Center Parcs May challenge: The Great Outdoors

During May Tots100 and Center Parcs have challenged us bloggers to get outside with the kids and photograph the best of what nature has to offer in our area. The first bank May bank holiday was beautifully warm and the perfect opportunity for us to go on our first adventure as a family of four. We had heard great things about Tilgate Park in Crawley, 15 minutes down the road but we had never been! So whilst Husband packed up the car, Little E and I visited the Center Parcs blog online to see what tips Rich, their seasoned snapper, had to help us with our outdoor family photography. We were inspired by two of the tips for our trip to Tilgate:

Take some springtime selfies of you and your family enjoying yourselves on a walk in your local park. 

Squirrels, deer and swans are all residents at Center Parcs – why not see what nature is living right on your doorstep?

We arrived at Tilgate Park and were amazed at how beautiful it was! Picnic packed into the pram and off we went for a walk around the beautiful lake...

The beautiful lake at Tilgate Park and the reedbed nature map.

Little E was on duck patrol and loved spotting all the wildlife on the water. We found a sign telling us the kind of wildlife we could expect to see around the reedbed and Little E was completely freaked out when she saw there were snakes about! (Husband didn't look too happy with that idea either!)

Nature spotting on the lake

But the snakes were soon forgotten and they were off rambling in the woods leaving me to stroll in the sunshine with the pram. 

Off they go...

Little E loved exploring the area and had a go at climbing trees and walking along fallen tree trunks. 

Little E exploring the woods

And she ran everywhere!

Why walk when you can run!

She loved sniffing the flowers and we decided this very old tree was our favourite in the whole park.

Sniffing the flowers and our favourite tree

She was pretty exhausted as we came to the end of the walk and sat down for a breather by the lake so Husband gave her a lift for the last leg.

Shattered!

Little E was far too busy exploring to take many selfies but we actually managed to get one with three of us in...

Three quarters of the family selfie

Completing the family let's not forget the littlest adventurer, Little I, who spent most of the walk having a little snooze in her pram...

Little I enjoying the ride!

We had an amazing day out at Tilgate Park and will be returning over the summer for more photo snapping and nature spotting. PS. It is free to visit Tilgate Park, you just need £3 change for the car park (and plenty of ice cream money!)

This is my entry to the Center Parcs and Tots100 May challenge. If I’m chosen, I would like to visit Elveden Forest.

Linking up to #countrykids with combemill.com, #letkidsbekids with letkidsbekids.co.uk and #magicmoments with theoliversmadhouse.co.uk