To get an overview of what’s on, have a look at the calendar of events where I try to add all the things that I find out about.

However, in spite of trying to be ever so meticulous, even today I came across events this weekend that are not in the calendar. So, fittingly, I’m going to feature them here and now.

The Scottish Youth Theatre have their most recent Family Storytime event on with The Lad Who Went to the North Wind, on 25th and 26th February. We like the Scottish Youth Theatre very much so this is bound to be another fun filled and interactive event, a great introduction to the theatre for 3-7 year olds. 10.30am and 12.30pm, price £5 per ticket, under 2s go free, family of 4 £15. Booking highly recommended: www.scottishyouththeatre.org, 0141 552 3988

Find out more about the RSPB, their campaign work and how they help birds of all kinds, from back garden species to birds on the other side of the world. Thinking of becoming a member but not sure what it involves? Come along to this FREE membership taster day and find out all about Lochwinnoch, and take part in a guided walk of the reserve. Includes introductory talk, guided walk, Q&A session, tea/coffee and a chance to find out more about RSPB campaigns and how you can get involved. 25th November, Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, 11am-2pm, free.

This weekend, Urban Roots (also a Southside organisation) had set up a weekend of creating living willow structures, and I’d been looking forward to this for quite a while. I’m quite partial to anything to do with wood, and it was definitely on my wish list to learn a thing or two about willow. At the end of the summer, when the Forgotten Island disappeared, there were piles of living willow going for free and I was tempted to make use of some, but then thought better of it, not knowing much about willow or how to look after it.

Today, the 10 people or so who took part in the workshop, created a willow dome and tunnel which has added a children’s corner and play area to the community garden. I tested it out with my kids later in the day and it definitely got the thumbs up.

What I really like about this (apart from the fact that I can walk by and say “I made that!” which is quite a nice thing to be able to say) is that it’s an open space in the middle of a very densely populated part of a city, with no fences, totally open access. It’s quite astonishing what the Battlefield Community Project has managed to do, step by step, to create an oasis with garden space, regular events in the garden and now this wonderful willow den.

I didn’t just learn something new which I can use again, but I’m rather pleased that my kids now have this great outdoor play structure available to them in walking distance. And maybe, just maybe, this could be an inspiration for others to do something similar near them. It doesn’t take wide open spaces, woodlands or parks to encourage outdoor play. Sometimes, amazing things are possible in the middle of the city.

Dams to Darnley start off at 10 am on Saturday 18th February. As part of ‘National Nest Box Week’ the countryside rangers will help you to build some nest boxes. All materials provided free of charge. Meet at the Ashoka restaurant car park, Corselet Road, off Nitshill Road, Darnley.

The RSPB at Lochwinnoch also offers to build and decorate a nest box on Saturday 18th of February, on a drop in basis from 10am to 3pm. £6 or £2 for members. Includes a box to take home.

Check out further events for kids and the family in or about nature on the calendar of events. And if you would like to add an event to it, just let me know the details.

Yes, we can go on about all the health benefits. How it’s such an equaliser and means everyone is involved. How there are less tensions, less bullying, more empathy. How it nurtures responsible citizens, and a sense of belonging and caring for the world around us which we need to survive. How it develops balance, skills to assess risks, social skills, fine and gross motor skills. How it gives children an opportunity to move and explore on their own terms rather than being stuck in limitating four walls.

At the end of the day, though, we simply love outdoor play.

Why not share your love? This is the time to do so, because the love outdoor play campaign has been launched and ach, it is just such a fabulous campaign. So for Valentines day, share your love of outdoor play, online, off line, and with your MP, MSP, Councillor:

How about sending a Valentine’s card to your local MP or Councillor?

Local Authorities, accountable to our MPs and Councillors, make decisions that affect every aspect of our neighbourhoods, our schools and children’s centres and the parks, woods and green spaces near us. Town and parish councillors often have direct influence on play spaces.

The decisions they make shape the spaces and places children have to play, as well as the availability of after school clubs (and whether they are staffed by play workers), of holiday play schemes and adventure playgrounds. They decide if it is free to close a street for play or if you have to pay. They will have influence over local schools, and for instance could recommend longer lunch breaks or play training for lunch time supervisors.

But do they even realise how important freedom to play outside is to you, to your family and to your local community?

So how about telling them what’s most important to you, about what you would like to see and encouraging them to show that they Love Outdoor Play too?

This could be as simple as:

• Asking them to email us to add their name to the list of supporters of Love Outdoor Play.
• Displaying the Love Outdoor Play symbol
• Committing to consider children and young people’s need for freedom to play when they are looking at planning, transport, education, public health and parks
• Keep up to date with the latest campaign news by signing up to:
  • Facebook: www.facebook.com/loveoutdoorplay,
  • Twitter: @LoveOutdoorPlay.

You could use this Love Outdoor Play Valentine’s Card and sample letter to tell them why they should support the campaign and children’s play, or make up your own. The more personal the better, but just do what you have time for.

If you’re a parent or work with children and young people, how about getting them to make a card? The more the merrier! And for schools and nurseries that can count towards your ‘civic engagement’ commitments as well as literacy…

If you want more evidence to back up why we all need to love outdoor play you could send your MP or councilor a present of the World Without Play literature review (published by Play England & BTHA) – packed with research from every angle about why play is valuable.

You can find the names of your Councillors, MP and other representatives from Write to Them, through Parliament.gov.uk or through Direct Gov.

And why not let loveoutdoorplay.net have a copy of your letter and possible response? It’ll make their voice even stronger, for the benefit of all our children. Ah go on, show your love!

Somehow it occurred to me that I could make simple fish out of willow. After that, there was no stopping the 3-4 year olds: 10 fish it had to be, because that’s what it says in the nursery song. So 10 fish were made (I’m sure it was more) from tiddler to whale. Sticks became fishing rods and the fish were carefully fished out of the river (which is almost stagnant at the location) and thrown in again to be fished out again. For anything between one or two hours, as new pre-schoolers arrived and had to be introduced to the game, equipped with fishing rods etc, it went on and on and on.

And I didn’t have my camera to capture it all …

We went on to a different location later on, where we were looking for stones and found saw dust from what I guessed was a larch tree, it smelled and felt lovely. We hid the fish in it, touched it, let it run through our fingers, made holes and just enjoyed this rare, soft, fragrant material. Oh yes, and we picked one bag up, to use it for some crafting later on. There was dogwood nearby and I added to the collection of bendable wood.

Back at home, I did have a camera.

This is a dogwood fish, not as neat as the willow because dogwood isn’t quite as flexible. We made yarn and willow hearts.

1 year old explored the sawdust in a box as she’d slept through the discovery of it.

Then, I introduced her to finger paints, which she didn’t like so much, but the paint brush, oh, that was a different story. She was making her first marks on paper while I was making the yarn hearts with 4 year old, when big sister exclaimed in shock that little sister was painting on the window! That she was, very focused on the task, and engrossed in it. I just couldn’t bring it over me to tell her not to paint on the window, so instead, both were allowed to paint on just that window just today (since I had to clean it anyway).

Oh we had fun. Lots of printing, glueing, decorating and painting later, we made this (inspired by that artist woman). And yes, it was VERY messy, but wasn’t it worth it?

Within half an hour we were out and on our way. It is the Snowdrop Festival and to celebrate the beautiful first signs of spring (which have been out for a while already due to the mild winter we had), Finlaystone Country Estate is running ranger led Snowdrop Strolls every Sunday in February at 2pm. My older daughter loves snowdrops, and although she wasn’t keen to go (she really wanted to visit the Disney store today because her infatuation with princesses is getting ever so slightly out of hand), it didn’t take long until she started to enjoy, well, every minute of our long stay.

The countryside ranger explained many interesting stories, some of which we missed out on because there were wooden wigwams and the like on route that were just too inviting not to explore.  After the guided walk, we lost ourselves in active and pretend play in the adventure play area, which in spite of the significant storm damage is still one of a kind. We lost ourselves so much, that we returned too late to buy the snowdrops on sale at the Eyeopener shop…

One could criticise the cost of Finlaystone, but I always find that we easily spend a full day there, and a very enjoyable one at that, although we’ve been many a time. So it is worth it, because really, kids of all ages will have hours of fun.

On 18th February at 7pm, there will be an hour long snowdrop lantern event at Finlaystone, with song and stories. Book in advance if interested.

Hopefully this will be a more user friendly and reliable resource than my not always weekly run downs of what’s on. I will still highlight events in the upcoming week on Wednesday, but maybe just one or two per week rather than everything that’s on.

The calendar is not filled yet but just come back in the next few days and you’ll see it filling up bit by bit as I get my head around Google Calendar

For a while, I’ve seen this leaflet, advertising activities in Castlemilk Park, some for adults, some for families and most definitely an interesting mix of things to do (wherever else would you find African Drumming and a Snowdrops walk in the same breath?) so I felt it was high time to join the activities programme.

I’d chosen the tracks and trails walk, not for any reason in particular, just that it fitted in with my own schedule. I was also curious to find this park, which, when I last asked someone in Castlemilk for its location, prompted a shocked face and a “I wouldn’t go there all on your own”. That was on a weekday around lunchtime, and I was with my two girls and a buggy.

One of the things that bug me about such reactions is that it’s a self fulfilling prophecy. If people lack confidence in using outdoor, wooded spaces, these become deserted and eventually unsafe. Woodlands that are well used however, are safe because there are always people about. Another look at this argument is also that of comparing safety in cities with that in woodlands, and somehow it wouldn’t surprise me if the city fares worse than the woodland.

It does indicate though that there is a need for re-introducing people to woodlands and parklands if they no longer feel safe to use them on their own, and if the lack of use has led to safety issues and concerns. It is laudable then that Castlemilk Park has now the status of Commonwealth Community Woodlands and an active Community Woodland initiative with activities and some funding to develop the park and improve the use of it.

When we arrived at the Tracks and Trails events I wasn’t surprised that we were the only family. It was a cold, windy and rainy day, with high winds forecast and a definite wind chill factor. No, it wasn’t a nice day. We were therefore lucky to get the full attention of the Community Woodland Officer and his two helpers who introduced us to the history of the park, it’s flora and fauna and lots of special places and anecdotes. It was perfect introduction to this unknown gem of a park, and I learned as much as my preschool daughter did.

Tracks and trails we found few, due to the heavy rain we only discovered dog prints, but that didn’t matter in the slightest because 4 year old discovered the fox close to its “underground house” (the rest of the day went along some impromptu fox theme as a consequence). The park has a lot to offer, a little stream, a pond, wooded areas, well developed paths and access from the heart of Castlemilk. There are problems of litter and graffiti, but nothing that a bit of work and making it more part of the community can’t change in the future. The walk was excellent, and the leaders came well prepared and had rucksacks full of nature things to admire, including different bird nests, owl pellets, a wasp nest, a roe skull, and much more.

You can find out more about activities in Castlemilk Park through their Facebook Page Commonwealth Community Woodlands or by contacting Richard Bolton (Community Woodland Officer) on 0141 634 2673, who is available for taking schools and groups into the woodlands or onto activities. And why not visit the park at the next walk which is themed around snowdrops and takes place on Sunday 5th February from 1-3pm (meet outside Castlemilk Stables, 59 Machrie Road, Castlemilk, G45 0AZ).

There were simple pleasures of the winter sunshine, so rare in the past few months, a donkey and a pony, walls to climb up, a little sister to carry and hold hands with.

And the canal of course. Covered with a thin sheet of ice, the 4 and 5 year old found stones just the right size to crack the ice when thrown. And the smaller ones? As they bounced off and slithered on the ice, they made the strangest of noises, a bit like a train on rails.

Again and again we listened to this sound, new every time and yet somehow the same. Unless the stone was big enough, and combined this otherworldy sounds with a crack and the sound of a sinking stone.

This post is part of the fortnightly Outdoor Play Link up hosted by Mama Pea Pod, Greening Sam & Avery and Learning for Life. The aim of the link up is to share simple ideas for outdoor play and it’s a wonderful resource.

There’s a Tracks and Trails event on Saturday 21st January 10am-12noon. Follow those footprints and learn how to be a nature detective as we discover the tracks and trails left behind by the creatures of Castlemilk Park. Meet outside Castlemilk Community Centre, 121 Castlemilk Drive, Castlemilk, G45 9UG.

Also on Saturday 21st January  You can Rumble in the Jungle at Glasgow Museums Resource Centre and explore the Amazonian rainforest and the people who live there right at your doorstep. Free but book in advance 276 9300. Suitable for ages 5+.

On Sunday, 22nd January, 2pm, the Burrell Collection offers a themed walk. Suitable for ages 5+ and children need to be accompanied by an adult. Phone 287 2550 for further information.

Also at the weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, you can join the RSPB at Kelvingrove Museum for the Schools Wildlife Art Event. Come along and see the entries for RSPBs 2011 art competition, join in the art activities and discover more about Scotlands amazing wildlife. 11am – 4pm on both days, free of charge.