Discover a world of wildlife after dark and find out what goes bump, snuffle and squeak in the night by camping outside taking part in the RSPB's Big Wild Sleepout: 9-11 August.
We want you to take part too - discover the secret world on your doorstep by sleeping out in the great outdoors! Put up a tent in your garden, build a makeshift shelter or, if you’re brave enough, simply sleep out under the stars. If you’ve not got a garden, we’ll be hosting a range of sleepouts and other night-themed events...
Photo by OJO Images Ltd/ Alamy
Here at Rainham we are inviting you to spend the night with us out on the reserve! We are very excited about our up coming Big Wild Sleepout event - we are spending the evening in Saturday 10 August from 7pm - 9am on Sunday out on the reserve. We're going to camp out, go for a walk by torchlight and some special guests are coming to join in too! Super talented artist Jenny Hooper (of Ghosts of Gone Birds fame) as she creates an exclusive piece of nature art next to our campsite and make yourself comfortable as critically acclaimed author Neil Ansell reads from his new book on sleeping rough, Deer Country, as the sky darkens.
It's definately a chance to experience the reserve as you never have before! We're spending the night in nature’s home, seeing and hearing the wildlife all around you and then waking up to the sun rising. Oh, and enjoying a nice cooked breakfast as well.
We do have a couple of spaces left if you wanted to join us - give us a call on 01708 899840.
Picture by John Terence Turner/ Alamy
If you cannot attend one of the RSPB's organised events and have a garden of your own, you can still join in by camping out at home. Maybe you want to be adventurous and build a den from natural materials or you could pop your mattress out on the grass or a balcony.
If you want you can help the RSPB to give nature a home by getting your Big Wild Sleepout sponsored by friends and family?
Like the Whitson family...
Leo and Harley have decided that they would like to help the RSPB because "they do fantastic work"!The family will be joining us here at Rainham Marshes, and you could too!
You can help us and the "fantastic work" we do, by coming along to one of the events around the country, sleeping out in your garden or by sponsoring some adventurous families like Leo and Harvey!
Leo and Harley really wanted to help the RSPB and don't have a garden, so they've coming over to us! We are delighted to have you! We would all like to say a HUGE thank you to you them for helping the RSPB! If you would like to sponsor them and perhaps donate a couple of pounds to help them reach their target of £20 they would be so grateful! Go here to sponsor them!
The Big Wild Sleepout is part of the RSPB’s new Giving Nature a Home campaign encouraging everyone to provide a place for wildlife wherever they live and however big their outside space is.
To help encourage even more people to sleep out, the RSPB has joined forces with Blacks, the outdoor retailer. For more information on the Rainham Marshes event go to: rspb.org.uk/rainham
And for ideas on how to make the most of your own Big Wild Sleepout, and details of other events visit: rspb.org.uk/sleepout