Little Citizen Scientists Wanted for the Big Butterfly Count

The Big Butterfly Count is free, enjoyable, educational, and hugely worthwhile for children and families to take part in.Calling all little citizen scientists — we need your help — and parents too! During part of July and early August the Big Butterfly Count takes place across the UK and the more children and families that take part, the better. All it needs to take is 15 minutes and taking part will help butterflies, daytime-flying moths and the conservation of nature and biodiversity in general. What’s more, it’s a free, enjoyable, educational, and hugely worthwhile activity for children and families to take part in. In today’s post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know in order to take part in 2024’s Big Butterfly Count. Little citizen scientists: get ready!

The Big Butterfly Count 2024

Starts: Friday 12th July
Ends: Sunday 4th August

What is the Big Butterfly Count All About?

The Big Butterfly Count is the world’s largest survey of butterflies. It takes place in Britain each year during the period when adult butterflies and daytime-flying moths are at their most prolific and active. These wonderful creatures are sadly threatened, with UK populations of many having plummeted over the last few decades.

“Right now, butterflies and moths are sending an SOS” (Butterfly Conservation)

The giant ‘citizen’ survey therefore aims to keep tabs on populations of particular species each year so that any changes in their numbers can be identified and any adverse issues affecting them identified. Only then can appropriate conservation measures be implemented to help them recover.

In addition, because butterflies and daytime-flying moths suffer from the same threats as other pollinators and wildlife (climate change, use of indiscriminate pesticides, habitat loss, etc.), trends in their populations can be used as a barometer for the state of wildlife, biodiversity, and nature in general.

So, if you and your little one(s) would like to take part and become citizen scientists, read on and we’ll explain the easy process of taking part.

“One of the great things about the Big Butterfly Count is that anyone can play their part, whether young or old.”

What You’ll Need

Families can use either the free app or ID sheet to identify butterflies and daytime-flying moths they spot.You’ll need a tiny bit of preparation, but it’s quick, free, and easy…

Either:

or:

  • For families with smartphones or tablets, download and use the Big Butterfly Count app — it’s free and also includes instructions and all the identification charts, links, and useful information you or your child will need to complete the task.

Download the 'Big Butterfly Count' app for IOS Download the 'Big Butterfly Count' app for Android

The butterfly identification sheet for England for 2024's Big Butterfly Count

Choose a Location for your Butterfly Count

Before commencing your own butterfly count, you’ll need to identify a suitable location in which to do so. That could be your garden, local park, somewhere in the countryside, or simply somewhere like a hedgerow. Wherever it is, it will need to have flowers in bloom in order to attract butterflies and/or daytime-flying moths. And, of course, it needs to be safe, with any little ones having suitable adult supervision.

The Best Places to Spot Butterflies

You/your little one will want the best chance of spotting butterflies during the Big Butterfly Count. With that in mind, the following types of locations are likely to have the greatest potential for success:

  • Places where there are lots of flowers, blooms, or wildflowers;
  • A sunny location that’s also sheltered from the wind;
  • Flower meadows and anywhere with brambles;
  • Clearings in forests where wildflowers are growing;
  • Areas with long grass if they contain wildflowers;
  • Hedgerows that contain wildflowers;
  • Glades or forest clearings where a wide variety of trees and plants can be found at different developmental stages;
  • The middle of the day is often a great time to see butterflies.

How to Do Your Butterfly Count

Over the course of 15 minutes, count the butterflies and daytime-flying moths that are included on the ID chart or smartphone app.Once you’ve chosen a suitable location that has flowers blooming and is ideally sunny and sheltered, you are ready to count butterflies and submit them to the Big Butterfly Count survey.

Over the course of 15 minutes, count the butterflies (and daytime-flying moths) that are included on the ID chart or smartphone app (only about 21 of the possible 60+ species are targeted in the Big Butterfly Count*). You/your child can log your sightings either directly in the app or by marking them on your butterfly ID printout. Don’t worry if you don’t see any at all within the 15-minute window — that counts in the survey too.

* If you/your child would like to identify and log butterfly and moth species not included in the Big Butterfly Count, you can do so using an alternative smartphone app, iRecord Butterflies, which you can use any time of year.

Tips!

You can either stay in one spot or walk while counting during your 15-minute slot.

  • If staying in one spot, you need to count how many of each targeted species you see at the same time. That’s so as to avoid counting the same butterfly more than once.
  • If walking during your 15 minutes, it’s far less likely that you’ll encounter the same butterfly more than once. Therefore, you can simply count up how many of each species you see during the 15-minute walk.

You can do as many 15-minute surveys as you like within the survey dates. Each can be submitted as a separate survey, along with the date and location for each.

See the Results!

Once you and your child have counted and submitted your results, you are officially Citizen Scientists! Well done! We hope it was fun and interesting as well as being a good thing to do to help the adorable butterflies, moths, and conservation of the natural world itself.

If you’re wondering what the results of the thousands of citizen scientist surveys across the UK are, you can check these out on this interactive map or the equivalent map available through the Big Butterfly Count smartphone app. You will have to wait until the results are available, i.e. for 2024 this will be from the 5th of August. Once available, you’ll be able to see counts and details of what was spotted in all areas of the UK. Try zooming in on your own area, which will include your own survey(s) within the data presented.

Other Ways Children Can Help Butterflies

Children and families can help butterflies in other simple ways too.In addition to taking part in the Big Butterfly Count, children and families can help butterflies in other simple ways too. What’s more, they’re also fun, educational, and make the world a better place. Additional ways to help butterflies – and other pollinators – include:

  • Sowing wildflowers in gardens and outdoor spaces;
  • Making gardens and outdoor spaces more wildlife-friendly;
  • Putting out pieces of overripe fruit (apples, oranges, bananas) and shallow dishes of water for them to sip at;
  • Refraining from using harmful chemicals in gardens (e.g. pesticides, weedkillers, slug and snail killer, etc.);
  • Keeping gardens ‘natural’ — e.g. avoiding replacing lawns with fake grass, mowing too often, or paving over areas that can be kept natural.

Nature & Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

Little Acorns Nursery & Preschool is in Padiham, Lancashire, near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End. Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham is perfectly located for children’s involvement in the Big Butterfly Count and for being close to nature. That’s important, because nature is incredibly beneficial to children — and adults, of course. Nearby are parks, hills, waterways and the gorgeous Lancashire countryside. And, at our Padiham nursery itself, we have a lovely garden with a wild zone for children to explore. These areas allow children to get close to nature in a safe, supervised, environment. They also support the nursery’s tailored curriculum including any specific areas of interest for children under our care.

Consider a nursery place for your child at Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham today. Here, they will get the very best start in a nurturing, homely environment where we will bring out the very best in them. Choose an option to get started:

Our location in Padiham, Lancashire, means that our nursery is also near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

British Land Mammals – Free Poster for Children

British Land Mammals – Free Poster for Children

Last month, we published 20 Benefits of Nature to Children, which explained the profoundly positive impact that nature has on children. Indeed, it can transform their lives cognitively, emotionally, spiritually, creatively, and even academically. With that in mind, we continue our series of free nature-based posters that children and families can download and print out. Today’s poster is all about British* Land Mammals. Children can display it in their rooms or print it out as a reference sheet to use when out in nature. How many of the mammals can your child name — or spot over the coming months?

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein

The free poster features high-resolution reference images of 20 land mammals that can be spotted in Britain, including anything from badgers to weasels. There are several types of deer, plus mice, foxes, hares, hedgehogs, rabbits, squirrels and more for children to name and try to spot when out and about. Some, like red squirrels, for example, are less commonly seen than others — but that’s all part of this challenge! Here’s a preview:

Preview of the free poster featuring 20 land mammals that can be spotted in Britain. Click to download.

Click the poster image or this link to first download the poster in Acrobat PDF format, then either view it on a screen or print it out using your printer’s best printing settings and paper for best results.

Other Free Nature-Based Posters Available for Kids

The British Land Mammals poster is part of a growing set of nature-based posters that children and families can freely download and collect from this nursery website. They are attractive and educational — and little ones generally love animals. Other wildlife posters in the same series include minibeasts, birds, and butterflies, plus an autumn nature hunt poster that’s along similar lines.

“Because little nature lovers grow into big nature lovers.” – Unknown

More Reasons to Get Children Interested in Nature

As well as the benefits of nature already mentioned, getting children interested in the Great Outdoors will also benefit their fitness, knowledge, empathy, and awareness of ecological matters. Learning that we need to nurture nature and look after the future of the planet are all things that can come from an interest in nature in childhood. So, downloading today’s poster may well become a step along the path to a healthier lifestyle and greener choices for a child. As the saying goes, “from little seeds grow mighty trees” and that’s a perfect metaphor to illustrate where the simple act of printing out nature-based posters could lead for any child.

“Children are born with a sense of wonder and an affinity for nature. Properly cultivated, these values can mature into ecological literacy, and eventually into sustainable patterns of living.” – Zenobia Barlow

Nature Around Little Acorns Nursery & Padiham, Lancashire

Little Acorns Nursery & Preschool is in Padiham, Lancashire, near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End. Children and families from Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham are lucky to be surrounded by parks, hills, waterways and Lancashire countryside. Here, a rich variety of wildlife may be seen, including perhaps some of the mammals featured today. Patience, perseverance, self-control, active listening, and a degree of quietness will be needed if some of the more shy creatures are to be spotted. Those are all good skills for children to practise, though.

“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder … he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.” – Rachel Carson

At our Padiham nursery, we also ensure that children get to spend time in our lovely garden and its wild zone. These are regularly adapted to complement specific learning topics being covered in the nursery’s curriculum, as well as to suit children’s individual nature-based interests.

If you are considering sending your baby or child under five to our excellent childcare nursery and preschool, please select an option below:

It may help to know that our nursery/preschool is also close to families in Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

  • * For the purpose of this poster, British refers to those mammals that can be seen and found in Britain. While not all of those featured were originally indigenous to the British Isles, they’re here now and are therefore an integral part of today’s Britain.
20 Benefits of Nature to Children - Including Under-5s

20 Benefits of Nature to Children - Including Under-5s

Nature is incredibly beneficial to children.One of the many reasons we love nature and nature-based children’s activities here at Little Acorns Nursery is that nature is incredibly beneficial to children. What’s more, the benefits start right from their earliest years and are profoundly powerful to little ones. There have been many studies about this over the years and they all seem to conclude that nature is incredibly good for us all, especially so during the early years. Today’s post looks at 20 of the key benefits that spending time in and around nature holds for children and, with Spring now upon us, it’s the perfect time to begin getting little ones outside more, weather permitting.

1. Nature Stimulates Imaginations & Creativity

The natural world is an amazing and multi-faceted place, brim-full of wonder and fascinating flora, fauna, landscapes and terrains. As such, it’s a place where children will naturally play, build, create, invent and imagine. Young imaginations can simply explode with creative ideas; such is the range of possibilities that are available to children who spend time out in nature.

2. Nature is Good for the Body

Spending time in nature will help children hone fine and gross motor skills, and improve coordination, balance, and fitness.Spending time in and around nature means children are more likely to be active, for example, walking, running, skipping, climbing, playing, making, or simply building a den. Such activities will not only help them hone fine and gross motor skills, but will also improve coordination, balance, and fitness. Those skills will help them day-to-day while expending energy in this way will help them maintain a healthy weight and body-mass index.

3. Nature is Good for the Mind & Spirit

When the world is getting on top of you, time spent in or around nature is sure to be a great antidote, even for children. Spending time in nature is known to reduce stress, relieve depression, lower anxiety levels and naturally give people, including children, a greater feeling of well-being.

4. Nature Gives Children Freedom

Nature gives children a huge sense of freedom.One of the more obvious benefits of nature is that it gives children a huge sense of freedom that they might not otherwise experience. Being in The Great Outdoors allows children, under appropriate supervision, to run, explore, and play in ways that are far more free than in any other situation. This will also give them a huge sense of natural joy.

5. Nature Facilitates Discovery

Time spent close to nature aids natural discovery too and that’s never more important than in children’s formative years. Out in the natural world, there are a myriad of amazing things to discover, whether they’re flowers, trees, blossoms, insects, minibeasts, animals, birds, or seasons. Even rocks can be fascinating! Discovering new things first-hand is a perfect way for children to learn more about the natural world around them — and their place within it.

6. Nature Promotes Profound Thinking

All this discovery and freedom will spark natural questions in the minds of children. What does this do?” … “Why does it look and behave like it does?” … “How did it get here?” Indeed, “How did I get here?”. Nature encourages children to think about the world in new, profound ways. Such questions are a healthy part of every childhood; they help children learn, and may even lead to careers in such things as science, medicine, or research.

7. Nature is a Feast for the Senses

Through the senses, children will learn more about the world and generate millions of new connections in their developing brains.The stimulation of the senses is never more important than during children’s early years and spending time in nature is the perfect vehicle through which to do so. With so many colours, sounds, smells, textures and even (under adult supervision) tastes available in the natural world, it is indeed a feast for children’s senses. Through the senses, children will learn more about the world and generate millions of new connections in their developing brains. It’s almost magical!

8. Nature Fosters a Sense of Responsibility

When a child is tasked with feeding animals or tending to growing seeds and plants, they will naturally gain a sense of responsibility. After all, feeding and watering flora and fauna is literally a matter of life and death when you think about it. So, allowing children to become more responsible and to look after someone or something else is one of life’s most valuable and important lessons.

9. Nature Promotes Empathy

Nature can also promote feelings of empathy in children. That’s another key trait for children to nurture, and nature will help them achieve it. Whether they’re looking after a plant, feeding a bird or animal, or simply observing them, such activities will help many to put themselves in another living thing’s shoes. Fostering greater empathy is a great skill to develop and will stand children in good stead into adulthood.

10. Nature Fosters Environmental Consciousness

Being around nature can help children lean towards environmental issues, learn about the problems, and become part of the solution.Being around nature regularly can also help children lean naturally towards environmental issues, learn about the problems and become part of the solution. An appreciation of nature is indeed the first step towards becoming environmentally conscious and proactive. That’s a great thing for the planet, particularly as today’s children will become tomorrow’s custodians of the Earth.

11. Nature Gives a Sense of Perspective

Nature is also a great leveller. When issues are troubling children at home or day-to-day, spending a little time in nature, surrounded by beautiful trees, flowers, wildlife and landscapes, will help to put things into perspective. Sometimes seeing the bigger picture can help children see the little things for what they really are. That’s a healthy thing too.

12. Nature Helps Children Academically

Studies over recent decades have shown that, if children spend time in and around nature, they perform better academically. Findings include improved reading, writing, mathematics and even better test results.

13. Nature Improves Concentration in the Classroom

Part of the above may be to do with improved concentration following time spent in and around nature. For example, children coming in from a break in the park or the setting’s garden are shown to have greater focus, i.e. improved concentration once they return. It’s almost as if nature recharged them! Even a simple view of nature from the classroom window has been shown to help children’s performance in the classroom — which is incredible when you think about it.

14. Nature Supports the EYFS Goals

A key part of the education of children under five is the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This is an important framework that prescribes the format, content and approach that will benefit children significantly during their early years learning and development. A set of EYFS ‘goals’ is part of that and spending time around nature helps children achieve many of those goals, particularly with respect to understanding the world, physical development, communication and language, and personal, social and emotional development. We’ll follow up with more information about the EYFS in a separate guide in due course.

15. Time Spent in Nature Improves Sleep Quality

Studies also show that spending time out in nature helps children to sleep more deeply. Sleep, particularly deep sleep, is immensely good for children and adults alike, so that’s hugely important and will help young minds and bodies to recharge and refresh.

16. Nature Promotes a Healthier Lifestyle

Spending all this time outdoors, and it being so interesting and a lot of fun, means it’s more likely that children will have an interest in nature and outdoor life when they’re older. That’s healthy for them in all the ways described in this article, and can therefore only enrich their lives and encourage healthier lifestyles into adulthood.

17. Nature Enhances Social Skills

Spending time in nature can boost confidence, language, communication and social skills.Children generally team up with friends when they’re playing and exploring outdoors. Spending time playing together in natural environments fosters many different kinds of interaction. This can boost confidence, language, communication and social skills. Stronger bonds and a deeper understanding of peers are likely to form from this.

18. Nature Helps Children Build Additional Skills

Playing, learning, creating and discovering with friends in natural environments will present both opportunities and challenges. These are great for the development of skills like teamwork, cooperation, leadership, problem-solving, critical thinking, the assessment of risk and more. Such skills will be useful throughout children’s lives.

19. Time Spent in Nature Opens Up Possibilities

When children spend time around nature, all kinds of possibilities open up to them. These include the chance for discovery, learning, adventure, invention, hobbies and even careers that are in some way linked to or influenced by childhood exposure to nature. Conservationists, zookeepers, wildlife photographers, travel writers, explorers and even some TV presenters ended up doing their jobs because they connected to nature from an early age.

20. Spending Time Around Nature is Great Fun!

We should not forget one hugely important aspect of nature — spending time around it in childhood is huge fun! The natural world opens up endless opportunities, adventures, new places, discoveries and new ways for children to be entertained. It’s no wonder that children love being outdoors so much — the joy is clear to see on their faces whenever they spend time in The Great Outdoors.

With all that in mind, the overall message is to give children safe access to nature as often as possible — it’s incredibly good for them and nature teaches them so much.

Nature at Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

Little Acorns Nursery & Preschool is in Padiham, Lancashire, near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End. At Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham, we know just how important nature is to children. That’s why the nursery has its beautiful garden, a wild zone, a mud kitchen and a planting area where children can get hands-on with nature. We often adapt such areas to suit particular learning activities that children are focusing on at specific times of the year.

To enquire about a place for your child at Little Acorns Nursery, please get in touch using one of the following options:

Our high-quality nursery/preschool in Padiham is also conveniently located for those nearby who require a childcare nursery near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

 

World's Biggest Garden Wildlife Survey – & Children Can Play Their Part

The World's Biggest Garden Wildlife Survey – & Children Can Play Their Part

The Big Garden Birdwatch is organised by the RSPB each year.Children, adults, and whole families are gearing up to take part in the world’s biggest garden wildlife survey in early 2024. Organised by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), the Big Garden Birdwatch requires just one hour of your time during late January 2024. It’s free, hugely worthwhile, and will benefit nature, conservation, and children themselves. So, why not set a date for your diary and take part? Today’s post explains how to enrol, what to do, and how it will benefit all parties involved.

Why The Big Garden Birdwatch is So Important

Song thrushes have declined by 80% since the survey began.The Big Garden Birdwatch is designed to keep tabs on wild bird populations in the UK. It’s a survey that’s been undertaken across the UK every year since 1979 and allows the RSPB and conservationists to monitor whether any bird species are under threat. Sadly, survey findings in recent years have found this to be the case, with overall bird populations having declined by a staggering 38 million in the last 60 years. Song thrushes alone, for example, have declined by 80% and even the UK’s most populous bird species, House Sparrows, have declined by 57% since the survey began.

By continuing with the survey each year, insights will be gained as to whether populations are growing or shrinking over time. Only by watching such trends can conservationists decide what needs to be done to help reverse any decline and help birds thrive once again. Declines in bird populations may even be an indicator of wider problems within nature, for example, because of chemical use in crop farming or even  inappropriate Government environmental policy. So, this is important and every one of us can easily play our part.

More Reasons for Families & Children to Take Part

This activity is a great way to get children outdoors, close to nature, and to introduce them to the concept of nature conservation.The Big Garden Birdwatch is also a great way to get children outdoors, close to nature, and to introduce them to the concept of nature conservation. By taking part, children can contribute to bird conservation as well as directly benefit in a number of ways themselves. For example, they can learn to identify different types of birds, educate themselves about these wild creatures and the natural environment, enjoy the fresh air while escaping from electronic screens, and enjoy all the many benefits that nature holds for children. Nature and the Great Outdoors are hugely beneficial to children, whether physically, spiritually, cognitively, educationally, or simply in terms of improving overall well-being. Nature benefits children in an incredible number of ways — follow the bold link for more details.

How to Enrol in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2024

Once enrolled, you'll then be sent a free guide with visual reference of the birds to look out for during your survey.Enrolling your child or family into 2024’s Big Garden Birdwatch is easy and free. Simply register here and you’ll then be sent a free guide including visual reference of the birds you may see during your survey. Whether you receive a digital guide or a printed one will depend on your preferences selected when signing up. The guide will tell you/your child exactly what to do, but we also give you a brief flavour below.

How to Take Part in the Big Garden Birdwatch Survey

In brief, here’s what you, your child, or your family will need to do sometime during the period starting on Friday the 26th of January 2024 and ending on Sunday the 28th:

  1. Keep a tally of the maximum number of birds of each species that have actually landed at any one time on your survey patch.Decide on a natural spot where you’ll undertake your hour’s birdwatch. Your garden, local park or even a balcony will do fine.
  2. Taking care to stay unseen and unheard by visiting birds, keep a tally of the maximum number of birds of each species that have actually landed at any one time on your survey patch during the hour. Don’t count any that haven’t landed.
  3. Between the 26th of January and no later than the 18th of February 2024, you can report your findings online at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
    Alternatively, if you are using the physical survey form from the RSPB’s printed guide, post it to FREEPOST RSPB BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH by the 13th of February 2024.

By contributing to this crucial conservation project, children will be doing their bit for our little feathered friends – and the planet. What’s more, it’s great fun!

Learn more about how to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch survey here.

If your children enjoy the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, encourage them to download our free poster that identifies 40 different species.Enjoying Birdwatching?

If you find that your children enjoy the activity, please encourage them to download our own Bird Identifier poster, which features 40 British birds that they can look out for during the year. It’s free and more information about our free bird poster is available here.

Nature & Children Go Hand-in-Hand at Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

Little Acorns Nursery & Preschool is in Padiham, Lancashire, near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End. We love nature at Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham! Here, children can play outdoors in our wonderful garden, which features its own wild area, planting area and even a mud kitchen. We know how good nature and the outdoors are for children, particularly in their early years, so actively encourage them to take part and benefit from everything they offer.

To enrol your baby, toddler or preschooler at Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham, please get in touch using an option below. We look forward to receiving your call, nursery application, message or tour request whenever you’re ready.

We are a high-quality nursery and preschool in Padiham, Lancashire, BB12. As such, we may also suit families who require outstanding childcare services near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End. We support various free childcare schemes too, making childcare services more affordable for eligible families.

Our Sponsored Walk – for a Very Worthwhile Cause

Our Sponsored Walk – for a Very Worthwhile Cause

Fun and games for children at Gawthorpe Park.During the autumn half-term break, adults and children from Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham embarked on a sponsored walk around Gawthorpe Park. The walk took place during a cold and wet Tuesday, on 24th October, with children from our Little Seedlings, Little Acorns and Great Oaks rooms donning Wellington boots, anoraks and wet weather gear for the task. Once assembled, little ones and adults braved the inclement weather and went on to complete the walk admirably, even making the local Burnley Express paper.

During the walk, children made the activity more exciting by spotting wildlife, including squirrels, birds, dogs, and even Gruffaloes and bears! Accompanying adults also encouraged little ones to look out for the changing autumn leaves, which are so beautiful at this time of the year. The sponsored walk followed Baby Loss Awareness Week, which took place earlier in October.When the rain persisted, children were also encouraged to use magic wands to wish it away!

The sponsored walk also followed Baby Loss Awareness Week, which took place from the 9th to 15th, earlier in October. There, children were encouraged to wear something pink or blue during our special Pink & Blue Day, which was organised to allow children who could not make the sponsored walk to take part.

Raising Money for Maggie’s Stillbirth Legacy

Maggie's Stillbirth Legacy helps to support families who suffer the loss of a little one.The sponsored walk was dedicated to a cause that’s extremely close to our hearts — the memory of Yusuf, the baby son of one of our families — as well as aiming to raise awareness of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). £148 was raised through our sponsored walk and a further £52 through a cake sale by our sister nursery, Little Acorns in Hindley Green. All the money raised goes to the chosen charity of Yusuf’s family, Maggie’s Stillbirth Legacy, which helps to support other families who suffer the loss of a little one. The organisation has been running since 2015 and provides resources and training in hospital and care environments to better support such families. Resources provided by them include memory boxes, cuddle blankets, cold cots and angel gowns and the organisation also makes donations to several charities and related causes. It won a Pride of Britain Award in 2021.

Learn more about supporting Maggie’s Stillbirth Legacy here.

The wonderful team of adults and children who took part in the sponsored walk, outside our Padiham nursery.

Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

Little Acorns Nursery & Preschool is in Padiham, Lancashire, near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End. Little Acorns is a high-quality nursery in Padiham, Lancashire, which offers a wonderful weekday childcare service to local families. We may also suit families living or working nearby in places like Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

So, if you live nearby and have a baby, toddler or preschooler under five, get in touch to discuss the fabulous childcare service and early years education available at Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham. We’ll be happy to show you and your little one around, answer any questions, and explain more. Please get in touch today for more details or to begin your child’s application for a nursery or preschool place:

Let's Go on an Autumn Nature Hunt – a Fun Outdoor Activity for Children!

Our autumn nature hunt is a fun, educational activity for children that also comes with a free reference sheet.As leaves start to blanket the ground and the earthy scents of autumn begin to infuse the air, it’s the perfect time to engage children in a captivating adventure that celebrates the season. In today’s post, we’ll introduce you to an Autumn Nature Hunt, an exciting outdoor activity for children that’s not only entertaining but also educational.

Explore the Beauty of Autumn with a Nature Scavenger Hunt

The autumn season offers a unique opportunity to immerse children in the wonders of nature. The changing colours of leaves, the falling acorns, and the crisp air make it an ideal time for outdoor exploration. This nature-based treasure hunt is designed to get children of all ages outdoors, closer to nature, where they can enjoy the many benefits that outdoor play and exposure to the natural world provide.

Download Your Free Reference Sheet

To make this autumn-themed nature hunt even more enjoyable, we’ve created a reference sheet that children can use to check off the items they find. This sheet should keep them engaged and help them learn about the beauty of the season. N.B. supervising adults will need to decide whether children should simply spot the items or collect them. Factors including hygiene, safety considerations and the child’s age and abilities should inform their decision.

Download this free reference sheet for the autumn-themed nature hunt. (Click to save/download).

What You’ll Need

Before the commencement of this adventure, ensure your child has the following:

  1. Our free reference sheet. We’ve prepared a free reference sheet that features images of various natural items children can look for during their outdoor excursion. The A4 sheet includes leaves of specific colours, catkins, wild hazelnuts, pine cones, acorns, oak leaves, pine needles, ‘winged’ seeds, horse chestnuts, sweet chestnuts, pumpkins, cereal crops, sunflowers that are now turning to seed, and even some fruit that may be found at this time of year. It’s available below, for free, in Acrobat PDF format and you can download and print it for your convenience.
  2. Adult supervision in place. Ensure that adult supervision is available, especially for the youngest children. Safety is a priority, so be certain to keep the kids out of harm’s way while they explore.
  3. Safety precautions. Teach the children about safety precautions. For example, emphasise the importance of not running off out of sight, avoiding poisonous items like fungi, not touching berries, keeping all items away from mouths, and being cautious around things like chestnut cases, which have sharp points.
  4. Good hygiene. Encourage the little explorers to exercise good hygiene practices and wash their hands thoroughly after the adventure.

The Autumn Nature Hunt is a fantastic way to connect children with the wonders of nature, encourage outdoor play, and create lasting memories. So, download the reference sheet, gather your young explorers, and set out on a journey through the enchanting autumn landscape. Remember to emphasise safety, ensure adult supervision, and cherish the opportunity to immerse your kids in the beauty of the season. Enjoy your autumn adventure!

Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham, Lancashire

Little Acorns Nursery & Preschool is in Padiham, Lancashire, near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

We understand the incredible importance of nature and outdoor play to children; they bring enormous benefits to children of all ages. So many, in fact, that we’ll publish separate guides on those benefits in the near future. So, watch this space.

Little Acorns is a high-quality childcare nursery in Padiham, Lancashire, offering the very best childcare and early education to babies, toddlers and preschoolers. As well as giving little ones the very best start in life and ensuring they are as ‘school-ready’ as possible by the time they leave us, we help them to become the very best version of themselves. Part of this is achieved through a learning and development programme that’s tailored to them as individuals. In this way, they achieve personal bests across all areas of their development.

If you would like to explore the possibility of sending your baby, toddler or preschooler to Little Acorns Nursery, please get in touch using one of the following options:

Little Acorns is a nursery and preschool located in Padiham, Lancashire (BB12), also convenient for families seeking high-quality childcare near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham or Wood End.

Minibeast Spotting Activity for Kids (with Free Poster!)

Today’s Minibeast Spotting activity completes a trio of nature-based posts that each include a free poster. Featuring 30 different minibeasts for children to find and identify, it’s designed to encourage children to get outdoors, learn about the different creatures nearby, explore, and benefit from everything that nature has to offer. With previous free posters covering bird spotting and butterfly spotting activities, these nature-themed activities will give children a really good insight into some of the interesting and exciting creatures they can see in their gardens and neighbourhoods if they simply take some time to look.

Children Love Minibeasts!

Children will love spotting minibeasts, discovering different creatures and learning to name each of them. They will soon learn that creatures like ladybirds, hoverflies, caterpillars, butterflies and bees are simply adorable. Children are also likely to be fascinated by creatures like ants, which are incredibly clever and well-organised, and minibeasts like beetles, millipedes and worms. Such creatures are so different to humans and gently observing them can bring real insights to children about our natural world from the viewpoint of different creatures. Indeed, nature is a huge educator and holds immense benefits to children. We’ll write a separate, more detailed, post about those benefits in the future. Suffice it to say, though, that nature-based activities will help children emotionally, spiritually and physically as well as help them learn new facts, information and skills. Without further delay, let’s now take a look at the free poster preview below and learn how to download it for your child.

Minibeast Spotting Poster (Preview):

Preview showing the free minibeasts poster (click to download the high resolution version in Acrobat PDF format)

How to Download the Free Minibeasts Poster

The poster is supplied as a 3MB downloadable file, in PDF format. That means you’ll need Acrobat Reader on your device to view and open it. Most devices will already have that installed but, if not, don’t worry — Acrobat Reader is also available for free, here. To download the poster itself, simply click the preview image above, or download the free poster via this link. Whether left-clicking or right-clicking is best will depend upon your device’s settings so, if in doubt, try either to see which one prompts you to save the file. Once saved, it can be opened, viewed, and printed out from Acrobat Reader. Print at A3 in high quality on your best printer paper for best results, or ‘scale to fit’ to fit your paper if it’s A4. You/your child can also view the poster on screen, for example on a tablet, smartphone or desktop screen, and zoom in for all the lovely detail.

The UK is home to approximately 25,000 different kinds of minibeast! Many are sadly in steep decline1, so it’s important to raise awareness and encourage interest, including in the very young.

1. According to the State of Nature report for 2023, “Invertebrates such as insects, spiders and millipedes have been found, on average, in 13% fewer places now than in 1970.”

Tips for Spotting Minibeasts

Minibeasts can be lurking almost anywhere outdoors, so children can search and find them virtually wherever they live. Below are a few of the most popular places minibeasts are likely to be found:

  • On and around the leaves of plants (after all, those are home to many critters);
  • On and in flowers, because they’re attracted to the nectar, which is a food source for many;
  • Under rocks, stones, flower pots and suchlike, which may be their home (N.B. be gentle when lifting and replacing such things, so the creatures are not hurt);
  • On and in growing fruit and vegetables, which may be a food source for them;
  • Around the base of plants, grass and lawns, where they may be sheltering from predators;
  • On or under soil, which may be their home;
  • On and in rotting logs and fallen branches;
  • And finally — the best place of all for some minibeasts — in compost heaps! They love the rotting organic matter but, again, take care not to hurt them by being gentle and disturbing their habitat as little as possible.

Enjoy, Be Safe & Be Gentle!

Spending time out in nature and searching for its creatures is great fun, but great care needs to be taken:

  • For the sake of child safety and well-being, children should always be accompanied by a supervising adult — particularly for the very young.
  • Adults should also teach children how to be vigilant about the potential dangers and hazards associated with the outdoors.
  • Adults should teach children about gentleness and empathy around other creatures, however small. Minibeasts are fragile and powerless against the comparative might of humans, but each is an individual in their own right. It’s therefore kind to teach children about compassion for other beings and the need to treat them with huge care and empathy.

Why This Activity is More Important Than You Might Think

Lastly, though, have fun and take time to ensure children learn about nature and all its flora and fauna. Nature teaches children so much about the world and indeed, spending time in the natural world also teaches children about themselves and their place in the world. It may even lead to a lifelong passion for nature and an interest in issues like ecology, global warming, restoring habitat loss and protecting creatures in danger of extinction. Don’t forget that our children will one day become the new stewards of our planet. And, when you bear in mind how important pollinators are for food production and how many of them are in steep decline, a deep interest in the natural world has never been more important.

“When the first #StateofNature report was released in 2013, 1 in 10 of our species were threatened with extinction. Today, it is 1 in 6 species. Rapid nature loss is happening NOW, all around us.” (Wildlife Trust)

Children Love Nature at Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham!

Little Acorns Nursery & Pre-School is in Padiham, Lancashire, near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

Our childcare professionals know just how important nature and outdoor play is to children, so we ensure they have plenty of opportunities to experience both at Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham. It’s also why we will ensure we publish articles and guides relating to outdoor play and nature here on the Little Acorns blog. Indeed, it’s a treasure trove of useful information, on a wide variety of topics, for parents of babies, toddlers and under-fives!

If you require the highest quality weekday childcare and an outstanding early years education for your little one, why not consider Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham, Lancashire? The setting offers a warm, inviting and nurturing home-from-home for babies, toddlers and preschoolers and really brings out the best in every child. What’s more, we support all the Government’s childcare funding schemes for eligible families. These include, for example, free childcare hours for 2-year-olds and up to 30 free hours per week for 3 and 4-year-olds.

To register your child for a nursery/preschool place, book a guided tour, or find out more, please get in touch using one of the following options:

As well as being located in Padiham, Lancashire (BB12), Little Acorns Nursery may also suit those living or working nearby in Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

 

Bird Spotting Activity for Kids (with Free Poster!)

Bird Spotting Activity for Kids (with Free Poster!)

This nature-based bird spotting activity for kids comes with a free reference poster for families to download.Today’s bird spotting activity for kids continues our series of nature-themed posts that each come with a free reference poster for families to download. Featuring 40 British birds, the activity and the poster represent a great opportunity to get children of all ages outdoors, closer to nature. As many of us know, nature is hugely beneficial to the health and well-being of little ones as well as fostering a greater respect and understanding of the natural world around us. Such an appreciation is also likely to encourage children to do their bit to help protect the environment as they grow older. Nature-based activities are therefore a win-win for children and the environment.

Did you know? UK bird populations have declined by a staggering 38 million birds during the last 5 decades. Even some of our once-common birds are in steep decline.

Children will naturally be fascinated by our feathered friends. When encouraged, even infants and toddlers will soon start to recognise and be able to name the different varieties of wild birds that they see. Robins, blackbirds, blue tits and wrens are always likely to be firm favourites and, with the help of the reference poster, children may soon also be able to identify additional species. We suggest printing the poster out at full size (A3), if possible, using high-quality settings and paper. Reducing to A4 is also possible on desktop printers that only print to that size. Either way, the posters can be displayed permanently on nursery or bedroom walls, or used as handheld reference when children are out and about. Tick boxes have been included alongside each bird, to allow children to mark which birds they have seen. The posters can also, of course, be viewed in glorious high resolution and fine detail on screen, for example on handheld tablets.

The poster is free and no sign-up of any kind is required. Here’s how it looks:

Bird Poster Preview

Preview of the A3 British Birds poster for families to download and print out (click to download or see instructions below).

Download Instructions

Click the preview image, or this link, to download or view the poster, which is in PDF format (grab Acrobat Reader free here if you don’t already have it on your device). Please note that your individual browser settings will govern whether a left-click or a right-click either opens or saves the file. Try either to see which best suits your particular set-up.

Bird-Spotting Recommendations

Once children have their print-outs at the ready and are primed to go bird spotting*, there are a number of things that can help with their success:

  • Birds will naturally gravitate towards sources of food. So, think about where they might find seeds and insects. For example, try looking around flower meadows, woodlands, lush hedgerows and parks or countryside featuring a variety of different natural environments.
  • Failing that, put out some food for them — this is possible even if you don’t have a garden, as bird feeders can be attached to windows or suspended from walls and eaves. Many birds will like commercially available bird seed. Our best successes have been with ‘sunflower hearts’ and ‘peanut cake.’ Seed balls are also popular. Supermarkets, garden outlets and online stores usually sell such things fairly inexpensively. Side note: grated Cheddar cheese is also very popular. However, don’t feed birds too much of that and ensure never to give birds cheese that has mould, as it will be harmful to them.
  • Timing is important too, because different birds are around at different times of the year. So, undertaking the activity periodically throughout the year may help to tick off some of those boxes on your poster!
  • Teach children to be patient, observant and logical. Patience, perseverance, and critical thinking are all important skills for children to master, and this type of activity can help them to improve such skills.
  • Teach children to keep noise levels very low. For thousands of years, humans have been seen by most wild animals as predators, so children need to learn to stay quiet and even tread quietly through woods etc. when on the lookout for any kind of wildlife. This can, however, make the activity even more exciting!
  • Teach children stealth and the use of observation and auditory skills. Doing so will not only help them to see/hear more birds, but will also encourage them to hone motor, balance, coordination and sensory skills.
  • Binoculars and monoculars may be useful tools for children to use to see birds further away or in close-up view. However, ensure they understand that they must never point them in the direction of the sun or towards other bright objects. Hence, we suggest they are only used by children under close supervision.

Have Fun Bird Spotting!

We hope you and your little one(s) have fun with this activity and find the free poster useful. We’ll gradually publish more nature-themed posters as time goes by, so watch this space for more free stuff! Nature-based and outdoor activities are great for children, teaching them so much about the world around them and their place within it. Such activities will help them develop new skills and gain new knowledge, all pretty much free of charge too! This type of activity may also instil in them a love of the outdoors, exploration and the natural world along with the flora and fauna in it. What’s more, children who spend significant time around nature often grow up to have a lifelong love of the Great Outdoors, a greater empathy towards other creatures and high levels of environmental consciousness. With all the problems the human race has made for the planet, that can only be a good thing.

Your High-Quality Nursery & Preschool in Padiham

Little Acorns Nursery & Pre-School is in Padiham, Lancashire, near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

Children love our nature-based activities at Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham too, as we know how beneficial nature and outdoor play is to little ones. It’s one of the reasons we’ll be publishing more nature activity ideas for children to take part in over the coming months. So, watch this space and come back to visit our blog area regularly to get more ideas for kids’ activities along with lots of useful facts, information and news relating to early years education, learning, development and childcare.

Do you need a high-quality weekday childcare service for your baby, toddler or preschooler in the Padiham/Lancashire area? If so, do consider Little Acorns in Padiham as we’re simply one of the best nurseries and preschools around and give children a wonderful start in life. We also support Government schemes like free childcare hours for 2-year-olds and up to 30 free hours per week for 3 and 4-year-olds — plus many more.

Get in touch to register your child for a nursery or preschool place, request a tour of the setting with your child, or simply ask any questions. We’re here to help! Please choose an option below:

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

Little Acorns Nursery is located in Padiham, Lancashire (BB12) but is also close to Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End. So, we may suit families who require high-quality weekday childcare in any of those towns and villages.

* It goes without saying that children, particularly the very young, should always be supervised appropriately by a responsible adult.

Butterfly Spotting Activity for Kids (with Free Poster!)

With more adult butterflies around than at any other time in the year, late July and early August is a perfect time for children to get outdoors to see them.At the time of writing, it’s peak butterfly-spotting time — more adult butterflies can be seen in late July and early August than at any other time in the year. That makes it the perfect time for children to get out in nature to spot these charming creatures. Doing so is fun, educational and also beneficial in so many ways – we’ll explain more about that later.

Fun Fact: About 60 different types of butterflies can be found in the UK.

Butterflies come in many different forms and sizes, often with incredibly beautiful patterns and colours on their wings. They are also rather endearing as they flit around on seemingly haphazard flight paths. As such, infants, toddlers and young children will naturally be drawn to them when they see them flying around flowers, gardens and hedgerows. With that in mind, we have designed a free butterfly identification poster for families to download. It features 36 different types of butterflies that are commonly seen around large parts of the UK. The poster can be printed out for children to display on bedroom or nursery walls, or for use as a hand-held reference when out and about on butterfly-spotting nature trips. Take a look at the preview below — full instructions for printing it out or viewing it on screen are explained below the preview. The poster is free to download and you do not need to sign up for anything, nor register in any way.

Butterfly Poster Preview

The preview image below shows the 36 wonderful butterflies that are included on the identification poster. However, be sure to download the Acrobat PDF version for greater clarity and detail.

Preview of the Butterfly Spotting Activity Poster for children to download.

Download Instructions

Depending on your specific device and browser settings, the high-resolution Adobe Acrobat version of the poster can be viewed and/or downloaded by left- or right-clicking the preview image above, or alternatively use this link. If you do not already have it on your device, Acrobat Reader can be downloaded for free.

 

Amazing Fact: The Painted Lady butterfly flies all the way from Europe or Africa, travelling thousands of miles, before arriving in the UK for the summer. When travelling, they fly up to 100 miles per day, travelling almost 30 miles per hour. Unlike some other butterflies, Painted Ladies do not hibernate in Britain, instead migrating back to Europe or northern Africa.

Butterfly Spotting Has Many Benefits

The Benefits of Butterfly Spotting to Children

Butterfly spotting is a delightful and almost magical activity for children to take part in. On a simple level, it’ll help children learn the names of different butterflies and open their eyes to some of the UK’s wonderful wildlife. On a deeper level, though, it’s hugely educational by teaching children about nature and the natural world more widely. Through the simple task of butterfly spotting, children will get to understand the important role of butterflies, bees and other insects as pollinators. They’ll learn about concepts like metamorphosis, where food comes from, how plants, trees and creatures reproduce, the circle of life, and even about their own place in the world. These are profound and important concepts.

Spending time in and around nature is also hugely beneficial to children in mind, body, spirit and even academically. That conclusion is supported by study after study, all around the world. Indeed, we have written a separate article about the benefits of nature to children. Take a look by following the bold link.

Some of the Benefits to Butterflies & the Natural World

Nature-based activities like butterfly spotting will also begin to foster a deeper appreciation in children for the natural world and the flora and fauna within it. Children who regularly spend time in and around nature will tend to develop an affinity for it, right into adulthood. As well as enjoying everything that the Great Outdoors has to offer, children who are used to spending time in natural environments are often more environmentally conscious, with a greater sense of empathy for other creatures and a more responsible attitude around the impact that humans are having on the planet. And, as we’re seeing in recent news about global warming, climate change and the effects on recent weather patterns, such attitudes have never been more important. Children are the planet’s future, so encouraging them to look after the natural world is crucial for its very survival. The human race needs to act decisively to reverse both climate change and habitat loss so that wildlife populations can begin to recover. If there were no pollinators, then we’d all be in deep trouble.

The Best Places to Spot Butterflies

There are some obvious, and not-so-obvious, places where children are most likely to see the most butterflies:

  • Around flowers and blossoms, as nectar is their food.
  • Especially around butterfly-loving plants like Buddleia, also known as the ‘Butterfly Plant’.
  • Around calm, sheltered, sunnier spots, especially in the middle of the day — although they’re around any time of day if it’s warm (above 20ºC if it’s cloudy). Butterflies are delicate and do not like the wind.
  • Butterflies love brambles, flower meadows and forest clearings (‘glades’) where wildflowers grow.
  • They’ll also be drawn to forests and glades where a variety of different tree and plant species are growing at different stages of development.
  • Areas with long grass and hedgerows are good spots if they contain wildflowers.

Look But Don’t Touch

Butterflies are very delicate creatures, with wings that are easily damaged. Therefore, teach children not to try to catch or hold them. It’s best if families simply look rather than touch. Also, try to keep fairly still because butterflies can sense movement from multiple directions and are constantly on the lookout for danger.

Little Acorns Nursery & Preschool, Padiham

Little Acorns Nursery & Pre-School is in Padiham, Lancashire, near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

Children also get to immerse themselves in nature-based activities at Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham, where we offer high-quality weekday childcare for babies and children under five. The service is much more than that, though, as we give children the very best start in life, nurturing them in their early years to become the very best version of themselves by the time they leave us to start school. Their learning and all areas of personal, social and emotional development come on in leaps and bounds during their time with us. This gives them all the tools they’ll need to thrive going forwards. We also support all the free childcare schemes offered by the Government to eligible families, including free childcare hours for 2-year-olds and up to 30 free hours per week for 3 and 4-year-olds and much more.

For more information, to register for a childcare place, or request a guided tour with your child, please get in touch using an option below:

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

Little Acorns is a nursery & preschool in Padiham, also being convenient for families nearby in Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.