Wild Summer: Kid-Friendly Wildlife Conservation Programs in the UK 🦔🌿🇬🇧
School’s out, the sun is (hopefully) shining, and your kids are ready for a summer of fun. But what if your family adventures could also help protect the planet?
The UK is brimming with amazing opportunities for children to get hands-on with nature and learn how to care for the wildlife right on their doorstep. From hedgehogs to honeybees, forests to wetlands—there’s something to spark every child’s curiosity.
Here are some of the best kid-friendly wildlife conservation programs and activities your family can get involved with this summer.
🐾 1. RSPB Wild Challenge
🦉 Ages: All
📍 Anywhere in the UK
💻 Website: www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) offers a free, online Wild Challenge with over 30 fun nature-based activities, from building a bug hotel to going on a minibeast safari. Kids earn bronze, silver, and gold awards as they complete activities at home or in a local green space.
Great for: Busy families looking for flexible, self-guided learning with real conservation value.
🦋 2. Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count
🦋 Ages: 3+
📍 Nationwide
📅 Dates: Mid-July to early August
💻 Website: www.bigbutterflycount.org
This annual UK-wide survey invites families to spend just 15 minutes counting butterflies in their garden, park, or local wild spot. It’s easy, free, and a fantastic way to teach kids how data collection helps scientists track the health of our ecosystems.
Don’t forget to download the free app and ID chart!
🐝 3. The Wildlife Trusts: Wild Summer Events
🦊 Ages: 3+
📍 Across the UK
💻 Website: www.wildlifetrusts.org/events
With over 46 local Wildlife Trusts across the UK, there’s likely an event near you—from pond dipping and wild art sessions to mini beast safaris and nature trails. Many of their centres also offer family volunteering opportunities like habitat restoration and beach cleans.
Check with your local Wildlife Trust for holiday programs and summer nature clubs.
🦡 4. National Trust '50 Things to Do Before You’re 11¾'
🍃 Ages: 4–12
📍 UK-wide National Trust properties
💻 Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/50-things
This popular campaign encourages children to explore the outdoors through a mix of challenges like “climb a tree,” “go on a nature walk at night,” and “track wild animals.” Some National Trust sites also run junior ranger days and wildlife workshops during school holidays.
You can collect stamps or tick off the challenges in their free booklet or app!
🐸 5. Froglife’s Dragon Finder Project
🐸 Ages: 5+
📍 Urban and rural sites across the UK
💻 Website: www.froglife.org
Froglife is dedicated to amphibian and reptile conservation. Their “Dragon Finder” activities include habitat creation, wildlife gardening, and community education. They also run family events in parks and reserves where children can learn about frogs, toads, and newts through games and interactive talks.
Perfect for budding young scientists and bug lovers!
🐾 6. ZSL’s Junior Conservationists at Whipsnade & London Zoo
🦓 Ages: 7–11
📍 London & Bedfordshire
💻 Website: www.zsl.org
The Zoological Society of London runs immersive holiday workshops where children become “Junior Conservationists” for the day. Activities include behind-the-scenes zoo experiences, animal care, and learning how zoos contribute to global conservation.
Booking essential—these sell out quickly during holidays!
🧺 Bonus: Create Your Own Mini Backyard Conservation Project
If you’re staying close to home, there are still countless ways to encourage conservation at a child’s level:
Start a wildflower patch to attract bees and butterflies
Build a bug hotel or hedgehog house
Run a plastic-free challenge or litter pick with friends
Join a local tree-planting event or beach clean-up
🌍 Why Involve Kids in Conservation?
When kids feel connected to nature, they’re more likely to protect it. Conservation isn’t just about saving animals—it’s about raising future caretakers of the Earth. These experiences:
Boost confidence and independence
Spark curiosity and creativity
Build empathy for all living things
Help kids understand that their actions matter
💬 Final Thoughts: Wild Hearts Start Young
Whether it’s counting butterflies, pond dipping, or joining a junior ranger program, this summer can be so much more than just screen time and ice cream. It can be a season of learning, exploring, and helping the natural world.
So grab your wellies, your bug net, and your sense of wonder—and let the wild summer begin!
🌿 Did you know we also run child-focused safari experiences in South Africa?
If you're planning a longer adventure, check out The Little Bush Baby Company—a unique, family-run safari experience designed to inspire young conservationists through hands-on wildlife education in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal.
📩 Want more tips on raising eco-minded kids?
Join my mailing list or follow me on Facebook @KateWOnSafari for ideas, family travel inspiration, and parenting in the wild—wherever you are in the world.
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