The annual Easter craft fare came to the grounds of Wollaton Hall and deer park , Nottingham on the 29th-30th March, hosting a wide range of stalls and displays from local craftsmen and women throughout Nottingham. From cakes, to knit wear, bird boxes, candle makers and of course, who other than.......... the RSPB!
It’s not very often you see a number of garden birds, such as chaffinches & blue tits, foraging alongside the site of a brown long eared bats and water voles in a great hall of a spectacular Elizabethan mansion......well if you were at Wollaton for the Easter festivities your not going mad! You would be right in viewing such a spectacular and indeed rare sight!
Bright coloured plumage, sparkles, beautiful feathers, the creation and interpretation of some of the weekends budding wildlife enthusiasts! And their take on some of our most important local visitors & inhabitants.
Children and families were invited to take part in our very own RSPB craft activity; making a spring themed wildlife mask, or a paper Mache swift nest box in aid of RSPB ‘save our swifts http://www.rspb.org.uk/thingstodo/surveys/swifts/; with lots of useful information and friendly advice on encouraging wildlife this spring, including none other than our African migrants, the swifts and what we can step up to do in giving them a ‘home'. Susanne one of my volunteers, getting involved in the fun!
Swift numbers have declined massively over the past 10 years . An RSPB survey found that 3,400 nests in the UK found that 80% were in houses. However, recent building developments and house conversions have reduced potential nesting sites, so the more nesting potential we can offer the better!
The weekend was a huge success with other 750 people visiting our information and advice point, or participating in a spring themed activity. Raising vital funds for our work and raising awareness of local conservation, so a big thanks to all involved!
But it does not end their, as spring and summer approach so does the number of exciting events, activities and workshops on offer from myself and my Futurescapes project, as well as the wider RSPB! Starting with ‘An introduction to small mammals & trapping’ at RSPB Beckingham Marshes on Sun 5th May, 10;30, http://www.rspb.org.uk/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-344866 and ‘Cave Critters of Creswell’ on Sunday 26th May at Creswell Crags http://www.rspb.org.uk/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-343417 to look for the elusive & rare cave spiders.
These photos were taken the other week when I and a team of local invertebrate specialists & colleagues delved deep into the caves at Creswell Crags in preparation for the event. Including Gary Joynt from Rufford Country Park, Trevor & Dily's from TDP Invertebrate ecologists/Eakring Birds, with friend & fellow wildlife enthusiast Richard don’t miss out! There a sight not to be missed! and what an exciting day it promises to be!
Keep an eye out for regular updates and future events throughout Sherwood and Trent via the RSPB event page or follow my personal blog https://twitter.com/RSPBRoseanna or my Sherwood blog at https://twitter.com/RSPBSherwood.