Bats and spiders weekend at London Wetland Centre
If you’ve never seen a curly haired tarantula or the closest you’ve been to a bat is as it swoops by overhead, then head down to WWT London Wetland Centre on 22 and 23 October. A display of spiders and bats will give you the chance to see these fascinating creatures up close and to find out more about them.
With Halloween coming up it seems an appropriate time to take a closer look at these amazing mammals and insects that many people find scary. Bats and spiders don’t deserve their fearsome reputation and when you meet them close up you’ll see a totally different side to them.
For instance, did you know that London Wetland Centre is home to crab spiders which can change colour depending on the flower they are sitting on? And the Centre is also one of the major hot-spots for bats in London, with seven species seen regularly.
As well as the display of rescued bats the Bat Conservation Trust will be on hand over the weekend with a display of interesting bat facts as well as bat masks and hats, bat face painting and bat games such as pin the nose on the bat!
To counter some of the scarier myths and phobias about spiders, experts Ray and Angela Hale from the British Tarantula Society will be at the Centre with a display of exotic spider species. As well as spiders from around the world, such as tarantulas, they’ll also have a selection of native British spiders so you can learn to identify some of them and hear more about these shy but amazing creatures.
London Wetland Centre’s Chief Ecologist, Richard Bullock, said, “We have a huge variety of spider species living on site, including the striking Wasp spider which builds webs in long grass and meadow plants. And the Centre is an important feeding ground for bats, with hundreds visiting every night throughout the warmer months. Our Bats and Spiders Weekend gives visitors the chance to get a really privileged view of these animals and talk to bat and spider experts”.
Learn all about these shy creatures that you rarely get a chance to see. As well as the spider display there will be a spider talk in the Centre’s Theatre at 12 noon each day so you can hear about some common British species.
Throughout the October half term, London Wetland Centre also has a range of family activities on offer, including Wolf Tales puppet shows, storytelling, and the Yuk! interactive show.
