Everything you need to know whenplanning a trip out to the countryside

Walk on the Wildside

Discover

in NottinghamNature

This pack contains all you need to plana trip out in the English countryside.There’s advice on organising trips,information about the best natureareas in Nottingham, plus, a collectionof free resources to take with youwhen you go.

The Trip Organiser’s Handbook

But first, why organise a trip to the countryside? Well, here are some of the benefits of visiting nature areas:

Improve your fitnessDoctors recommend that we get at least 30 minutes of exercise, 5 days a week.Going out into the countryside is a great way to keep fit and it’s cheaper than the gym!

Reduce stressScientists have found that spending time out in the countryside is relaxing and can help to relieve stress.

Socialise with friendsThe countryside is a great place to get together and have fun with a groupof friends.

Learn about the environmentLots of nature areas provide information and activitiesrelating to the environment and wildlife.

Keep children active and happyOutdoor spaces provide areas for children to runaround, be noisy and enjoy themselves.

This handbook has been put together by GroundworkGreater Nottingham for the Walk on the Wildsideproject. If you would like any more copies of the handbook or further information please contact:

Groundwork Greater Nottingham

on 0115 978 8212

Contents

1. Getting started

2. Activity ideas

a. Outdoor games

b. Outdoor crafts

c. Doorstep activities

3. Places to go

4. Transport tips

5. Risk assessments

6. Trip checklist

7. Free resources

8. Useful contacts

32

Pick an activity

Find a location

Assess the risks

Decide on a date

Arrange thetransport

Inform thegroup

2

5

Getting StartedThere are over 50nature reserves in

Nottingham

Too risky?

Many areas inNottingham are easy

to get to by publictransport and, as

a group, you will be able to take advantage

of discounted groupfares - see page 12

for top tips

As with any activity,people’s safety is very

important

To find out how to complete a Risk

Assessment see page 13

Did you know that overone fifth of the City of

Nottingham’s total landarea is made of accessible

green spaces

Even if it is raining, atrip to the countrysidecan still be great fun -

just make sure youwear suitable clothes

and there’ssomewhere warm to

stop for a coffee4

Activitiy Ideas

Walking Walking is a great way to keep fit and explore the

countryside. Many parks and nature reserves in

Nottinghamshire have well-maintained paths and

routes, making walking suitable for all ages and

abilities. The Nottinghamshire County Council

website provides useful information for planning

walks and also has a selection of free,

downloadable walking routes. See the

RouteXchange section of the website:

http://bit.ly/hWd8Ei.

When you go out for a walk it’s always worth

taking an Ordnance Survey map with you – if you

don’t want to buy one you can borrow one from

the Central Library in Nottingham.

If the thought of planning your own walk is a bit

daunting, you could always join a walking group.

Joining a group is a great way to learn about

walks in and around Nottingham and also to

meet new people.

� Walking for Health – regular, free walks

across the UK. To find out about walks in

your area visit their website:

www.wfh.naturalengland.org.ukor contact Natural England on

0300 060 2287.

CyclingNottingham has one of the most extensive cycle

route networks in the country. Cycling is great fun

and can be tailored to the ability level of the

group. Many nature areas have cycle paths

(see page 11). If you don’t own a bike, there are

nature areas where you can hire one for the day

– for example, Sherwood Pines and Carsington

Water.

For more information about cycling around

Nottingham visit the RideWise website:

www.ridewise.org.uk or Sustrans:

www.sustrans.org.uk.

Many parks and nature reserves have a team

of Rangers and Education Officers. They can

provide a wide selection of outdoor activities for

both adults and children. Activities could include:

guided nature walks, pond dipping, den building

and mini-beast hunts. Typically, they have a

programme of activities, but if you contact them

directly they may also be able to arrange a

tailored experience for your group. There is

normally a small charge associated with these

activities. Below are the contact details of some

of the Rangers in Nottingham:

� Bestwood Country Park: 0115 927 3674

� Nottingham City Rangers:0115 915 2733

� Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust:0115 958 8242

� Sherwood Forest:01623 823 202

� Sherwood Pines:01623 822 447

Helping your local wildlife areaIf your group is very active and up for a challenge

why not help a local wildlife area? It’s a great way

to learn new skills, meet new people and keep fit

– all whilst helping nature! Groups, known as

“work-parties”, meet regularly to maintain various

wildlife sites across the city. A day out with one of

these groups could involve anything from

clearing scrub to planting trees! All training and

tools will be provided – and there’s always plenty

of tea and biscuits to go around. The following

organisations run regular work-parties

throughout the year:

� Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust:0115 958 8242

� British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV): 0115 931 3316

� Bestwood Country Park: 0115 927 3674

� Ecoworks:0115 962 2200

Activity ProgrammesMany nature areas in Nottingham have a

programme of activities and events (see page

11). If you’re planning a day out, it’s definitely

worth checking what’s on – you can contact the

nature reserve directly, visit their website or get

hold of a copy of their programme. Activities are

generally free, though some may involve a small

cost. Examples of activities include: guided

walks, arts and crafts and workshops for children.

There are lots of activities to choose from and

they run throughout the year.

6 7

Outdoor Games

Here are a selection of games that are simple to

set up and don’t require many resources. They

can be played with a range of ages and different

group sizes. When planning any outdoor games

or activities, please read the Risk Assessment

section of this handbook on page 13.

“Predator-Prey” This game can be used to teach children about

predator-prey relationships and how animals use

different senses to survive in the wild. To ensure

nobody gets poked in the eye, make sure the

small object is out of arm’s reach of the owl!

Equipment:

� Some material to use as a blindfold� A small object such as a ball or a pine

cone

How to play:

1. Get everyone to stand in a big circle –

they are the mice – they have to be very

quiet.

2. Choose one person to stand in the centre

of the circle – they are the owl – they

have to listen very carefully.

3. Blindfold the owl and place the small

object on the ground in front of them

(just over an arms length away).

4. The owl must listen carefully. The mice

take it in turns to sneak up on the owl,

and grab the small object. If the owl hears

a mouse sneaking up on them, they must

point in the direction of the sound. If the

owl correctly points at a mouse, then the

mouse must go back to their place in the

circle.

5. If a mouse manages to sneak up on the

owl, pick up the small object and creep

back to their place without being caught,

then they become the owl!

“Big Chief” This is a simple guessing game that requires

no equipment.

How to play:

1. Get everyone to stand in a circle – they

are all Gorillas

2. Choose one person to be the scientist –

they will be studying the group of Gorillas

to work out who is the Big Chief.

3. Ask the scientist to leave the circle and

close their eyes.

4. Now select someone from the circle to be

the Big Chief.

5. The Big Chief will need to act out a series

of continuous movements, like stamping

their feet and then clapping their hands –

everyone else in the circle must copy but

not make it obvious who the Big Chief is.

6. Tell the scientist to return to the middle of

the circle – they now have to guess who

the Big Chief is. They have three guesses

to get it right!

7. The Big Chief then gets to be the

next scientist.

Organised Activities

��Organised ActivitiesOutdoor Games

“Scavenger Hunt”This is a great game to get children exploring

the natural world.

Equipment:

� Scavenger Hunt sheets(see page 16 & 17)

� Newspaper� Crayons or pencils� Wet wipes� Sellotape

How to play:

1. Roll the newspaper sheets into cones

and secure with sellotape.

2. Give out the newspaper cones and

Scavenger Hunt sheets.

3. Tell everyone they need to find all the

items on the list – the more creative

they can be the better! If they find

anything really interesting ask them

to place it in their newspaper cone

so that they can show everyone when

they get back.

4. Send everyone out in small groups to

do the hunt.

5. Bring everyone together at the end to

talk about what they found and to

share any interesting items.

For more ideas and resources, visit the Nature

Detectives website:

www.naturedetectives.org.uk

Notes: Make sure everyone

knows not to touch litter or eat

any of the berries or plants they

find. It’s also important not to

pick flowers or leaves – use only

those that have fallen to the

ground. Ensure you have wet

wipes available so that everyone

can clean their hands after the

hunt! Remember to set physical

boundaries at the start of this

activity.

Butterfly wrist decorationEquipment:

� Butterfly template (found on page 18)� A4 card or paper� Crayons � Scissors� Natural materials for decoration� Glue

How to make:

1. Photocopy the butterfly template onto

card or paper (enough for 1 sheet per

person).

2. Get the children to colour in and decorate

their butterfly.

3. Once they have finished, help them to cut

it out, cutting the slits across the centre.

4. Help the children to put their hand

through the slits so that the butterfly rests

on their wrist.

Variation – Instead of just using a butterfly

why not create a few different creature templates

such as spiders or ladybirds? You could also

make miniature versions to put on children’s

fingers, rather than their wrists.

Sticky caterpillars

Sticky caterpillarsA simple but fantastic activity to do in the

outdoors, works well after a scavenger hunt.

Equipment:

� Caterpillar template (found on page 19)� A4 card or paper� Scissors� Hole punch� Ribbon or string� Double-sided sticky tape� Natural materials to decorate� Crayons

How to make:

1. Photocopy the caterpillar template onto

card or paper.

2. Cut out the caterpillar.

3. Use the hole punch to put a hole at one

end of each caterpillar.

4. Thread a piece of ribbon through the hole.

5. Stick several strips of double-sided sticky

tape onto the caterpillar.

6. Encourage children to collect natural

items that can be found on the ground to

stick to their caterpillar.

7. They can also use the crayons to

decorate their caterpillar.

Outdoor Crafts

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Doorstep Activities

If you’re struggling to get people out into the

countryside, there are lots of ways you can bring

the countryside to them. Here are a few ideas:

Pine cone bird feedersEquipment:

� Pine cones � Solid white vegetable fat� Mixed bird seed

(from a certified supplier)� String� Scissors� Paper plates

How to make:

1. Cut a long piece of string.

2. Tie the string in a knot around the pine

cone near the top.

3. Use the spoon to get a large clump of

vegetable fat on the paper plate.

4. Spread the vegetable fat all over the

pine cone.

5. Put some bird seed on the plate and roll

the pine cone in it.

6. Hang the bird feeder on a tree or fence.

Mini wildlife gardenYou can provide a home for wildlife and add a

splash of colour by making a mini wildlife garden.

If space is very limited look for plants that grow

up walls or alternatively, grow plants indoors on

a windowsill.

Equipment:

� Container – this could be anything from a plant pot to an empty plastic milk bottle! Whatever you use make sure there are several holes in the bottom to allow water to drain through.

� Compost – use peat free compost as this is better for the environment.

� Seeds or plants – any of the following are easy to grow and great for wildlife: Sunflowers, Nasturtium, Lavender and Poppies.

For more inspiration check out the BBC

Breathing Places website:

www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces

For things to grow with children visit:

www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/gardening_with_children.html

10 11

Transport Tips

Risk AssessmentsThe purpose of a Risk Assessment is to:

a. Identify the risks associated with an activity or location

b. Minimise the risks to make the activity/location as safe as reasonably possible

To write a Risk Assessment you need to think

about the following things:

1. What are the hazards?For example: cars and vehicles on site,

litter, glass, extreme weather.

2. Who is at risk?For example: children, adults, volunteers.

3. Evaluate the riskRisk is defined as the

severity of a hazard and

the likelihood that it will cause harm. To

work this out, assign the likelihood of a

hazard causing harm a score from 1-5 (1

being unlikely to cause harm, 5 being very

likely to cause harm). Then assign a score

to the severity of the hazard (1 being minor

injury, 5 being death). Risk can then be

calculated:

Risk = Likelihood x Severity (the lower the score, the lower the risk)

4. What should be done to minimise the risk?For each of the hazards identified, think

about ways to minimise the risk. For

example: warning children not to pick up

litter and broken glass will minimise the

risk of children getting injured. The risk

can be minimised further by checking the

area beforehand and carefully removing

any glass. Having a first aid kit available

is essential.

Calculating risk - exampleActivity: Mini-beast hunt Location: Local park

Before minimising riskHazard: Accident as a result

of cars and other vehicles using the site:

Likelihood = 3, Severity = 5, Risk = 15 (Likelihood x Severity)

After minimising riskPrecautions: Adults and children

will be advised to look carefully

when crossing roads and to be

aware that vehicles use the site.

Boundaries for games and activities

will be given.

Likelihood = 1, Severity = 5, Risk = 5 (Likelihood x Severity)

ASSESSED

Risk Assessments

12 13

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Public transport: Top tipsTaking a group out on public transport may

sound daunting but it’s easier than you think.

One of the best reasons for using public

transport is that it will give people the

confidence to make return visits independently.

1. Plan your journeyA good starting point for planning your

journey is to either ring Traveline on

08712 002 233 or to visit the Trip Times

website: www.triptimes.co.uk. They will

provide you with information about the best

route and also journey times. For more

detailed information and route maps it’s

best to go directly to the travel provider.

Trent Barton: 01773 712 265, Nottingham

City Transport: 0115 950 6070. If you are

looking to travel by train, phone National

Rail on 08457 484 950 or visit their

website: www.nationalrail.co.uk

2. Do a practice runWhen you’re taking a group out on public

transport it’s always a good idea to try out

the journey first. That way, you’ll find out

what the route is like and be able to

recognise the stop you need to get off at.

3. Find out about group fares It’s definitely worth looking for discounts

and deals. Most travel providers do

discounts for people travelling as a group –

contact them directly to find out the best

deal for your group. There are often

discounts during school holidays as well.

If you use the train regularly it may be

worth investing in a Family Railcard – see

www.nationalrail.co.uk for more info.

Minibus: Top tipsSometimes a minibus may work out cheaper

than using public transport.

1. Find a CompanyAsk friends and colleagues for

recommendations, it may also be worth

investigating whether there are any

community minibuses available (owned by

local schools or charities). Not all

minibuses cater for disabled users so this

is something you may want to check when

you contact them.

2. Make it cost effectiveBook the smallest minibus you need and fill

all the seats. You could also save money by

providing your own driver (make sure they

have the correct licence and insurance).

3. Get a good dealBefore booking a minibus, make sure you

get quotes from several different

companies to ensure you have the best

price. When asking for a quote, you will

need the following information: date of the

trip, number of people, where you would

like collecting from, what time you would

like collecting and where you would like to

be dropped off. Remember to give details

of the return journey too.

Car: Top tipsIf you decide to go by car make sure

each is full, rather than having

lots of partially full cars. This

way, you can share the

cost of fuel and parking –

and it’s good for the

environment too.

.

Risk Assessments

Assessing the risksHere are some very generic hazards and

safety precautions; this will provide a good

starting point for your own risk assessment.

Hazards to be aware of:� Group members getting lost� Litter � Strangers� Dogs� Vehicles using the site� Plants and berries � Allergies and medical conditions

within the group � Hypothermia or dehydration

Measures to reduce hazards: � Ask group members about medical

conditions and allergies� Collect everyone’s emergency

contact details� Ensure everyone in the group knows

what clothes and footwear to bring� Ensure everyone brings a drink and

a snack� Make sure everyone has your mobile

phone details� Make sure someone outside of the

group knows exactly where you are going

� Take a first aid kit� Do a short, simple safety talk before

the session� Set physical boundaries, especially

when working with children in a large outdoor space

� Provide wet wipes or alcohol gel for cleaning hands

� Insist everyone washes their hands after an activity and before eating

� �Trip Checklist

If you are taking a group out

regularly it may be worth having a

few spare items of clothing and

trainers to lend out. Things like

waterproofs, fleece jumpers and

hats make a big difference in the

outdoors and are relatively cheap

to get hold of. If the group are really

keen you could organise a

fundraising event - use the money

to invest in some quality outdoor

clothing, such as walking boots.

What to take on a trip

� First aid kit

� Emergency contact details for everyone

in the group

� Accident book

� Address of the location you are visiting

� Road map

� Mobile phone (fully charged)

� Water

� Snacks

� Money

� Waterproof coat

� Suncream, sunglasses and sun hats if

the weather is hot

� Warm clothes, hats, scarves and

gloves if it is cold

� Wet wipes

� Risk assessment

� Register

� Rucksack

� Carrier bag for litter

The Countryside Code

When you’re out in the countryside

there are five important things to

remember:

1. Be safe, plan ahead and

follow any signs

2. Leave gates and property

as you find them

3. Protect plants and animals

and take your litter home

4. Keep dogs under close

control

5. Consider other people

14 15

Ladybird

Snail

Squirrel

Spider

Feather

Butterfly

See whatyou canfind...

Something bright

Something light

Something small

Something fast

Something slimy

FREE Resource

Scavenger Hunt Sheet

Pine cone

Dandelion

Something rough

16 17

Robin

Something pretty

Something soft

Something busy

FREE Resource

Caterpillar Template

18 19

FREE Resource

Butterfly Template

� � � �

Useful Contacts

City RangersRun free events and activities in NottinghamCity parks.

Phone: 0115 915 2733Email:parksandopenspaces@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

EcoworksDeliver activities connected with theconservation, restoration and enhancement of the environment.

Phone: 0115 962 2200Email: info@ecoworks.org.uk

GroundworkGreater NottinghamConsults and works closely with local peopleto achieve sustainable improvements to localareas.

Phone: 0115 978 8212Email: gn@groundwork.org.uk

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Nottinghamshire Wildlife TrustManage lots of nature reserves across the cityand deliver a wide range of nature relatedevents and activities.

Phone: 0115 958 8242Email: info@nottswt.co.uk

Castle Cavendish FoundationA Nottingham Charity that aims to improve thequality of life in the Radford & Hyson Greenarea

Phone: 0115 900 3100Email: enquiries@castlecavendish.org.uk

Walking for HealthRun regular walks in Nottingham toencourage more people to be physicallyactive in their local community.

Phone: 0300 060 2287Email: wfhinfo@naturalengland.org.uk

Wild ThingsDeliver high quality, tailored, learningexperiences in the natural environment for 5 to 18 year olds.

Phone: 0845 458 4727 Email: eco-action@wildthings.org.uk

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Groundwork Greater NottinghamGroundwork Greater Nottingham provides a

wide range of regeneration activities that

includes targeted Youth and Play work for 8-19

year olds, community environment training,

green sector employment and volunteering

opportunities. Visit

www.groundworkgreaternottingham.org.uk

Wild ThingsEcological CollectiveWild Things Ecological Education Collective

provides high quality, tailored, learning

experiences in the natural environment for 5

to 18 year olds. They deliver activities that are

designed to develop confidence, self-esteem,

communication, co-operation, and

organisational skills to enable children and

young people to face social issues and care

for the environment. To find out more about

Wild Things you can contact them byphone: 08454 584 727 or by email:

eco-action@wildthings.org.uk, or you can visit their website:

www.wildthings.org.uk.

About Walk on theWildsideWalk on the Wildside (WOW) is a

community-centred project jointly

funded by Access to Nature and the

Castle Cavendish Foundation. The

project is delivered by Groundwork

Greater Nottingham and Wild Things

Ecological Collective. By working with

local schools and community groups,

WOW seeks to empower people from

the NG7 area of Nottingham to

access the countryside and nature-

related activities.

About the funders Access to NatureAccess to Nature is a £28.75 million

grant scheme to encourage people

from all backgrounds to understand,

access and enjoy our natural

environment. It is part of the Big

Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces

programme and is run by Natural

England.

Castle Cavendish FoundationCastle Cavendish Foundation is a

charity that works to support the

vibrant communities of Radford and

Hyson Green in Nottingham. They

are committed to the long-term

regeneration of the area and to

improving the areas services and

infrastructure.

Walk on the Wildside

This handbook has been put together

by Groundwork Greater Nottingham

for the Walk on the Wildside project.

If you would like any more copies of

the handbook or further information

please contact Groundwork Greater

Nottingham, by phone:

0115 978 8212 or by email:

gn@groundwork.org.uk.

You can also visit our website:

www.groundworkgreaternottingham.org.uk

Design and print by:www.printrevolution.co.ukTreasuring Precious ResourcesPrinted on a waterless DI press usingvegetable based inks on carbonbalanced recycled/sustainablysourced paper using Green EnergyCBP0006892406115744