Here are a few ideas from our partner organisations to keep young minds (and the young at heart) entertained while staying at home. Please follow government advice whilst taking part in these activities.
We have also been asking our residents to share some of their daily photos of the Nene Valley as part of their daily exercise. Visit our gallery below.
30 Days Wild
This June, join thousands of people taking part in the annual Wildlife Trust nature challenge, 30 Days Wild! We want you to do one wild thing a day throughout the whole month: for your health, wellbeing and for the planet. That’s 30 simple, fun and exciting Random Acts of Wildness. Sign up now!
50 Things to do before you’re 11¾
Get your kids closer to nature with the National Trust’s ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’. Plan your next adventure in the back garden.
Bringing the Nene to you
Nenescape and One to One Development Trust worked together to collect stories, memories, films, photos and artwork of people’s connections to the Nene. See the website and explore a digital section of the river here.
Cycling
Learn more about cycling for beginners with lots of information on easy bike maintenance etc. from our Cycle Northants friends.
Delapre Abbey virtual tours
Threatened with destruction many times during its 900 year history, Delapré Abbey has managed to survive and has recently been part restored with support from Northampton Borough Council, devoted volunteers and a £3.65 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund
Forestry England Tree Trumps
Discover who has the best trees in their hand by pitting them against each other in Forestry England’s Tree Trumps game.
Froglife
Take part in conserving wildlife from home! Get dug into a new Wildlife Pond Visualiser App, dig a new pond and see if you can have new visitors to your garden!
Gardening for wildlife
Your garden is a mini nature reserve! Learn how to make it a great home for wildlife with the RSPB.
Have a budding angler?
The Angling Trust’s new Fishing Buzz website is full of information, resources, craft ideas and more for the young (and more mature) anglers in your family.
Isolated moments
Fermynwoods staff and artists provide online workshops, prompts and tutorials for our series Isolated Moments, to keep spirits buoyed and creativity alive during COVID-19 global social isolating and quarantining measures.
Join the virtual library
If you wish to access e-books, e-audiobooks, e-newspapers and e-magazines, and also every resource in Northamptonshire Archive Services’s online reference section, without becoming a full library member, you can become a Virtual library member.
Leanne Conroy’s colouring sheets
Download nature-inspired line drawings by local artist Leanne Conroy to colour. Staying within the lines is not required!
Leather in Shakespeare online exhibition
Leather is everywhere. Not least in the words of our beloved Bard, William Shakespeare. Check out some wonderful colouring sheets inspired by decorative items in the Museum of Leathercraft collection.
Lockdown Learning with NFU
Teaming up with EatFarmNow, #LockdownLearning brings the world of food and farming and the joy of being out on the farm and in the countryside to the comfort of your own home during the current lockdown.
Nenescape’s Nene Valley Kids Quiz
Welcome to our first quiz! This is a beginner level quiz with just five questions that tests your general Nene Valley knowledge, and over the coming weeks we’ll be writing new ones on a range of different topics to see how you get on. They’re all just for fun.
Northampton Filmhouse at home
Enjoy an online programme of quality films providing the communal cinema experience from home.
Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
Our renowned shoe collection isn’t just about physical shoes – we also have lots of hand-painted or hand-sketched shoe designs as well as other shoe-related items. Read more in this month’s blog here.
Notice 3 things in nature
Started by our good friends Outdoor Tribe, venture out to the garden or go for your daily walk and notice 3 things in nature. You might like to try a daily theme such as birds or bees!
PECT nature school
PECT has created a multitude of resources to enhance your children’s understanding of the world around them and to enable them to discover more about the environment. Our new Nature’s School resource is all about bringing families together to enjoy, appreciate and protect their time together. By doing so it can have a positive effect on physical and mental health and ultimately our natural environment as well.
Settlers of the Nene Valley at home
The Settlers project team members have prepared workbooks and craft videos for you to download. Try some of the activities that have been enjoyed by ‘young settlers’ at local primary schools.
Spencer Perceval and the wider history of Northampton
Mike Ingram and the Northamptonshire Battlefields Society are sharing some fascinating and almost untold stories of Northampton past. From battles to assassinations and much more, there’s lots of history to explore.
Spring has sprung!
Spring has sprung! So, enjoy all the beautiful offerings of this time of year and see how many signs of spring you can spot in your garden or while out on your daily walk/ride. Lots of activities and craft ideas from our friends at Northamptonshire Country Parks.
Stay In Work Out with Sport England
Find lots of fun and creative ideas on how to get active at home, with exclusive offers and workouts from content providers such as Les Mills on Demand, Joe Wicks (The Body Coach) and FiiT. Visit website here.
Top Trumps
Remember the 80s/90s when Top Trumps was the best game ever? Well we’ve worked with our Wildlife Trust friends on this SPA bird game you can print at home!
Virtual tour of 78 Derngate
Take a virtual wander through our buildings or use the buttons to jump to specific places. The view can be panned and zoomed using your pointer and the on-screen controls.
Wildlife Trust videos and activities
Get inspiration for a wildlife journal, learn about the nature in your garden and much more with the Wildlife Trust.