This is the first time we have been able to really do the outdoors thing. There is a difference between mooching about in a field like a womble, getting dirty and having to catch three buses and a tram home and being able to do it in your garden. We are appreciators of a good garden, because we haven’t had one in 5/6 years.

So obviously we have been working on a list of things we will need and things Eldest wants to do.

So her list is as follows:

Yellow rain mac – so that we can see her at all times, we have taken to the internet for colour inspiration and have narrowed it down to these.

Bumbag to hold her magnifying glass, notebook, pencil, spare pencil and bug ‘picker uppers.’

Wellingtons – vital to being an explorer, as we have a medium and mini, Eldest took point on the style of wellies that were needed in order to be kitted out correctly. She chose these awesome ones.

These are apparently very important – You cannot explore properly without the right outdoor footwear.

Flashlight – To ward off anything beast like and to inspect things very closely when needed.

So that is some of the things we have been looking at, it is something very exciting for Eldest as she is taking responsibility for her her education, or at least she is coming up with ideas, looking at what she will find exciting and also taking part in research about different activities.

The ones that have caught her eye so far are:

• Build a hedgehog home
• Create a small water feature
• Feed garden birds
• Create a high-rise home for wildlife

We will be making the list bigger by adding to it and smaller by crossing things off as we go. She is very excited to start her new project and I am looking forward to helper her achieve the goals she has set herself. We have sent off for the ‘Give Nature a Home’ booklet. She had seen an advert and really wants to build a little house for a hedgehog and some bugs – and then inspect them.

I’m excited to get started.