Outdoors ยท Nature & outdoors

Night-time garden safari

When it cools down after dark, go on a torch-lit hunt for spiders' eyes, moths, snails and geckos.

  • Ages 4โ€“12best for 5โ€“10
  • 30โ€“60 minabout 10 mins of prep
  • Prep on the dayplan below
  • Freenothing to buy
  • Backyardon a hot day
  • Adult-ledlow mess

Plan it

Good planning makes a good day. Tick things off as you go.

1Day before

2On the day

0 of 2 done ยท

You'll need

From home

  • Torches
  • closed shoes
  • a notebook

To buy

  • Red-light head torches
  • a bug catcher
๐Ÿช„ Wizard's tip

On a hot night, this is the best hour of the day: it's finally cool, and they think staying up is a treat.

How to do it

  1. Head out after dark with torches.
  2. Hold the torch at eye level to spot spiders' eyes shining back.
  3. Check under leaves and near lights for moths, snails and geckos.
  4. Record what you find, then switch torches off for a minute to listen.

Younger kids: Hold hands and keep to the lawn; spot moths at the porch light.

Older kids: Keep a 'night animals' log with sketches and try to identify them online.

โš  Safety Closed shoes. Look, don't touch: some spiders bite. Watch for snakes near long grass and woodpiles.

Builds Nature connectionCuriosity & science thinkingHealthy risk-taking

Clean-up 5 minutes.

Make it a bigger day Follow with stargazing from the backyard.

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Night-time garden safari