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Learn key features for common native species, from oak and ash to hazel and hawthorn, using leaves, buds and bark.

Choose level paths, short loops and plenty of benches so children, older relatives and reluctant walkers can enjoy the trees together.

A light rucksack with water, waterproofs, snacks, a map and a small first-aid kit makes any woodland outing safer and more comfortable.

Note the weather, sketch one leaf and record birdsong each day; small entries build a rich record of your local patch.

Try limited palettes and quick washes to record dappled shade, green canopies and the shifting colours of a forest floor.

Green woodworking begins with a safe knife, a seasoned branch and patience; shape a useful spoon while learning respect for the material.

Oak bark, elder leaves and birch twigs can yield soft browns, greens and yellows for dyeing wool, cotton or paper at home.

Early mornings and quiet hides improve your chances of watching red squirrels cache food, build dreys and chase through the canopy.

Learn a few distinctive calls from blackbird, robin, great tit and chiffchaff to identify birds without needing a clear view.