Blogger: Charlotte Pledger, Youth, Education & Families Officer
So onto the last of my family activity blogs for this summer – Minsmere. I have been fortunate enough to have visited the reserve several times over the holidays, mainly to help with some of the survey work in preparation for the new Family Discovery Zone. This gave me the opportunity to have a really close look at activities on offer and observe families participating in them.
There were lots of activities available for families visiting the reserve each Thursday throughout the summer. Each child was given a booklet as they arrived with an outline of the activities. They then went round the reserve, collecting a stamp for each activity (which included bird ringing demonstrations by Waveney Bird Club, pond dipping, bug hunting, exploring the hides, using binoculars and den building). They could then get a sticker at the Visitor Centre. This really focussed families on the activities and helped them explore more than one part of the reserve.
As I was wandering around I overheard many families talking enthusiastically about the activities and there were several great debates going on about which was their favourites. I don’t think any consensus was made – all were enjoyed equally. But don’t tell anyone but I really loved the den building.
It is easy to presume the activities are just for children but you just had to go to the bug hunting area to see grandparents crawling around on their hands and knees, with the same sense of wonder at discovering some small, yet wonderfully unusual creatures as their grand children.
Building your own den was popular (not just with me), particularly with children and their dads (mums were quite happy taking photos). At one point it was getting rather competitive between families – who was going to build the biggest and best den?!
Families and birders alike congregated in the bird ringing tent, fascinated and enthralled by how tiny and beautiful the everyday garden birds, such as blue tits looked close up. The ringers encouraged the children (and adults) to ask questions and allowed them to help release the birds. One little boy could hardly contain himself, bobbing up and down in excitement.
These opportunities for families to discover nature and the close encounters they are able to experience with wildlife, from damselfly nymphs to red deer, will hopefully sew a seed for a life long love of the natural world. After all, this is the aim of all the passionate volunteers and staff who have been running these events.
Just because the summer is coming to an end does not mean the fun stops here. Find out about more upcoming events at Minsmere here: The RSPB: Minsmere: Events.
Photo: Spotting all sorts of wildlife at Minsmere. Credit: Adam Murray