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:

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

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.