Nine ways to be at one with nature this summer

Grab yourself a slice of rural life at either Hackney or Vauxhall City Farms. In July, you’ll learn to sketch baby goats; August is alpacas. Need we say more?

Hackney City Farm. Jul 17. Vauxhall City Farm. Aug 13. £30.

Venture into ancient woodlands in a special walk and talk with author Zoe Gilbert and the London Wildlife Trust. Gilbert discusses the inspiration for her book ‘Mischief Acts’, inspired by forest lore.

Low Cross Wood. Jul 9. Free.

This blooming beautiful event is ideal for gardening inspo, or just for Friday fun at the after-hours lates, with live music and food stalls.

Hampton Court Palace. Jul 4-9. From £28.

Get in touch with the Thames like never before this guided session which will help you locate and identify unearthed artefacts. Look forward to hearing stories from thousands of years of river history.

Millennium Bridge (North Side). Jul. Dates vary. £25.

Embrace your inner/outer goth and head out after dark on a bat walk. Our flappy friends are protected species in the UK but there are still places to spot the nocturnal wonders with the help of bat rangers and sonic bat detectors (see right).

Highgate Woods. Jul 6, Aug 10 and Sep 14. £8. Morden Hall Park. Jul 23 and Aug 6. £5.

Ever wanted to go to ‘Westworld’? Enter Phantom Peak: a steampunk Western frontier-style town (and immersive experience) with its own waterfall, lake and residents, conveniently located in Surrey Quays.

Surrey Quays Rd. Aug 3-Sep 18. £34.

Slip your deck shoes on and sashay down to Regent’s Canal for this festival which docks in Mile End Park and the canal. There are boat trips, a floating cinema and canal exhibitions.

Art Pavilion. Jul 16-17. Free.

Walking through a forest glade calms the body and mind by connecting with nature, and there are even guides at Kew who can help you achieve sensory peace.

Kew Gardens. Jul 2 & 22, Aug 6 & 14. £60.

The country-show-meets-urban-entertainments hybrid that shouldn’t work but does returns after two years. We’re there for the owl displays and steel orchestras, but the veg-as-celeb competition is epic.

Brockwell Park. Jul 16-17. Free.