August antics from mini-beast hunting, den building to pond dipping and storytelling...
Join us for some August antics! Everyday we have a different experience on offer from pond dipping to storytelling, mini-beast hunting to den building, talks, walks plus show and tell activities. Wetland Centres are easy, safe places to enjoy the wonders of wetland wildlife so check out our highlights below.
Den building – Thurs 22, Thurs 29 August: Recapturing your childhood is the aim of this fun activity. If you never had the opportunity to build one as a child – well now’s your chance. Bring your kids or just yourself for that matter and build some hideaways in our woodland. Then take the simple skills you’ll pick up and take them away with you. A walk in your local woods will never be quite the same again. Sessions last one hour and run from 11am - 12pm and 2pm - 3pm.
Pond dipping – Fri 16, Wed 21, Sat 24, Sun 25, Tues 27 August: Some people are fortunate enough to have a pond in their garden while others may know where to find a local pond. But sadly most of us will struggle, as publicly accessible ponds in our countryside and towns are disappearing right across the UK and Ireland at an alarming rate. So why not join us at our very own wildlife pond zone haven and enjoy some pond dipping for what lies beneath. We guarantee you’ll be hooked once you’ve caught your first aquatic wildlife using our special equipment. Sessions last one hour and run from 11am - 12pm and 2pm - 3pm.
Show and tell events – Sat 17, Sun 18 August: A mini museum of oddities and bits and bobs, each with a fascinating story to impart, and with a friendly member of staff on hand well explain the what, why, where, and how of your chosen item. Both the natural and human history of WWT Castle Espie is brought to life through this fun and interactive show and tell. Sessions last one hour and run from 11am - 12pm and 2pm -3pm.
Storytelling - Mon 19, Mon 26 August: The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame, is still considered to be one of the best books every written for children, parents, and grandparents alike. The gentle, amusing, and sometimes moving stories of Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad of Toad Hall have been esteemed as classics since their publication in 1908. So as a celebration of all things wet and winsome, bring the family along and enjoy selective readings by our resident storyteller. Sessions last 30 minutes each and run from 11am - 12pm and 2pm - 3pm.
Walk and Talk – Tues 20, Wed 28 Aug: Did you know that the ancient Romans used geese as their very own intruder alarms? Or that the ancient Celts believed that the souls of the dead entered the bodies of swans? How about the ancient Egyptians who believed that the chaos goose the ‘Great Cackler’ laid the sun daily in the sky? Discover the facts from the fiction and come along for our 30 minute introductory talk on the biggest collection of ducks, geese, and swans on this island. Sessions last 30 minutes each and run from 11am - 12pm and 2pm - 3pm.
Mini-beast hunting – Fri 23 & Fri 30 August. Fancy your very own wildlife safari? Well there’s no need to head off to the savannas of Africa or the jungles of South America to get a flavour of the wilderness, when we can offer a safari with a difference on your doorstep. Join us and discover the miniature world of the woodland understory. A world every bit as dangerous and exciting, and with a guide on hand you’ll learn who eats whom to survive, where to find certain species and why they live as they do. Sessions last one hour and run from 11am - 12pm and 2pm - 3pm.
