Join us this bank holiday (12th & 13th July) at WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre. Kids grab your passports from reception and complete all the family fun activities.
All you have to do is get your passport stamped at each activity which will take place at different times throughout the day so please check with reception on arrival. Once you have your passport fully stamped return to reception to collect a free bird related gift. So why not start off by unlocking your artistic talents with local wildlife artist Bernice Anderson. Grab your paintbrush, pastel and of course coloring in pencils and our local artist will show you the skills required to produce your very own bird master piece. You can also help in constructing a true work of art by using your new skills to help create a Castle Espie Bird collage.
Go on to collect your next stamp and join our guide for a session of pond dipping at the pond zone see if you can find any of the following aquatic life such as leeches, freshwater hoglouse, pond snails or greater water boatman. Alternatively head towards Stoat Town and hunt the dark crevices and woodpiles of our woodland for millipedes, centipedes and other creepy crawlies. Next point to collect your stamp will include some entertaining bird related children’s stories just outside reception. Make sure you complete the duck hunt and find 10 devious ducks hidden around the grounds and mark where you spotted them on the map. Reception staff will stamp your passport when complete.
A wee birdie craft area will be set up on both days and we hope you will be inspired to make your own little bird to take home with you and don’t forget to bring along a rubber duck to the Loughshore Cafe staff to collect a prize.
Downy Duckling Tours will also be taking place over the 12th and 13th July so come along and see our tiny fluffy ducklings and goslings as they take their first wobbly steps and take to the water like, well, ducks! You can even go behind the scenes and see the duckling nurseries with the incubated eggs and learn about egg fertility during ‘candling. If you’re really lucky, you might even see a tiny baby hatch from the egg, taking its first view of the world! Tours take place at 12noon, 2pm and 3pm and are included in price of admissions, due to popular demand pre-booking is essential. Please call 02891 874146 to book.
While we can’t guarantee the weather, you’re never far from shelter at WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre. There are comfortable hides, easy buggy and wheelchair friendly pathways, fully stocked cafe and gift shop and disabled and parent & baby facilities. The art gallery is currently showcasing ‘DOWN to Earth’ by the Ulster Society of Women Artists which is free to attend and running until to the 27 July. Kids will love our climbing wall which is down next to the limestone pavilion. If you’d like to hand feed the other ducks in our collection, grain is sold in the shop just before you go into the collection. For more information on planning your visit to WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre visit wwt.org.uk/castleespie. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @wwtcastleespie.