Big Brent Event Welcomes Arctic Arrivals
Castle Espie Wetland Centre will celebrate the return of the light-bellied brent geese to Strangford Lough by hosting the first Big Brent Event promising family fun, wildlife experts and free workshops from Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th October.
Every year in September and October around 25,000 light-bellied brent geese make the gruelling 3,000 mile journey with their young from Arctic Canada to Strangford Lough. This year’s first sightings were recorded at Castle Espie on the 7th September with 70 brent geese on the estuary rising steadily to over 1,200 this week.
During the three days of the Big Brent Event which is supported by Ards and North Down Borough Council, visitors to Castle Espie can experience the incredible journey of the light-bellied brent through fun family activities, free photography, nutrition and art workshops, expert talks and a photographic exhibition.
Family Fun
Across the weekend there will be family fun tackling the arctic survival trail around the nature reserve, a migration vacation show in the round house packed full of fascinating feathery facts whilst indoors there’s the chance to take on the Man v Brent indoor cycle challenge. Art and crafts sessions include Jumping Clay workshops making brent goose buddies and drop-in childrens art sessions making migration mobiles with local artist Bernice Anderson. On Sunday in the Brent Play Barn, writer and storyteller Liz Weir will tell tales inspired by nature including Keep Going Brenda! the story of a light-bellied brent goose making her way to Castle Espie.
Free Workshops
Anyone keen to gain confidence with their wildlife photography can sign up to a free beginners photography workshop with Nigel Snell on Saturday afternoon, there’ll be advice on getting the best from your camera and a short practical session full of Just as the brent geese choose the shores of Strangford Lough to feast on energy giving eel grass, Vital Nutrition’s Jane McClenaghan will have advice and ideas on eating for energy selecting good, local food during two, free pre-bookable workshops on Sunday. A Little Brent Goslings Workshop for kids followed by an Eating for Energy Workshop and cookery demonstration for adults.
Wildlife Experts
Wildlife guides in the hides include bird watching expert Dot Blakely who will help spot all sorts of migratory birds from the Brent Hide and on Saturday Graham McIlwaine will be ring-spotting and sharing the story of the brent that can be seen from the Hide in the Who do you think you are? sessions. Also on Saturday Author and photographer Anthony McGeehan will give wildlife talks on migration focusing on the journey rather than the destination, a theme that is central to his Passing Through photography exhibition in the Castle Espie Gallery.
Arctic Adventure Talk
The Big Brent Event opens on Friday 2nd October an evening talk by brent expert Kerry Mackie on his arctic adventures tracking the light bellied brent geese prior to their Strangford Lough migration. With over 20 years research experience with light-bellied brent geese he joined an expedition to the Canadian High Arctic (Resolute, Eureka and the Schei Peninsula) in Summer 2014 to observe and ring the brent geese in their arctic breeding ground. Advance booking is required, tickets cost £12.50 and include refreshments.
The Big Brent Event programme is available at wwt.org.uk/castleespie/brent,To book the Arctic Adventures talk or a free place on the photography and nutrition workshops call 028 9187 4146. Event activities are included in the cost of normal admission which is free for WWT members and under 4s. To save 10% on the admission price buy tickets at wwt.org.uk/castle-espie-tickets.
