Looking for some educational and entertaining activities for the kids? Many of our ‘help nature your way’ activities can be done with children, whether that’s recording wildlife or Species on the Edge-inspired arts and crafts. Here’s some of our top picks:
1. Can you find the elusive Bordered Brown Lacewing?
The Bordered Brown Lacewing is a tiny wee bug that within the UK can only be found in Scotland. So far it’s only ever been found on the Aberdeenshire coast, Holyrood Park in Edinburgh, and one site in Sutherland, but we think there could be more populations out there just waiting to be discovered! To help us find out more about the distribution of the Bordered brown Lacewing, we’re challenging the Scottish public to get out and find it! And it’s easy!
1. Find a wood sage plant (Bordered Brown Lacewings tend to be found hanging out on wood sage)
2. Beat the wood sage with a stick while holding a white tray or basin underneath
3. Check the tray periodically for Bordered Brown Lacewing
4. Let us know if you find any!
If you’re keen to get out and look for this rare beastie, please email our Buglife Officer, Fiona, who will send you a survey form and survey guidance document containing all the information you need to take part: Fiona.basford@buglife.org.uk
Let’s work together to put the Bordered Brown Lacewing on the map! In our experience, it’s sometimes the tiny eyes that are best at finding the tiny beasties 👀
2. Get crafty!
Learn more about Scotland’s ‘species on the edge’ while getting creative! Create Pipe-cleaner Creatures and Species on the Edge Masks.
Download the templates, print them out, choose your favourite ‘species on the edge’, then get colouring/painting/sticking/glittering! (yes, we do have a glittery ‘species on the edge’ – check out the small blue butterfly 😍)
Or, make a bat mask and bat costume! A fun and educational day’s activity PLUS this year’s halloween costume sorted? Sign us up!
3. Survey bats
Bat Conservation Trust’s Sunset Survey is a great way of helping bats for those with no previous bat surveying experience. It’s an exciting activity for kids and adults alike – in Orkney we headed out to look for bats with a group of Girl Guides, and they recorded a bat where no bat had been recorded before!
The Sunset Survey runs from April – October and you can get involved whenever you want and as frequently as you want, so if those shorter days in spring or autumn work better for bed time, that works fine!
Here’s how to get involved:
- Download your Sunset Survey guide
Download the survey form and bat identification tips, then print them out or save them to your computer or phone to reference while completing the survey.
2. Look for bats and other nocturnal wildlife
You can do this from your window, balcony, garden or nearby green space anytime from April to October. No equipment or experience needed!
3. Submit your Sunset results
Enter them online or post your form to Bat Conservation Trust
And you’re done!
Find all the information on the Bat Conservation Website: Sunset Survey
For an introduction to the UK’s bats and how to survey them, watch our online talk led by Species on the Edge Bat Conservation Trust Officer, Cathryn:
4. Garden for nature
There’s so many things you can do to support your local ‘species on the edge’ in your garden or local community garden, including planting a variety of plants to provide food for pollinator!
Grow some kidney vetch – it’s a plant loved by pollinators and is vital for the small blue butterfly; it’s the only plant their caterpillars eat!
Why not grow some fruit and veg? Pollinators love the flowers and they’ll pollinate your food! A win-win! Explore Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s Grow your own fruit and vegetables and Grow your own herbs guides.
For more information and inspiration for how you can support wildlife year-round in your garden, explore Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s monthly planting guides or RSPB’s butterfly garden planting guide which has recommendations for each season.
5. Go on a BeeWalk
Bumblebee Conservation Trust need your help checking on how Scotland’s bumblebees are doing. You can help by going on a BeeWalk!
All you have to do is walk a route of 1-2km, see what bumblebees you see, and submit your sightings. You can find all the information on how to get involved here: Help bumblebees by going on a BeeWalk!
If you live in the area, join us for one of our monthly BeeWalks in Thurso.
We promise BeeWalks are great fun – and you don’t have to take our word for it, take Megan’s! Megan and her family joined Species on the Edge Officer Louise for a BeeWalk when they were on holiday last year. They had such a good time that for her eighth birthday this year, she asked to join us for a BeeWalk again! They had a fantastic time on her birthday BeeWalk; they saw garden bumblebees, common carder bees and the rare moss carder bee, plus moths, butterflies and damselflies…and best of all, a pod of dolphins swam past!
