‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’
Have fun exploring nature and the great outdoors with our list of ‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’.
No. 31 Make friends with a bug
Ladybirds, spiders, caterpillars, woodlice – there are all kinds of minibeasts hiding indoors and out. Discover where to find them and make friends with a bug, no. 31 on our list of ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’.
Searching for bugs
You can find all sorts of creatures lurking in your garden, at the places we look after and indoors too, sometimes. Be prepared though: looking for bugs is fun, but you might need to be fast. Some creatures like centipedes and millipedes move quickly (it must be all those feet!), so you'll need to keep your eyes peeled like a real nature detective if you want to see them.
Where to look?
Great spots for searching include under stones and wood, the branches, bark and leaves of trees and in long grass. You'll often find things hiding out in these locations.
Making friends
Once you've found your bugs, remember that you're a giant compared to them, so be gentle with any that you choose to pick up as they'll probably be scared of you. It's best if you choose something to hold that's relatively small and that's not going to sting or bite you – so no wasps, bees or snakes.
Learn more
If you get seriously interested in learning about bugs, insects and where they live, you can buy all sorts of bug hunting equipment like magnifying glasses, little viewing pots with lids and sheets to see bugs that you shake out from trees, but you don't really need anything except your eyes for this challenge.
There are over 20,000 types of insects in the UK, so who knows what you'll discover?
Let them go
All bugs appreciate being returned to their homes after you've looked at them – just like you'll want to go home at the end of your bug-friending adventure.
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No. 17 Set up a snail race
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Safety information for ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities
To ensure you can complete your ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities safely, here are some top tips to help you complete your challenges with safety in mind.