Celebrate the Jubilee weekend and June half-term with a jam-packed line-up at Castle Espie!

Get into the swing of spring and venture down to WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre over the Jubilee bank holiday weekend. From fluffy ducklings, behind-the-scenes tours, to puppet shows, paper puppet workshops and history tours - there’s something for the whole family to enjoy.

The fun kicks off with the Downy Duckling Tours taking place on Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th June at 12 noon, 2pm & 3pm (PLUS every weekend & Wednesday in June). We will be giving you the chance to get nose-to-beak close encounters during our popular Downy Duckling events. So come along and see our tiny fluffy ducklings and goslings as they take their first wobbly steps and take to the water like, well, ducks! You can even go behind the scenes and see the duckling nurseries with the incubated eggs and learn about egg fertility during ‘candling. If you’re really lucky, you might even see a tiny baby hatch from the egg, taking its first view of the world! Tours are included in price of admissions, due to popular demand pre-booking is essential. WWT members are also required to book their space although they will not be charged. WWT Members must arrive promptly 15 minutes before tour otherwise there space will be reallocated. Please contact reception on 02891 874146 (Note Wednesday tours take place at 3pm only).

Castle Espie History Tours will take place on Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th June at 2.30pm and 3.30pm. Why not join us on a tour with a difference. Visitors will have will have the opportunity to discover a rich and fascinating history which takes us from sea monsters in a tropical sea, through the earliest signs of human settlement to grand scale Victorian industry.

Chicken Licken Puppet Show - On the 3rd June at 1pm and 3pm, Ards Puppet Festival will be performing the well loved story of chicken Licken and the little red hen – will she outwit foxy. Come along and find out. A paper puppet workshop will run alongside the performances. To book your space please contact reception on 02891874146.

Behind-the-scenes reserve tours – On Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th June at 2pm - Join our resident expert as he takes you behind the scenes managing a busy wetland reserve – find out more about our seasonal changes.
Why not visit our spring exhibition ‘Natural Forms’ by the Ulster Society of Women Artists in Castle Espie Gallery. Followed by homemade delights and coffee/tea in our Loughshore cafe. All events are included in the cost of admission. For more information about WWT Castle Espie, please visit wwt.org.uk/castleespie or call 028 91 874146. Follow us on Facebook & Twitter @WWTcastleespie.
Become a WWT member when you visit and not only will you get your entrance fee refunded, but you can then enjoy great days out for a full 12 months for FREE. Our centre is open 364 days a year and with annual family membership only £66 for two adults and up to six children (or just £5.50 a month, plus a free book for joining by Direct Debit) it ‘pays for itself’ after just three visits. Members also receive an exclusive quarterly magazine, Waterlife, which keeps you up to date on what’s going on at all nine WWT UK wetland centres and has information about WWT’s exciting conservation projects saving species from extinction and caring for important wetlands around the world.

  • Share this article