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Big Birches’ Bug Hunt!

The Big Wild Weekend comes to Birches Farm!

On Saturday 15 June, discover Birches Farm Nature Reserve and join the Big Birches’ Bug Hunt! Herefordshire Wildlife Trust are providing an exciting opportunity explore this reserve whilst learning from expert naturalists about the vast array wildlife that thrives here. The whole family can enjoy the world of wildlife, with plenty of activities provided by the WildPlay team, including creepy-crawly craft, bug-bingo, face-painting and more!

Birches Farm, lying on the outskirts of Kington, has become well-known across the county after it was purchased by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust following a public fundraising appeal and it has since been featured on BBC Countryfile.

This small, 60-acre farmstead, now managed primarily for its wildlife, remains a patchwork of smaller fields. Birches Farm has been traditionally managed through the centuries and this continues today with the meadows grazed by sheep and cattle and cut each summer for hay. Here, laid hedges, staked with hazel poles, are rustling and bustling with wildlife; the meadows they border are thick with wildflowers and the hum of insects; cool, shallow ponds teem with life above and below the surface.

The Big Birches’ Bug Hunt aims to engage as many people as possible with nature & wildlife; it’s part of the large, national Wildlife Trust campaign ’30 Days Wild’. 30 Days Wild challenges the nation to get closer to nature, by completing one ‘Random Act of Wildness’ every day, for 30 days, throughout the month of June. To celebrate, each Wildlife Trust will be putting on an event for the ‘Big Wild Weekend’ on the 15th & 16th June. It’s another great chance to get involved and do something different!

During the day, expert naturalists will offer guided walks around the reserve, focussing on different species throughout the day, whilst recording as much as possible! There will be various stalls, including the Ice Age Ponds Project staff, Herefordshire Amphibian and Reptile Team and Orchard Origins will be showcasing their delicious, locally made apple juice alongside other refreshments.

Rachel Hibberd, Supporter Engagement Officer for Herefordshire Wildlife Trust says “We all know how hard it can be to find time to bring the whole family together, leave stresses & strains of everyday life behind and just enjoy the great outdoors! That’s what this event is all about – getting closer to nature. It’s the perfect opportunity to visit somewhere new, try something different and learn more about the natural world that surrounds us. There will be so much going on for both adults and children, from nature tables, newt tanks & guided walks to pond dipping discovery sessions & face-painting! It’s amazing how much happier and healthier nature can make you feel, come along and see for yourself!”

Entry to the Big Birches’ Bug Hunt is free of charge, with catering and toilets available plus free on- site parking! The event opens at 10.30am and closes at 3pm. No need to book, just come along!

For more information visit herefordshirewt.org/bughunt