suffolk's fab 40 adventures

Ta

kea

night time walk

outdoor adventures

to enjoy with

family and friends

Discover - Enjoy - ShareSign up for some

seasonal fun now!fab4Osuffolk.co.ukComplete the adventures!Start collecting your certificates!

Simply lay back,

Spota Mad March Hare

See and hear theclash of antlers

fun for all outdoorswhatever the season

SSpprriinnggAAuuttuummnn

look and listen

WWiinntteerrSSuummmmeerr

© Darin Smith

© Wayne Geater

Welcome to 40 wildly fun and fabulous seasonal adventures –

the perfect inspiration for you, your family and friends to leave

the living room behind and get out and enjoy Suffolk’s great

outdoors.

This countryside county has simply so much to offer from

ancient woodlands to wildflower-rich water-meadows or winding

creeks, broad estuaries and beautiful beaches to windswept

heathlands and crumbling cliffs.

So whether it’s summer, autumn, winter or spring, there’s every

good reason under the Suffolk sun (or clouds!) to wander out

into the big wild world. Potter off to the park for a

summer picnic with the pigeons and squirrels or

go fishing for crabs along by the coast. Kick

crunchy, colourful leaves on an autumn walk in

the woods. Venture down the garden path to

take photos of a frosty winter’s morning. Put

spring in your steps with a countryside stroll as

you look out for Mad March Hares.

Suffolk’s greatOOuuttddoooorrss

SSuummmmeerr

Take the Top 10 Challenge

Go wild and see how

many outdoor

adventures you can

complete over the

course of a year.

You’ll find lots of

tips on Suffolk

places to go and so

much more at

fab40suffolk.co.uk

There are 10 fab adventures in

each seasonal Suffolk set, all tried,

tested or suggested by over

400 helpful children, mums, dads,

grannies and granddads –

thanks everyone!

Do you remember when…?In the days before TV and internet, mostchildren would entertain themselves byplaying outside. Why not ask someonewhat childhood memories, experiencesand places they would like to share?

Have fun and feel good tooGetting outdoors can be a real breath offresh air and a spot of gentle exercise canbe shared and enjoyed by all ages. Havinga bit of wild time is not only fun, it makesyou feel good too and even if you live in atown in this countryside county, wild greenspaces are never far from your doorstep.

AAuuttuummnn

3Complete theadventures then download yourseasonalcertificatesfab40suffolk.co.uk

© Steve Aylward

© Dan Pacamo

© Neil Rolph

1. Hide up in a tree and spy on the world

Ssshh! No-one will know you’rethere! Enjoy the bird’s eye view.

2. See a meteor shower

Can you catch sight of a falling star? August isthe time of the ‘Perseid’ meteor shower. Why

not camp out on aclear night and trya spot ofstar-gazing?

3. Spot the blueflash of akingfisher from ariverside path

Let a walk along theriverbank reveal acolourful new world.

4. Find yourperfectpicnic spotWhat makesyour spotpicnic-perfectis up to you.

5. Go fishing for crabsHave a crabbing competitiondown on the quayside atWalberswick or other spotsalong our Suffolk coast.

6. Put a toe in thewater down at thestream Explore how it feels to walkbarefoot across a natural stream.Some Suffolk villages have a ford where thestream goes across the road.

7. Take a swim in the sea From the sandy shores of Lowestoftright down to Felixstowe, taste thesalty sea spray. Look out forSuffolk’s top blue flag beaches too.

8. Simply lay back, look and listenEven in the quietestmeadow or smallestgarden, there’salways somethingwild going on.

9. Watch dragonflieshunting overthe water Can you count theirwings as they rest onreeds by the water’s edge downat the river, on the marshes orby the local pond?

1O. Discover the beauty ofbutterflies on ameadowland strollAdmire their different colours andwonderful wing patterns.Are there 3 differenttypes to identify in your meadow?

4 Don’t forget to tick when you’ve done them!

Not sure where to go? - visit fab4Osuffolk.co.uk today

SSuummmmeerr

© Jon Winnan

© Steve Aylward

1. Make a den Gather togetherfallen brancheseither in the woodsor your backgarden andconstruct yourown hideout.

2. Bake a wildblackberry piePick deliciously juicyblackberries fromthe hedgerows tomake a tasty pieor crumble.

3. Carve a pumpkin lanternand make soup too

Be sure to keep the pumpkin’s fruityflesh when you make your Halloween lantern.It will make a tasty soup.

4. Build a homefor wildlife inyour garden

The choice is yours -and you don’t haveto stop at just one!

5. Kick fallen leaveson a walk in the woods

Enjoy kicking upcolourful autumn leaveson a walk through oneof Suffolk’s broadleafwoodlands.

6. Collect and roast Sweet Chestnuts

Once roasted, they aredelicious to eat. Don’tconfuse them with thenon-edible conker!

7. See and hearthe clash ofantlers

Red deer stagsclashing antlers in the fight fora mate is one of nature’sgreatest spectacles. OurSuffolk Coast heathlands rankamongst England’s best places to witness thered deer ‘rut’.

8. Capturethe colours of autumnTake photos of thewonderful colours or makepictures to your own designsusing collected leaves.

9. Find all sorts of pine cones and make seasonaldecorations

Collect, then create perhaps the cutest hedgehog friends or keep them for Christmas decorations.

1O. Eat an applestraight fromthe tree

Remember to give it awash or wipefirst!

Need more information? visit fab4Osuffolk.co.uk



AAuuttuummnn

© Steve Aylward



1. Break the ice on a puddleGet your wellies onand have a cracking good time!

2. Hunt for treasure on the shore

Head for thecoast after astorm and it’samazing what you’ll findwashed up on the beach.

3. Take a nighttime walk

Grab a torch. Wrap upwarm. The naturalworld after dark is afascinatingly differentsort of place.

4. Find the biggesttree in the park or wood

Track down the tallest or theone with the widest spreadof branches, or perhaps findthe tree with the largesttrunk. Which one will youcrown ‘King of the Wood’?

5. Be the firstfootsteps in the snow

Make your mark byenjoying an early

morning walk inthe snow.

6. Photograph a frosty morning toshare with the world

Whatever chilly picturecaptures your imaginationand pop it online for all to see.

7. Build a nest box and putit up in your garden

Get ready for spring withFebruary’s National Nest BoxWeek. Construct a new nestingplace from off-cuts of wood. Give it a good garden location and wait to see who moves in.

8. Spot snowdrops in the woods

These tiny flowers arewhite and wonderful and can be found in small clusters orforming complete carpets.

9. Take part in theworld’s biggest birdsurvey

Over 500,000 peopleget involved in theRSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch.Sign up and help by countingSuffolk’s birds in your garden.

1O. Watch a Robin in yourgarden and dig him upsome dinner

Why not dig over somesoil to help thesefriendly birds find atasty treat?

WWiinntteerr



© Terry Longley

© Margaret Holland

SSpprriinngg


1. Wonder at magicalcarpets in an ancientbluebell woodStretched out between the trees,carpets of bluebells cover thewoodland floor in late April/early May. Simply magic!

2. Spot a Mad March Hare or twoLook out for hares boundingmadly across the fields.You might even witness

a boxing matchbetween a pairof potential mates.

3. Encounter spring lambsdown on the farmVisit a local farm park oropen farm tomeet newlambs close up.

4. Plant it. Grow it.Eat it. Get planting now andbe sure to keep things

well watered and weed free.

5. Watch a veryspecial show –‘Strictly Skydancing’

See the amazing moves andgraceful glides of courtingbirds of prey. Take a pair ofbinoculars along to Suffolk’sreed beds to watchthe aerial antics ofMarsh Harriers.

6. Discover signs of piratesin a country churchyardFind skull and crossbonescarved deep in oldgravestones. There are somany treasures hidden awayin churchyards.

7. Listen out for a Tawny owl Britain’s largest common owl is

rarely seen, but often heard.Woodlands, parks andgardens are the haunt of the

nocturnal Tawny owl,so why not go outsideand open your earsafter dark?

8. Look out forfrogspawn in yourlocal pond It’ll soon be time fortadpoles and tiny frogs.Check out the water’s edgefor tell-tale signs now.

9. Prepare a wild salad

There are plenty of edible flowers andweeds out there. Identifythem and make a saladwith a difference.

1O. Spring clean your local areaA litter-freeenvironment is goodnews for wildlife.Take time to tidy upa little and make abig difference.



© Terry Longley

© R

icha

rd A

nsel

l

© Neil Rolph

Got the inspiration – now need the information?You’ll find everything from recipes and buildinginstructions to details of local nature reserves, toptips on wild places to go and how to get the mostfrom your visit at fab40suffolk.co.ukAnd don’t forget that throughout Suffolkthe whole family can visit the majority ofthe county’s amazing wild places for free!Remember always play safe!

Seasonal notes

SSuummmmeerrJune 21 – September 21

AAuuttuummnnSeptember 22 – December 21

WWiinntteerrDecember 22 - March 19

SSpprriinnggMarch 20 – June 20

?Don’tknow

where? fab40suffolk.co.uk

Outdoor times to

ttrreeaassuurree

Suffolk’s Fab 40 Adventures are wonderful waysto step outside and explore the amazing world ofnature on your Suffolk doorstep and around the wildlife-rich coastand countryside beyond.

Unplug and make the connectionWind down in a different sort of way. Switch off the screens, unplugthe wi-fi and take time to reconnect with nature. You’ll be surprisedhow really relaxing it all is to be mindful of the world around you -and how you might have come to take it all for granted.

Did you know?Getting out into the natural world. . .

3promotes mental andphysical wellbeing

3prevents disease

3aids recovery after illness

Put family time firstModern lives are all too busy, especially when both parents areworking. Getting active all together outside just for a few hours reallycan be a walk in the park – but there are plenty of wild outdoorplaces to discover through gentle activities too.

Love your local areaBeaches and bluebell woods, forests and farmland,sandy heaths and saltmarshes – Suffolk has somuch to explore. When did you last take a look?

fab4Osuffolk.co.uk

Suffolk’s Outdoor Learning Providers funded by

Public Health Suffolk

working together through partnership

Wor

ds ©

: xt

rahe

ad.c

o.uk

Des

ign

& I

llust

rati

on ©

: w

eare

drab

.co.

uk

Well

Well

Well

Well

Well

Well

Step outside and

eexxpplloorreeSSpprriinngg

Simply lay back,

look and listen

?Don’tknow

where?fab40suffolk.co.uk

Suffolk EnvironmentalEducation Network

Stour ValleyEducation Network

WWiinntteerr

© Darin Smith

© Wayne Geater

© Derek Hollis

suffolk's fab 40 adventures

Documents