Six way to enjoy nature this spring

Why should kids have all the fun? Reignite your love of nature with these random acts of wildness

Add some colour to your garden by creating a mini meadow. Wildflowers can provide shelter and food for many different insects and birds and are a fantastic way to add colour to your garden. Visit Grow Wilder for a selection of wildlife flowers that you could grow. Watch them grow over the spring and see what wildlife you can attract to your patch!

Spring is a busy season for birds. They have to defend their territory and find a mate before building a nest and raising their chicks. Because of this, birds are busy singing their hearts out from the crack of dawn. Try using apps such as BirdNet to identify singing birds, or use the RSPB website or www.xenocanto.com to familiarise yourself with different bird songs before you try and recognise them in the field!

A carpet of bluebells is one of the most beautiful spring sights to enjoy, as the woodland floor is transformed into a sea of purples and blues. From mid-April, the flowers start to emerge, providing an important source of nectar for bees and insects whilst releasing a strong sweet scent that we can also enjoy! Take a stroll to our Prior’s Wood reserve this spring and bathe in the beauty of the bluebells!

As the Earth moves around the sun, we’re able to see different constellations in the night sky throughout the year. We can see some famous ones all year round, such as Ursa Major, ‘The Great Bear’, but others we only see in certain seasons. Spring is a brilliant time of year to find the constellation of Leo the Lion. Look for a backwards question mark shape which outlines the lion’s head and mane. Can you find it? What other shapes and patterns can you see in the sky?

Are you a morning lark or a night owl? Sunrises and sunsets can be absolutely breathtaking and a beautiful way to start or end the day. Noticing nature’s beauty is a way to feel more connected to nature and improve your mood, and what is more beautiful than a sunrise or sunset? Sunrise in the morning can leave you motivated and inspired for the day ahead, while celebrating the end of the day with a sunset can leave you feeling grateful for the day that has passed. Take along your family and friends to share the beauty of nature with others.

The smell of garlic wafting through a woodland is just one of the brilliant smells of spring. Pick some of the leaves and make yourself a nutritious foraged pesto.

You will need:

- Wild garlic leaves

- A food blender

- Your choice of nuts

- Olive oil

Creating your tasty foraged treat:

❶ Pick a few wild garlic leaves – you can identify them by their distinctive smell, as well as their spear-shape with a pointed tip. Only pick what you need and what you can confidently identify!

❷ Wash them carefully when you get home

❸ Add the leaves to a food blender with some nuts – pine nuts, almonds or hazelnuts work well

❹ Add a couple of spoons of olive oil

❺ Add some squeezed lemon and seasoning to taste

❻ Enjoy it on a salad, on toast or stirred into pasta!

Visit our website for more actions you can take to help wildlife this spring: avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/actions