The summer holidays have just begun and already the sound of ‘mummy I’m bored, there’s nothing to do’ can be heard. With eight long weeks ahead mums and dads can breathe a sigh of relief with some help from the National Trust.
The conservation charity is encouraging everyone to get out of the house and enjoy great play days out ticking off their list of ‘50 things to do’. This fun packed challenge is back – and there’s nothing to stop older kids and adults joining in too.
Rediscover childhood memories and make some new ones with the Trust’s check list for under 12s, and those who are young at heart. From climbing a tree to discovering life in a pond, skimming stones to flying a kite – which ones will you do this summer?
Amy aged 10 from Enniskillen and a member of the National Trust Outdoor Explorer group said: “I love going to Florence Court to play hide and seek and to look for bugs and beasties. My favourite thing was the rope swing and my dad pushed me really high.”
Antoni aged 8 from Belfast, also an Outdoor Explorer added: “The best day at National Trust is every day. My favourite place is the river bank near the bridge at Minnowburn where the gravel looks like a beach and you can skim stones.
Here are 10 of the 50 things to do.
For more inspiration go to www.50things.org.uk
– Climb a tree in Rowallane Garden
– Fly a kite at Downhill Demesne
– Go on a really long bike ride in Florence Court
– Create some wild art at Mount Stewart
– Hunt for fossils and bones on Portstewart Strand
– Make a grass trumpet at Springhill
– Hunt for bugs at The Argory.
– Skim a stone at Minnowburn
– Go bird watching at Strangford Lough
– Find your way with a map and compass at Castle Ward
Go enjoy lots of play days in the great outdoors – visit National Trust website www.nationaltrust.org.uk for more details of events and activities throughout the summer. And remember, every visit you make helps support the charity’s work looking after special places for ever, for everyone.