If you’re headed to Kent’s Bluewater Shopping Centre as a family, you’ll find plenty to keep the kids entertained. There’s a soft play, arcade games, climbing walls, a cinema and more…but what if you want a fun activity that doesn’t involve you spending more money?
That’s where the Bluewater Nature Trail comes in: a real oasis of calm amongst the hustle and bustle of over 300 stores and 50 restaurants and bars.
The Bluewater site, located in a former chalk quarry, spans 240 acres in total – and 50 acres of that consists of parkland, lakes and trees. You’ll find the Bluewater Nature Trail amongst the latter, with The Village car park closest to the trail’s start.
Before you begin, head to the concierge desk to pick up a trail map (and a bonus Very Hungry Caterpillar headpiece).
The leaflet includes a map of the Bluewater Nature Trail, as well as a quiz on the back for kids to complete.
Don’t forget to bring a pen so you can fill in the answers en route!
Trail sheet collected, it’s time to head to the start of the trail, which you’ll find on the bridge opposite Zizzi. The map is clearly designed and easy to interpret, highlighting key points of interest as well as displaying red spots that represent information boards (you’ll need to find these for the quiz!)
I didn’t take many photos of the trail itself: I’m of the firm belief that it’s fun to discover the wonders of the Bluewater Nature Trail for yourself! And there’s a lot to discover. There are various play areas, painted hopscotch games, colourful models of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, bug hotels and more.
Children will delight in the trail’s stepping logs, learn plenty from the information boards, and be able to follow The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s gastronomic journey, with photo opportunities along the way. Another lovely touch is the ability to scan a QR code to hear the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar as you walk.
There’s a mosaic tunnel featuring artwork by local schools and numerous lakes for wildlife spotting (we spent a while watching a cormorant catching a fish for its lunch!) There’s even a “beach” by the largest lake: take a bag of bird seed (not bread) and you’ll be able to feed the wildlife while you’re there – including, to our son’s delight, an enormous flock of pigeons.
The Bluewater team suggest setting aside 45 minutes for the trail (exact timings will obviously depend on walking speed and time spent in the play areas and at information boards, of course!) In total, it’s around 1.1km, and there are plenty of benches to stop off at en route. If you’re lucky, you may even see people ziplining above your head at Hangloose, which is also on-site.
If you’ve taken part in the quiz element of the Bluewater Nature Trail, head back to the concierge desk at the end where you’ll receive your (generous, for a free trail) prize.
While a nature trail may not be the first thing you think of when you visit Bluewater, we can wholeheartedly recommend it as a child-friendly addition to your day. With play structures, quizzes, wildlife and plenty more, it’s a fun Bluewater activity for all ages.