Events Programme 23 - 30 May 2015
Welcome to the Wildlife Festival Peterborough’s first Wildlife Festival has a packed programme of events and activities throughout the week at various locations across the city. Come along to discover the wonderful wildlife that is on our doorstep and the amazing conservation work that local organisations do in order to protect and preserve the homes of these animals, birds and plants. Free events are happening throughout the week so keep an eye out for this logo on the event listings
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Please note that many of the organisations are registered charities and receive little or no government funding. If you would like to make a donation to help towards to the costs of running the event then please do. All donations are gratefully received!
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All this week at Ferry Meadows Country Park No need to book just turn up to enjoy ...
Wildlife Detective Trail
Visitor Centre
Collect a trail sheet from the Visitor Centre then hunt for clues as you walk around Ferry Meadows. Return to the Visitor Centre to claim your prize.
Pop into our Visitor Centre to view the sightings board and watch live camera feeds from our tern islands on the lake or our nest boxes within the park. This is also your one stop shop for wildlife related gifts for all ages.
(50p trail sheet) Captains’ Folly Boat Ride Take a boat ride around Overton Lake to discover the wildlife that lives in and around the water of Ferry Meadows Country Park. Spotter Sheets available.
(Open 10am - 5pm throughout half term)
Ferry Meadows Café and Lakeside Kitchen and Bar After all the fun activities you have joined in you’ll be ready for some refreshments, so head down to one of the park cafes for a selection of hot and cold drinks and refreshments, some have a wildlife theme! Ferry Meadows Miniature Railway Enjoy a short miniature train ride across Ferry Meadows to see how much wildlife you can spot.
(£2.50 for children up to 16 years, £5.00 for adults)
(£1.50 adult/child single, £2.00 child return, £2.50 adult return)
Notcutts Garden Centre Pop into the Garden Centre at the entrance to the Country Park to join in a free search for wildlife, follow clues and claim your prize. Staff will be happy to answer questions about plants good for wildlife and you can stock up on bird food, nest boxes and other ways to encourage wildlife at home.
Lakeside @ Ferry Meadows Why not hire a boat yourself and get out onto the lake to see what wildlife you can spot? (Please call 01733 230291 for more information, availability and prices)
Events throughout the week... Sunday 24 May
Saturday 23 May
t ven E e Fre Peterborough Bird Club
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Peterborough Rivercare Group
11:00am - 12:30pm
10:00am - 4:00pm Join some volunteers from Peterborough Rivercare Group for an introduction and demonstration of some of the work they do along the River Nene. You will also get the opportunity to volunteer with the group and see first-hand how the work carried out has a positive impact on local wildlife Suitable: Aged 18 years and above Meeting point: Peterborough Embankment
Monday 25 May
Join Peterborough Bird Club for a walk around Ferry Meadows identifying birds that visit Suitable: All ages & all bird watching abilities welcome Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park
Nature Tots
Easy access: Yes
10:00am - 11:30am
Booking required: Booking not required, limited places, arrive early to avoid disappointment
A nature themed session which includes a craft activity, outdoor session and story and song time. Suitable: 2years - 4years
Easy access: Yes
Meeting point: Discovery Den, Ferry Meadows Country Park
Booking required: Yes Please call 07738061408 or email nenerivercare@gmail.com
Easy access: Yes Booking required: Yes
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Ev e e Fr Hawk & Owl Trust 11:00am - 4:00pm Find out more about conservation work for these beautiful birds Suitable: All ages Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park Easy access: Yes Booking required: No
Book early to avoid disappointment!
Events throughout the week...
Monday 25 May
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Tuesday 26 May
11:00am - 3:00pm
Pop in to see RSPB and find out more about giving nature a home
Join Nene Park Trust Rangers and have a go at climbing an ancient Elm tree
Suitable: All ages Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park
Booking required: No
t Ferry Meadows ven E Bird Race Free 8.30am - 11:30am
Froglife Guided Walk t ven E e 7:00pm - 9:00pm Fre A behind the scenes walk at nationally important Hampton Nature Reserve managed by Froglife. We will ramble in the wilderness, hunt for reptiles and amphibians and enjoy the wonderful outdoors Suitable: 8 years + Meeting point: Junction between Hargate Way and Nature’s Way Easy access: No Advisory information: Rough terrain, wear sturdy footwear Booking required: Please call 01733 602102 or email rebecca.neal@froglife.org
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Tree Climbing
11:00am - 4:00pm
Easy access: Yes
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Come down to Ferry Meadows and see how many different species of birds you can spot . This is a great chance to improve your bird identification skills and have some fun ! Suitable: All ages Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park Easy access: Yes
Suitable: Children aged 3years+. Children must be able to fit into the harness to be able to join in the activity Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park Easy access: No Booking required: Limited availability, timed slots on arrival
Events throughout the week... Tuesday 26 May t
t ven E ree Fre Kingsdyke Trust Open Day F Bug Hunt ven eE
12:00 noon - 8:00pm Come down and enjoy a fun-filled day exploring the wildlife on your doorstep! Activities include snake handling, fossil hunting, bird watching, pond dipping and many more Suitable: All ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult Meeting point: Events Marquee, Kingsdyke Nature Reserve Easy access: Restrictions for some activities and areas of the reserve. Please call 01553 630842 for more information Booking required: No Look out for further events at Kingsdyke Nature Reserve. Special Events to be announced! Please call 01553 630842 for further information
Bat Walk
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9:00pm - 10:30pm Fre
Join Nene Park Trust’s 1:00pm - 2:00pm Conservation Officer and Join the charity Buglife for a bug Peterborough City Council’s Wildlife Officer on a night time bat hunt around Ferry Meadows walk around Ferry Meadows Suitable: All ages Country Park Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Suitable: All ages. Children must Ferry Meadows Country Park be accompanied by an adult. Easy access: Yes Booking required: No, drop in event
Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park Easy access: Yes Booking required: Yes Please call 01733 453543 or email wildlife@peterborough.gov.uk
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Fre An Evening with Froglife and Buglife 7:00pm - 9:00pm Ever wondered how bugs talk to each other or just what our amphibians and reptiles are up to at this time of year? A light hearted evening of talks by Buglife and Froglife Suitable: All ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park Easy access: Yes Booking required: Yes Please call 01733 201210 or email jamie.robins@buglife.org.uk
Events throughout the week... Wednesday 27 Meeting Magical t ven E e Mammals Fre
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10:00am - 11:30am
12:00 noon- 1:00pm
A short walk discovering small mammals that live in the park
Matthew Merrit from Bird Watching Magazine will be hosting an introduction to identifying birds by sight and sound
Suitable: All ages Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park Easy access: Yes Booking required: Yes please call 01733 234193
Suitable: All ages Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park Easy access: Not suitable for buggies or dogs Booking required: Booking not required, limited places, arrive early to avoid disappointment
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e Fre Wild Wednesday 10:00am - 2:00pm Children and adults are welcome to join in some seasonal and wild crafts Suitable: All ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult Meeting point: Discovery Den, Ferry Meadows Country Park Easy access: Yes Booking required: No, drop-in event
9:30am - 4:00pm Join the Wildlife Trust in Ferry Meadows to find out more about the work they do and how you could help Suitable: All ages Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park Easy access: Yes Booking required: No
Swaddywell Geology Tour 7:00pm - 9:00pm Join the Langdyke Trust for a tour of Swaddywell Pit, a nature reserve that was formally a limestone quarry from Roman times until 1970s Suitable: All ages Meeting point: Main car park, situated between Marholm and Ufford, via Stamford Stone entrance Easy access: Not suitable for buggies or wheelchairs. Advisory information: Some of the tour will be over uneven ground, please wear suitable footwear. Dogs must be kept on a lead Cost to participants: ÂŁ3 per person Booking required: No
Events throughout the week... Thursday 28 May Hogweeds Trail 10.00 am
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A trail of wildlife discovery and fun for children and their families at Ferry Meadows. Come along to discover all kinds of fascinating facts and have lots of fun! Suitable: 8—12 year olds with parents, sorry no dogs Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park Advisory information: Please wear outdoor clothes which can get a little muddy! Booking required: Yes Please call 01733 687515 or email Amanda.brookes @wildlifebcn.org
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Kingsdyke Trust Open Day 12:00noon - 8:00pm Come down and enjoy a fun-filled day exploring the wildlife on your doorstep! Activities include snake handling, fossil hunting, bird watching, pond dipping and many more! Suitable: All ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meeting point: Events Marquee, Kingsdyke Nature Reserve Easy access: Restrictions for some activities and areas of the reserve. Please call 01553 630842 for more information.
t ven E e Fre Discovering Dragonflies 11:00 am - 12.:30pm Join the British Dragonfly Society on a gentle walk looking for these remarkable creatures Suitable: All ages Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park Easy access: Yes Booking required: No, limited places, please arrive early to avoid disappointment
Booking required: No
Look out for further events at Kingsdyke Nature Reserve. Special Events to be announced! Please call 01553 630842 for further information.
t ven e e Fre Discover Wild Food 6:00pm - 7:15pm Get tips on collecting and identifying wild food on this guided walk with Nene Park Trust’s Visitor Services Officer, David Radley Suitable: 12 years + Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park Easy access: Yes Booking required: Yes Please call 01733 234193 for more information and to book a space.
Events throughout the week... Friday 29 May nt e v eE
Fre Walk with a Ranger 10:00am - 12 noon A 'behind the scenes' walk, looking at work carried out in the park recently to encourage wildlife and make the park an even better place for all our visitors. Led by Deputy Head Ranger, Andrew MacDermott Suitable: All ages Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park Easy access: Yes Booking required: Yes Please call 01733 234193 to reserve a place
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Fre Guided Wildlife Walk at Castor Hanglands 7:00pm - 9:00pm Experience the sights and sounds of wonderful wildlife and hear more from the Reserves Manager about the important nature conservation work carried out by Natural England
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Fre Moth Trapping
Suitable: All ages
8:30pm - late
Meeting point: Southey Woods car park at TF111023, Upton Road.
Join Buglife in exploring the amazing moths that flourish at Ferry Meadows during the night. We’ll use a light trap to attract the moths from the nearby trees and fields, then use picture guides to help identify the different species.
Easy access: May not be suitable for all, please call for details Advisory information: Please wear suitable footwear and clothing. Binoculars and cameras are encouraged. Booking required: Yes Please call 0300 060 4954 or email sarah.tarrant@naturalengland.org.uk
Suitable: All ages Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park Easy access: Yes Booking required: Yes, please call 01733 201210 or email jamie.robins@buglife.org.uk
Grand Finale… Saturday 30 May 11am - 4pm Make your way to Ferry Meadows for a whole day full of wildlife fun! t ven E Bird Watching Magazine Nene Park Trust Free Kings Dyke Nature t n Eve Reserve Information about e Tours of the wildlife garden, by e Fr Trust Gardener, Gareth Lorman looking at recent improvements and offering gardening tips and advice. Tours at 11am, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.
Buglife
the magazine and it’s activities. Editor Matt Merritt will be on hand to offer advice on birds, birdwatching and optics.
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n t Hawk & Owl Trust Eve n e e The Wildlife Trust e Ev Fre e r Information stand with a F
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Bug Hunts will be happening throughout the day, run by the invertebrate charity Buglife. Drop in to their info stand anytime in the day
Information stand with activities for adults and children alike including; owl pellet dissections, quizzes with prizes and wildlife crafts.
Make your own bird feeder and paint plaster cast insects and flowers at the Wildlife Trust’s stall
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v eE Peterborough Fre Environment City Trust
Join PECT for a one hour guided walk looking at some of the trees that can be found within Nene Park. Meet at the Visitor Centre at 12 noon
selection of small birds of prey items for sale.
The Captain’s Folly Ferry Meadows Miniature Railway All aboard the Ferry Meadows Railway! Take a short miniature train ride across Ferry Meadows to see how much different wildlife you can spot. (£1.50 adult/child single, £2.00 child return, £2.50 adult return)
Take a boat ride around Overton Lake to spot the different wildlife that lives in and around the water within Ferry Meadows Country Park. Spotter Sheets available. (£2.50 for children up to 16 years, £5.00 for adults)
RSPB
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RSPB will be providing information and a display of the work that they do, giving nature a home
Froglife
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Come along and see a section of the Nene Dragon Finder ‘Mapestry’ and help to complete it by drawing and cutting out fabric
Peterborough Bird Club Have a go looking through some binoculars over the lake to see what birds you can spot and have a chat with members of Peterborough Bird Club
Have you got any rocks or fossils that you’d like identifying? Bring them along to the GeoPeterborough stand for information and advice
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Get Hooked on Fishing
Have a go sessions for beginners and returners, including top tips from existing anglers. Pop along any time between 10:30am - 4:00pm Great Fen ent v E e at Orton Pond. Fre Project £1 per 30 minute Discover more about this exciting session project & a chance to make fat balls for birds or painting bugs
Don’t forget to follow us on twitter... #pbwildlifefest
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Natural England
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Chat to specialist staff who can offer an insight to the work that Natural England carries out to benefit wildlife and people in and around Peterborough
The Wildlife Festival Group The Festival is brought to you by a group of local organisations. They are all charities and welcome your involvement and support in caring for and enjoying our local wildlife
Froglife Nene Park Trust
Froglife is a national wildlife Nene Park Trust is a local charity charity committed to the conservation of amphibians and that manages over 1,700 acres reptiles – frogs, toads, newts, of land to the west of snakes and lizards – and saving Peterborough at no cost to the the habitats they depend on taxpayer, including the 500 acre Ferry Meadows Country Park.
Buglife A British based nature conservation charity headquartered in Peterborough. Saving the small things that run the planet.
The Wildlife Trust Bringing people together to take action for wildlife is the Trust's mission. The local Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire cares for reserves and offers local activities.
Also happening in Peterborough The Green Festival run by the independent charity Peterborough Environment City Trust, is also happening from 23 –31 May with a programme of wider sustainability topics and activities.
Thank you To all the organisations and individuals who have contributed to the first Peterborough Wildlife Festival. Thank you also to all those who have come along to events, we hope it has inspired you to enjoy wildlife and get more involved locally.
Photo credits Thanks to Chris Porsz, Paul Gallagher, Chris Park and Ashley Wheal for use of their photographs.
Financial Support We are especially grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for their financial support for Peterborough Wildlife Festival