Forest Trails - outdoor activities

One of our favourite things to do as a family is to go for a walk in the woods.  In winter the woods offer shelter from the elements, in the heat of summer they offer shade. 

A walk in the woods offers:

• trees to climb
• places to play hide and seek
• wildlife to identify
• trees and plants to spot and identify
• dens to build
• a constantly changing scene through the seasons
• food to forage
• treasure to find (acorns, chestnuts, twigs and pine cones)
• ancient tree hunting
• wild art
• balancing
• and much much more.

While many woodlands are privately owned you can access woodland in the UK on National Trust, English Heritage, Forestry Commission, RSPB and Woodland Trust properties, as well as countless local wildlife and nature parks and National Parks.  Some of our best loved woodlands can be found at the Delamere Forest, the Wyre Forest, Sherwood Forest, the New Forest and the Forest of Dean, many of which were ancient Royal Hunting Grounds.  At these larger forests you'll usually find a Visitor Centre with good parking facilities, cafes, well way-marked trails and paths and adventure playgrounds.

Don't forget, many woodlands are also the  base for hair-raising mountain biking trails and high-ropes courses, or more sedate sculpture trails.

The Woodland Trust also have a great area on their website full of suggested activities to do with children and families.

What are you waiting for?  Get out and explore the woods near you!

What do you like to do in the woods?