Another season, another adventure. Spring it on!
Immerse yourself in the spring beauty of Slimbridge, from eggcellent Easter activities to sensational seasonal sightings.
Immerse yourself in the spring beauty of Slimbridge, from eggcellent Easter activities to sensational seasonal sightings.
Easter Duck Trail
Can you quack the case this Easter at our Easter Duck Trail (9-24 April), provided with the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Pick up a trail card and crack the clues to find the bright yellow, cheeky ducks that are hiding around our wetlands. Did you know ducks are even more colourful and special at this time of year? See if you can spot which of our ducks are male ducks along the trail. We’ll give you a clue, look for the ducks showing off their bright breeding feathers! As well as the Easter Duck Trail we will be running daily activities including:
- Eggcellent Eggs family science talks in the Living Wetland Theatre at 11am
- Canoe Safaris from 11am - 4pm
- Arctic Adventure activities from 11am - 2pm
- Watching nene feeds at 12 noon
- Pond dipping between 2-3pm
- Interactive wetland sandbox from 2-3pm
Canoe Safari - credit Clem Hencher-Stevens
Family Wildlife Photography
Join tutor David Broadbent for a family friendly photography course on 13 April. This workshop is the perfect opportunity to improve on your camera skills and capture the best of the season. Tickets must be pre-booked for this event.
Snowdrops - credit Amy Alsop
Young Birder ID Workshop
Discover why wetlands are amazing and become naturalists of the future with our new Young Birder ID workshop on 15 & 22 April. Get to grips with bird identification with the help of our experienced reserve wardens and join them to complete the morning visits to the bird hides. This event is suitable for ages 13-18 and tickets must be pre-booked.
Young birdwatcher - credit Amy Alsop
Wetland Heroes app
Try out our family friendly app, Wetland Heroes and discover the full extent of Slimbridge this spring. Experience Slimbridge like never before by going on fact finding missions and taking on fun challenges suitable for the whole family. Tried it before? Don't forget there's new packs to explore each season! Share your experience with us using #WetlandHeroes
Stunning spring wildlife
Expect to see new arrivals including swallows, house martins and summer warblers. Listen out to the songs of chiffchaff, reed, sedge warblers and the distinctive call of the cuckoo. Exciting species you may spot include kingfishers from our Kingfisher Hide - a pair have been busy excavating their new nest hole in the bank. A glossy ibis has been spending time between the reserve and the roadside fields by the canals since January, so do keep an eye out on this beautiful bird. You could encounter common cranes, displaying and nesting and look out for increasing numbers of lapwing and oystercatcher. Other special sightings this season include a spoonbill and, surprisingly - snow geese, see our latest sightings page for up to date species at Slimbridge.
Why not come along to our Guide in the Hide Weekend (2 & 3 April) to look for signs of spring across the site. Pick up hints and tips on how to identify birds, learn more about where they have come from and where they are heading. Plus there will be workshops running on both days so you can develop your skills on birdsong and waders.
Avocet coming into land - credit Sarah Freeman
Don't forget to share your spring Slimbridge adventure using #MySlimbridge
