With such beautiful weather (well, it was at time of writing) and some of the UK’s most picturesque countryside on our doorstep surely September is the time to get out among nature. I find it amazing how much it recharges my batteries to be breathing the fresh air.

It seems like the perfect antidote to hours hunched over a computer in artificial light. Our local natural world, even just your nearest park, offers a rich treasure chest of things to see, do and explore.

But if you need a bit of extra encouragement, here are some of my favourite places and tools to enjoy Wild Oxfordshire.

For days out in the county we are flushed with choice. There are lots of well-known spots like Millets Farm and Cotswold Wildlife Park but some of our best days out have been at:

* The EarthTrust: Where the programme of events is bursting with outdoor fun for people of all ages. I have learned about foraging and cooking local food (including nettle fritters) and my children have enjoyed lambing weekends, mushroom hunts, bat walks and good old-fashioned mini-beast hunting.

* Crocodiles of the World: an incredible hidden gem near Brize Norton, with more than 100 crocodiles, alligators and caimans.

* Our local wood: For a bit of free fun, why not explore your local wood? The Bucks, Berks and Oxon Wildlife Trust website has a really easy interactive map showing all the accessible woods in your area.

Whether it is your garden, a park or a patch of woodland there lots of gadgets that can really transform your wild experience. I like to keep it simple and affordable so here are some of my favourites:

* WildKnowledge: A series of wildlife apps that you can use to identify and capture everything from butterflies to beetles to buttercups. You only need your phone (Apple or android will work) and you have a really powerful tool for figuring out what you are looking at. You don’t need to have reception for it to work so you can still use it in more remote places and, as a bonus, when you make an identification you are contributing to a massive collection of wildlife data. WildKnowledge has won more awards than you can poke a peacock at and what’s more it was made right here in Oxfordshire.

* A pocket magnifying glass: For just a few pounds you can pick up an impressively powerful magnifying glass that makes mini-beast or plant hunting so much more fun. If you like these then you may want to spend a bit more for a USB microscope. You can see breath-taking detail with even the most basic versions. We could see specs of pollen on individual hairs on a butterfly using ours.

It won’t be long before the harsh cold of winter sets in and getting out into the frosty countryside seems a lot less attractive than snuggling up with a cup of tea, watching David Attenborough. So I implore, go explore. And do let me know if you find any particularly good spots.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.