Contact us
Visit CPRE.org
Donate
Countryside Challenge
This page contains all the supporting information for our Countryside Challenge booklet. If you haven’t got a booklet but would like to take part, download a copy below.
Countryside Challenge Booklet
This booklet has seven challenges for you to complete as you explore green spaces near your home and the countryside. Download it and print at home if you don’t have a copy.
Challenge 2 – exploring my local greenspace
A greenspace is an area of grass, trees or other plants set aside for people to use or for nature. Green spaces near our homes make the environment better by cleaning the air and helping people to feel more relaxed. They are also places for people to exercise, play and enjoy themselves.
-
- If you have access to a mobile phone, you can use the free ‘Seek’ app to identify plants, bugs, birds and animals.
Find out more about the Seek app here
- Extension sheet 1: use your senses to explore your local greenspace and write about what you experienced. Draw a picture of the activities you can enjoy there, and a map showing how the park is laid out.
- If you need some inspiration, here is an example map!
- Extension sheet 2: The Court Hey Park Rose Garden. Find out more about the history of the rose garden here at Court Hey Park, as well as how historic English roses were different from our modern roses, and colour in your own design for the flower beds.
Challenge 3 – cutting down on waste
Waste in our countryside harms our soils, rivers and oceans. Excessive and single-use packaging costs money to remove, destroy or recycle, and contributes to the climate emergency. And wasted energy, such as light pollution, can also have a harmful effect on nature and the climate. Here are some ideas for ways that you can make a difference:
- Find out how to make a watering can from a plastic bottle
- Reuse tin cans to make into plantpots for windowsill herbs
- some ideas for recycled containers
- here is a blog post about growing lettuce on the windowsill
Dark skies: download the CPRE activity pack
Download the Skyview Lite app to find out what you can see in the night sky!
Challenge 4 – investigate local and seasonal food
Challenge 5 – how sustainable is my travel?
- Sustrans advice on staying safe on the school run
- Riding a bike without stabilisers!
- Overcoming the barriers of cycling with a disability
- How does walking and cycling help the environment?
Challenge 6 – survey a hedgerow
- Countryfile page on common hedgerow species
- What is hedgelaying?
- how do hedgerows help the environment?
Challenge 7 – the countryside code
- Extension sheet – following the countryside code
Christmas event at Court Hey Park – Grow your own Christmas Tree instructions!
If you’ve attended the session at Incredible Edible Knowsley and we have run out of instructions for growing your own Christmas tree, you can download them by clicking the orange button below.
