#CountryKids A walk along the river

It was another glorious day today so I decided to walk into town to pick up a parcel from the newsagents. Fortuitously I had accidentally chosen the wrong shop and it was the other end of the town from us. This meant that we could walk/scoot along the river and miss out on the town centre streets. There was also loads of time to stop and look for wildlife:

We are very lucky that the River Kent is very clean (apart from some idiots who chuck stuff in the water in town) so there is plenty to try and spot. There are various species of both fish and fowl that frequent the water and if you are lucky you can see otters.... I only have done once! This meant there were frequent stops:

#CountryKids Nature walk on the River Kent

As the heavy rains decided not to show up this lunch time I took a chance and walked (scooted) my children into town to have lunch with a visiting friend. We took the slightly longer but way more scenic route along the banks of the River Kent. My daughter on her scooter was most often a distant dot than with us:

My son hadn't been too keen on the walk but by the time we got to the river he had cheered up a bit. He told our friend what he might see in the water: goosander, swans, ducks and otters! I used the convenient nature boards to engage him and get him interested in his whereabouts:

These boards are at various locations along the river and explain the fauna and flora on that particular stretch. We had seen bubbles and ripples in the water so hoped that we could find out which fish had caused them:

After lunch we strolled back along the river and enjoyed seeing the swans. One was drifting asleep on the water whilst the other was having a good look around:

My son said the swan looked like a giraffe with its long neck. This sparked a discussion about how many vertebrae giraffes and humans have and we have to check to see a) if it is the same and b) how many it is!

To see my daughter scooting across the bridge I put a video on Instagram.

#CountryKids at Sizergh Castle

With family up for the long weekend who love taking photographs there was only one choice for day one Sizergh Castle. They have just started allowing photography inside the castle as well so it was a good time to make our annual whizz inside (we most often just stay in the garden and grounds.

First up on the child led tour was the sunken garden:

Then we wandered past the wonderful flower beds:

Then it was time for the children to do a barefoot walk from the beehives to the chicken run:

We had time to try making grass trumpets and playing Pooh sticks before heading back towards to the castle:

Before going into the castle the children headed to the barn to try out the medieval dressing up clothes:

Eventually it was time to head to the main entrance for our timed entry into the castle:

They have quizzes to get the children to slow down and actually look at what is in the rooms as you go round but we still seemed to whizz pretty quick past all these lovely things:

We picnicked near the front pond before looking to see what nature had so show us:

Little brother had dipped her!

All in all a perfect Country Kids day!

Feathery Friday

My window bird feeder is giving me an excuse to have another alliterative photo bonanza on a Friday! This week the birds have finally started using it but its been hard to photograph them. The instant I move close enough to zoom in they fly off... These were my first couple of attempts on iPhone and iPad:

Sparrow and Tit

Great Tit?

So today as I was preparing to tackle the washing up I cunningly took the proper camera into the kitchen. Whilst the sink slowly filled I lurked at the back of the kitchen with the zoom on! At first I just had a play:

Iris through the bird feeder

Then the birds appeared and I managed to get a few decent shots:

Checking out the menu options

Choice made

Ready for lift off

Missed that one!

Looking forward to seeing more though it will cost me a fortune in bird food!

#CountryKids Catching Mayflies #50Things

We were lucky to be in the park tonight when the mayflies belatedly made an appearance. Even luckier we had one of the children's 50 things bug kits in the car! So the children tried to humanely catch some mayflies:

Once safely caught in the catcher it was a chance to look at their unusual shape:

They found catching them easy enough to have 2 in the viewing pot:

 Then they let them go again as they only live for such a short while.

Tuesday Review: Living World Snail World #CountryKids

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Its a well known fact that whilst children love creepy crawlies most mums don't want them in their house. So my children were very excited to receive a snail world to review. Unfortunately the snails were all still hibernating but they did have fun looking for live ones. 

This Saturday my children came rushing back into the house as they had found some live snails crawling across the garden:

We had to hunt out the snail house and I had to google the instructions as I'd misplaced them. My daughter washed out the container and then they hunted around the garden for the moss and grass that were required:

Bob and Gerald were soon installed in their new home and they appeared happy enough in there:

The snail house gives a really good view of the snails from all sides:

Having checked out the snails' dietary requirements my daughter sliced up some cucumber and popped it into the house:

The children found it really funny that the snails pooped on their food and on the roof of the snail house:

As you can see we have also put in some egg shells as apparently the snails need the calcium for their shells! So far we have all been intrigued by our new house guests and the children have learnt fascinating facts such as snails being hermaphrodites. They are therefore hoping that Bob(alina) and Gerald(ina) have babies!

We have had one close call when my daughter left the lid off but as yet I am quite happy to have them in the house. They are in a spot out of the direct sunlight but hopefully just right for snails.

At an RRP of £9.99 this is a good set for any budding naturalists in your family and they also have other sets in the Living World Series.