Drawing children's wildlife watch group activities, with the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.

Alford wildlife watch group planting a hedgerow in February.

Illustrating kids in the wild can be a challenge, they are constantly on the move and as one of the wildlife watch leaders I am usually organising what they are doing, rather than sitting back and sketching, so rely on a few ,back view, snapshots taken on the day to remind me of what we were doing, when I sit down to draw the event.

It's great to have a record of all the challenges the kids have taken on each year and what a great time they've had. Every month is different depending on the seasons and our most exciting event last year was this rare Natterjack toad hunt in the sand dunes at sunset, where we heard and saw the toads singing and gathering to spawn in shallow pools along the coast.

Whether it's an owl themed indoor Christmas party with real owls visiting, or pond dipping on a hot summers day, I use our meetings as inspiration to draw the kids as they explore and delight in the natural world, charting their achievements and involvement in local conservation projects through out the year.

The children from 4years right up to 14 year olds, come along with their parents or grandparent, and we sometimes collaborate with other organisations such as local estate managers to carry out tree or hedge or marram grass planting, and seed collection projects.

Owl pellet dissection, fungi forays and this month, making bird nesting boxes have all proved extremely popular.

Next month we are off to plant the beginnings of a living willow tunnel and making plans for the annual chalk stream dipping session which is always a thrill to see what comes up in the nets, sometimes a large freshwater crayfish will pop up!

Pond dipping with the Alford Wildlife watch group.

If you think you'd like to bring your kids along contact us via Alford Wildlife Watch group on FB or www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife-watch website.