YOUNG visitors to two Natural Resources Wales’ visitor centres, including Bwlch Nant yr Arian, near Aberystwyth, are being offered a helping hand to explore the great outdoors this autumn.

They can borrow a free discovery backpack on arrival and use its contents to get up close to nature during their visit.

The backpacks contain useful goodies like binoculars, a magnifying glass, a bug pot and nature identification cards along with a guide explaining how to use them.

They also include some challenges to help get the nature hunt started. These range from tree spotting to bark rubbing and searching for minibeasts to bird spotting.

Mary Galliers, NRW’s recreation marketing and tourism officer, said: “Our visitor centres are great places for you to start an outdoor adventure with the family and we hope our new discovery backpacks will add to the fun this half term.

“We also have family-friendly walking trails at lots of our woodlands and National Nature Reserves across Wales, along with other facilities like play areas, mountain bike trails for beginners and easy cycle trails.

“As well as enjoying a good value family day out, you will be doing your health good, as people who are active and enjoy the outdoors are more likely to have longer, healthier and happier lives.”

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online on Wednesday