The wildflowers are blooming, butterflies are fluttering over the meadows and dragonflies are darting over the ditches – Big Wild Summer has started at Pulborough Brooks! Summer is a fantastic time to explore the great outdoors and we’ve got some amazing wildlife here in West Sussex.
Small copper butterfly by Graham Osborne
Wonderful wildflowers
Visitors can follow our ‘wonderful wildflowers trail’ and find out which wildflowers are enjoyed most by bees, which are beloved by the fairies, and which have been used to cure all manner of ailments.
Bird's foot trefoil by Anna Allum
Bright yellow flowers of bird’s foot trefoil carpet areas of the trail and are popular with beautiful common blue butterflies. Schoolchildren once used to carry a sprig of this plant with them, believing it would stop them being given punishments!
Big Wild Summer activity trail
Family fun for all ages will take place between 1 July 2022 and 4 September 2022 including the Big Wild Summer activity trail. Detective Hoot and Constable Crumbs are trying to solve a mystery – but they need some help. Youngsters can become nature detectives by joining them to learn all about the wildlife at the reserve.
A special Big Wild Summer activity pack includes a mouse mask that’s perfect for creeping along the trail, fun wildlife activities, and instructions to make moon cookies for a midnight feast. Our special self-led trail introduces butterflies and moths with special challenges for youngsters to try including ‘moth or myth’ and ‘camouflage quests’.
Photo by Anna Allum
The self-led trail is aimed at children aged 3-11 years old, but grown-ups can of course join in the fun too. There’s no need to book, just turn up. Activity packs are available from the welcome hut centre and cost £3.50 each. Find out more here.
Family events
Along with the summer trail, there are lots of other activities taking place at RSPB Pulborough Brooks throughout the holidays.
Every Wednesday and Friday during August is a special family activity day when visitors can try pond dipping and minibeast hunting at our Wild Wednesday or Fab Friday events.
Another highlight of the warm sunny days are reptiles with adders, grass snakes, slow worms and common lizards all found on the nature reserve.
Slow worms by Rob King
We’ve developed special basking areas for reptiles and you’ll have chance to visit these on one of our safaris. You’ll need to book for these exclusive events as we explore in small groups.
See all of our summer events here
Play and picnic
Enjoy a picnic in our pretty meadow alongside our fun adventure playground and test your balancing skills on squirrel’s obstacle course out in the woodland play zone.
Cream tea on the terrace
Top up your picnic supplies with scrumptious cakes from our newly re-opened café or enjoy a delicious tub of Jude’s ice cream to cool off after your Big Wild Summer adventure.
We’re now serving cream teas which you can enjoy on our lovely tea terrace with one of the loveliest views in West Sussex.
Cream tea. Photo by Anna Allum (Cream tea also consumed and enjoyed by Anna Allum)
We look forward to seeing you soon.