The Big Wild Weekend 14-15th June 2018
The Big Wild Weekend is two days of wildlife and nature events taking place across the UK on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th June. There are more than 200 events for all ages and levels of interest - badger watches, picnics, butterfly hunts, wildlife identification courses, beach cleans, night-time nature rambles and even a music festival.
Wildlife Trusts across the country are running events helping you to discover and enjoy your local wildlife. The Big Wild Weekend takes place halfway through 30DaysWild – the UK’s annual nature challenge organised by The Wildlife Trusts and which runs from the 1st -30th June.
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Events in northern England
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Durham Wildlife Trust
30 Days Wildathon! June 15, 10am – 4pm, Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve
Come and join us for our 30 Days Wild Wildathon and learn new skills to help ensure we can create a wilder future. Workshops include:
Hedgehog Highways – Learn how to develop your garden to be welcoming for hedgehogs.
Wild About Gardens – Get to grips with the basics of wildlife ponds, planting for pollinators and create your own bug abode.
Food for Birds – Help us build a bird feeding platform and create some bird feeders to take home and use in your own garden to encourage wild birds. We’ll also talk you through what to feed and when.
We also have children’s drop-in activities will run throughout the day.
Lancashire Wildlife Trust
Wildflower Walk at Mere Sands Wood, Saturday 15th June, 2-4pm
What we’re doing: Explore the beautiful wildflower meadows at Mere Sands Wood with local wildflower expert and Lancashire County Wildflower Recorder, Dave Earl: from orchids to lesser centaury. Booking is essential.
Who’s it for: Adults, children, beginners, experts
Nature Dad’s Trail, Saturday 15 June, 10am – 4pm
What we’re doing: Explore the Brockholes Nature Reserve to find out more about what our wildlife dads are up to at Brockholes. There's a Father's Day Treat for those completing the trail!
Who’s it for: Families
Rockpooling - Matthew Roberts
Go on a Seashore Safari
Explore seashore wildlife at one of Yorkshire finest beaches. Visit South Landing with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and hunt through the rockpools to discover weird and wonderful species of the sea!
Events in southern England
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Alderney Wildlife Trust
Saturday 15th June
9am-12pm: Town take over from AWT Office
2pm: Clifftop reserve ramble - 30 species in 30 minutes around the Vau du Saou reserve
9pm: Evening bat and hedgehog walk
Sunday 16th June
2pm: Rockpooling at Clonque - Alderney's Ramsar site
Devon Wildlife Trust
30 Days Wild! Sun 16 June, 10:30am
Mincinglake Valley Park, Exeter (Stoke Hill entrance). Go wild in Mincinglake Valley Park. 30 Days Wild is back with wild trails and activities, forest school activities, special guests and opportunities to discover wildlife in the heart of Exeter.
Sussex Wildlife Trust
Summer Wildlife Walk - 30 Days Wild Saturday, 15th June 2019 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Join us as we set out to explore Woods Mill in summer, observing and identifying the variety of creatures that inhabit the reserve. Our walk will take us through Woods Mills’ ancient woodland, following its streams and waterways into vibrant meadows with wild hedgerows. At this time of year wildlife will be at its most abundant.
Experience the beautiful wildflowers and be surrounded by birdsong.
Free event. No booking required, just turn up.
Woods Mill, Henfield, West Sussex, BN5 9SD
An Introduction to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve 2 (15/06/2019) Saturday, 15th June 2019 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
In the second of our series of introductory walks we explore the north of the reserve, near to Rye. The walk will take us through Castle Farm, into Camber Castle and then to the birdwatching hide at Castle Water.
Meet at Brede Lock, car parking nearby in Rye
No booking required
Dusks Birds and Bats - 30 Days Wild Saturday, 15th June 2019 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Join us as dusk settles to look and listen for the variety of bird species that inhabit Woods Mill. As some head to roost, we’ll listen out for the birds that continue to sing, and look out for nocturnal avian predators. Once the sun has dipped below the horizon we’ll use specialised equipment to look and listen out for chiroptera, the bats, of which all 18 UK species have been recorded in Sussex.
Woods Mill, Henfield, West Sussex, BN5 9SD
Free event but booking essential as places are limited.
To book send an email to James Duncan
The sights, sounds and smells of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve - 30 Days Wild Sunday, 16th June 2019 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Join us for a loop of Rye Harbour in early summer, enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of the nature reserve's breeding birds and colourful coastal wildflowers. Rye Harbour's diverse habitats support a huge abundance of wildlife and it'll be the perfect time of year to see what makes it so special for so many species.
Meet at Rye Harbour village car park TN31 7TX
Free event. No booking required, just turn up.
©Paul Hobson
Summer Wildlife Walk
Our walk will take us through Woods Mills’ ancient woodland, following its streams and waterways into vibrant meadows with wild hedgerows...
Events in the midlands
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Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Wildside Festival, Saturday 15th June
Staged at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust's farm in Ilkeston just 10 miles from Derby and Nottingham, this festival is about being entertained whilst getting closer to nature. After all, all our lives are better when they're a bit wild.
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Big Weekend Wildlife Watch survey
This brand new event will be running all weekend across Staffordshire and is mainly aimed at families although anyone can really take part. We want you to look out for 30 key species (mammals to moths to bees and birds) across Staffordshire, note how many of each species you have seen and send in the results to us! There are 6 gold star species to look out for that are more difficult to spot than the others.
Find out more and sign up using the link below, and we'll send you a special booklet to fill in!
Father's Day Wildfamilies @ The Wolseley Centre, June 16th, 1.30-3.30
Challenge your dad to go wild this father’s day and come along to our wild family event. Bring dad or mum along to test their shelter building skills and go minibeast hunting together. Compete to see who can get the furthest across the slackline and who can build the biggest tower. Round it all off with a campfire and have a go at making your own mini calzones on the fire!
Cost: £5.50 per child, £3.50 per additional sibling, suitable for ages 3+ (0-2 year olds free to attend with paying sibling).
Weekend Wildlings @ The Wolseley Centre, June 16th, 10.30am-12
Wildlings is a play group with a twist with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust! Come along and try new things outdoors. You could swing in a hammock, get mucky making a mud pie and sing songs around the campfire, all in our exciting outdoor classroom. All sessions include a hot drink for adults, plus juice and snacks for children.
Cost: £5.50 each, £3.50 per additional sibling. 6 month to 5 years (0-5 month free with paying older sibling, no older).
Katrina Martin / 2020VISION
Wildside Festival
Wildside Festival is a day of live music, art, wild activities and good food and drink; all in support of local wildlife.
Events in eastern England
Credit: Lianne De Mello
Music in the Woods: Summer Concert
Spend a summer evening in the Ancient Woodland of Belfairs enjoying beautiful music provided by some of Essex's most talented musicians.
Events in Wales
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Father’s Day Trail at Parc Slip, Saturday 15th June to Sunday 16th June
Self-guided trail around the reserve to spot the wonderful creatures that live in the different habitats. From minibeasts, to birds and mammals you’ll be taken to the best places to find these animals. Drop by the visitor centre during the day anytime between 10:30am-3pm.
Meeting Place: Collect a trail map from the Parc Slip Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre.
Clothing Requirements: Outdoor clothes, waterproofs and wellies/boots.
Age Group: Suitable for children aged 5+. This is a self guided trail requiring adult supervision.
Price: £2 per trail.
For more information please contact Tom at t.richards@welshwildlife.org or call 01656 726987.
Dolphin Watch Picnic, Saturday 15th June, 11am-1pm
Look out for dolphins, seals, porpoise as well as marine and coastal birds! Discover more about our amazing marine life whilst enjoying a bite to eat and sea views. We'll also be carrying out a survey monitoring local marine mammal populations.
Meeting Place: Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre at 11am
Clothing Requirements: Bring warm and waterproof clothing and a picnic
Age Group: 14 years and over
For more info: Contact us on 01545 560224 or volunteer@cbmwc.org if you wish to attend.
Bottlenose dolphins ©John MacPherson/2020VISION
Dolphin Watch Picnic
Come along to our Dolphin Watch picnic to discover more about bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoise and Atlantic grey seals, and find out how you can become involved in our research and marine conservation work though our volunteer programme.
Events in Scotland
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Saturday 15 June, 11am-3pm
Visit to Troup Head
A group walk to Scotland’s largest mainland gannet colony at Trouphead in Aberdeenshire with the opportunity to see a variety of seabirds such as kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills.
Full details will be provided on booking. Contact John Cromarty 01463 798 100.
Saturday 15 June, 10:30am - 4pm
Go wild at Loch of the Lowes
A wild weekend for all the family at Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre. Find out what lies beneath the loch, try your hand at building a mini beaver dam, and find out all about ospreys. Normal visitor centre charges apply.
Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre, Dunkeld, PH8 0HH.
Saturday 15 June, 10:30am - 4pm
Go wild at Montrose Basin
Come along to the Big Wild Weekend at Montrose Basin in Angus, with activities including pond dipping and wildlife watching.
Montrose Basin Visitor Centre, Montrose, DD10 9TA. Normal visitor centre charges apply.
Sunday 16 June, 10:30am - 4pm
Go wild at Loch of the Lowes
Part of the 30 Days Wild campaign! Join us for a wild weekend to find out what lies beneath the loch and try your hand at building a mini beaver dam, and find out all about ospreys. Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre, Dunkeld, PH8 0HH. Normal visitor centre charges apply.
Sunday 16 June, 10:30am - 4pm
Go wild at Montrose Basin
Celebrate the Big Wild Weekend at Montrose Basin and enjoy activities including pond dipping and wildlife watching at Montrose Basin Visitor Centre in Angus. Normal visitor centre charges apply.
Montrose Basin Visitor Centre, Montrose, DD10 9TA.
Saturday 15 June, 9am - 4pm
Visit to the Isle of May
A ranger-led walk around the Isle of May nature reserve, a magical mix of seabirds, seals and smuggling. Please note that charges for ferry travel are payable directly to the operating company.
Anstruther Middle Pier, The Harbour, Anstruther, KY10 3AB. Contact Peter Bain 0131 447 8937
Sunday 16 June, 2pm - 4pm
Guided walk at Bawsinch
A ranger-led tour of the Scottish Wildlife Trust Trust's Bawsinch and Duddingston Wildlife Reserve including the opportunity to explore part of the reserve that is normally closed to the public. Meet at the wildlife hide. Suggested donation: £2.
Bawsinch and Duddingston Wildlife Reserve, EH15 3QE.
Saturday 15 June, 10am-12pm
Volunteer Action Day
Connect with nature by lending a hand at the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Oldhall Ponds Wildlife Reserve. Join the Trust’s team and get stuck into practical conservation. A brilliant way to find out about further volunteering opportunities in Ayrshire. Suggested donation: £1.
Oldhall Ponds Wildlife Reserve, Long Drive, Irvine.
Saturday 15 June, 7pm-10pm
Family Badger Watch
An evening walk to an outdoor badger viewing area at Falls of Clyde, following a trail of clues to the secret badger sett! It's a 45-minute walk to the sett with the chance to view badgers, bats and other nocturnal creatures. Suitable for families but children must be five years of age. Booking essential. Adult £10, child £5. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/event/big-wild-weekend-family-badg…
Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre, New Lanark, ML11 9DB.
Sunday 16 Jun, 10am – 4pm
Walk around Cumbrae
A group walk around the west coast of the Isle of Cumbrae on quiet roads to Fintry Bay, then on grass paths over the hill and into Millport then bus back to the ferry. Six miles walking. There should be good views of the Clyde, wildflowers and the chance to see a wide variety of birds.
Meet at Largs pier outside the Cal-Mac ticket office. Contact Janet Palmer jpalmer2005@yahoo.co.uk
Saturday June 15, 2pm-4pm
Go wild at Jupiter
Go wild at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre in Falkirk. Enjoy an array of fun nature-based activities to help you find your wild side! Suitable for all ages. £2 per child.
Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre, Grangemouth, FK3 8LH.
Andrew Parkinson / 2020VISION
Family Badger Watch
Spot badgers in their natural habitats by following a trail of clues to Falls of Clyde's secret badger sett! You might even see other nocturnal animals on this 45 minute walk.
Events in Northern Ireland
© Zsuzsanna Bird
Build your own wildlife shelter
Ulster Wildlife Trust are celebrating their 40th Anniversary on the Big Wild Weekend! Join them to build your own wildlife shelter, by learning the basic woodwork skills needed to make wildlife homes from bird boxes to hedgehog houses!