The hosts of Christmas present

Offer chance to be toast of Christmas future

27th November, 2007

The Wildlife Trusts are offering winter warmers with a difference; alternative ways to celebrate Christmas which cost nothing, could be good for your waistline and might introduce you to a wide group of new friends.

Many of the UK’s Wildlife Trusts hold ‘bash and slash’ days around Christmas time, which might involve scrub clearing or tidying up invasive trees. At least one Trust* even scrub bashes on Christmas Day! These events are all about having festive fun with bonfires, mulled wine and seasonal entertainment, while doing something good for wildlife.

For those who have had their fill of turkey, why not try celebrating live birds in all their glory by visiting a Wildlife Trust reserve in the run up to Christmas and see how amazing some UK’s birds can be.

Wildlife Trusts also often mark the end of the year by saying thank you to everyone who has helped with volunteering or in other ways. At these events, Trusts hope to see old friends but also those who want to start a rewarding, fun new hobby by getting active for wildlife. Contact your local Wildlife Trust to see what it offers.

Here are some suggestions for a festive, or pre-festive, wildlife treat:

• Monday 17 Dec, from 10am - Scrub bashing at Chudleigh Knighton Nature Reserve, nr Bovey Tracey. Meet Andrew Bakere, Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserves officer, at the gate. Tools provided, wellies recommended.

• Tuesday 18 Dec, 12.30pm to 2.30pm - Volunteers’ Christmas party at Lorton Meadows Wildlife Centre, on the northern edge of Weymouth. A chance to say thank you to all Dorset Wildlife Trust’s volunteers for their help throughout the year – join them for a buffet lunch and a short walk around the reserve.

• Thursday 20 Dec, 1.30pm to 3.30pm - Where’s the winter wildlife? Meet at Abberton Reservoir Visitor Centre for a family nature day. Excellent bird-watching opportunities at this nature reserve. Cost £4 per child. Abberton Reservoir Visitor Centre, Church Rd, Layer-de-la Haye, Colchester. Tel: 01206 738172.

• Thursday 20 Dec, 10am to 12 noon for 4-7 year olds; 2pm to 4pm for over 7s - Robins and Reindeer, Sparkles and Snow. Have a ‘messy’ Christmas with crafts and activities indoors and out. Old clothes, coats and wellies required. Please meet and park at the Swanwick Lakes Centre, off Sopwith Way, near Bursledon (Map ref. SU 505 098). Hampshire & IoW Wildlife Trust. For more details and to book your place please contact Jo Trotter on 01489 570240. Cost £2.50. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

• Saturday 22 Dec, 9.30am to 12.30pm - The ‘Antidote to Christmas Shopping’ Bird Watch (Normandy Marsh). Take a morning off from the hectic pre-Christmas rush to look for the wintering wildfowl and waders on Normandy Marsh with Sheila and Steve Lankester. Please meet and park at the Lymington Yacht Club car park (Map ref. SZ 333 951). Hampshire & IOW Wildlife Trust. For further details, please contact Steve on 01590 682421.

• Tuesday 25 Dec (Christmas Day!) from 10am - Scrub bashing, bonfire and chestnuts at Pegsdon Hills Nature Reserve with Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough Wildlife Trust. Contact Andy Fleckney on 01234 364213

• Wednesday 26 Dec, from 11am – Boxing Day bird watch along the Nevern estuary, north Pembrokeshire with the Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales. Meet at Newport Bridge. Contact Janet Atkinson of the North Pembrokeshire group on 01239 820210 for more information.

Some other December activities

• Sunday 9 Dec, 11am to 3pm – Christmas coppicing at Doxey Marshes, Stafford. Find out how to manage willow coppice and learn how to do it. Cost £5. Contact Staffordshire Wildlife Trust on 01889 880100.

• Wednesday 12 Dec, time to be confirmed - Guided walk at Lackford Lakes, Lackford, next the River Lark. Lots of birdlife. Binoculars available to borrow. Contact Suffolk Wildlife Trust on 01284 728706 to book. Cost £3

• Wednesday 12 Dec, 6pm - 7.30pm – Children’s wildlife activity of Christmas fun. Meeting at John Dony Field Centre, Hancock Drive, Luton. Contact Neil Mason on 07968 411562 to book. Cost £1

• Thursday 13 Dec 6pm - 8pm – Children’s wildlife activity of Christmas fun. Meeting at Stockgrove Country Park, Leighton Buzzard. Contact Esther Milne to book on 01525 237760. Cost £1

• Sunday 16 Dec – Dorset Wildlife Trust members are invited to join a trip to Brownsea Island. This beautiful island hosts a startling diversity of habitats and there is the chance to spot majestic grey herons, nightjars and little egrets. Aside from the birdlife you may get lucky enough to see a red squirrel – Brownsea Island houses one of only two populations in Southern England. This trip is open to Dorset Wildlife Trust Members only and must be booked in advance on 01305 264 620

• Thursday 20 Dec, 11am - 1pm – Christmas activities and festive storytelling at Whinlatter Forest Centre, near Keswick. Aimed at 8 to 12 year olds. Run by Whinlatter Mountain Forest Watch group. Call on 017687 78469 for more information. Free

• Friday 21 Dec, 7.30pm – Christmas quiz, at St Georges Community Hall, St Georges Road, Redditch. The Redditch Group is holding an indoor meeting - a quiz devised by Barry Jones and Jane Richmond, with refreshments. Contact Barry Jones on 01527 520659. Cost £1.50

• Friday 21 Dec, 7.30pm - Christmas Social and Quiz Night at St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church Hall, Cinder Hill, Coleford. Bring along slides or wildlife items to share over some mulled wine and mince pies. Cost £2

Story by RSWT

More Information

For further information please contact:

Adam Cormack
Communications & campaigns officer
Tel: 01636 670063
Email: acormack@wildlifetrusts.org

Photograph: Winter robin copyright Stewart McDonald

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