Nature is there to explore!

Go wild and enjoy being outdoors in all weathers and all landscapes. But please take care too. Part of exploring is taking risks but there are some situations where you need to be extra aware.

 

Water safety

There are deep ponds and deep, fast rivers in Herefordshire. If you want to be right beside the water to watch the wildlife find a stable, shingle beach. Don't lean down over steep sides and don’t wade into water.

Stings and bites

Stay calm if wasps, bees, horseflies come near you. Try to watch what they are doing rather than worrying about them stinging you.

Very rarely adders will live in piles of bracken and dry scrub so take care in these habitats.

All the best explorers cover up! Even in the summer wear long trousers and long t-shirt when playing outdoors.

Caves/rocks/steep slopes

Often the most exciting places! Have a good peer into a dark hole and feel around the edge but don't actually go in. Use your imagination to explore it instead. You can't tell how deep, small or far back a cave goes and you could get stuck.

Tripping up

Watch out for tree roots and bumpy ground. If you are making dens think about other people who will come the same way. Don't leave them up if people will fall over them and if you take them down don't leave the branches on pathways where people will trip up.

Dead branches in wind

In very high winds don’t go into the woods and in any wind stick to paths and don’t go near old trees whose branches may be about to fall.

Tree climbing

Yipppeeee! Help children to work out when a tree is a good one to climb and when it is too much for them. Don't climb it, or don't climb any higher if you can't work out how to get down. If a child needs a 'leg up' from an adult onto a tree then it is probably too big for them to climb. Always make children look at the branch they are about to climb on or sit on: If it has no leaves and dead looking twigs (easier in the summer!) then it probably is dead and they shouldn't go on it.

The fruits of the forest look so amazingly tempting, but we all know that some can be deadly poisonous. If you want to forage for wild food stick to things that are easy to identify like blackberries and chestnuts.

It is fun to take a fungi book out to see what you can identify but unless you are with (or you are) an expert please don't just try berries or fungi. Enjoy looking at the colours and shapes and where they grow.

Contact Herefordshire Nature Trust for information on people leading fungus and wildfood walks.

String

Please take down string if you have used it in any way that birds or other creatures - or even people could walk or fly into.

Unknown places

Where Wild Things Play encourages everyone to explore! But it is possible to get lost in Herefordshire's wilder places: the bigger woods near King Arthurs Cave, Black Hill for example…

So please if you are going on a more adventurous adventure stick to paths and know how to read maps and make sure you have water with you. Always tell someone else where you are going and what time you will be back.

Kite flying

Don't fly kites where there are electricity pylons, wires or trees.

Weather

Wear warm enough clothes on cold wet days. It is very possible for children to get cold on a long walk or just playing by streams. If you have got wet make sure you change clothes straight away or head back home.

Heatstroke and sunburn - yes even in our country! “Slip, slap, slop” they say in Australia - say it to each other before you leave the house! Wear a hat and long sleeved light clothing and keep that sun tan lotion on!

When you get home

If you have been playing in or near water wash your hands really well. Occasionally there are water borne diseases.

If you have been in woods, heather or bracken scrub and actually sitting down or rolling around playing then check for ticks. There is not much of a problem in Herefordshire but they occasionally carry Lyme disease.

If you find a tick try to remove the whole tick with a tweezer. If some of it stays in just check with your GP.