Every now and then nature can surprise you and leave you awestruck.

And it's not just the big and spectacular, like having a golden eagle soar over your head, it can be encountering a hedgehog on your walk home. It's special to you. 

Even when you’re looking for something specific, in the right spot at the right time, you can never guarantee success. And that’s what makes seeing it so special. It’s a unique moment that can’t be faked.

As part of our new online award scheme, Wild Challenge, we’re challenging you to go out and find these inspirational moments in nature. The idea of the whole scheme is to get you and your family closer to nature. 

So what better place to start than with a bit of a spectacle

Why not give it a try? All you have to do to complete the nature wow activity is capture a bit of one of these wow moments as a picture on your phone, or if you’re feeling creative you could do a drawing or poem inspired by what you saw and send that in instead.

There's more info on the nature wow activity page. And if you've not already, register for Wild Challenge: it's fun and free!

To whet your appetite for nature this autumn here’s a run-down of some of the best things to look out for at this time of year:

1. Deer rutting

Red deer roaring. Image by David Nunn (https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidnunn/)

2. Geese arriving

Pink-footed geese landing. Image by Ian S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/ian-s/)

3. Leaves changing

Autumn colours at Lady's Walk, Ashridge Forest. Image by ukgardenphotos (https://www.flickr.com/photos/ukgardenphotos/)

4. Stars revealing

Star trails in the night sky. Image by Paul McDonald (http://www.flickr.com/photos/p_mcdonald/)

5. Starlings murmurating

Starling roost. Image by Graham Catley (http://pewit.blogspot.com)

So get outside, and be wowed by nature this autumn.