MAKE the most of brighter weather and head into the great outdoors.
Adding extra activities to make rambles more fun — while always respecting the countryside — need not cost the earth.
Here are a few ideas to try to make wanders wonderful.
FORAGE: Searching for food that you can take home and eat will make walks in the woods feel more rewarding.
This time of year, you can come across wild garlic, which grows in clusters, typically in damp woodland.
The leaves and flowers are both edible and perfect for making soups, pesto or adding to salads and sandwiches. The Woodland Trust has a month-by-month guide to foraging. See woodlandtrust.org.uk.
You can also help the trust checking the health of nature and logging sightings on its website, including song thrush and blackthorn first flowering.
BUFF UP:Get to know more about our green spaces with games and sheets you can take on walks with you.
Forestry has a load of activity sheets you can download for free at forestryengland.uk/resource.
These include a bluebells “true or false”; game, plus Tree Trumps cards that you can print off and play with.
SNAP HAPPY:Bluebells are flowering at this time of year, which can make beautiful backdrop for family pictures. If you have a camera, take it with you to capture special moments or just use a smartphone.
But be careful not to trample the delicate blooms.
The Woodland Trust has a list of top bluebell woods on its website, woodlandtrust.org.uk. You can search by England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Or capture the glory of nature. Close-ups of flowers and leaves can look stunning.
In the early morning you can also get snaps of dew and long shadows. Or just before sunset on a clear day, the light is warm and perfect for glowing images.
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