Self-led Trails

Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Self-led Treks

Transforming the Trent Valley’s Wildchild Project has created a self led treks for families with young children. Our treks are a series of interesting and fun activities, based on the natural and unique features of our nature reserves and green spaces. As you walk round the site, the activities will change a casual walk into an adventure! The treks can become a part of your regular visits or perhaps introduce you to a new site. As they are self led and based on features, you can visit whenever it suits you!

How to take part:
To request a copy of one of our Self-led Treks, just choose the trek you would like to try from those listed below, click the relevant ‘Register Now’ button and complete our request form. Once you have submitted the request form, we will send you a confirmation email with a link to the trek to download, a link to site information and a map to help you find your way there.

Thanks to funding by the National Lottery Heritage Fund these treks are free to download.

Who are they for:
Suitable for families with young children, but that doesn’t mean that older children can’t take part too. The treks are focused around the first section of the reserve, but if you would like to explore further just keep following the path.

Why they were made:
As lockdown eases many families might still be unsure of attending events and activities, but will want to spend time outside, enjoy the fresh air and open space. These treks give families the freedom to visit local sites in the Trent Valley landscape and venture out at their own pace.

Self-led Toddler Trek at Beans Covert

Download our Beans Covert trek and visit one of East Staffordshire Borough Council’s great greenspaces. From the Clays Lane cycle path, step into this amazing woodland. Walk over the gradual slopes and dips under tall trees and listen for birds singing above. Use the trek booklet to spot some of this woods’ interesting features and take part in some suggested activities.

The site is big so take your time and enjoy the nature around you. To find the features you and your little one will need to keep your eyes peeled on this woodland exploration! Visit this site all year round and watch the trees change across the seasons.

Keep yourself, your family, and the wildlife safe by sticking to the main paths. Respect the site by taking all your litter away with you.

Supported by East Staffordshire Borough Council and Branston Parish Council

Download your trek here!

Self-led Toddler Trek at Tucklesholme

Download our Tucklesholme trek and visit this great reserve. Follow the flat path around the corner of the lake, and take in the open air! Walk around our large shimmering lake, look out for the diving birds disappearing and popping up from the reflective surface, and watch with anticipation as swans fly down for dramatic water landings.

Check your map as you go, keep your eyes peeled for the described features and look out for new things to spot along the way. Take your time and enjoy the nature around you.

Keep yourself, your family, the wildlife and our site safe by sticking to the path and take all litter away with you.

Funded by Aggregate Industries UK

Download your trek here!

Self-led Toddler Trek at Croxall Lakes

Download our Croxall Lakes trek and visit this great reserve. Follow the flat path around the corner of the lake, and tune in to the seasonal sights. All year round you can spot waterfowl paddling on the lake and hear birds high up in the trees. In spring, catch glimpses of butterflies and bees flying past along the brambles. In summer spot the dragonflies zig zagging above your head and little frogs emerging from the undergrowth. During autumn see the colour of the leaves change around the lake, then when the chilly weather hits wrap up warm for a winter walk.

Check your map as you go and keep your eyes peeled for the pictured features, answer the questions. Take your time and enjoy the nature around you.

Keep yourself, your family, the wildlife and our site safe by sticking to the path and take all litter away with you.

Download your trek here!

Self-led Trek Booklet

Have you been enjoying a local walk recently? or looking for fun activity inspiration to bring along with you on a new walk? We would like to introduce our Tucklesholme inspired Trek booklet as a great bundle of activities to try, as you explore your local natural spaces. The booklet identifies key features of our Tucklesholme Nature Reserve and suggests links to the nature you will likely spot while on a walk. It aims to make your usual or new walking route an adventure by asking you to see, hear and think about the features you come across. You can even create a map of your journey at the end.

Suitable for young and older children.

Keep yourself, your family, the wildlife safe and respect your local natural space.

Funded by Aggregate Industries UK

Download your trek here!