Cumbria Wildlife Trust are inviting families to celebrate nature, autumn and Halloween on Thursday 24th October at their Eycott Hill Nature Reserve Discovery Day near Penrith.
The event runs from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, and is free of charge thanks to National Lottery Players, and support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Visitors can make willow bats, spiders, or witch’s wands, discover spectacular spiders and other amazing autumn wildlife on guided family walks, and find creepy crawlies in our mini-beast hunts. There’ll also be wildlife themed arts and craft activities in the marquee which will include; make your own bug hotels, spider webs and bat bookmarks!
Drop in free activities include:
1pm – 4pm: Arts & Crafts which will include; Bug Hotels, Spider Webs, Bat Bookmarks, Plates of the Dead and lots more!
1pm, 2pm, & 3pm: Willow weaving workshops with Phil Bradley; join in with these 45 minute sessions where you can make a willow bat, spider or witches wand! Places are limited on the 45 minute sessions so must be booked in advance, please call 01539 816300 or email [email protected].
1.15pm – 2pm: Discover the spectacular spiders at Eycott Hill; learn amazing spider facts as we go on an adventure across the nature reserve to see what we can find lurking in the wood piles!
2.15pm – 3pm: Find fabulous fungi in the grassland – look for Slimy Earthtongues, Golden Spindles, Dung Roundheads, and even Parrots! As we go we’ll learn more about the wonderful world of mushrooms and toadstools, and other awesome autumn wildlife!
3.15pm – 4pm: Join Guy Broome in a sweep netting walk round the reserve to discover the insects and moths of Eycott Hill Nature Reserve.
There’s also free car parking and a way marked trail of approx. 1 mile to the summit of Eycott Hill. On the way families can admire the view and learn the names of the surrounding fells at the viewpoint, adventure among ancient lava flows that are more than 400 million years old, and lookout for carnivorous plants in the bog! Dogs are welcome at Eycott Hill Nature Reserve but should be kept on a lead to avoid disturbing wildlife and grazing animals.
Nichola Jackson, Eycott Hill Communications and Events Officer, said: “We hope people of all ages are able to join us as we celebrate autumn, nature and Halloween at Eycott Hill Nature Reserve. It’s a very special site and the free guided walks and activities are a great way for people to discover the fascinating wildlife that can be found here.”
Eycott Hill Nature Reserve is open year round, and it’s free to visit. To find out more go to www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/eycott-hill
Work at Eycott Hill Nature Reserve is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund who awarded £1.6 million towards the purchase price and an ongoing five year programme of conservation and activities to benefit wildlife and people. Located between Keswick and Penrith, near to the village of Mungrisdale, Eycott Hill is 216 hectares of exceptionally rich wildlife habitat and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for the plants in the swamps and mires and its geology. Car parking and entry to the nature reserve is free of charge. For the latest news sign up to the Eycott Hill newsletter at www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/eycott-hill.
