Play among the trees
As you explore the wider areas of Abinger Roughs, there are lots of places to get the family stuck into these activities:
- Climb a tree. It may be a tree growing tall and straight. It may be a tree that fallen to the floor at the end of its life. It doesn’t matter - scramble up and see how far you can go!
- Measure the girth. Put your arms around the trunk and see how big it is. How many family members have to join in to reach all around? Which is the fattest tree in the wood?
- Hunt for bugs. Examine the bark and see what creepy-crawlies are there? What sort of tree has the most in number? What sort of tree has the greatest variety?
- Bark rubbing. Take some paper and some crayons. Hold the paper onto the bark and rub to reveal the pattern. Which tree makes the most interesting pattern?
Watch and listen to the birds
At this time of year birds begin their glorious song to attract a mate and warn off competitors. Popular resident birds such as wren, song and mistle thrushes, chaffinches and robins will be in full song establishing territories. Can you also identify less well-known species such as the glorious pink-breasted bullfinch and blackcap? From March onwards the summer migrants such as chiff chaff, willow warbler and whitethroat will begin to arrive.