50 things to do before you're 11¾ at Charlecote Park

Children build a den in spinney at Charlecote — Have you tried No. 4 - Build a den? Find everything you need in the spinney

Have an adventure in the park and gardens at Charlecote. There are some things you can do all year round, and some that you’ll have to plan ahead for the right weather or season. Collect your scrapbook and our '50 things' trail map on your way in and start ticking off some amazing activities.

No. 1 Climb a tree

Children climb fallen tree at Charlecote one of the 50 Things — No. 1 on the 50 Things list is Climb a Tree - it doesn't have to be upright!

Our ancient standing trees are fragile, so enjoy climbing the huge felled trees in the parkland instead.

No. 6 Run around in the rain

Never mind a soggy day. Come in your wellies, splash in puddles, feel the raindrops on your face.

No. 7 Fly a kite

It doesn’t have to be blowing a gale – a simple box kite will take off in a breeze. Bring your own or choose your favourite colour from our shop.

Family with home-made kites in parkland at Charlecote — Our parkland is a great place to fly a kite - make your own or find a simple box kite in our shop

No. 10 Play conkers

Look for the horse chestnut trees in autumn and collect a pocketful of shiny brown conkers to string when you get home.

No. 12 Make a trail with sticks and No. 18 Create wild art

Children create wild art at summer kids club at Charlecote Park — Get closer to nature with some wild art

Collect twigs, leaves and feathers and whatever you can find in the parkland and see if you can make a trail for people to follow, or make your own original artwork. Please don't pick the flowers in our gardens, just use whatever you find lying around.

No. 16 Make a daisy chain

Create your own jewellery for free. Perhaps a grown-up will help you make a hole in the stems to thread your daisies together.

No. 19 Play poohsticks

Stand on the bridge by the entrance to West Park and see whose stick comes out on the other side first.

No. 22 Explore inside a tree

Stroll down into the park from the end of the long border and you’ll see one of the huge fallen trees to investigate. Is anything hiding in there?

No. 24 Go on a walk barefoot

Go on - just take off your shoes and socks and find out how the grass feels!

No. 25 Make a grass trumpet

Put a wide blade of grass between your thumbs. You'll need to hold them together side by side and keep your fingers out of the way. Then blow – how loud can you be?

50 Things child with grass trumpet in parkland at Charlecote — No. 25 Make a grass trumpet. Now blow as hard as you can...

No. 26 Hunt for fossils

We may be a long way from the beach, but you can see if you can spot the ancient fossils in the floor tiles of the Great Hall. Ask one of the room guides to help if you can't find them.

Look for fossils in the tiles of the floor of the Great Hall at Charlecote Park — Take a careful look at the floor tiles in the Great Hall and spot some fossils

No. 31 Hunt for bugs

They’re everywhere! Look in the grass, check tree bark, look under stones, what will you find today? Listen for grasshoppers in the parkland on a warm sunny day and count ladybirds in the gardens.

Two girls with butterfly net at Charlecote Park in summer

Bugs and insects to discover

The parkland and gardens are a great place for a bug hunt, and there are insects you'll recognise and plenty you won't, but they are all fascinating.

No. 33 Catch a falling leaf

Children play with autumn leaves in parkland at Charlecote Park — It's a great place to have some outdoor fun

Chase them and catch them before they land. How many colours can you find? Make a collage when you get home.

No. 34 Track wild animals and No. 44 Go bird watching

Family at picnic bench watch wildlife in parkland at Charlecote — Flying, swimming, running... what is our wildlife doing today?

Can you see the tracks made by our deer and sheep?

Bring your binoculars and see what you can spot, from friendly robins and blackbirds in the gardens to swans and herons on the river. Can you spot a woodpecker’s rising and falling flight in the park? Can you hear a buzzard mewing overhead?

Charlecote's parkland is an ideal place for birdwatching or wildlife spotting

Top tips for spotting wildlife

Our staff and volunteers manage the parkland for the benefit of our wildlife throughout the year. Discover the best ways to see more when you visit - don't forget your binoculars.

No. 40 Go on a nature walk at night

Take a look at our Events page and book ahead for one of our bat walks. Join the experts from the Warwickshire Bat Group with their specialist equipment and discover more about our resident protected bat colonies.