July has rolled around rather quickly this year and here at Pulborough Brooks that can only mean one thing...Big Wild Sleepout is nearly upon us! This event is your chance to go on a wild adventure and spend the night under the stars surrounded by nocturnal wildlife, either in your garden or at your local RSPB reserve.
This year we are holding two Big Wild Sleepouts, one on Friday 28 July and the other on Saturday 29 July. You will get the opportunity to camp out in our wonderful wildflower meadow where you can enjoy your picnic dinner al fresco (sadly we cannot allow BBQs, stoves or fires) before taking part in a wide range of exciting wild activities.
The evening will kick off with a spot of pond dipping (always a popular activity with young and old!) where you’ll be able to discover what mysterious creatures are lurking in the depths of our pond. If you’re lucky, you might scoop a fearsome dragonfly larva or a newt!
Once the pond creatures have been liberated, you’ll have even more chances to get close to wildlife with the unpacking of our moth trap, setting the mammal traps (don’t worry—we use live traps that don’t cause any injury to our furry friends) and going on a night-time walk in search of bats and other nocturnal beasties. To end the evening, you can enjoy hot chocolate under the stars; if we’ve been blessed with clear skies, you might even get to see Jupiter!
In the morning, after a light breakfast of fruit, pastries and cereals, we’ll finish off by taking you on a reptile walk in the hopes of finding some of our fascinating snakes, slow worms and lizards basking in the early sun. It’s a jam-packed event that will give you a unique experience of a nature reserve at night, perfect for families and adults alike.
This year, we’re offering you the chance to take part in this fantastic event AND win a £50 gift card! Big Wild Sleepout is sponsored by Rohan, producers of outdoor and travel clothing, who have kindly supplied us with two £50 gift cards for use online and in their shops.
For your chance to win all you have to do is book on to one of our Big Wild Sleepout events here at Pulborough Brooks, either on the Friday or Saturday, and your name will automatically be entered into the draw. We’ll pick the winning name from a hat on Saturday and Sunday morning before you all head home to your own beds!
Event details:
5 pm Friday 28 July – 10 am Saturday 29 July. £35 per adult/£30 for RSPB members, £17.50 per child/£15 for RSPB members.
5 pm Saturday 29 July – 10 am Sunday 30 July. £35 per adult/£30 for RSPB members, £17.50 per child/£15 for RSPB members.
For full details, please follow this link: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/events-dates-and-inspiration/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-276470
To book your place on Big Wild Sleepout, please give our visitor centre a call on 01798 875851.
We hope to see you there!