Top ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities to do in your back garden

Two adults and three children exploring a grassy meadow, looking through binoculars — Children exploring the garden at Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire | © National Trust Images/John Millar

You can do so much in your back garden: look for shooting stars, make a wild crown, get to know colourful birds or build a home for wildlife. Here are our top ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ ideas for embracing nature in your back garden.

No. 3 Camp outdoors: Have a wild adventure in your back garden when you pitch a tent and stay overnight. Set up camp on your doorstep so you can sleep under the stars, spot constellations or listen out for hooting owls.Sleep under the stars
No. 16 Wear a wild crown: Your imagination's the limit when you make a wild crown. Look for twigs, leaves, flowers, grass and other wild materials in your garden to make your masterpiece, or get creative with a daisy chain.Create a wild crown
No. 25 Join nature's band: A couple of stones and a tree stump can double up as a drum. A blade of grass becomes a whistle when you know what to do with it. Birds singing make a beautiful dawn chorus, and even footsteps can make great percussion noises when you dance around.Make music with nature

A child sitting cross-legged on the ground, surrounded by plant pots, cardboard and natural materials — Making bug houses in the garden at Washington Old Hall, Tyne & Wear | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

No. 27 Go stargazing: Bring science to life, experience the beauty of nature and create memories to last a lifetime with a spot of stargazing. The night sky is full of spectacular sights whatever the time of year. You'll need warm clothes and some patience, though – but if you camp outside, this is easy to achieve.Spot some constellations
No. 31 Make friends with a bug: Looking for bugs is fun because some are so fast that you may need to chase them a little. Does your critter have fur, wings or lots of legs? Remember to be gentle with any creepy-crawlies and put them back where you found them afterwards because they can be delicate.Discover creepy-crawlies
No. 36 Make a home for wildlife: All sorts of animals need homes in your neighbourhood. Try making a bug hotel, a house for a hedgehog or even a motel for a mouse. Think about the creature you're making a home for – does it need to be warm, light, dry, dark, cold, or wet?Build wildlife a home
No. 44 Watch a bird: Find somewhere quiet to sit and watch birds sing, chat with each other, eat food and fly. Make sure you don't frighten them off because birds get startled pretty easily. See how many you can spot – maybe you could create a birdwatching diary.Read up on birdwatching tips

Children climb a mound of sand on Rhosili beach, Gower, Wales

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