Birds and a Brew
20th March 2026
As Spring arrives, so do millions of migrant birds, travelling huge distances to spend Summer in Britain.
Find out why they come so far, which ones we might see or hear where we live, and how to recognise them.
Join them for a brew, a talk about birds and nature, and a walk to see what you can find.
Birds of prey are fascinating birds, perfectly adapted to their specific lifestyles.
From tiny Little Owls to enormous White-tailed Sea Eagles, you’ll explore what makes them so special.
Sessions involve a bird spotting walk which is optional and may vary in duration due to Ailsa’s passion and what you see on the day!
For this reason, they sometimes run on after 2pm, but Ailsa understands that some of you may not wish to stay so please just head off whenever you need to.
Dogs
NATURE DISCOVERY CENTRE
THE NATURE DISCOVERY CENTRE OFFERS A GREAT DAY OUT FOR ALL THE FAMILY
We all need nature – for clean water, food and fresh air – but nature needs us too.
Their mission is to bring about nature’s recovery by inspiring and empowering local people and partners to help bring nature back.
The Nature Discovery Centre is surrounded by a mosaic of different habitats with fantastic wildlife to see all year around, packed full of interactive wildlife and natural history displays.
There is a network of footpaths ranging from small family-friendly walks to longer paths for the more adventurous.
Surrounded by a mosaic of different habitats, there is fantastic wildlife to see all year round.
During the autumn and winter, large groups of wintering wildfowl congregate on the lake, whilst the reedbeds and surrounding woodland and hedgerows host birds like fieldfare and redwing.
In spring and summer, purpose-built rafts attract breeding common terns.
House martins, swallows and swifts are a common sight over the lake and surroundings.
In summer there are glorious displays of purple loosestrife, yellow-flag iris, reeds and sedges on the floating island, the lake shore and in the reedbeds.
All year around look out for the willow and alder around the edge of the lake, and hawthorn, blackthorn, spindle and bullace in the hedgerows.
 variety of moths and butterflies can be seen, including garden tiger, butterbur, waved black, holly blue, and gatekeeper.
There are dragonflies and damselflies including beautiful and banded demoiselles, emperor and four-spotted chaser.
A range of beetles such as bloody-nosed beetle and rhinoceros beetle have been recorded on site.
Discover autumn colours, fabulous fungi and wintering wildfowl.
01635 874381
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