Friday 17 May 2013

RSPB Burton Mere - visit this spring half-term and expect a fun-filled, wild day out.


Enjoy wild family fun at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands

Pond dipping at BMW  - Austin Morley


Families visiting RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands this spring half-term can expect a fun-filled, wild day out.

Now the long winter is finally over, staff at the nature reserve are bringing the popular pond dipping kits out of hibernation, ready for visitors to discover the weird and wonderful creatures making their
homes in the old fishponds.

The reserve, on the Dee Estuary, is also launching its new Wildlife Explorer backpacks, which contain everything from a magnifying glass and a pair of binoculars to a pooter - a special collecting tube which
visitors can use to catch small insects and examine them more closely.   Complete with identification guides and tips on where to find things, there s everything families need to get closer to nature and learn more about what makes Burton Mere Wetlands such a special home for wildlife.

Dan Trotman, Visitor Development Officer for RSPB Dee Estuary reserves, said:  Pond dipping was a very popular family activity here last summer, with all sorts of fascinating minibeasts being fished out.

The new Wildlife Explorer backpacks encourage families to explore the rest of the nature trails and enable you to get up close and personal with the wildlife, from woodlice to wood mice if you re lucky.

The stunning bluebell carpet along the Gorse Covert trail will still be at its best and there will be chicks hatching left, right and centre our first avocets and lapwings hatched this week.

Both activities are available to collect from Saturday 25 May during the visitor reception opening hours. There is no need to book in advance and the activities are free of charge for RSPB members. The normal admission price of  6 per family applies to non-members, with an additional charge of  2.50 per pond dipping kit or Wildlife Explorer backpack.

For more information on the reserve and its activities, please call the reserve on 0151 353 8478, or check out the website


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