There are so many things to do or look for in a wood that the suggestions here are just a start. Deciduous or mixed woodland is the most interesting - dense, dark plantations of conifers are best avoided. If you have a nearby woodland, it is well worth visiting several times during the year, since you will see different things. For example, wild flowers are most abundant in woods in the early spring, before the tree canopy develops to shut out much of the light. The cool shade of a wood can be very welcome on a hot summer's day. Autumn is the time for seeds, fungi and colourful leaves. Some ideas are listed below and you can find others in our Adopt a tree activity.

• One of the most enjoyable activities for children in woodland is a scavenger hunt. It is best if you can visit the wood in advance and make up a list of items they might be able to find there. For example: a leaf as big as a hand, prickly leaf, hairy leaf, partly eaten leaf, cone, berry, feather, acorn, white flower, flat stone, seed pod, twig shaped like an "r", etc. Each child then gets a copy of the list and they set out with a bag or backpack to see how many they can collect before you call time.


• What are the main types of tree in the wood? You can use the A-Z guide to British trees from the Woodland Trust to identify them. Do the most common trees differ between the middle and edge of the wood? If so, can you think why this might be?


• Take bark rubbings from different types of tree, using a thick wax crayon used side-on and paper which does not tear easily. Compare the bark pattern from different tree types. These rubbings can be trimmed down and stuck in a Nature Journal labelled with the tree type.


• If you can visit the wood regularly then it is interesting to note the changes in the different tree species through the year. Which trees are the first to produce leaves, and when does this happen? Which trees have flowers and which have catkins? What sort of seeds and fruits do the different trees produce? Take a few home and plant them in a pot outdoors to see if they germinate. If they do, they could be grown on in a shallow pot as a sort of bonsai. Which trees have the most colourful leaves in the autumn? When do most of them fall? Does this vary much between different types of tree? This is all excellent material for a Nature Journal.


• The age of a tree can be roughly estimated from the circumference of the main trunk. A rule of thumb is one year of age for every 2.5 cm of girth. Of course this rule varies with the type of the tree. A calculator which allows for this can be found here. Who can find the tree in the wood with the thickest trunk? Use a tape measure or string to measure its circumference and then work out its age.
  


• Use a magnifying glass to study "minibeasts" living on the trees or in the leaf litter underneath. A pale coloured pot or tray and a paintbrush will be useful to allow creatures to be gently separated from leaves or bark and studied. The Woodland Trust has some useful guides here which may help you to identify some of the creatures you find.


• What birds can you see in the woods? It is often much easier to hear them than to see them - binoculars may help. The Woodland Trust is also a good source for identifying woodland birds.


• In the autumn, you can go on a fungus hunt. Some grow on trees, especially old ones, some are found on the ground. Fallen logs are an especially rich source of fungi, which speed the process of decay. Of course some fungi are very poisonous, so you will want to emphasize that they should not be touched. Here is a useful identification guide.


• Finally, there are many games which can be played in woods. Hide and seek is an obvious one. In addition to the basic game, many variants are possible. Here is a description of some of them. Another fun activity for kids is to build a den, using fallen branches and other natural woodland materials.