A group of two adults and two children crouch down and look at a small bush in a park in summer

Get outside this summer and give some of these outdoor activities a go.

25 nature activities for summer

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Summer is a great time to get outside and explore nature. The weather is warmer and your local area will be literally abuzz with activity and interesting things to see.

Noticing and reconnecting with the natural world we are all part of can be a great mood booster.

We have 25 fun activities for you to try, either on your own, with friends, or with your family. These range from walks and animal observation to craft projects and photography. We even have some ideas for when the great British summer forces you to retreat inside.

Get creative outside

1. Press flowers and leaves

Once you've mastered this simple technique, why not embark on a craft project and decorate special cards for family and friends?

A group of adults and children looking at the ground

2. Outdoor activities for kids

Try these no-preparation activities, perfect for small or large spaces.

Give garden wildlife a hand

a simple bird bath being filled with water from a watering can

3. Build a bird bath

It's important for birds to have access to a reliable water source for bathing and drinking all year round. Help them out by building a quick and simple bird bath in your garden.

a pot full of bamboo rods, and a flag with a bee on it

4. Make a bee hotel

This simple bee hotel will provide a home for a variety of solitary bees, including red mason bees and leafcutter bees.

5. Create a wildlife-friendly garden

Making small changes to your garden can help support your local wildlife. Here are seven easy ways to make a difference.

the equipment needed to make a wormery, including boxes, bricks and compost

6. Turn food scraps into plant fertiliser

A worm composter, or wormery, can turn your kitchen food scraps into fantastic fertiliser for your house plants and garden.

A person putting a wooden lid on a little brick hedgehog house

7. Make a hedgehog house

Hedgehogs won't start hibernating until winter, but why not get a shelter ready for them now? They may even nest in it next summer and raise baby hoglets.

Explore fascinating animal life

A person setting up on their garden fence a plate hung up as a feeder

8. Feed the butterflies

Attract beautiful butterflies with our easy-to-make fruit feeder. Ideal for observing butterflies, this feeder will help you enjoy these enchanting insects even if you don't have a big garden.

Hands burying a clear plastic cup up to its rim in soil

9. Use a pitfall trap to catch minibeasts

Discover what small creatures are crawling around your garden by setting up a simple pitfall trap.

A person in the dark looking at a glowing year they are holding

10. Spot insects in the dark

A huge variety of animals are active after sunset. By making a light trap, you can find out what nocturnal insects call your area home.

A triangular cardboard tunnel placed in a garden

11. Make a footprint tunnel to reveal what wildlife visits your garden

Footprint tunnels are a great way to discover which small animals, such as hedgehogs, are out and about, and it's easy to make your own at home.

A person at a rocky beach, crouched over a pool

12. Go rockpooling

Going rockpooling is a great way to see a wide range of creatures that live on the seashore. Our guide gives you tips on the equipment you need and what you might find.

Watch, reflect and connect with the nature you see

a sunny day in the highands, with a path leading onwards to mountains, water and greenery

13. Experience the healing power of a walk

Taking time to notice nature can boost your mood and general wellbeing.

Illustrations explainig what you can do on your mystery nature tour

14. Go on a magical mystery nature tour

Rejuvenate your body and mind and discover the magic and wonder of nature. This self-led walk can be used in any park or green space for a wellbeing boost.

An iridescent beetle on a purple flower — © Lisa Hendry

15. Look out for colourful beetles

How many of these 17 beautiful beetles can you spot? Many of them are quite small, so you'll need to look closely at your environment. What others can you find in your area?

16. Go bat hunting

Bats are one of the most overlooked and misunderstood of our fellow mammals, but they help keep flying insect populations under control and even pollinate plants in some parts of the world. Explore how to spot bats in your local area.

A long exposure of the night sky, showing stars and streaks from meteors — © Jasmine_K/ Shutterstock.com

17. Watch for meteors

You can watch amazing meteor showers throughout the year, including the Perseids in August.

Help scientists look after nature

A mother and child survey a rockpool on a sunny day

18. Search for seaweeds along the shore

Did you know that seaweed creates habitat where fish, invertebrates, birds and marine mammals can find food and shelter? Survey your shore with the Big Seaweed Search to help protect our marine environment.

A man stands in tall grass, inspecting flowers

19. Join a biodiversity recording scheme

If you enjoy taking an interest in your local wildlife, why not contribute your observations to one of the many UK monitoring schemes? They cover everything from ladybirds and butterflies to ancient trees and fungi.