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Top ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities to do in winter

Children playing at Brimham Rocks, North Yorkshire
Children playing at Brimham Rocks, North Yorkshire | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Winter is the perfect time for many of the ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities - such as going on a wintry adventure, stargazing, birdwatching, cooking on a campfire and lots more. You’ll just need to wrap up warm and you can take them all on.

No. 1 Get to know a tree
Sitting inside the hollow of a tree is pretty special. When trees lose their leaves you can fully appreciate the shape of their branches and the caverns that animals and little people can hide in.Explore a tree
No. 6 Go welly wandering
Of course, it doesn’t have to be winter for it to rain, but it’s a good a time as any to enjoy this one of your ‘50 things’. Make sure you’ve got a warm (and waterproof) coat though, or you’ll be soggy and cold, which isn’t as much fun. Splash through puddles and stomp in ditches as the rain falls all around you.Make a splash on a welly wander
No. 12 Have fun with sticks
Winter is a great time to complete this challenge: there are lots of sticks around and it’s easier to spot them on the ground. You can also complete some other ‘50 things’ with your sticks. You could use them to make a mud creation. Or maybe they'll make the perfect Pooh sticks?Get creative with sticks
No. 15 Go on a wintry adventure
Wintry adventures don't always require snow, although there are endless fun activities you can do with the stuff: sledging, snowball fights, snow-angel making or snowman building. If it's not snowing but it's really freezing, you could try blowing bubbles and watching them freeze into beautiful, glassy globes. And when you've finished your adventure, why not warm up around a camp fire and have a wild picnic.Find ideas for your wintry visit
Children enjoying the children's trail in the snowy Claremont Landscape Garden, Surrey
Children enjoying the children's trail in the snowy Claremont Landscape Garden | © National Trust Images/John Millar
No. 26 Hunt for fossils and bones
Fossil hunting is mammoth fun for all the family. What’s more, in winter time you can enjoy deserted beaches and fields, perfect for uncovering hidden treasures. Wrap up warm and search for bones and fossils in a wild and rugged landscape.Dig up some treasures
No. 27 Go stargazing
Now you’ll need to wrap up warm to go stargazing in the winter, but cold nights generally mean clear night skies - perfect for watching the stars come out. You might not see Beyonce, but you’re almost certain to spot Orion with his bow and arrow in the winter sky.Read top tips for stargazing
No. 34 Discover wild animal clues
It would be amazing to do this after it has snowed, but even if there isn’t any snow, tracking animals is another activity that works in the winter. Look for footprints in mud, soil and sand or other signs such as droppings and see what clues you can discover.Track some animals
Family playing pooh sticks on a stone bridge at Erddig in Wales
Family playing pooh sticks on the bridge at Erddig | © National Trust Images/Natalie Overthrow
No. 44 Watch a bird
Thousands of migratory birds come to the UK’s shores in the winter, so it’s one of the best times to go birdwatching if you’re making a special trip. Of course, as the trees lose their leaves it’s much easier to spot birds anyway, and winter is a great time to put feeders out, increasing your chances of seeing lots of different birds in your garden.Find some tips for birdwatching
No. 47 Cook on a campfire
It’s how our ancestors cooked their meals, and when it’s cold outside there’s something just right about toasting marshmallows on a campfire, or jacket potatoes in the embers. Think of the fires on Bonfire Night and you’re halfway there, so what are you waiting for? You’ll need to make sure your wood is dry and then you’re good to go.Have some tasty treats
Two girls exploring the woodland trails at Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire

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