Nature Misses You! 50 Things to do before you're 11 and 3/4

This summer, The National Trust are encouraging families and children out into the wild to rediscover nature - Nature Misses You!  If you haven't yet come across the National Trust's "50 Things to Do Before You're 11 and 3 quarters" then where have you been (you can see the full list on the 50 things website).

Earlier this year we bought a family membership to the National Trust because we knew that we were planning two UK holidays and wanted to do some exploring while we were on our travels.  We have also used our membership to explore some local houses and gardens at the weekends because they make for great full days out with the girls.  I've totted up the cost of entry to all of the places we have visited so far in 2014 and I think we have already saved the full cost of our membership 2 times over!

No. 18 - Wild Art at Trengwainton Garden, Cornwall

Exploring Wild Art at The Vyne, Hampshire

Lara is doing pretty well on her list of 50 things which she started this time last year when we stayed in a National Trust holiday cottage in Cornwall right next door to the NT gardens at Trengwaiton.  Lara started off with No. 25 - Make a Grass Trumpet and No. 18 - Make Some Wild Art both on-site at Trengwaiton Garden.

I think we probably have No. 41 - Plant It, Grow It, Eat It covered at home in our own back garden but this spring we made an effort to get out and explore our local surroundings a bit more with No. 31 - Hunt for Bugs and No. 44 - Go Bird Watching and the girls loved it.

No. 31 - Hunt for Bugs

We've headed over the The Vyne in Hampshire a couple of times this year (they have a brilliant Tolkein-inspired kids playground and amazing country walks).  While we were there we got involved with No. 4 - Build a Den as there were lots of materials available for building.

No. 4 - Build a Den at The Vyne, Hampshire

When we visited the girls' Auntie in France we had some lovely country walks and managed several of the activities on the list including No. 16 - Make a Daisy Chain.

No. 16 - Make a Daisy Chain

This summer we discovered Cliveden near Taplow in Berkshire.  It is an amazing place packed full of things to do and the girls loved it so much that they asked to go back the next weekend!  Beyond the playground, tea rooms, slide and stunning formal gardens there are some wild and beautiful walks to be had in the grounds.  Both Lara and Holly LOVED No.2 - Roll down a big hill!

Exploring secret places at Cliveden, Berkshire

No. 2 - Rolling down a Big Hill at Cliveden, Berkshire

But our summer holiday in East Sussex was the climax of Lara's 50-things year so far.  We visited the beach, the downs, forests, orchards and farms.  We visited three National Trust properties at Bodiam Castle, Scotney Castle and Rudyard Kipling's home, Batemans.  Lara crossed off another 13 things off her list including jumping over waves, flying a kite, playing pooh sticks and climbing a REALLY big hill!

No. 28 - Climb a huge hill, near Batemans, East Sussex

Making Dens at The Vyne

If you fancy some fun and affordable outdoor activities, check out the 50 things list (you can download a copy from the website or you can pick up printed 'scrapbooks' at most NT properties).  It is a fabulous (and very cheap) way of encouraging your children outdoors to rediscover nature.

If you are looking for more inspiration for ways to rediscover nature with your kids, check out the National Trust youtube channel.