Tessa Wardley and her family love playing in the great outdoors. Here she shares a host of brilliant ideas for relaxation, energetic activities, games, watching wildlife as well as facts and stories about the countryside. Her first book, The River Book was published in May 2012 and the follow-up, The Woodland Book in April 2014.

This [The River Book] is going straight to my 'favourite country books' shelf. BBC Countryfile If you love being by water, you will love this inspiring tome [The River Book]. And if you have children you will do a little jog at the brilliant ideas for holiday entertainment ... It is irresistible for anyone, especially those who loved The Wind in the Willows (and still remembers what Ratty and Mole had for their picnic). -- Sarah Stacey You Magazine

• IntroductionHow to use this bookGetting startedRelaxWatch the cloudsNotebook: cloudsHare spottingNotebook: The mythology of the hareSearch for fairy ringsSavour the seasonsNotebook: The best of the seasonsWatch the sunsetStar gazingNotebook: Key stars and constellations in the night skyCount magpiesNotebook: MagpiesGo gate spottingVisit churches and churchyardsPlayThe humble grassNotebook: the importance of grassRoll down a hillHave fun with wild clayNotebook: Clays in the UKSheep's wool and natural dyesNotebook: Wool and wealth - how it shaped the UK and beyondLooking at butterflies and mothsNotebook: Ten common night and day moths in the UKNotebook: Ten common butterflies in the UKPlay with iceFun with flowersPlaying with stonesLet's go fly a kiteGames for walkingBe curiousSun magic: understanding the sunNotebook: Understanding our solar systemWild flower spottingHawks and falconsNotebook: Man and hawkAgeing walls and hedgerowsNotebook: The history of fieldsSpotting migrating birdsNotebook: Bird migrationSpiders and their diamond necklacesNotebook: Some interesting spidersSeek out interesting insectsFossick for fossilsVisit standing stonesCollect some antlersBe adventurousGet off the beaten trackBivouac under the starsTry some navigation challengesFollow ancient routes on long-distance pathsGet up highNotebook: SkylarksTake off your shoesGo on an Arthurian questQuestionsWhat rock am I standing on?Where can I see Red Squirrels? Why does a dock leaf help soothe a nettle sting?Where do scientists get their species names from?Which flowers do bees like? What is the story behind Morris dancing?Why do roads have bedns?What's so great about cowpats?ResourcesSafetyTicks and Lyme DiseaseUseful linksBibliographyAcknowledgements

Tessa Wardley and her family love playing in the great outdoors. Here she shares a host of brilliant ideas for relaxation, energetic activities, games, watching wildlife as well as facts and stories about the countryside. Her first book, The River Book was published in May 2012 and the follow-up, The Woodland Book in April 2014.

This [The River Book] is going straight to my 'favourite country books' shelf. BBC Countryfile If you love being by water, you will love this inspiring tome [The River Book]. And if you have children you will do a little jog at the brilliant ideas for holiday entertainment ... It is irresistible for anyone, especially those who loved The Wind in the Willows (and still remembers what Ratty and Mole had for their picnic). -- Sarah Stacey You Magazine

• IntroductionHow to use this bookGetting startedRelaxWatch the cloudsNotebook: cloudsHare spottingNotebook: The mythology of the hareSearch for fairy ringsSavour the seasonsNotebook: The best of the seasonsWatch the sunsetStar gazingNotebook: Key stars and constellations in the night skyCount magpiesNotebook: MagpiesGo gate spottingVisit churches and churchyardsPlayThe humble grassNotebook: the importance of grassRoll down a hillHave fun with wild clayNotebook: Clays in the UKSheep's wool and natural dyesNotebook: Wool and wealth - how it shaped the UK and beyondLooking at butterflies and mothsNotebook: Ten common night and day moths in the UKNotebook: Ten common butterflies in the UKPlay with iceFun with flowersPlaying with stonesLet's go fly a kiteGames for walkingBe curiousSun magic: understanding the sunNotebook: Understanding our solar systemWild flower spottingHawks and falconsNotebook: Man and hawkAgeing walls and hedgerowsNotebook: The history of fieldsSpotting migrating birdsNotebook: Bird migrationSpiders and their diamond necklacesNotebook: Some interesting spidersSeek out interesting insectsFossick for fossilsVisit standing stonesCollect some antlersBe adventurousGet off the beaten trackBivouac under the starsTry some navigation challengesFollow ancient routes on long-distance pathsGet up highNotebook: SkylarksTake off your shoesGo on an Arthurian questQuestionsWhat rock am I standing on?Where can I see Red Squirrels? Why does a dock leaf help soothe a nettle sting?Where do scientists get their species names from?Which flowers do bees like? What is the story behind Morris dancing?Why do roads have bedns?What's so great about cowpats?ResourcesSafetyTicks and Lyme DiseaseUseful linksBibliographyAcknowledgements

Tessa Wardley and her family love playing in the great outdoors. Here she shares a host of brilliant ideas for relaxation, energetic activities, games, watching wildlife as well as facts and stories about the countryside. Her first book, The River Book was published in May 2012 and the follow-up, The Woodland Book in April 2014.

This [The River Book] is going straight to my 'favourite country books' shelf. BBC Countryfile If you love being by water, you will love this inspiring tome [The River Book]. And if you have children you will do a little jog at the brilliant ideas for holiday entertainment ... It is irresistible for anyone, especially those who loved The Wind in the Willows (and still remembers what Ratty and Mole had for their picnic). -- Sarah Stacey You Magazine

• IntroductionHow to use this bookGetting startedRelaxWatch the cloudsNotebook: cloudsHare spottingNotebook: The mythology of the hareSearch for fairy ringsSavour the seasonsNotebook: The best of the seasonsWatch the sunsetStar gazingNotebook: Key stars and constellations in the night skyCount magpiesNotebook: MagpiesGo gate spottingVisit churches and churchyardsPlayThe humble grassNotebook: the importance of grassRoll down a hillHave fun with wild clayNotebook: Clays in the UKSheep's wool and natural dyesNotebook: Wool and wealth - how it shaped the UK and beyondLooking at butterflies and mothsNotebook: Ten common night and day moths in the UKNotebook: Ten common butterflies in the UKPlay with iceFun with flowersPlaying with stonesLet's go fly a kiteGames for walkingBe curiousSun magic: understanding the sunNotebook: Understanding our solar systemWild flower spottingHawks and falconsNotebook: Man and hawkAgeing walls and hedgerowsNotebook: The history of fieldsSpotting migrating birdsNotebook: Bird migrationSpiders and their diamond necklacesNotebook: Some interesting spidersSeek out interesting insectsFossick for fossilsVisit standing stonesCollect some antlersBe adventurousGet off the beaten trackBivouac under the starsTry some navigation challengesFollow ancient routes on long-distance pathsGet up highNotebook: SkylarksTake off your shoesGo on an Arthurian questQuestionsWhat rock am I standing on?Where can I see Red Squirrels? Why does a dock leaf help soothe a nettle sting?Where do scientists get their species names from?Which flowers do bees like? What is the story behind Morris dancing?Why do roads have bedns?What's so great about cowpats?ResourcesSafetyTicks and Lyme DiseaseUseful linksBibliographyAcknowledgements