Seek

Geocaching is the modern day, high-tech, outdoor treasure hunt where participants use a free smartphone app to find hidden boxes scattered across the country. Most caches have a logbook and sometimes little treasures too – you can take one if you leave another in its place. Log on to geocaching.com for more details and to find your nearest cache.

Get On Your Bike  

Jumping on your bike is a great way to get some exercise on sunny days, and you can also make your way along lots of the trails and woodland ‘walks’ that you come across on your days out.  Sky Ride Local (goskyride.com/skyridelocal) can help you on your way, and offers free rides along scenic routes with a trained guide leader for everyone aged five upwards.

Find more ideas for the family to enjoy together >>