Blogger: Charlotte Pledger, Youth, Education and Families Officer
Charlotte, our expert on all things to do with families and kids, is taking an intrepid wander around the East to see what great things you can do this summer. The Summer of 2011 - let's make it a good one (regardless of the weather).
Tuesday was one of those days when I thought I have the best job in the world. I spent the day down in the RSPB’s Discovery Zone at Wat Tyler investigating the wonderful summer holiday family events on offer. And what a great range of activities there were (and are planned for the rest of the long summer holiday). From T-shirt printing and badge making to bug hunts and nature trails, there was something for everyone. Despite it being a rather cool and overcast day, well over 100 people visited.
One of the most wonderful sights of the day was seeing children, their parents and grandparents skipping about in the long grass with sweep nets, catching an array of weird and wonderful bugs, then gazing in awe at the close up views of the alien-like crickets and grasshoppers, before releasing them into the ‘wild’ again.
These are all run by a fantastically dedicated team of staff and volunteers, all of whom engage with the public in a really positive way, encouraging then to come back for future events and of course, sign up as members! Two of the young volunteers (conservationists of the future I am sure) helping with this event used their initiative and asked to go round the park itself to hand out leaflets to families, several of which then came over to participate in the activities that day. Let’s hope more people are inspired to come along throughout the summer.
So, if you find yourself down in South Essex this summer, then make sure you pop into one of their fabulous events. For more details, click here The RSPB: South Essex Marshes Visitor Centre: Events.
I’m now looking forward to travelling around the superb Eastern region, visiting Titchwell, Minsmere, Fen Drayton, Frampton and The Lodge over the next few weeks, where I am promised pond dipping (my favourite), lots of art and craft activities and of course, getting families involved in the work of the RSPB in the East.
Photo Credit: Speckled Bush-cricket. Jodie Randall (rspb-images.com)