50 things activities to do in your back garden

Your garden can be an amazing place to discover wildlife and experience nature. There’s so much for you to do on your doorstep: look for shooting stars, make a wild crown, get to know colourful birds or watch furry caterpillars. You can even help the animals who come to visit by building them a new home. Here are our top '50 things to do before you're 11¾' ideas for embracing nature in your own back garden.

A child with a tadpole in a container of water and a fishing net, at Colby Woodland Garden, Pembrokeshire Play Video
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Nature activities to do at home or in the garden


Your back garden can be a natural playground for you to explore. Check out some ideas for '50 things to do before you’re 11¾' in your own back garden. Who knows what adventures you might go on? You can also try out lots of ideas from our selection below.

Glamping at the Low Wray Campsite, Lake District

No. 3 Camp outdoors 

Your back garden can become a place for a wild adventure when you pitch a tent and stay overnight. Camping in your back garden means that you can sleep under the stars and try and spot a constellation, or listen out for hooting owls.

Sleep over in the great outdoors
A young girl wearing a wild crown

No. 16 Wear a wild crown 

Your imagination's the limit when you make a wild crown. Twigs, daisy chains, leaves, flowers, blossom, grass and other wild materials found in your garden can be used to create a masterpiece. You could even create one that an imaginary character would wear.

Be inspired to create a wild crown
Visitors playing beside the lake at Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire

No. 25 Join nature's band 

A couple of stones and a tree stump can double up as drum. A blade of grass makes an amazing noise 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 group gather to go star gazing on a clear night

No. 27 Go stargazing 

It’s not often that we take the time to stargaze, but when you do, you’ll create twinkling memories that last a lifetime. 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
Children investigating a bug with a microscope

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 put any creepy-crawlies back where you found them afterwards because they can be delicate and enjoy the home they’re already in.

Discover creepy-crawlies
Girl making a bug house

No. 36 Make a home for wildlife 

All sorts of animals need homes, so why not 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?

Find tips for building wildlife a home
Family on the wooden footbridge at Box Hill, Surrey

No. 44 Watch a bird 

Find somewhere quiet to sit, watch and wait to see birds fly, sing, chat to each other and eat their food. Make sure you don't frighten them off because birds get spooked pretty easily. See how many you can spot – maybe you could create a birdspotting diary.

Read up on birdspotting tips