Our Dinosaur Discovery family trail is in full swing here at Strumpshaw Fen. Are you brave enough to venture into the wilds… and maybe come face-to-face with a present-day dinosaur?
All the skills your promising palaeontologists need to tackle the trail can be gleaned at Basecamp: you’ll learn how fossils form and how they can be studied to reveal their secrets. Be sure to record your new knowledge on your trail sheet!
One of the fascinating fact boards that guide you on the adventure. Board design and photo by Adrian Samuels.
You’ll then travel to the Woodland Dell to find out how dinosaurs looked after their eggs and build your own dinosaur nest – can you guess who our dinosaur descendants are yet? At the Sandpit, you’ll learn some more palaeontology skills as you see many years of history displayed in the sediment layers. You might spot some of the creatures who make this geological marvel their home today, such as nesting solitary bees.
There are plenty of fun facts hidden along the trails for curious minds to find! Board design and photo by Adrian Samuels.
Near the end of the trail, you’ll discover more about the creatures whose singing, flypasts and beautiful plumage have accompanied you on your adventure (was that a dinosaur’s roar?!). If you’d like to find out more before accompanying your own promising palaeontologists on their adventure, this article and this video from the Natural History Museum explain the story.
You can continue exploring as much of the reserve as you’d like with our Jurassic Scavenger Hunt – we look forward to hearing about your discoveries!
How Can We Take Part?
The Dinosaur Discovery trail runs until Sunday 5th September. See our website to plan your visit and for information about the reserve’s facilities and accessibility. The full details are available on the event listing.
There is no need to book. Trail packs and pond dipping kits are available from our wonderful volunteers at Reception Hide.
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Blog written by Jenna Woodford