I remember family walks in the countryside being a regular occurrence when I was growing up. Our grandparents would even join in on what tended to be more of a hike than a walk. I used to love those days out although if you ask my mum now she'll probably say I whinged the whole time.
It's not always easy to get away for a day at the weekend to explore the countryside so we're very lucky to be able to just walk down to the local woods for a few hours to explore the local wildlife. The woods in question are Sydenham Hill Wood and Dulwich Wood. They are a lovely expanse of trees, plants, birds and insects and most importantly are right here on our doorstep.
EDtot has not generally been the biggest fan of nature. She has preferred the safety of the picnic blanket to sitting on the grass itself. I was not therefore hopeful that a trip out to the woods would result in much more than a few minutes walk and a lot of being carried. We were pleasantly surprised to find she is now happy to get at least a little bit mucky.
We spent a few hours wandering round the trails with EDtot. Provided she had her trusty stick friend and the promise of another step to climb/jump off, she was very happy to walk the whole time. It was lovely to see her actually sit and play in the leaves and wipe the soil off her hands onto her clothes. For many that might not be an ideal day out, but considering her previous views on nature, it was refreshing to see her acceptance of dirt!
The trail around the woods can easily be covered with a toddler, but don't be tempted to take a buggy. A sling, some snacks and a bottle of water are all you need for a fun afternoon out.
