
Inspire young nature lovers
Get wildlife activities delivered to your door when you join the Woodland Trust as a family.
Join as a familyContent manager
We've changed how we provide Nature Detectives activities for children.
A minibeast hunt is a great way for children to get up close to nature. It gets them out in the fresh air, encourages them to use their observation skills, and it gives them a chance to get hands-on with wildlife. All in all it’s a great activity for your whole family to do together. So we’ve put together some advice for going on a bug hunt, along with a checklist of creatures you might discover.
Many minibeasts are more active in spring and summer, but you’ll find things all year round if you look carefully. And unlike some animals which can be difficult to spot in the wild, you can find creepy crawlies anywhere. So get out into your garden or your local wood and see what you can find!
Our minibeast spotter sheet features common creepy crawlies like ladybirds, millipedes and worms. See how many you can tick off.
Minibeasts live in all sorts of habitats. Many prefer dark, damp spots in gardens and woods, so this is a good place to start your hunt. Encourage children to use their best detective skills to track creatures down:
Lots of creepy crawlies live in trees and shrubs. Lay a piece of white cloth, such as an old sheet or pillow case, under a tree or bush and gently shake the branches. You’ll be surprised how many tiny creatures fall out.
Remember – bugs are very tiny, so be careful if you pick them up and always put them back where you found them.
You don’t need any special equipment to go on a bug hunt, but the items below might help if your children want to get a closer look at the creepy crawlies they find.
If your family is mad about bugs, you’ll love our pocket-sized minibeast ID book. It features 28 creepy crawlies and flying insects, so it’s great for taking on woodland walks. It’s packed with colour photos to help with identification, and has fascinating facts that children will love!
Get wildlife activities delivered to your door when you join the Woodland Trust as a family.
Join as a familyTrees woods and wildlife
Find out about the millions of woodland insects and invertebrates that live among the leaves, under bark, in dead wood, leaf litter and soil.
Blog
Danielle Wesley • 13 May 2019
Blog
Danielle Wesley • 05 Sep 2019