The RSPB’s Big Wild Sleepout returns for a fifth fabulous year, and between 28th and 30th July, thousands of children and their families will be pitching tents in gardens and RSPB reserves across the UK, hoping to discover what night time creatures are living on their doorstep.
And our RSPB South East reserves offer truly unique environments for campers to pitch their tents and get up close to nature.
At RSPB Pulborough Brooks in West Sussex, you can uncover moths, bats and enjoy unrivalled dark night skies at this stunning South Downs location. The reserve is within one of only 11 Dark Skies Reserves in the world, offering campers the chance to enjoy exceptionally clear night skies at night and enjoy activities in beautiful surroundings during the day.
Alternatively, families can watch the sunrise over the UK’s only desert landscape at RSPB Dungeness on the Kent coast. This unique corner of the UK has inspired many artists over the years and in the summer months the reserve is awash with wildflowers - it’s a great time to try and spot butterflies and dragonflies along the nature trail. The site has been declared a National Nature Reserve for its unusual shingle landscape, alongside grassland and wetland habitats which are home to an internationally important community of plants and animals.
Determined to be beside the seaside? Our RSPB Pagham Harbour reserve overlooks the English Channel and is home to some of our rarest breeding seabirds. Wake up to a cacophony of common terns calls and look out for lizards basking on the hot sandy ground.
How about a city break with a difference? Right on the edge of London, our RSPB Rainham Marshes reserve might surprise you! Replace the noise of city life with the plop of a water vole searching for food, and the croaks of marsh toads as evening draws in.
Want cosy campfires and fragrant heathland? Head to RSPB Farnham Heath reserve and explore bug traps, wildlife walks and search for a toasting stick before tucking into marshmallows cooked on the campfire. The reserve is part of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and campers can explore the stunning heathland - an important habitat now rarer than rainforest.
New for 2017, campers can now get even closer to nature by taking the first step towards their Wild Challenge, the RSPB’s new free online award scheme, which encourages families to go out and get closer to the natural world.
By completing activities ranging from minibeast safaris and habitat exploring, to making a compost heap and planting for wildlife, participants can log their achievements on the RSPB Wild Challenge website and collect bronze, silver and gold awards.
For those who prefer to stay closer to home, visit www.rspb.org.uk/sleepout to find fun ideas, activities and tips to help you have a wild night out. Big Wild Sleepout is free to take part in at home and registration opens mid June. Booking for our special reserve sleepouts is open now!
Rohan, designer and supplier of outdoor clothing and footwear, is supporting the Big Wild Sleepout for the third year running. To be in with a chance of winning Rohan vouchers follow @RSPB_Southeast and @RSPBUrban on Twitter!