What is a nature walk?

A nature walk is a fun, enjoyable, educational adventure undertaken somewhere in the great outdoors.

It could be anywhere:

  • A remote mountain pass
  • In a jungle
  • Round a garden pond
  • In a city park
  • Anywhere!

It is different from just a normal walk in that you make a conscious decision to keep your eyes, ears, nose, mind and imagination open during the walk.

In short, you are willing and ready to take in all that the great outdoors has to offer you.

A walk where dad is grumpy, mum has had enough, the dog is whining and the kids are fighting is NOT a nature walk.

No one will learn anything and they will certainly not return home happy, energised and rearing to do it again.

So, keep it fun and right from the very start, get everyone involved.

The first and most fun, pre-walk decision, is choosing where to go…

There are so many places to choose from:

  • Your garden
  • Around your neighbourhood
  • The city park
  • An allotment
  • In a woodland
  • Along a riverbank
  • Beside a canal
  • In a wildflower meadow
  • At the seaside
  • The list goes on!

Need some help finding somewhere suitable to go?

Have a look at your local nature spots. Are there any of these where you want to go?

  • National parks
  • Nature reserves
  • Forestry Commision sites
  • Areas of outstanding national beauty
  • SSSIs

Now you have decided where to go, you need to think about what you will need.

How will you prepare for this nature walk?

Think about:

  • Possible weather
  • The terrain
  • Individual requirements
  • How long you might be

Some of the things you might need, are:

  • Sensible shoes
  • Suitable clothing
  • Food and drink
  • First aid kit

Let everyone create their own checklist of what they think they will need. Then compare and merge them together.

If you live somewhere very wild and remote, are there other things you should think about?

For instance, 

  • Wild animals
  • Snakes
  • Scorpions
  • Stinging insects…

And how about possible hazards:

  • Risk of floods
  • Forest fires
  • Rock falls
  • Avalanche…

Do you need to take survival equipment with you? Antidotes or antivenom, GPS, flares or camping equipment?

Make sure someone knows where you are going and when to expect you back.

Think about where you are and what is around you. For example:

  • The weather
  • Landscape
  • Terrain
  • Overall impression
  • Small details
  • The earth beneath your feet
  • Things from feet to knee height
  • Anything from knee height to shoulder height
  • Things above your shoulder height
  • Anything above you

Think about where you are and what is around you. For example:

  • The weather
  • Landscape
  • Terrain
  • Overall impression
  • Small details
  • The earth beneath your feet
  • Things from feet to knee height
  • Anything from knee height to shoulder height
  • Things above your shoulder height
  • Anything above you