Out & About April 2017

Wild, go wild, go wild in the country...

Going wild in West Berkshire this Easter with WENDY TOBITT from the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust

T he 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!

Cowslips are returning to our fields

Pond-dipping at the Nature Discovery Centre

Eggsploring!

YOUR SPRINGTIME DIARY • 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

• 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.

• 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THESE EVENTS www.bbowt.org.uk/whats-on

all day at the Nature Discovery Centre, Thatcham. Telescopes with Celestron.

Pictures: David Appleton, Pam Cruise and Annette Traverse-Healy

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