Out & About July 2017

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YOUR SPRINGTIME DIARY
Pond-dipping at the Nature Discovery Centre
Wild, go wild, go wild
in the country...
The clocks sprang forward at the end of
March and early mornings are full of
birdsong.
Colourful wild flowers are springing up in the
woodlands where the first butterflies are flitting
among the trees.
There’s a definite feeling of sap rising and
spring in the air, so it’s time to go wild in West
Berkshire!
Cowslips are one of my favourite spring
flowers. The clusters of golden yellow flowers,
dangling like keys from the top of the stems,
look so fragile, and yet they are one of nature’s
survivors.
Fields and pastureland, once full of wild
flowers, were ploughed up for food crops,
relegating cowslips to a few road verges and
woodland edges where they have colonised.
Come to the Nature Discovery Centre in
Thatcham on Saturday, April 1, where you will
find cowslip plants for sale and lots of advice
about which plants to grow to help wildlife in
your garden.
Make a date for the Gardening for Wildlife talk
at the Nature Discovery Centre on Monday,
April 10 with expert Becca Flintham.
Taking an inspirational walk around the wildlife
garden and community orchard, Becca will
show us how wildlife helps gardeners, and we
can help wildlife in return.
Everyone can grow something that helps
wildlife even if you have only a balcony or a
small backyard. Your garden can be a mosaic
in the wider network of natural havens linking
urban green spaces with nature reserves and
the countryside.
Spring is the perfect time of year to be
outdoors with all the family, so start your
Easter fun on Thursday, April 13 at the Easter
Eggsplorers event at Paices Wood Country
Parkland. Explore a trail where we’ve created
a mystery quiz: ‘which animal laid this egg?’
There are lots of clues and lovely prizes for the
correct answers!
• Saturday 1 April, 11am to 3pm
at the Nature Discovery Centre, Thatcham.
Cowslips and garden plants sale.
• Monday 10 April, 7 to 8.30pm
at the Nature Discovery Centre, Thatcham.
Linking the Landscape: Gardening for
wildlife with Becca Flintham.
• Wednesday 12 April
all day at the Nature Discovery Centre,
Thatcham. Telescopes with Celestron.
• Thursday 13 April, 11am to 3pm
Easter Eggsplorers at Paices Wood Country
Parkland.
• Thursday 20 April, 10.30am to 4pm
Spring family Wildlife Day at the Nature
Discovery Centre, Thatcham. Have a go at
pond-dipping, making dens, bug hunting and
wildlife crafts.
• Saturday 22 April, 10am to 3pm
Caversham Court Gardens, Reading.
Beanpole Day! Discover bee-friendly and
wildlife gardening tips while getting your
beanpoles.
• Saturday 29 April, 10am to 4pm
Linking the Landscape Training: Birding
for Beginners. What makes a bird a bird?
Answers to this and many other questions.
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Going wild in West Berkshire this Easter with WENDY
TOBITT from the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust
Cowslips are returning to our fields
Eggsploring!
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
ABOUT THESE EVENTS
Pictures: David Appleton, Pam Cruise and
Annette Traverse-Healy