For Educators and Parents
April is full of signs of spring, making it a lovely month to help children slow down, look closely, and notice how quickly nature is changing. In the garden or on a woodland walk, children may spot blossom, bluebells, nest-building birds, early butterflies, and tadpoles in ponds. In 2026, Easter Sunday falls on 5 April, with Good Friday on 3 April and Easter Monday on 6 April.

This Month’s Nature Watch
Encourage children to look out for:

• Blossom on trees and hedges, bringing soft white and pink colour to gardens and lanes.

• Bluebells beginning to appear in woodlands during spring.

• Birds collecting nesting material, especially small garden birds

• More birdsong at dawn and in the morning, as spring activity builds.

• Orange-tip butterflies and other early spring insects on sunny days.

• Tadpoles in ponds and shallow water.

Story Section

Wilee’s April Wander

Wilee trotted through the garden gate with his nose twitching in the cool April air.
Something was changing.

Above him, the trees wore little clouds of blossom. Along the woodland path, tiny blue flowers began to gather like a soft mist on the ground. Somewhere high in the branches, a robin sang as if he had important news to share.

Wilee stopped beside the hedge.

A blackbird flew past with a beak full of moss.
“Building a home,” Andrew said gently, watching from the path.

Further on, near the pond, the water shimmered in the morning light. Wilee peered over the edge and saw tiny wriggles in the shallows.

“Tadpoles,” said Andrew. “New life, growing one small step at a time.”

Then a flutter of orange danced past Wilee’s nose.

A butterfly.

Wilee gave a little bounce, then remembered to stand still and simply watch. Around him, April was busy — birds building, buds opening, insects waking, and the whole woodland stretching into spring.

Back near the workshop, Andrew had hidden a few bright Easter eggs beneath flowerpots, beside tree roots, and under the old bench by the door.

Wilee sniffed one out straight away.

Then another.

And another.

But after the egg hunt was over, Andrew smiled and pointed toward the trees.

“The real treasures are out there this month,” he said.

Wilee looked again at the blossom, the birds, the bright flowers, and the waking woods.

And this time, he understood.

Simple Activity Idea

April Nature Hunt
See if children can spot:

• one blossom tree

• one bird carrying nesting material

• one butterfly or bee

• one patch of spring flowers

• one sign of Easter

• one sound they can hear but not see

Closing

April is a wonderful month for little explorers. Whether children are in the garden, at the park, or walking through the woods, there is so much to notice. Easter brings its own fun, but the natural world is full of surprises too.

More gentle adventures from Andrew the Pen Maker are coming soon.