Natural England - Mad about the Mosses

Mad about the Mosses

26 July 2010

Are your kids fed up during the summer holidays? Why not bring them along for an exciting series of mornings exploring the wildlife and the boggy biodiversity of Fenn’s, Whixall & Bettisfield Mosses National Nature Reserve?

Natural England and the Countryside Council for Wales are hosting the ‘Mad about the Mosses’ Summer Holiday Activity days from 10.00 am to 1pm on Tuesdays 3, 10, 17, 24 August. The events are aimed at children aged 5 or more, and will be based at the Manor House NNR Base at Whixall, near Whitchurch and Wrexham, and will be led by Natural England’s Community Outreach Adviser Caroline Dahn, Reserve Manager Pete Bowyer and Caroline Allen from the Earth Life Company.

To book the free activity days and to receive the instructions for each day please ring Caroline Dahn on 0300 060 0583 in the week or Joan Daniels on 07974 784 799 evenings and weekends or e-mail caroline.dahn@naturalengland.org.uk for a booking form.

On Tuesday 3 August the morning will be ‘All About Birds’. Children will make their own bird identification key and then head out onto the Mosses to see what birds they can spot with them. They will each make a bird feeder and a bird box to take home.

On Tuesday 10 August, on the ‘Bog Safari’, children will put their detective skills to the test and explore the plants and animals on the Mosses where they will find an amazing variety of boggy biodiversity. They can have good fun pond dipping and sweeping insects off the bushes and sucking them up into ‘pooter’ pots and bug viewers. They will each make their own bug viewer and a model of their favourite bug to take home.

On Tuesday 17 August on the ‘Natures Art’ day we will be joined by Caroline Allen from the Earth Life Company. Children will create their own natural masterpieces using clay to make a tree spirit or bog creature natural materials to create their own mobiles.

On Tuesday 24 August families are invited to ‘Follow that Trail’. Join us for mammal tracking, orienteering, trail blazing and follow the family eco-trail across the Mosses to win prizes.

Senior Reserve Manager Joan Daniels said, “The events will be a wonderful chance for children to see and handle wildlife themselves. And while having fun, they will realise how important bogs are, not just for wildlife but also for helping to reduce the global warming that could drastically alter their world”.

The events are open to all ages of children. Youngsters under eight years old must be accompanied by an adult. Parents of older children are welcome to stay and join in. Children need to bring a pack lunch.

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Notes for editors

About Natural England

Natural England is the government’s independent adviser on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.

  • We establish and care for England’s main wildlife and geological sites, ensuring that over 4,000 National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are looked after and improved.
  • We work to ensure that England’s landscapes are effectively protected, designating England’s National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Marine Conservation Zones, and advising widely on their conservation.
  • We run Environmental Stewardship and other green farming schemes that deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland.
  • We fund, manage, and provide scientific expertise for hundreds of conservation projects each year, improving the prospects for thousands of England’s species and habitats.
  • We promote access to the wider countryside, helping establish National Trails and coastal trails and ensuring that the public can enjoy and benefit from them.

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