Out & About October 2017

OA outdoors

Natural world

BECKY O’MELIA from the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust takes a look at what’s new this autumn at the Nature Discovery Centre, Thatcham

Autumn colours – rose-hips and haws decorating the hedgerow. Picture:Wendy Tobitt

I n the last few weeks, the West Berkshire countryside has turned really autumnal, with scarlet hawthorn berries and rosehips shining like glossy decorations on the hedgerows around our lake at the Nature Discovery Centre. Have you seen the new leaf-shaped stepping stone decorations alongside the path near the dipping pond? They were laid with care and fun by a group of teenagers from Newbury, Thatcham and Reading, completing their National Citizen Service summer project – thank you. The stepping stones, made by Playground Sculptures, are part of a bigger project that we’re doing this autumn to bring people closer to nature, making even more places for everyone to play and learn at the Nature Discovery Centre. New interpretation boards describe the wildlife that you can see here, and we’ll soon have a willow screen that you can hide behind to see dabbling ducks, such as gadwall and shoveller, close up, without disturbing them. Thatcham-based Celestron is one of the Wildlife Trust’s generous supporters. It has helped us pick a selection of its products, including microscopes and binoculars, which we’ve spent some of our funding on.

Amazing Autumn Sunday, October 15, 10.30am to 4pm Nature Discovery Centre Free family day out with entertainment, crafts, fun and food. A whole range of wildlife experts will be on hand to answer questions about bats, barn owls and bumblebees. Learn about the different varieties of apples grown in the UK with expert Andy Howard. Most of the activities and stalls will be outside, so please come prepared for the weather, whatever it may be.

Look out for volunteers around the reserve with our new kit. They will be on hand to help you get even closer to investigate the amazing creatures that live on our reserve. There will be more installations coming this month, including an interactive board by the dipping pond, showing the lifecycles of insects and other wildlife living all around and inside the pond. On the outside of the centre we will have a brilliant new map showing you where to go for adventures around the nature reserve. We were thrilled to receive funding for this project from the Tesco Bags of Help campaign – so, a big ‘thank you’ to Tesco shoppers who voted for the Wildlife Trust to receive a grant. Come along this autumn and enjoy what you voted for, then share your photos on the BBOWT Facebook and Twitter pages. Our volunteers are doing great work and we’d love to see anyone who would like to lend a hand. You could install signs and boards, or help visitors at the dipping pond or bird screen. If you’d like to find out more, please contact: beckyomelia@bbowt.org.uk

Aptly-named shoveller.

Gadwall, one of the dabbling ducks to see at the Nature Discovery Centre. Pictures: Margaret Holland

www.bbowt.org.uk/whats-on for events throughout October FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL WILDLIFE EVENTS Wherever you are, go wild with your local wildlife trust @bbowildlifetrust @bbowt

Leaf-shaped stepping stones lead you on an adventure at the Nature Discovery Centre. Credit: Becky O’Melia

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