BIRDERS SET FOR FAIR

Farmland Bird Appeal set to benefit from major weekend event held in beautiful Norfolk

BRITAIN’S BEST-KNOWN BIRDWATCHING county will play host to the annual two-day Norfolk Birdfair in support of conservation charities. The BTO’S Farmland Bird Appeal will benefit from this year’s event, which takes place at Mannington Hall, near Saxthorpe, Norfolk, on May 21 and 22. Set amid unspoiled countryside, it’s a spacious and scenic site, and well placed if you want to combine a visit to the fair with visits to some of the county’s most renowned birdwatching spots. There’ll be a wide range of exhibitors, including optics companies and retailers (among them Cley Spy), charities and NGOS, tour operators, artists, photographers and authors. There’ll also be lectures from the likes of the BTO, Wader Quest, Falklands Conservation, Richard Brooks (on birding in Lemnos), Yoav Perlman (on bird ID and taxonomy), Norfolk Wildlife Trust (on Norfolk’s hidden gems for wildlife), and fair organiser Robert Wilson, an award-winning photographer, on DSLR photography of birds. Bird Watching magazine will be present on both days – so come and see us for great subscription offers, if you’d like advice or help with any aspect of birdwatching, or if you just want to tell us what you like and don’t like about the magazine! There’s a wide range of activities, too, including birdringing, bird walks with the North East Norfolk Bird Club, insect identification, a wildlife trail, basket-weaving, an evening walk with the Amphibian and Reptile Group, and wildlife art painting in progress with David Ord Kerr. There’s also the announcement of the winner of the Norfolk Wildlife Photography Competition, won last year by Bird Watching regular James Lowen. Refreshments include a variety of local produce and tickets are £10 on the door or £8 in advance for adults, or £18 for both days on the door, and £15 in advance. A maximum of three children per adult get in free. Group bookings of 10 or more are £7 a ticket in advance only. Please note there is good disabled access. There are still vacancies for volunteers to help with car-parking and children’s craft activities – if you sign up for four hours, enjoy free access for the rest of the day. See birds and learn about them, too, at the Norfolk Birdfair! The birdfair will take place at the beautiful setting of Norfolk’s Mannington Hall