Activity
Count your wild miles
Challenge yourself and your family to travel on your own steam instead of using the car.
Wildlife can only use the power of its wings, fins and feet to move and some species make amazing migrations.
Can you match a small proportion of their efforts in just one week?
- You could match a Painted Lady butterfly by travelling a total of eight miles (they travel 800 miles from North Africa in the wild).
- Go a little further and match a Waxwing by travelling 11 miles (they travel 1,100 miles from Scandinavia in the wild).
- Match a Brent Goose by travelling 19 miles (they travel 1,900 from Canada in the wild).
- Or match a swooping Swift by travelling 30 miles (they travel 3,000 miles from western Africa in the wild).
- Match a calling Cuckoo by travelling 50 miles (they travel 5,000 miles from Africa in the wild).
- Or you could really go for it and match a Manx Shearwater by travelling 63 miles (they travel 6,300 miles from South America in the wild).
Why is it great for nature?
Cutting down your carbon footprint and taking an important step to help counter global warming.
What's in it for you?
By walking or cycling instead of driving, you’ll get closer to nature and do something good for your health.
PS: Make sure you take a parent or guardian with you on your travels.
Instructions
Print out our ‘count your wild miles’ sheet. Or make a tally chart with names on the left and space to tally up your total on the right. Stick your sheet or tally chart it to the fridge.
When anyone in your family walks, runs, cycles or scoots a route they would normally do in the car, use Google Maps to find out how far it is.
