Get ready for Christmas with one eye on Big Garden Birdwatch 2019

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With trails that will see brisk winter winds blow any cobwebs away and offer family activities from pond dipping to backpacking as a budding wildlife explorer – it’s time to wrap yourself up and go wild in nature on RSPB Cymru reserves. And with Christmas just around the corner, a visit to one of our reserve shops is the ideal opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of the high street and fill your stockings with great gifts and treats for yourself, family, friends and garden wildlife.

A visit to our shops will also be the perfect opportunity to prepare for our much-anticipated Big Garden Birdwatch in the new year. Then come 26 January all you’ll need to do is simply put the kettle on, get comfy and enjoy an hour in the company of nature, counting the birds you spot in your garden or green space.

Since this vital citizen science event first took place 40 years ago, hundreds of thousands of people like you have taken part, counting the birds and telling us what they’ve seen – and it’s the perfect opportunity to get the whole family involved. Our shops have a great selection of bird food, feeders, nest boxes, hedgehog homes, bird baths and loads of other garden wildlife products. Our staff and volunteers are also brilliant for giving you the best advice on how to attract and support the wildlife that makes your garden their home over Christmas and beyond.

If you plan on doing some Christmas shopping at our reserve shops, then why not also fit in one of our events? If you visit RSPB Conwy from December through to 7 January, fit in a stroll along the Christmas trail and find the missing lyrics of our "12 Birds of Christmas" song whilst learning about the birds that visit during winter. This will take place throughout December (except Christmas Day) and throughout the school holidays. The cost will be £1 per quiz sheet and you’ll get to collect your prize at the end. Call 01492 581025 for more information.

At RSPB Ynys-hir, why not visit on 9 December and experience 4x4 Safaris - an exclusive tour of the lowland wet grasslands with the RSPB Ynys-hir Warden. During the winter months, this wonderful habitat supports flocks of wintering wildfowl and waders including species such as lapwing, golden plover and Greenland white-fronted geese along with birds of prey such as hen harrier and peregrine falcons. You’ll get the opportunity to discover how we manage the land and ensure the reserve remains their home in the future. The tour will last for two hours and there is a maximum number of four people per tour. Please note the event starts at 8.30am and cost for RSPB members is £25 per person, non-RSPB members £35 per person. There will also be dates in January and February 2019. Please bear in mind that booking beforehand is essential by calling 01654 700222.

If you’ve been tasked with finding a new pair of binoculars for a loved one this Christmas, why not come along to RSPB Newport Wetlands for their binocular and telescope weekend? You’ll get a chance to take a closer look at the reserve’s wildlife wonders, whilst our friendly team will be there to give you expert advice and help you choose the right product to suit your budget and requirements. These will take place on 1, 2, 15 and 16 December 2018 from 10am – 4pm. For more information please call 01633 636363.