Free and cheap activities for October half term 2024
I always publish what’s on guides for October half term in West Midlands but I know days out can get expensive. I’ve recently received some information about free and cheap activities for October half term 2024 from the Canal and River Trust and Butterfly Conservation, so I thought I’d share them here.
Canal and River Trust Free and cheap activities for October half term 2024
This Hallowe’en half term, the Canal & River Trust is encouraging families in the West Midlands to join its #PlasticsChallenge and take action on their local canal to fight the global issue of plastic pollution. Autumn is a perfect time to visit, with trees and hedges turning the local canals into spectacular corridors of red and gold. By donning optional fancy dress and picking up some plastic, those taking part can get a feel-good boost from being close to nature while taking action to protect it this Hallowe’en half term.
As the charity that looks after 520 miles of canals and rivers across the West Midlands area, the Canal & River Trust knows how important water is to the nation’s health, as well as to the many species of wonderful wildlife who make their homes on the waterways. But, every year, millions of pieces of plastic end up in and around canals. Plastic rubbish damages vital waterside habitats, impacts water quality, endangers species such as aquatic birds, water voles and otters, and ultimately can end up flowing out into the oceans.
Plastics Challenge
Joining the Canal & River Trust’s #PlasticsChallenge and doing a daytime litter pick in fancy dress at a local canal is an awesome way to spend time outdoors with family and friends and help to protect the world’s oceans by making a positive change in the local area. Fancy dress is entirely optional!
- Visit your local canal, during daylight, in your best Hallowe’en costume and carefully collect any plastic you see
- Dispose of it safely and sustainably by taking it home to recycle
- Spread the word! Take pictures of your pick and use #PlasticsChallenge on social media to encourage others to get involved
Butterfly Conservation Free and cheap activities for October half term 2024
Need some inspiration to entertain the kids during the holidays? Embrace spooky season with Butterfly Conservation’s top five weird, wild and wonderful things to do this October Half Term.
Carve a butterfly or moth pumpkin
Get ready for spooky season by carving a butterfly or moth inspired pumpkin. Simply head over to the Butterfly Conservation website and pick a butterfly or moth, copy their outline onto your pumpkin and cut out your design! If you want to make things more detailed, print out a picture, trace the butterfly or moth using tracing paper and thick pencil, and transfer it onto your pumpkin. Then it’s time to get carving! Share your designs with Butterfly Conservation on their social media channels @savebutterflies
Go on a weird and wild walk
Autumn is the season when things tend to get a bit weird in the wildlife world. Grab your wellies and your raincoat (just in case) and head out to see what weird and wild things you spot! From zombie caterpillars to skeleton leaves, check out Butterfly Conservation’s spooky spotter sheet for some ideas of what to look out for – https://butterfly-conservation.org/discover-and-learn/activities-and-resources/spotter-sheets
Stay up after dark!
Although the nights are drawing in, there’s still lots to see after the sun goes down! Make your own moth trap using this handy tutorial and see what’s lurking in your outdoor spaces after dark. No time for DIY? Grab a torch and check out fallen fruit, berries or Ivy to see which moths are enjoying a sweet treat. You can even make your own moth cocktail with some wine (not for you, parents), sugar and a rope. Simple heat a bottle cheap red wine (do not boil) and stir in and dissolve 1kg sugar. Allow the mixture to cool and then soak a length or lengths of rope in the sugary concoction. Drape the “wine ropes” over low branches, bushes or fences just before dusk and check for moths by torch light during the first two hours of darkness.
Play hide and seek
Ever wondered what butterflies get up to during the colder months of the year? Some overwinter as caterpillars, some as eggs or chrysalises, and a few species, like the Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock will spend the winter as adult butterflies. To help them stay snug and safe over winter, encourage the kids to get outside and make butterfly and moth hiding places! Leaf piles and log piles are brilliant spots for caterpillars to hunker down or pupate, and leaving your hedges and Ivy uncut can help provide hiding spots for adult butterflies and moths. You can even create a “butterfly door” in outbuildings, sheds and other cool, dry places by leaving a hole or a gap to allow adult butterflies to enter in the winter and leave again in spring.
Make a moth mask
Need some Halloween costume inspiration? Try making your own moth mask. This fun craft will have the kids entertained even on rainy days and can make a fun party activity. You can even get creative with natural materials you collect from your weird and wild walk.
