Prepare for a summer of fun at RSPB Leighton Moss

Keeping the little ones entertained this summer will be easy for families heading to RSPB Leighton Moss, as there’s a variety of wild adventures in store for all ages at the Silverdale nature reserve.

On Wednesday 5 August, families can join the Butterflies, Bugs and Birds Bonanza to discover all that flies, flutters and flaps on Warton Crag. This event, which is part of the Butterfly Conservation Big Butterfly Count, will take place between 1-3 pm. The cost is adults £7 (RSPB members £5.50) and half price for children, with the first child going free. Booking is essential for this event and participants are asked to meet at Warton Crag car park.

For those budding wildlife explorers, there’s a chance to find out what lives beneath the surface at a pond dipping event for all the family on Tuesday 11 and Friday 21 August. With a variety of strange and fascinating creatures living in the pond at the reserve, there’s plenty to uncover. Two pond dipping events will be held on both days, with participants choosing either 11 am-12.30 pm or 1.30-3 pm. The cost is £5 per child (RSPB members £4), with accompanying adults free. Booking is essential.

Later on in the holidays, families can get muddy in Morecambe by joining a mud dipping event on Monday 24 August. Morecambe mud provides a special home to lots of weird and wonderful wildlife, so RSPB staff and volunteers will be on hand to help families explore it safely. The cost is adults £5 (RSPB members £4) and children are half price, with the first child free. Booking is essential.

Annabel Rushton, Visitor Experience Manager at Leighton Moss, said: “The summer is a great time for families to get out together and explore nature. Here at RSPB Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay nature reserve, we have a whole host of exciting ways to help them do just that.

“Alongside our events, we’re also running a self-led trail around the reserve every day throughout August, helping families to discover more about some of our slipperiest residents – exciting eels. Eels might not seem very appealing, but they are an endangered fish and provide food for lots of special wildlife here such as bitterns and otters, so I’m sure families will enjoy learning all about their incredible lifecycle.”

To book, please call the Leighton Moss visitor centre on 01524 701601 and for more information on these and other events taking place at Leighton Moss, visit rspb.org.uk/leightonmoss for details or call into the visitor centre.