Let WWT and Quentin Blake inspire an autumn of adventure and wonder.
As autumn arrives, a new season collection of Quentin Blake’s distinctive illustrations, influenced by wetlands and nature, give a new insight into the wonderful walking trails at WWT Slimbridge.
As autumn arrives so does a new seasonal collection of Quentin Blake’s distinctive illustrations, influenced by wetlands and nature.
Our Drawn to Water trail gives a new insight into our wonderful wetland walks and takes you to special places. So sit back and enjoy the
wildlife that thrives at WWT Slimbridge this season!
“Visitors will be walking with me, and I like to think of myself walking with them. I shan’t mind if I get my feet wet.” Quentin Blake
Continuing the perfect partnership of nature and art, WWT and Quentin Blake are embracing a season filled with sensory experiences designed to delight and inspire visitors of any age.
Explore Slimbridge with our autumnal Drawn to Water trail around the wetlands, climb aboard a Canoe Safari spotting seasonal wildlife from the water or see the wild side of the reserve on a 4x4 Wild Safari. Then venture into the gallery, to view the Quentin Blake Exhibition of 54 rarely seen illustrations, on display until 16 September.
Autumn will see an array of adult art workshops - from pottery to printmaking or even painting a flamingo with friends at a Sip and Paint evening. For children there'll be daily activities including a Skies and Silhouettes session - decorate your own sky filled with birds, inspired by WWT founder, Sir Peter Scott. Meet our large collection of birds and amphibians, as well as our new pair of friendly otters – Sam and Tilly.
Welly Boot Land and the free, family-friendly app – Wetland Heroes, also provide hours of fun – whatever the weather. Also every Friday, until 20 October, toddlers can enjoy weekly nature activities at Friday Froglets club, from nature patterns to bugs and mud!
Gary Haseley-Nejrup, Centre Manager, explains:
While every season is special at Slimbridge, autumn seems to be the perfect time to immerse yourself in nature as it’s such a sensory part of the year when the landscape is at its very best. The greens of summer start to transform into a riot of golds and browns which envelop you in their beauty. And of course, it’s a season that has inspired some truly stunning art, so we’re thrilled to continue this year-long partnership with Quentin Blake and bring art and nature together.
And along with the changes in the landscape, our visiting species change, look out for migrant birds passing through the Estuary and the first main flocks of wintering birds starting to arrive. Flocks of pintail, common pochard and wigeon, as well as fieldfare, redwing and golden plover are just a few of the key species to spot this season at Slimbridge. This really is a chance to see why wetlands are so wonderful and why they influence so many artists.
The WWT and Quentin Blake collaboration has also prompted a national art competition where artists of all abilities can enter their work to be in with a chance of winning a unique, embossed Quentin Blake wetland print. With runners-up receiving copies of the Quentin Blake Papers and free entry into a site of their choice.
Using the wonder of WWT wetlands as a theme, entrants are invited to initially submit a photograph of a 2D piece of art - which could be a drawing, illustration, painting or photograph - which will be looked at by a panel of judges from Quentin Blake’s studios and WWT. The competition opens on September 4 and closes on December 31, winners will be announced in January.
