Switch off from the daily demands of high-tech living to embrace no-tech adventures in the open air
W HERE THE wild things are
Pond dipping is an easy way to encourage children to get up close and personal with nature. All they need is a net, a jam jar and a low tray filled with pond water for identifying the catch (Watkins & Doncaster has a handy starter kit). After observing the contents of their jar or tray, your novice naturalists should return the wildlife and water to the pond, and give the kit a thorough wash. (You might want to test the water quality first, using a dip test from Simplex Health.)
HAND-PRINTED NAPKINS
Discover the magic of cyanotype photography, a low-tech method of printing on paper or fabric using sunlight. These linen napkins have been decorated with a seasonal foliage design using a simple cyanotype kit.
DIY INSECT DETERRENTS
Make a citrussy natural bug repellent. Fill a jar with water and add slices of lemon and lime, sprigs of rosemary, plus 10-20 drops of essential oil (we used lemon eucalyptus, citronella and vanilla). Crown with a floating candle.
SOOTHING CHIMES
Paint sticks for a colourful twist on wind chimes. Tie in a line with string threaded through holes made using a bradawl or hand drill. Hang from a tree branch and listen out for the low clunking sounds as they jostle in the wind.
NATURE STUDY
Is it a pond-skater or a water boatman? Help children learn more about pond life with a handy identification chart. For printable picture sheets and beginner guides, see The Wildlife Trusts (wildlifetrusts.org), Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk) or Freshwater Habitats Trust (freshwaterhabitats.org.uk).
STICKS AND STONES
Construct an impromptu game of noughts and crosses using long sticks for the grid and shorter ones, bound with coloured thread, for the crosses. Make the noughts from pebbles, joyfully decorated with chalk, paint or pretty transfers.
BASE CAMP
Afire pit not only gives you the freedom to cook family suppers in the open air but also offers a welcome source of warmth when the sun goes down. Check the rules at the camp or glamping site before you go to find out whether you can bring your own or if they have fire pits or barbecues on site. Complete your outdoor living room with foldable chairs, overlapping washable rugs and practical cushions.
