The little book of nature activities to do at home was created by our team in Leeds as a way to bring nature into your everyday life to benefit both your mental and physical wellbeing. Activities include growing tomatoes and spotting plants and animals, aligned to the 5 steps to mental wellbeing.
TCV
The community volunteering charity
Activity Resources
A collection of nature-based activities produced by TCV teams across the UK.
TCV’s activity packs, how-to guides and videos are ideal for all ages. Use these resources to get outdoors in a green space with a mindful activity. They’re also great for home-schooling children when needed or kick-starting their passion for the natural world.
Nature Activities To Do At Home
Children's Outdoor Activities
Hunting for bugs, building a den, and making a boat and tree decorations – it’s all covered in these children’s guides for activities outdoors.
Make a Woolly Bird
Get crafting with our team in Northern Ireland. Make your own woolly bird using a few simple materials and this step-by-step guide.
Walking Activities
Use these guides by the TCV Manchester team to look out for signs of spring, winter trees and birds during your outdoor walks, and tick off each one you spot along the way. You’ll also find an activity sheet to complete a mindfulness walk, noting what you hear, feel, see and smell.
Bringing The Outdoors In!
TCV Scotland have put together a resource pack chock full of nature activities for indoors, in your garden or in the park. It includes tips for looking after the wildlife in your own garden through to nature-based craft ideas.
Make Your Own Apple Bird Feeder
Our team in York created a simple guide to make your own bird feeder with just 5 items you’ll find in your home or in nature. This pretty bird feeder will make a lovely addition to your garden as well as being appreciated by your feathered friends.
Grow New Trees and Shrubs
Grow new trees and shrubs from plants you already have! This activity sheet shows you how to make hardwood cuttings with accompanying tool safety sheet for secateurs.
Wild Wednesday Videos and Activity Sheets
TCV Waltham Forest are running a weekly Wild Wednesday educational video series with fantastic volunteer, Olivia. Learn how to identify birds in your garden and hear fascinating insights into the world of wildlife.
View the series and accompanying activity sheets on their Twitter page.
Nature Explorers with Stick Man!
Another one from our Waltham Forest Team, originally recorded for our Under 5’s sessions in Lloyd Park, London. Here Hannah reads through Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man book to spark the imagination of little ones when exploring your local park. Plus, make your very own stick man!
Planting Microgreens
Start your journey to grow your own vegetables with this planting microgreens guide and activity sheet, made by our team in Manchester.
Chitting Potatoes
How to guide and activity sheet for growing sprouts on seed potatoes so they are ready for planting and growing your own tasty potatoes.
Easy Read Picture Recipe Book
5 simple recipes using healthy fruit and vegetables, including a simple tomato salad and scrumptious rhubarb cake. This was created by TCV Manchester as part of our Growing Trafford’s Roots project, which explores the heritage of market gardening with young people with disabilities.
TCV elsewhere
Head over to TCV’s blogs where you’ll find a collection of things to read, such as ways to keep active or more recipe ideas from our TCV Birmingham’s Health for Life team
The Nature activities at our Conservation Handbooks page are perfect for children and adults alike
Explore how to grow your own trees with this comprehensive resource
TCV Youtube Channel
…and finally, TCV’s YouTube channel hosts many of our team’s videos, with activities such as printing with potatoes, how to make a hanging planter, and sowing seeds and recipes with your homegrown produce.