The Beach Book: Loads of Things to Do at Lakes, Rivers and the Seaside

You don't need to live right on the water's edge to have fun at the beach! The Beach Book is all about finding wild places at the seaside, as well as by lakes and rivers and making the most of opportunities to explore and enjoy all these places have to offer. You can have fun: Discovering beach wildlife (eg. rock pooling, crabbing and fishing or making a rock-pool viewer) and exploring sand dunes and beach combing. Making the most of lakes and rivers by foraging, damming and diverting streams and boat racing. Using natural resources to play and invent new games (e.g., stone Jenga and skittles, ball runs and boules or funny face games. Being creative (e.g., making driftwood monsters, marram grass dolls and creating sand paintings).

Fiona Danks is an environmental educator and author who works with her writing partner Jo Schofield to create beautiful books about the natural world. Fiona and Jo believe that reconnecting everyone with nature is vital if we are to understand our reliance on a healthy and biodiverse natural world, and ensure it is protected for the future. They believe that all children and families should regularly spend time outdoors in green spaces where nature can weave its magic upon them.  

Together they have been writing and photographing the Going Wild books for the last fifteen years.  Through their books and website, they inspire families everywhere to get outside and become immersed in the natural world. They have run events, lead training courses for teachers and environmental educators, presented at conferences as keynote speakers, written articles, and they are helping to build the Leaves for Life Campaign (@joinleavesforlife) to raise awareness of the ecological emergency. Their latest book Make This Book Wild was shortlisted for The Week Junior Book Awards for best Illustrated books.

They both live at the foot of the Chiltern Hills in South Oxfordshire, where they enjoy natural history, walking and exploring the local countryside. For more information on how to encourage children to go outdoors, visit Jo and Fiona's website - www.goingwild.net