Celebrating 70 years since the first National Nature Reserves were created in England, Natural England have been holding on a Summer of Events across all NNRs. NNRs are established to protect some of our most important habitats, species and geology and are important places for research. They are places where people can enjoy the great outdoors, experience nature, be inspired by, and get involved with nature.
Last weekend we held a Festival of Nature here at
Lindisfarne NNR, celebrating all things the NNR has to offer. Lindisfarne NNR
was designated in 1964, spanning the coastline from Budle Bay to Cheswick in
the north, encompassing shoreline, dunes and intertidal areas.
On Saturday afternoon we welcomed many families at Holy Island car park to begin their hunt around the various stations we had set up. To answer a question at each site enabled the participants to create their own prize; a badge or design a bag for life.
The various stations consisted of a shorebird and migration display, teaching people about the wonders of shorebird life; nesting on a beach, the pressures that entails and then where they travel in the winter. A giant migration board game where the participant is the Brent Goose piece!
There was rock pooling with Catherine, our very own Natural England marine biologist, finding amazing under creatures. A firm favourite with the kids!
Telescopes and binoculars were set up looking across the
waters to the Grey Seal haul out area, a great way to see the seals without
disturbing their slumber. A lot of the females will be pregnant at this time of
year so conserving their energy when hauled out is crucial. Any disturbance
could result in a premature birth.
Children returned with their sheets filled in and full of knowledge
ready to claim their prize.
This would not have been possible with help from our amazing team of volunteers and staff, those supervising the event or covering shorebird shifts on the reserve, a massive thank you to you all!
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