National Trust to open parks and gardens for free amid social distancing
They will be closing cafés and shops
Last updated 18th Mar 2020
Following the news that the UK should be exercising social distancing where possible and self-isolating if they have any Coronavirus symptoms, such as a fever or cough, the National Trust have announced they will be opening many of their parks and gardens for free.
In a statement, Europe’s largest conservation charity have revealed they will, 'open as many of its gardens and parks for free, but close its houses, cafes and shops to help the nation fight the spread of the coronavirus.'
Speaking about the decision Director-General of the National Trust, Hilary McGrady said, "The National Trust was founded 125 years ago for the benefit of the entire nation. We want to honour our mission – to enable people and nature to thrive. Over the coming weeks we will do all that we can to keep on providing public benefit through caring for places and giving people access wherever possible.
"While we will close our indoor areas to help fight the spread of coronavirus, we recognise that people are likely to need access to open space and to nature, beauty and history."
This decision follows the advice from the government earlier this week to avoid non-essential contact, keeping away from bars, clubs, restaurants etc, however it is possible to go for walks as long as the recommended two metre distance is observed.
If you're at home with children then here are some ways to keep them entertained:
Treasure hunt
If you're stuck at home for a while, then make it fun for your kids by hiding things around the house, and garden.
Whether it's eggs in the run up to Easter, or a total surprise, you can find plenty of ideas for clues on the Internet and we're sure you'll find some tricky places to hide the prizes.
Why not try out this Treasure Hunt Game from Amazon for £25.95?
I Spy
Normally saved for travelling in the car, why not try I Spy at home? Don't feel restricted to items in the house, if the weather is good get outside and choose something there. "I spy with my little eye…"
Science experiment
We're not recommending you turn your kitchen into a chemistry lab, but there are plenty of child-friendly science experiments available online or in the shops.
Whether you want to grow crystals, or make slime there will be something to occupy your kids. Just beware, it could get a bit messy!
Why not try out this Science Kit for Kids from Amazon for £15.99?
Painting
Painting, whether it's finger painting, or something more refined, it's a great way to spend a few hours (or even longer). If think your artistic skills are a limited then why not try painting by numbers instead?
Why not try out this Crayola Washable Kids Paint from Amazon for £4.99?
Learn a new language or improve one you already know
Always wanted to get your family learning a new language, or had to cancel a holiday recently? It doesn't matter that you aren't in the country that speaks the language. There are plenty of online language classes from free videos on YouTube to full courses that you pay for.
Why not try out this French Audio Course from Amazon for £14.72?
Computer games
There are so many computer games available, the list is endless, but there are plenty of party games suitable for kids and families to play, for the older kids, there are many games that will occupy them for hours or even days!
Pizza making
Make cooking a fun part of the day by getting your kids to make their own pizzas. If you're feeling adventurous you can make the dough yourself, otherwise just get the pizza bases and cover them with toppings of your choice.
Baking
If savoury cooking isn't your thing, try baking. Making a cake or cupcakes can be a great way to have fun in the kitchen with your little ones, for the younger ones they can help you decorate the cake. Meanwhile, older ones can help you make the mixture from scratch.
Den-making
It's time to take all of the cushions off the sofa and get the spare sheets out of the cupboard. There's nothing better than making a den for big and little kids, it might even take you back to your childhood.
In the garden
Even if the weather isn't great you can get your kids' green fingers started inside. Now is a great time to pick up some seedlings and sort out your greenhouse.
If the weather is good, get out and explore the garden. Grab a magnifying glass and have a look at the insects and plants a bit closer!
Board games
Don't discredit the good old board games. Although you might be tempted to bring out some of the family favourites like Monopoly or Scrabble, why not push the boat out and try something a bit different. It can be fun to learn a new board game as a family, some games that are easy to pick up include Carcassonne or Port Royal.
Why not try out Carcassonne from Amazon for £25.95?
Puzzles
Whatever their age, you'll be able to find a suitable puzzle, from the simple 10-piece ones for the younger kids, to the 1000 piece puzzles for the old kids, puzzles are a great way to occupy kids for a few hours over the week.
If you can set aside some space for it, then even better so they can go back to it when they have a moment. Finishing a puzzle can be a great sense of achievement and you can even buy some puzzles suitable for framing.
Why not try out this Impossible Puzzle from Amazon for £7.50?
Have a go at Origami
You don't have to visit Japan, to have a go at Origami and you don't even have to have fancy paper to do it, you can start off with some plain square paper (just fold an A4 piece into a diagonal).
Step-by-step directions on how to create everything from the crane to dinosaur can be found online for free, so if you have plenty of time on your hands this is a great skill to hone.
Why not try out this Origami Kit from Amazon for £13.99?
Read more:
9 ways to be more productive working from home
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