I remember a few years ago (heard about Heavens above here) going outside to watch an Iridium flash and was surprised how many other satellites were visible.
Unfortunately for treadigraph you do realy need to stand staring at the sky just waiting for something to move, also if you have been out with Pop you are probably going home too late (remember you are looking at refections of the Sun; too late and the sun is too far below the horizon).
Most satellites in an equatorial orbit would either be loo low for good observation from UK (ie Hubble never visible from here) or in geostationary orbits and essentially invisible (ie not very bright and not moving). One of the things to check up on is Iridium Flash, when the antennas reflect the sun straight at you for 5 seconds they are the brightest point object in the sky (the solar panels are even larger/brighter but unfortunately not predictable)