With school out for the summer holidays, the London Wetland Centre has announced a family’s big postcard treasure hunt – with opportunities to explore the location’s bountiful wildlife areas and keep the kids busy with a great day out.
Conservation group WWT’s London site is running the programme, with graphic postcards made by children’s book illustrator Ella Beech which tell stories of the nine featured animals and guide children with trail maps to discover the different habitats around them.
Other events are also planned for the coming months, with storyteller Olivia Armstrong providing interactive reading sessions, family poetry workshops every Wednesday, pond dipping and even a chance to bake a classic dirt pie in the Mud Kitchen.
General Manager of WWT London, Alexia Hollinshead said : “We love sharing the wonder of the wetlands with families and can’t wait to welcome them for a truly memorable day out – It’s a completely unique experience families won’t find anywhere else.”
Several other educational trails are planned along with the postcard search – with a bat walk taking place later in the afternoon to see animals like the Leisler’s bat and Nathusius’ pipistrelle who come alive during the evening hours.
With the centre taking up over 100 acres of land and opening in 2000, the location in Richmond upon Thames has become one of the most popular nature parks in England.
Along with this, any money spent in the site’s cafes and on entrance fees go into their conservation efforts.
The events also connect with their other conservations in Lancashire, Sussex and Cardiff among many others which allows visitors to learn about a wider range of wildlife during their exploration of the sites.
Hollinshead said: “The postcard trail offers a real opportunity for them to explore nature and learn more about wildlife, both here and around the world.”
Families who complete the postcard hunt will receive an event-exclusive WWT postcard that they can keep to show to loved ones and school friends, giving younger visitors something to show for all their efforts.
The postcard trail and other activities start on July 25 and run until the end of the summer holidays, being fully available for WWT Members and included in the price of admission for one-time visits – you can pick up a map from the visitor centre and get searching!
For more information about WWT London’s plan for their Summer programmes, visit https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/london/whats-on/.
Image credits: London Wetland Centre
