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Starting a nature club is a fantastic way to help kids connect with the outdoors - whether you're a parent, homeschooler, or teacher. But once your club is up and running, what do you actually do?
Here are 10 simple, fun, and low-prep nature club activities for kids that work just as well in your back garden as they do in the school field or local park.
And if you want help getting started, you can get our free Nature Club Starter Kit here. It includes a printable guide, scavenger hunts, badge tracker, and more!
Pass around some clipboards and scavenger hunts, then set off outdoors to see what you can find. These can be focussed on a theme, habitat or season, such as meadow flowers, autumn leaves or bugs and butterflies. (There are two free scavenger hunts in our nature club starter kit.)
Scavenger hunts help children to practice their observation skills, slow down and really look at what is living and growing around them. You can even tailor your scavengers to include textures, smells or sounds to engage more senses.
Give each child a sketchbook, notebook or nature journal and encourage them to draw, label, write and reflect on what they observe outdoors. For example, the weather, trees, flowers, animals, birds, insects or the landscape.
Continuing a nature journal over time can help foster observation, nature literacy and emotional expression - as well as forging a connection to and relationship with the natural world. (Learn how to start a nature journal here.)
Use nets and trays to gently scoop water out of a pond and see if you can discover some of the little creatures living there - creatures such as tadpoles, water beetles, minnows and mayfly nymphs.
You can even use magnifying glasses and identification sheets to help find their names and learn more about them. Then, sketch and label them in your journal before gently releasing them back into their pond.
Take along some binoculars and encourage a silent nature walk to see how many birds you can see or hear. Then, try and identify them by sight and sound, using a field guide, spotter sheet or app to guide you.
This activity requires patience, keen eyes and good sound tracking and it helps you connect with your local wildlife. For extra fun, at the end of the walk, see if you can mimic the calls of the birds you heard.
Hand round some magnifying glasses, find your courage and set off on a mini bug safari. How many insects can you find? Where will you find them? What are they doing? Are they babies or adults?
This activity helps children find their curiosity and overcome a fear of insects by seeing them as the fascinating creatures that they are. It also ties in with nature study modules such as habitats, life cycles and biodiversity.
Pass around some tree spotter sheets and use leaves, bark, seeds, buds or flowers to try and identify the trees growing in your area. You can even repeat this walk and visit the same trees in different seasons to see how they change.
This activity fosters not only awareness, but also encourages botanical skills and description. How do you know this leaf belongs to a hazel and not a rowan? Why tree has fibrous bark? Who has big, red, sticky buds?
Pass around some torches, ready your ears and head out for a quiet dusk-time nature walk. How does the landscape change in the evening? Which animals are heading to bed and which are waking up?
Look and listen for frogs, bats, owls or foxes. Practice using your ears instead of relying on your eyes. At the end of the walk, sketch, label and reflect on what you noticed in your nature journals.
Visit a local park, forest or other nature trail and take some paper and pencils with you. Walk the trail and create your own hand-drawn maps as you go. Map out the path, trees, streams, animal homes or secret spots.
This activity helps to develop spatial awareness, observational skills and creativity. You can even laminate the maps to use again on future visits to that nature trail.
Head out to a local green space, such as a woodland, meadow or coastline and see how many signs of animal life you can find. Look for tracks, feathers, dens, scat or fur. Then try and identify who might have left these signs.
Use tracking cards or field guides to help you try and identify what you find. For extra fun, you can even use clay or plaster to make imprints of any tracks you find!
Motivate your group to observe, learn and explore with printable badges or tracker sheets. Award a badge or sticker for each walk, project or activity completed. You can find a free badge tracker and certificate in our starter kit.
Starting a nature club doesn’t have to be complicated. With just a few printables, a notebook, and a little imagination, you can create rich and meaningful outdoor learning experiences for your children.
Ready to start your own group? Download the FREE Nature Club Starter Kit here and get everything you need to begin!
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Are you looking for a fun and easy way to get your kids outside, learning, and loving nature?
Whether you're a homeschooling parent, a teacher, or just a nature-loving family, starting your own nature club is a fantastic way to build curiosity, connection, and confidence in the outdoors.
In this post we will explore how to start a children's nature club right now - and the best part? You don’t need a science degree, a curriculum, or even a big garden. Just a bit of curiosity, a few simple tools.
A nature club is simply a group—big or small—that meets regularly to learn about nature and explore the outdoors. It could be just your child, your whole family, a homeschool co-op, or a classroom of students. Nature clubs give children the chance to:
You don’t need to plan big lessons, curricula or experience. Just a willingness to show up with your eyes open and to be inspired.
Starting a nature club can help you and your children to:
In all honestly, not much!
As mentioned above, just a willingness to keep your eyes and ears open and allow nature to inspire you. However, to make things easy, I have created a free starter kit that gives you everything you need to begin. Including:
All ready for you to print out at home and start your nature club today! (Click here to get your free Nature Club Starter Kit)
Have I inspired you to go ahead and start your own club yet? Here are a few activity ideas for your very first meet-up:
Starting your own nature club does not have to be serious or overwhelming. With the right mindset and a sense of curiosity, it can become one of the most joyful parts of your week.
Download your free starter kit here and let's make your nature study fun!
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Nature study is the practice of observing and learning about the natural world in a relaxed, informal way.
It’s about stepping outside - whether into your garden, a local park, or a nearby greenspace- and noticing the plants, animals, weather and landscapes around you.
Rooted in curiosity and personal connection, nature study is often used in homeschooling and Charlotte Mason-style education. But it is beneficial for anyone wanting to build a closer relationship with the natural world.
The concept of nature study became popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as an educational movement.
Charlotte Mason, a British educator, emphasised nature study as a vital part of a child’s development, advocating for regular time outdoors and direct observation rather than textbook memorisation.
While in the United States, educators like Anna Botsford Comstock also championed nature study as a way to foster a love for science and life itself.
Nature study is more than just a walk around the park. It provides a wide range of benefits for both children and adults:
Nature study can be as simple or as structured as you like. Common elements include:
You don’t need to be a science expert to enjoy nature study - you just need a willingness to notice and wonder.
Everyone. Nature study is for people of all ages, backgrounds and educational styles. Although, it is particularly popular among:
Whether you live in the countryside or a city apartment, there are always ways to observe and appreciate nature - even if it is just watching ants on a path or clouds in the sky.
So, what is nature study? It is a simple yet profound way to connect with the world around you.
It is not about having the right tools or knowledge - it is about slowing down, paying attention and allowing nature to teach you in its own time.
Whether you are 5 or 95, there is always something new to discover outside your door.
If you are keen to have a go, why not check out our resources. We love making nature study fun and easy for children, parents and teachers.
Woodland nature walks are a great way to explore and learn more about trees, shrubs and woodland ecosystems in general, such as woodland plants, fungi, insects, animals and birds.
There are many different types of woodland - new growth forest, old growth forest, native, non-native, mixed, wild, managed, deciduous, coniferous, temperate and tropical, small copses and extensive forests... each with their own special adaptations, features, flora, fauna and ecosystems.
There are also many more things to enjoy than just 'trees'. Remember, even trees are made of many smaller elements and parts, each of which is waiting to be enjoyed and discovered in their own way.
There are many types of tree bark, tree seeds, wild nuts, fruits, berries and cones, catkins, blossom and other tree flowers, while within and around the trees vines, ferns, mosses and lichens and bracket fungi can be found.
In the branches, birds and bats roost, nest, sing and flutter, while moths, butterflies, beetles and all sorts or other insects feed, burrow, hide, nest and skuttle.
Beneath the roots, more insects can be found while larger animals like foxes and badgers, dig down and use the tree as shelter for their burrows, sets and dens.
On the forest floor can be found wild flowers, grasses, mosses and ferns.
From delicate anemones to towering foxgloves and from climbing roses to showy bluebells, while hardferns, bracken and drypsteris provide cover for a myriad species of wildlife.
Alongside streams and boggy places, reeds and rushes provide shelter for dragonflies, mayflies and other creatures, while buttercups, daisies and campion flowers growing beside the paths are alive with butterflies and bees.
Look for couchgrass, wood melick, and hairy brome in aunny spots and glades, providing a source of seeds for goldfinches, wrens and other woodland birds.
Birds of all shapes and sizes can be found in the undergrowth, creeping up the tree trunks and flitting through or above the canopy. Birds like wood pigeons, jays, cuckoos, coal tits, blue tits and robins.
Listen for for drill of green or spotted woodpeckers searching for grubs beneath the tree bark, or watch for the rustle of leaves as blackbirds and thrushes dart and creep through the undergrowth.
Mice, voles and squirrels can be seen scurrying across the path of leaping through the trees, while fallow deer or red deer can be spotted grazing if you are quiet.
Pay really close attention and you might also spot the signs of fox scat, badger dens or rabbit burrows - telltale signs of other woodland inhabitants.
As you walk through the woods, remember to pay attention to all the layers and to keep your senses aware to sights and sounds in all of those layers - the sky above, the canopy, the tree trunks, the understory, the undergrowth and down at ground or below ground levels.
Tread quietly and carefully to give yourself a chance at spotting wildlife and try not to stray from paths and disturb their habitats or vegetation.You might be suprised at what is around you!
So why not try a woodland nature walk and share some of the treasures you find in the comments below. I love hearing about them x
P.S. Don't forget to subscribe and join our Nature Nook community!
Have you been thinking about trying out some mindful nature activities? In today's busy, fast-paced world, it is easy to feel disconnected from the natural world. We spend most of our days indoors, staring at screens and rushing from one task to another, forgetting to notice the power and beauty of the natural world.
But taking the time to connect mindfully with nature can have a profound impact on our wellbeing and sense of peace. In fact, research has shown that connecting mindfully with nature can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, improve focus, attention and creativity and even boost our immune systems.
So, how can we connect more mindfully with nature? Here are a few ideas to help get you started.
This might seem a really simple thing to do, but just going out for a walk - even round your neighbourhood, is a great way to get outside and appreciate the natural world.
Make sure that instead of marching along with your head down and your headphones in your ears, you try to be present and really notice the sights, sounds and smells around you - and if you struggle finding plants or wildlife, turn your gaze up and appreciate the clouds, breeze, sunshine and sky.
As you move through and interact with the world, take the time to tune in and engage your senses. Take of your shoes and feel the grass on your toes. Close your eyes and listen to the sounds of a nearby stream. Pick up a leaf and study its shape, texture and colour.
By engaging your senses, you will not only begin to deepen your connection to the natural world, but you will also learn about and develop a deeper understanding of the plants, animals and ecosystems in your neighbourhood.
As you spend time noticing nature, take a moment to think about and feel grateful for all the wonderful things around you. Maybe for the warmth of the sun on your face, the chirrping birds, or the way the leaves rustle in the wind.
By focusing on the positive aspects of your surroundings and the beauty and wonder you experience, you will begin to cultivate a deeper sense of appreciation, joy and connection.
As we have seen, it is more than possible to enjoy mindful nature activities even if you live in the city. Not only that, but by connecting mindfully with nature, we can tap into the healing power of the natural world and cultivate a sense of peace and wellbeing within us.
So, the next time you are feeling stressed or disconnected, take a moment to walk outside and engage with your surroundings. You will be amazed at how quickly you can unwind when you decide to notice and enjoy nature.
If you enjoyed this tutorial, feel free to leave a comment below and let me know how you get on and don't forget to subscribe below for new articles and nature connection resources.
See you soon and happy nature walking,
Leila x
As parents, we want our children to experience the joys of nature, but sometimes it can be hard to know where to start. So, I have put together a little list of 10 really easy nature activities for kids that will inspire and spark their imaginations, while encouraging a love of nature.
To build a fairy house, all you need are some sticks, leaves and other natural materials. Simple put them together into a little nest to create a cosy little fairy house. This activity is great for imaginative play and can be done in any outdoor space.
Create a list of things for your kids to find in nature, such as pine cones, leaves, stones, feathers or flowers. You can even make specific lists of different habitats or different times of the year. (You can find a whole range of nature scavenger hunts in My Nature Club.)
Take a walk in the park, forest or around your neighbourhood and collect different types of leaves, then place them under a piece of paper and rub a crayon over the top. This is a really fun way to start teaching kids about the different types of leaves.
Cut a piece of tape and wrap it around your child's wrist with the sticky side facing out. Then, as you do your nature walk, collect small leaves, flowers, seeds and grasses to stick onto the tape. (But make sure you have permission to pick them first.)
Collect flowers, leaves, stones, shells and other natural materials and arrange them in a mandala on the ground. This helps promote mindfulness and creativity while also teaching kids about symmetry. (Again, make sure you have permission to pick things.)
Collect smooth rocks on a walk along the seashore or river bank, then pain and decorate them with different pictures and designs. They can then be used as book ends, paper weights, gifts, ornaments or even to decorate your plant pots or garden.
Take a nature walk or try a nature sit spot and observe the different birds, insects and wildlife you see. This activity not only helps develop patience and attentiveness, but is also a great way to teach kids about our different wildlife and perhaps spark an interest in nature conservation.
Give your kids free rein to use a camera or smartphone as a way to promote observation of the natural world? Yes! Allow them to look around and notice the world around them with the excuse of using technology - and also document your nature observations and capture family nature adventures.
Use a pine cone or coconut shell and some peanut butter and bird seed to make a really simple homemade bird feeder. Then hang it up outside and see which birds come to eat. You can even sketch and try to identify them. This activity is a fantastic way to learn about birds and their behaviour.
Collect all kinds or natural materials such as sticks, stones, moss, leaves and create pictures or collages with them. These can be teeny tiny or as big as you can go! It is a great way to encourage creativity and helps kids to appreciate the different textures, shapes and colours found in nature.
Nature is full of wonder and inspiration and these easy nature activities for kids are a great way to introduce your children to the natural world. By encouraging them to explore, observe and create, you can help foster a lifelong love of nature that will benefit them for years to come.
So get ready for endless, imaginative fun! (and if you enjoyed this tutorial and would love more ideas and inspiration for learning about and connecting to nature with your family, subscribe below and be the first to know about new articles and resources.)
See you soon and happy nature walking,
Leila x
As a busy mum, finding time to enjoy nature can seem impossible. Between juggling children, home and work, finding time to connect with yourself, let alone taking time to connect with nature can be decidedly challenging. This challenge can seem even greater if you live in the concrete jungle of a city.
However, it is important to make some time to get out and enjoy the natural world both for yourself and for your family and with a little effort, it is possible to connect with nature - even if you live in the city.
In this guide we will explore some of the reasons why it is so important to spend time in nature and think about some practical ways to find and connect with nature in urban areas.
Before we dive in though, let's think about some of the reasons why it is so important to find the time to find and enjoy and connect with nature.
The main reasons that spending time in nature is so important are the tremendous physical, mental and emotional benefits that come from being in the natural world.
In fact, research has shown that physiologically, our minds and bodies need nature just as much as we need food, water and air.
You see, spending as little as two hours a week in the natural world can help to reduce your heart rate and blood pressure, reduce your stress hormones and increase your relaxation hormones.
It can help you calm down and unwind, lift your mood, improve your sleep, make you feel happy, boost your focus and concentration, improve your creativity and reduce feelings of depression, stress and anxiety.
That is a lot of benefits! But it does not stop there. Because, while just being in nature can help you, actually noticing, tuning in to and connecting with nature, enhances these benefits even more.
You see, when it comes to benefiting from nature, moments matter more than minutes alone.
You can be surrounded by nature but if you do not take the time to notice, appreciate and enjoy it, you may as well be in the middle of a bustling shopping centre without a single blade of grass or ray of sunshine in sight.
So, how can we find nature in the city? Well, finding natural spaces and nature in the city can be challenging, but it is certainly not impossible. It just requires a little time and resourcefulness to find.
Here are a few examples:
A good place to start is by visiting the tourist information website for your town or city and looking at the ‘things to do in outdoors section’. They may even list special effects and activities available throughout the year.
Another way is to search for parks and public gardens, community gardens, city farms, private estates and private gardens that are open to the public, arboretums and botanical gardens.
You can also look for wildlife and nature-based charities such as the Wildlife Trust or RSPB, which will often have events and activities which can help put you in touch with local groups and nature spaces.
Also, look for your closest wildlife reserves or nature reserves, or natural or national parks. Here in the UK and Ireland, you can also search for Forestry Commission visitor centres, Coillte Ireland or Natural Heritage Wales.
Closer to home, take a walk around your local neighbourhood. Especially if you live near houses with gardens, you can often spot a nice variety of trees, flowers, butterflies, bees and songbirds.
If you live in an area without gardens, it is easy to create your own little nature nook on a balcony or doorstep, with a couple of plant pots and bird feeders.
Just like in the countryside, once you have found a nice nature spot, there are all sorts of ways to connect with nature in the city.
Some great ideas include:
You can even get your kids involved too and make it a fun family outing. Have the kids point out any trees, flowers, birds, bees, butterflies, or any other wildlife they see as you walk around and try to identify what you find.
Write notes or reflections about your nature time once you return, thinking about what you most enjoyed and why. You can even write poems about something beautiful, or sketch, paint or draw the wonderful things you see.
Remember - spending time in nature does not need to be complicated or hard. Even a few minutes enjoying a beautiful flower or lovely green tree can lift your mood, boost your spirits and bring smiles to a tired face.
In this article, we have looked at why it is important to take time out to enjoy nature, even as a busy mum when even self care can be challenging. We also looked at some of the best places to find nature spots and natural spaces in the city. Finally, we looked at some great activities to help you begin your nature connection journey.
Remember - take the time to explore green spaces and get to know the trees, plants and wildlife living an growing around you. By doing so, you will not only improve your own physical and mental health, but also fill your spirit with the wonder and beauty of the natural world.
If you enjoyed this tutorial and would love more ideas and inspiration for learning about and connecting to nature with your family, feel free to subscribe below and be the first to know about new articles and resources.
See you soon and happy nature walking,
Leila x
Stress is a common experience for too many people in today's world - whether at home or at work. We all face negative, high-tension, stress-filled situations.
However, prolonged stress can have a negative effect on our mental and physical health - and this is where nature comes in.
You see, spending time in nature has been shown to have numerous benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety, improving mood and boosting creativity.
In this blog post, we will explore how nature can be used as a tool to help with stress relief and mental health.
Numerous studies across the world have now shown the benefits of spending time in nature when it comes to managing stress and improving your mental health.
For example, being in nature can lead to:
So, let's see how this happens.
Both qualitative and quantitative studies have now proven that spending time in nature can directly help our bodies to relax and de-stress by promoting lower cortisol levels and increasing secretion of parasympathetic hormone.
Cortisol is the hormone responsible for the fight or flight response by helping our bodies to tense up ready for action. While parasympathetic hormone helps in switching off the sympathetic drive so we can rest and relax again.
Together, these two actions lead to reduce our feelings of anxiety and put us in a more relaxed frame of mind.
Just as spending time in nature can reduce our feelings of stress and anxiety, it can also have a directly calming effect on our brain and improve our mood. This effect happens in two ways.
First, being in natural environments stimulates the release of endorphins, or special chemicals, such as serotonin and melatonin that help us relax and make us feel good.
In addition, the body itself also releases these feel-good hormones in response to the excitement and joy we feel in the presence of a beautiful environment or when engaging in outdoor activities.
On top of the directly calming effects that being in nature has on our minds and bodies, being in nature can also helps us by enhancing our powers of creativity.
Because, we soon as we begin to relax and slow down, we also give our brains permission to relax and wander. This allows us to think about solutions to problems that may be bothering us, or consider new perspectives and ideas.
This helps us in an indirect way by letting us see ways out of our stressors - or to think of other ways we can handle them.
Finally, being in nature helps promote mindfulness - the feeling of connecting to and being part of our surroundings and environment, which helps us feel grounded and more content.
Because, being out in nature provides many opportunities for us to focus on and enjoy experiences in the present moment and momentarily forget about our troubles.
For example, when you are out in a natural environment, you cannot help by focus your senses to listen to bird song, smell a beautiful flower or feel the sun or wind in your face and the grass beneath your toes.
There are many ways you can try to bring more nature into your daily life, from walking, to active mindfulness, to gardening and outdoor activities.
Nature walks can be done anywhere, whether in your back garden, in a local park, or out in the countryside and they are a really simple and effective tool to help you relax and clear your mind.
Gardening is a great stress reliever too and working with plants, caring for them and watching them bloom and grow, also provides a sense of accomplishment and acievement.
As for outdoor activities... just choose the one you fancy! Hiking, camping, kayaking, cycling or horse riding are a few of the many, many examples. Just remember to relax and enjoy it - competitive activities may not be that effective at stress reduction!
As we have seen, being in nature can be a powerful tool for stress relief and improving our mental health and by enriching your life with outdoor activities and mindfulness, you can achieve some wonderful benefits.
So, take some time to breathe in the magic of nature and improve your wellbeing today... and don't forget, if you enjoyed reading this blog post, sign up below to recieve email notifications of new blogs and articles x
Related links
Get out your nature notebooks - Its time for a lesson on natural history and nature study. Today we will learn all about what natural history is, who a naturalist is and how you can start your own nature study adventure.
Here are your quick links:
Natural history, is unfortunately not a word we come across very often these days. It is a word that conjures up images of old men with giant beards in Victorian houses, packed from ceiling to floor with musty smelling journals, stuffed animals and exotic memorabilia. Or else, it recalls grand museums with dinosaur skeletons, antique clothes and beady-eyed animals in glass boxes.
But in reality, natural history is so much more than this. It is a living, breathing, exciting and ever-changing field of study!
Imagine shaggy yak on ice-capped mountains; lions prowling through the African Savannah; herds of buffalo grazing on the prairie; shoals of fish darting through the depths of the ocean; or colourful parrots in a lush, green forest.
Because, natural history is the study of life in its natural environment. So, plants, trees, birds, butterflies, animals, spiders, lichens, mosses; the earth itself, with its rocks and soils; the water flowing through the ocean depths, or bubbling and laughing in mountain streams. The wind and the rain; sunshine and rainbows; commets and asteroids; moon and stars...
Natural history in action is called nature study, and nature study encompasses many different elements.
For example,
The list could go on and on! But, in general, nature study looks at how life lives and grows and breathes and changes; how it interacts with its own and other species; and how it changes and adapts and moves in its environment.
Consider a tiny ant.
Now imagine these questions applied to every form of life you can imagine!
The name given to someone who studies natural history, is a naturalist. A naturalist could be anyone with an interest in nature and in life itself - a scientist, a poet, an artist or a philosopher.
For example, a poet looking for inspiration in nature, will want to accurately depict all the sights and sounds and feels and smells. She will write about the heart-stopping thrill of a predator's chase; perhaps the swoop and soar of a bird in flight; the way the sunlight moves and dapples through the trees on a windy day; or the way leaves or snowflakes fall to the ground.
An artist painting an ocean scene, would study the waves upon the sea - how they rise and fall; how they ripple and foam, and spray and splash; the way the colour changes to reflect the sun and the clouds, or the swell of the storm.
Even a family on a nature walk are being naturalists - you might look up at the sky and study the weather - is it going to rain? What is that bird you can hear singing? Has that spider caught any flies in its web? How many types of leaves can you find? If it is autumn, are they changing colour yet?
So, what does a naturalist need in order to study natural history?
The answer, is little more than a keen eye, keen ears, a nose for opportunities and an open, imaginative mind.
Of course, there are things that can help a naturalist along, but these can play a supportive role, rather than being essentials.
For example,
Other items in the naturalist's toolkit might include:
But, these are extras and required more by the serious and academic naturalists than by families wanting to explore and enjoy a nature adventure. Though, I know, kids big and small enjoy waving butterfly nets through a meadow of flowers or splashing with a bucket through rock pools by the sea!
I hope what you have read so far has inspired you to go out into nature and have your own naturalist's adventure?
Where will you go?
There are events and activities taking place all year round and all across the country. Wildlife Trusts , The RSPB and the Woodland Trust, are just a few of the places you can look for nature walk locations and activities near you.
Many of us are familiar with mistletoe and the concept of kissing beneath it at this time of the year. But, have you ever stopped to wonder what exactly mistletoe is, or how or where it grow?
You may be suprised to know it is actually a parasite and grows by sinking its roots into the branches of other trees and feeding off their fluid and nutrients.
Mistletoe is what is known as a hemi-parasite. This means that it can produce food for itself via photosynthesis, but it can also feed by taking fluid and nutrients from other plants - in this case, shrubs and trees.
The seeds inside the berries are very sticky, so they stick fast to and take root after being deposited on a suitable tree branch by a passing bird, after which, they sink their roots, called haustoria, into the branch to keep them steady and establish their 'parasitic straw'.
This 'straw' sucks up water, minerals and other nutrients from the host tree up into the mistletoe itself, helping it to thive all year round - even in poor sunlight when it might struggle to photosynthesize.
Mistletoe grows on a variety of different host trees depending upon the part of the world, but the most common host trees for European mistletoe, are apple, oak, hawthorn, linden, poplar, willow and aspen.
Although it can grow on any of these trees, it much prefers sunny, open spots. So, one of the best places to look out for mistletoe, are among the trees in sunny, south-facing fruit orchards.
They are evergreen and have smooth, opposite, oval shaped leaves and clusters of waxy white berries. Their stems are also quite distinctive, growing in wide v-shapes.
Mistletoe berries are rich in fats and protein, making them a very nutritious food source for birds such as blackcaps, robins and mistle thrushes.
In addition, some birds, such as flycatchers, use the mistletoe balls to help support their nests and squirrels and deer have been known to feast on low-hanging mistletoe too.
