What lies beneath?
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust launches spooky trail for those brave enough to find out what lurks in its waters
THE winds are whipping up and the nights are drawing in – but an end to summer doesn’t mean the fun stops at Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust centres across the UK.
Autumn is a spectacular time of year to visit the WWT centres which mark their 75th birthday this year.
The autumn colours are out, and skies and waterways are filled with migratory birds like swans and geese arriving en masse after travelling thousands of miles from their summer breeding grounds.
And, as well as natural spectacles, WWT wetland centres still offer loads of things for families to do including exciting half-term events like canoe safaris, pond dipping, and hand feeding birds, and that’s on top of the usual fun to be had in adventure playgrounds and wild play areas.
WWT’S Jane Ramshaw says: “Research shows that being out in green spaces improves people’s health and wellbeing and there is growing evidence that being near the water provides an even more beneficial effect. Our centres are a wonderful way for families and friends to relax and feel better in a safe setting while taking in the fantastic show nature puts on at this time of year.”
This year, some WWT Centres are also offering a special ‘spooky’ trail for families to inspire and encourage children to discover the creatures lurking beneath and around wetland waters.
And, if you’re brave enough to explore the What Lurks Beneath Family Trail, you can pick up an activity trail card and discover what a grass snake feels like, take an upside-down bat photo selfie, decipher toad sounds and work out what owls have been eating.