There are countless things you can do in Spring, especially as the weather gets warmer! But if you don’t plan ahead, it can be easy to overspend. To help you stick to your budget, we’ve explored 15 cheap or free things you can add to your spring bucket list below:

1. Feed the Ducks

Although this is an activity that particularly appeals to small children, you’re never too old to enjoy feeding the ducks! Living in the UK, there is rarely a lake or pond too far away, so you shouldn’t have to travel far to find some local ducks. Just remember that bread doesn’t tend to have nutritional value for ducks, so make sure you bring duck-friendly food. This includes cracked corn, uncooked oats, birdseed, cooked or uncooked rice, lettuce, and sliced grapes.

2. Go for a Walk

You don’t need to always come up with new and innovative ideas to entertain the kids – sometimes the simple things are best! So why not go for a walk, whether it’s a route you’ve taken hundreds of times, or finding a new hiking trail nearby. Enjoy the sunshine on your face and the sounds of nature all around you. Just don’t forget to take plenty of water and put on some sun cream before heading out.

3. Bake Some Seasonal Treats

From biscuits and cakes to pies and quiches, there are loads of recipes that involve seasonal ingredients. Strawberries are often a good choice, as are things like apricots and cherries. Perhaps make this an activity the whole family takes part in – you can show the kids how to make their favourite seasonal treats. 

4. Make a Bird Feeder

All sorts of birds start to come out in spring, so why not make a bird feeder to attract them to your garden? These can be made from all sorts of different materials, including teacups and saucers! Or if you already have a bird feeder, you and your family could always make up some bird food to put in them!

5. Have a Picnic

When you think of spring, one of the things that comes to mind may be a picnic on a warm day! Whether it’s in your own garden or at a nearby park, invite friends and family round for a lovely picnic. This is the sort of thing that leaves you with great memories, as well as a full stomach! And if you bring along a frisbee or some outdoor games, you can really make a day of it.

6. Go Strawberry Picking

While lots of berries don’t ripen until later in the year, such as blackberries and raspberries, strawberries tend to come out a little earlier. As soon as the warmer weather starts, you can start looking in hedgerows for berries, or Visit a local farm that offers seasonal picking. In terms of the latter, just make sure you check opening hours and availability before turning up, to avoid disappointment!

7. Start Spring Cleaning

While it may not be the most fun thing to do, getting ahead of the spring cleaning will probably make life easier for you in the long run! Look around your home for things you no longer need, and sell them online or take them to a charity shop. Then it’s time to do all the big cleaning jobs you’ve been putting off all winter!

8. Visit a Zoo

Although a visit to the zoo can be brilliant in any season, in the spring the animals are often keen to stretch their legs after being cooped up inside during the winter. The same can be said for humans too! Zoos aren’t always that cheap to visit, but kids normally get reduced ticket prices. And you may be able to get deals – some zoos allow you to use Tesco Clubcard vouchers to offset the ticket cost, and Groupon often has offers for group tickets.

9. Fly a Kite

Emulate the Banks family in Mary Poppins, and go fly a kite! Spring tends to be the perfect season for kite flying, as there is a mix of sunny days and warm breezes. And kites are fairly inexpensive – you can even make one yourself with sticks, string, a plastic bag, glue and ribbon. Encouraging your kids to get outside and exercise is a great idea, and flying a kite can even help improve hand-eye coordination.

10. Plant Flowers and Herbs

Spring is a time of new growth, so why not join in and plant some herbs or flowers? You don’t even need a garden to plant these sorts of things, just a window box or a large planter. And if you do have room in your garden, you can even try your hand at growing vegetables – spring gardens generally include things like lettuce, peas and broccoli. If you’re unsure, you can always visit a garden centre and ask for advice about the best things to grow in spring, within your locality.

11. Paint Rocks

This can be a relaxing activity for your children, as well as the adults. Plus, it combines both the indoors and outdoors – perfect for a day that’s a little bit dreary! You just have to find some rocks with flat sides (from the beach would be ideal) and then let your creativity flow.

12. Visit the Beach

During the summer, the beach can get pretty packed. So, to avoid the crowds, you could visit the beach in spring instead. As long as you pick a sunny weekend, you’re bound to have a lovely time! From building sandcastles to buying locally sourced ice cream, there’s always plenty of things you can do by the seaside.

13. Throw a Garden Tea Party

There doesn’t need to be a special occasion to throw a tea party! If you have a garden (or something that resembles one) you simply need to provide tea and cake for your guests, and they’ll bring the conversation! You could even consider having a theme, whether it’s Alice in Wonderland or a traditional spring theme.

14. Set Up a Nature Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts don’t just have to be for kids – adults often love them too! It’s a chance to spend some time outdoors, while adding a competitive element to the day. Simply make a list of items you want participants to find, such as particular types of leaves or flowers, certain colours of rock or pebble, or a particular length of stick, then unleash them into the wild! If you’re stuck for ideas, there are plenty of scavenger hunt lists you can find online.

15. Go Camping

If you have a free weekend, why not take the family camping? There are loads of places across the UK where you can pitch up a tent, though you don’t have to travel. You may just want to go camping in your own garden! That way, you don’t need to pack up the car, there’s no possibility of forgetting something, and there are handy toilets nearby! If you have a firepit, you can toast marshmallows and tell stories around the fire as the night draws in.

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