Autumn is just around the corner here in the UK and it is my fave season-usually anyway after a good summer, which we haven't had again!

I have a few ideas for you and your loved ones to try and keep them occupied over the chillier days/nights.

The

leaves are in abundance falling off the trees in parks and streets.Take yourselves off to the park armed with bags and wellies-which I prefer.My kids and I love to run through and kick the fallen leaves! It's great fun and burns off energy and calories-making way for the delicious puds we make in colder months.You should find a variety of leaves, perfect for making painted leaf pictures with.Bring home as many varieties as possible and dry out if wet.When they are wet simply paint the veined side of the leaf and press onto paper or card.Alternatively, you can make leaf pictures.Last year we made a hegehog family on paper out of leaves and they looked really good.You can also add horse chestnuts and conkers if you like.

Conkers-mmmm.I'm a bit on the fence with these although my kids love them.Simply collect your conkers and carefully make a hole through the middle and thread with string.Whack away but be careful of fingers! My boys' school banned them last year for health and safety reasons.

Feed squirrels.Your local park will be rife with these lovely little chaps from now til the end of November looking for food for winter.They love monkey nuts and dried fruit, so you can take these when you collect leaves for your pictures.Be careful not to go too near squirrels as they can bite.

Encourage little ones to help you in the garden.Lots of plants are dying off now and need 'dead heading'.Replace dying and grubby looking plants with winter pansies which will flower all winter.I still have some actually from last Autumn and they're just dying now.If you have a veg patch-sow, sow,sow. You can save pounds growing your own and nothing beats the taste of homegrown veg.

Feed the birds.I feed the birds all year round and take great pleasure from it.My other half thinks I'm a bit waffy but I like it and get really chuffed when it's chucking it down with rain and the birds sit and wait for me to go and feed them-sad isn't it?

Make your own fruit and seed feeders for the birds-it's really easy.Melt lard slowly in a pan and when melted add bird seed,oats dried fruit etc . Pour carefully into washed yoghurt pots and put into the fridge to set.When they have set,pass string with a knot tied at the bottom through the feeder and take off the pot.These can be hung in bushes or placed onto bird tables.They also like grated cheese,apple,stale bread,crackers and stale cake-not that there's much of that in our house!

Encourage healthy eating and cooking.Mine can cook simple stuff like flapjack and scones.We pass many an hour baking and it helps with their learning process.I also make my own Xmas cake and make them for family and friends so that keeps them busy.Especially when it comes to licking the bowl.

Enjoy Autumn.It is full of colour and vibrant.Watch out for wildlife, there are things you see more of now, hedgehogs,birds coming home for winter or migrating.

Enjoy your loved ones.Nothing beats cuddling up on the sofa in front of the fire on a chilly evening.