What’s on this Autumn - great days out at Martin Mere
Autumn is a fantastic time for nature lovers and families looking to visit our centre. Here is what to expect!
Autumn is a fantastic time for nature lovers looking to visit our centre. We’ll see lots of migration taking place as the months begin to get colder, including the arrival of up to 30,000 of our much-loved stars of the season, the pink-footed geese, as they stop off at Martin Mere before heading south to spend the winter there.
To celebrate their arrival, we have several special events, from Dawn Flights to free late night openings, and our North West Bird Watching Festival, so that you can see the spectacle for yourself!
We also have some fun-filled family events which you don’t want to miss out on - including our very popular Animal Magic event and brand new, spooktastic eek! week event. Here’s what's on at our Lancashire wetland centre:
Animal Magic
Dates: Saturday 24 - Sunday 25 September
Cost: General admission prices. Members enter free
Over this weekend, WWT Martin Mere will be joined by National Exotics - Animal Rescue Service, Cheshire Falconry, and Holmes Chapel Zoo as they bring everything from cute skunks and slimy snakes to beautiful birds of prey. There will even be a guinea pig petting area for the chance to cuddle with a guinea pig!
Dawn Flights
Dates: Saturday 1, 8, 22, 29 October
Cost: £18.00 per person
A fantastic opportunity for nature lovers - participants will be able to experience the thrill of an early morning hide visit. You’ll be joined by a warden and get exclusive access to the Discover Hide from 7am, offering the best view of the mere. Sit in the comfort of the hide and watch as the sun rises and thousands of pink-footed geese awaken and take off in a honking flurry. Then, you’ll get to finish the day with a delicious full English breakfast in our cafe, a perfect end to an unforgettable experience.
Late Night Opening: Goose Spectacular
Dates: Saturdays and Wednesdays in October
Price: Free after 5:30pm
If you can’t make it to our early morning Dawn Flights event, the Late Night Openings is another great opportunity to see the pink-footed geese on our reserve. We’ll be opening from our Discovery Hide from 5:30pm until 7pm, to see up to 40,000 geese fly over the mere as the Autumn sun is setting - and entry is completely free!
Wildlife Photography Workshop with Heather Beckett
Date: Sunday 9 October
Price: £75 per person (includes admission)
Wildlife photographer Heather Beckett is hosting a beginner-friendly photography workshop, and what better setting for this than Martin Mere? You’ll get to learn all of the basics, such as ISO, shutter, and aperture, and then put your new knowledge into practice as you tour the centre for some great photo opportunities with the guidance of Heather.
Introduction to Bird Photography with Ben Osborne
Date: Friday 14 October
Price: £80.00
Join professional wildlife and landscape photographer Ben Osborne as he covers the basics of wildlife photography at WWT Martin Mere. This 4-hour workshop will cover some of the basics of wildlife photography, including what kit to use and how to set up your camera to photograph wildlife.
North West Bird Watching Festival
Dates: 15 & 16 October
Price: General admission prices*. Members go free.
The North West Bird Watching Festival returns to Martin Mere in mid-October, jam-packed with wildlife-related activities for a fun day out from dawn till dusk. The centre will be open from 8am so you can watch the spectacle of thousands of pink-footed geese, and open later until 7pm on Saturday. We’ll be joined by guest speakers and exhibitors, and there will be workshops and guided reserve walks.
*Some activities may occur an extra charge.
eek! week
Dates: 22 - 30 October
Price: General admission prices. Members go free
Looking for spooky days out for Halloween? eek! week is fun wildlife eek!sperience for the whole family. There will be lots on offer during the October half term, including pumpkin carving, spooky crafts, a canoe scarefari, and an interactive trail. There will also be a fancy dress competition on the 30 October, so make sure you put on your best costume!
Members enjoy free entry to all WWT wetland centres all year round. Keep coming back to all of our upcoming events from with family memberships from as little as £6.25. Find out more.
