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| Dusk at Burton Mere -Dan Trotman |
There are spooky goings-on at RSPB Burton Mere
Wetlands this half term, with lots of Halloween fun for families to enjoy.
For those who are brave enough to watch darkness
descend on the wetlands, there’s a special ‘Who’s afraid of the dark?’ event to
be held on Halloween, giving families the chance to explore the spooky world of
the nature reserve at dusk.
Dan Trotman, Visitor Development Officer
for the RSPB Dee Estuary reserve, said: “Our Halloween event is a fantastic
opportunity to show families the dark side of Burton Mere Wetlands – we can’t
promise there’ll be witches, but those who are afraid of the dark should be
warned, as there’s plenty of activity once the sun starts to set.
“Families can join us on a walk into the Discovery
Zone and experience an exciting dusk spectacle which happens on the reserve
every day; geese noisily flying in to roost on the water, the little egrets
flying in to the colony in their hundreds, jackdaws swooping around the trees
and bats emerging to feed. During the summer this happens too late for many of
us to see, but in autumn it happens before tea-time, so now is a great time to
watch.
“While there may only be a few bats still feeding at
this colder time of year, the birds themselves create a really creepy
atmosphere as darkness falls on Burton Mere –perfect for some spooky Halloween
fun! If we’re really lucky, we might hear the tawny owls hooting to each other
as they wake up in the woodland.”
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| Bat cartoon - A Rule -RSPB |
Throughout half-term week, there’s plenty more to keep
families busy; a self-led pumpkin quiz trail, Halloween craft activities and
the chance to discover the creepy creatures that find a home at Burton Mere
Wetlands.
The “Who’s afraid of the dark?” event runs from 4 pm-6
pm on Friday 31 October and costs £3 per child (£2 for RSPB Wildlife Explorer
members), which includes a drink and snack. Halloween costumes are encouraged.
Accompanying adults go free. Places are limited, with booking and payment in
advance essential.
The quiz trail and craft activities will be available
from Saturday 25 October to Sunday 2 November and are free to take part (normal
reserve entry fees apply for non-members).
For more information on the reserve and its
activities, please call the reserve on 0151 353 8478, or check out the website www.rspb.org.uk/deeestuary.
