Festival of Nature 2024

Festival of Nature is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors and funders:

Festival of Nature is produced by The Natural History Consortium, a charity and collaboration of 14 partners working together to engage everyone with nature through collaborative action.

Welcome!

Festival of Nature turns 21 this year - and there are free events for everyone right across the West of England. Whether you live, work or are visiting our region, we can’t wait to welcome you to nine days jam-packed with opportunities to take action for nature.

We hope you’ll be inspired, try something new, visit a new place and get involved with an environmental project near you. Please do forward this programme on to friends, family and colleagues and help us get the word out.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have some skills to offer and would like to volunteer with our team, or have any ideas about how we can make sure as many people as possible hear about free events close to them. We’d be pleased to answer any questions you have, and as always, would love your feedback. You can reach us at festival@bnhc.org.uk.

See you in June!

Stuart, Ellie, Izzy, James, Loz, Connor and Savita The Festival of Nature team

p.s. You can find out more about what our charity is doing throughout the year at www.bnhc.org.uk or on @nat_his_con

Festival of Nature’s Wild Weekend at Millennium Square

Saturday 1 June Sunday 2 June

10.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. 10.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.

Millennium Square and Anchor Square, Bristol City Centre

Suitable for all ages FREE EVENT

Head to Millennium Square and Anchor Square on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd June for Festival of Nature’s Wild Weekend! Two spectacular days of free family-friendly nature activities, exhibitor stalls, wildlife film screenings, talks and performances, special guest appearances and much more, down at Bristol’s harbourside.

Alongside activities out on the square, check out our Talks, Performances and Screenings Programme inside the former IMAX Theatre at Bristol Aquarium. Turn over to see what’s on and book your seats!

Prefer a more relaxed visit?

Sunday morning from 10.00 – 11.00 a.m. is usually the quietest time at our Wild Weekend, without live performance or amplified sound.

Find information on accessibility and facilities on our website or e-mail us at festival@bnhc.org.uk

Exhibitors

Make your way around the site and meet our festival exhibitors! All tents are free and drop-in, with hands-on activities throughout the day:

• Amphibian and Reptile Conservation

• Avon Gorge & Downs Project

• Avon Needs Trees

• Avon Wildlife Trust

• Bath Spa University

• Bristol Aquarium

• Bristol Astronomical Society

• Bristol Avon Rivers Trust

• Bristol City Council

Don’t miss

Come meet a real mermaid!

Saturday 1 June

11.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.

Meet Mermaid Hannahai Pearl on Millennium Square for an enchanting marine encounter and underwater fun. Take a shellfie, blow bubbles, and find out what you can do to help our oceans.

Suitable for children under 10

Don’t miss

Andy Day is coming to Wild Weekend!

Sunday 2 June

2.00 – 3.00 p.m.

TV presenter and actor Andy Day will be on Millennium Square with his family show Andy’s Dino Raps - an interactive, fun and catchy show with raps and songs about everyone’s favourite prehistoric creatures. After the show, come say hello to Andy at a special meet and greet (limited time).

• Bristol Library

• Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

• Bristol Ornithological Club

• Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre

• Bristol Waste

• Bristol Water

• Bristol Zoo Project

• Butterfly Conservation

• Forest of Avon Trust

• Grow Wilder

• Mammal Society

• National Trust

• Natural England

• Ocean Generation

• University of Bristol

• UWE Bristol

• We The Curious

• Your Park.

Don’t miss

Citizen Science Tent

Did you know that your everyday sightings can contribute to groundbreaking scientific discoveries? Come visit the Citizen Science Tent to find out how you can make a positive difference to nature by recording things around you – located in Anchor Square, next to Bristol Aquarium.

Talks and Screenings Programme

Saturday 1 June

10.00 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.

IMAX Bristol, Bristol Aquarium, Anchor Road, Bristol, BS1 5TT

Bookings are now open, any remaining seats will be open for walk-in visitors to join on the day. Doors will open 15 minutes before the start time for each talk and screening.

It’s only water...

Featuring David Price from Science Made Simple 10.15 – 11.00 a.m.

We are all familiar with water; we see it every day. In this interactive show we help you dive a little deeper, to think about what water is made from and all the amazing things it can do. From absorbing water effectively, to dissolving chemicals in it, you can squash, freeze and heat water to do all sorts of things.

Suitable for all ages.

Free with optional donation

I like birds, do you like birds?

Featuring Nadeem Perera, Wildlife TV presenter and co-founder of Flock Together (@birdnerdeem)

11.45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Join in the fun at this family-friendly show: our panel of nature experts and bird lovers will battle it out to try to win the audience’s vote for their favourite bird.

Funny and fast-paced, this will be a flying start to your day at Festival of Nature!

All ages welcome, brilliant for those 5+ and their grown-ups

Free with optional donation

Speakers at this show: Nadeem Perera (Flock Together), Ed Drewitt (Naturalist, Author, Zoologist), Annabel Ross (Messages from the Wild), and Geoff Hilton (Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust - WWT)

Adventures in nature!

Featuring Dan O’Neill (Snow Leopard Trust, National Geographic, BBC), Dr Radha Modgil (BBC Radio 1), Dan Read (Boundless Magazine), Mairead Cahill (Wonderoom)

1.00 – 1.45 p.m.

How can outdoor adventures – big and small – build our nature connection and boost our wellbeing? Our adventure-loving panel will share their stories, tips, and advice for building an ‘adventure mindset’, even when venturing just outside your front door! Explore creative and exciting ways of noticing the world around you, heightening your sense of curiosity, and discovering your own special moments in nature.

All ages welcome, most suitable for ages 12+ and adults

Free with optional donation

The secret world of city wildlife

Featuring Lira Valencia, documenting wildlife on Instagram at @outsidewithlira

2.15 – 3.00 p.m.

In the hidden corners of our cities nature is thriving! Join a panel of wildlife experts as they unveil some of the fascinating creatures that live alongside us in this family friendly show. You’ll leave eager to spot the hidden wonders of the natural world living on your street!

All ages welcome, family-friendly show

Free with optional donation

Speakers at this show: Lira Valencia (@outsidewithlira, London Wetlands Ranger), Emma Fennel Hodson (Avon Wildlife Trust), Matt Larsen-Daw (Mammal Society), and Siobhan Lamb (Bath & Northeast Somerset Council)

Fantastic Minibeasts and Where to Find Them

Featuring George McGavin: Zoologist, entomologist and broadcaster

3.45 – 4.30 p.m.

More than half of all known species on Earth and about three quarters of all animals are insects and with a few exceptions, they are essential for our survival. Prepare to be amazed as renowned insect expert and presenter George McGavin takes you on a journey into a fascinating world in this family friendly show. Alongside George, local experts will try to win your vote for their fantastic minibeast.

All ages welcome, family-friendly show

Free with optional donation

Image ©️ Lois Wendon

Talks and Screenings Programme

Sunday 2 June 11.15 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.

IMAX Bristol, Bristol Aquarium, Anchor Road, Bristol, BS1 5TT

Bookings are now open, any remaining seats will be open for walk-in visitors to join on the day. Doors will open 15 minutes before the start time for each talk and screening. BBC Earth Antarctica: BBC Studios Natural History Unit

In this film, Benedict Cumberbatch explores the mysterious and wild continent of Antarctica.

With never-before-seen footage and the latest underwater filming techniques, this epic documentary transports you to the farthest reaches of this majestic land and reveals that what happens there affects every single one of us.

BBC Earth, the filmmakers of Planet Earth II, capture the weird and wonderful creatures that thrive in abundance in the coldest and windiest place on the planet.

All ages welcome, family-friendly Free

Earthsounds: Hear our planet like never before

1.00 – 1.45 p.m.

The natural world is alive with sound, but our ears pick up just a fraction of the chatter.

From the secret high-pitched warbles of dolphins to spiders that pluck their webs like musical instruments and elephants that communicate over one hundred square miles through hidden channels of sound, we have missed much of nature’s conversation. Until now.

Join us for a special screening of one of the episodes from the landmark series with Offspring Films and hear special insights from the team behind the sounds.

All ages welcome, family-friendly

Free with optional donation

Behind-the-scenes talk: Life on Our Planet with Silverback Films

3.00 – 4.00 p.m

Featuring show producers Sophie Lanfear and Barny Revill

Discover the filmmaking magic behind Life on Our Planet, the acclaimed 8-part Netflix series which combines ground-breaking natural history with innovative VFX.

All ages welcome, family-friendly Free with optional donation

Calling all artists, photographers, and writers aged 12-24!

Take part in Festival of Nature’s Art Competition, spotlighting The Natural World. Showcase your connection to nature through your art - whether it's a photograph of a landscape, a climate change-inspired poem, or a painting of your favourite species.

There are 3 categories to enter: Photography, Art, and Creative Writing (with categories for ages 12-16 or 17-24)

Judged by experts alongside youth panellists, winners will receive prizes at the Festival's Wild Weekend event on 1st June at Millennium Square.

The closing date for the competition is Sunday 26th May 2024.

Click here for more details, terms & conditions, and to enter. Good luck!

This Art Competition has been organised by Festival of Nature’s Youth Panel In 2024, the Festival has been piloting its first ever youth panel. The panel is a voluntary group of 7 people aged 16-24 who have been meeting each month to help shape some of this year’s events, ensuring content is exciting, relevant and accessible to young people.

Want to meet other young people interested in the natural world? Check out Campfire Conversations on Friday 7 June in Bristol

Tyntesfield’s Week of Walks: Ramble with a Ranger

Monday 3 June 10.00 – 11.30 a.m.

Meet outside the welcome building. National Trust Tyntesfield, Wraxall, Bristol, BS48 1NX

Join National Trust rangers for a ramble around Tyntesfield’s beautiful estate. Learn about the wildlife that lives on site and how the teams look after nature whilst maintaining the historic environment. With lots of opportunities to ask the rangers any questions you have about nature at Tyntesfield.

This walk is free for National Trust members, otherwise entry fees apply

Green Crafts at Alive’s Dementia-friendly Allotment

Monday 3 June 1.30 – 3.30 p.m.

Alive Activities’ Dementia-friendly Allotment, Charlton Road Allotments, Brentry, BS10 6JZ

Alive Activities are opening one of their therapeutic horticulture and green craft sessions to the public for a special Festival of Nature session! The Brentry Allotment raises awareness about how older people are often excluded from nature spaces, and how much connection to nature can positively benefit this demographic.

Take part in inclusive green craft activities and join a site tour highlighting how Alive Activities made their beautiful space accessible to older people and people with dementia.

Make a Dormouse Box

Monday 3 June 6.00 – 7.30 p.m.

The Green Barn, Leigh Woods, Bristol, BS8 3PB

Join Forestry England Rangers for this hands-on session crafting dormouse boxes. This event promises to be a fun and enlightening evening, offering you the chance to get creative and help support our local wildlife. You’ll also discover how Leigh Woods is managed and what you can do to look after it.

Leigh Woods Online Walk

Monday 3 June 4.00 – 4.30 p.m.

Online

Join us online for a walk around the lush greenery of Leigh Woods, all from the comfort of your own home. In this prerecorded film, Forestry England’s Community Ranger will guide you through this unique woodland, which balances being a habitat for unique wildlife, a working woodland producing timber alongside a place for people to enjoy.

Free

Moving Mountains: Writing Nature Through Illness and Disability with Louise Kenward

Monday 3 June 7.00 – 8.00 p.m.

Online

Join the editor of this first of its kind anthology for an exploration of the value and creativity in engaging with the natural world from the perspective of Disabled and chronically ill authors.

Please note, we particularly encourage audience members with chronic illness or physically Disabled peopleto register for this workshop, although all are welcome.

Nature Storytime at Bath Central Library

Tuesday 4 June

10.30 – 11.00 a.m.

Bath Central Library, 19-23 The Podium, Bath, BA1 5AN

Join the Bath Library team for a nature themed Storytime, perfect for tiny explorers!

Free

Lunchtime Wildlife Drawing Workshop

Tuesday 4 June

12.30 – 1.15 pm

Meet outside Left Handed Giant, Bristol, BS1 6EU

A lunchtime expert-led drawing workshop to sketch the wildlife that can be found in Bristol’s City Centre. Take a break from the office over lunch to get outside and connect with nature and your creativity during this guided drawing session. This workshop is open to everyone, from beginners to experienced artists, and will be led by local wildlife artist Alicia Hayden.

Free with optional donation

WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre Walk and Roll

Tuesday 4 June 12.00 – 2.00 p.m.

Join an accessible walk and roll for Disabled people at the beautiful WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, learning about the birds from all around the world on site. This walk will be led by one of the Slimbridge team and they will be joined by a Disabled person to support your access needs.

Mini-bus pick up 11.00 a.m., arrival home 3.00 p.m.

Tyntesfield’s Week of Walks:

Friendship Walk

Tuesday 4 June

1.00 – 3.00 p.m.

Meet outside the welcome building. National Trust Tyntesfield, Wraxall, Bristol, BS48 1NX

Join the team for a 2.4 mile walk through nature rich woodlands and gorgeous gardens. You are welcome to come on your own or with a group.

This walk is drop-in, and free for National Trust members, otherwise entry fees apply

Summertime Crafting and Storytelling

Tuesday 4 June

3.30– 6.30 p.m.

Starts at Radstock Library, Radstock House, The St, Radstock, BA3 3PR

Join Somer Valley Rediscovered for a nature puppet crafting workshop, followed by a children’s storytelling session in Radstock Community Orchard led by Michael Loader!

Free

Eurasian Otter Conservation

Tuesday 4 June

6.30 – 7.15 p.m.

Online

What do you know about otters in the UK, and their conservation? Log on from anywhere in the UK to join the team from the UK Wild Otter Trust for this special online talk. Get behind the scenes of their work including the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of otter cubs.

Nature Content

Creators

Tuesday 4 June

7.00 – 8.30 p.m.

Wiper and True Taproom, Unit 11, City Business Park, St Jude’s, Bristol, BS5 0SP

Are you interested in the power of creative, innovative content to engage people with the natural world? Get inspired by a series speed talks from a range of local and national creators, from wildlife filmmakers and photographers to TikTok-ers and artists.

This evening event is a great opportunity to learn new ways of making content and meet like-minded people in the sector. Look forward to networking with some new faces, reconnecting with other familiar ones and sharing ideas to invigorate new activities.

Doors open at 6.30 p.m. Suitable for 16+. Please note, this event takes place in a bar, photo ID will be required for any alcohol purchase.

Free with optional donation

The Ancient Trees of Ashton Court

Tuesday 4 June 6.30 – 8.00 p.m.

BOOK HERE

Explore Ashton Court’s awe-inspiring ancient trees alongside experts from the Woodland Trust and Bristol City Council. Steeped in history, Ashton Court boasts a remarkable collection of ancient trees, among them the venerable Domesday Oak, which has graced the landscape for at least 700 years. Join us for a summer’s evening walk and meet the people protecting one of Bristol’s best loved green spaces.

Free with optional donation

Less Walk More Talk –A Gentle Foraging Walk

Wednesday 5 June

10.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.

Wellow Brook Walk, Northmead Road, Midsomer Norton, Sunnymead, BA3 2SD

Nature Storytime at Midsomer Norton Library

Wednesday 5 June 10.30 – 11.00 a.m.

Midsomer Norton Library and Information Centre, The Hollies, High St, Midsomer Norton, Radstock BA3 2DP

Join the Midsomer Norton Library team for a nature themed Storytime, perfect for tiny explorers!

Free

BOOK HERE

Join Somer Valley Rediscovered and foraging expert Steve England for a gentle foraging walk at a slower pace, perfect for beginners and a great way to get outside.

Free

Broad Meadow –Family Activities

Wednesday 5 June and Sunday 9 June

11.00 a.m. – 3:00 pm

Broadmead West, Bristol City Centre, BS1 3EA (outside Boots)

Free family activities in Bristol City Centre with creative, nature inspired arts and crafts activities, playful storytelling and wildflower seed bomb making. Part of Broad Meadow, a wildflower installation and audio experience by artists Sylvia Rimat and Charli Clark.

Suitable for ages 3–10

Lunchtime Wildlife Photography Workshop

Wednesday 5 June

12.30 – 1.15 p.m.

Meet outside Left Handed Giant, Bristol, BS1 6EU

Take a break from the office over lunch to get outside and connect with nature and your creativity during this guided photography session led by Boys in Bristol Photography. This walk is open to everyone, from beginners to experienced photographers!

Free with optional donation

WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre Online Walk

Wednesday 5 June

1.00 – 2.30 p.m. Online

Join us online for a walk around WWT’s Slimbridge Wetland Centre, all from the comfort of your own home. We’ll be looking out for bird life at the reserve and spotting summer visitors, led by one of the Slimbridge team.

This online experience has been designed for Disabled people and people with chronic illness, offering the opportunity to explore Slimbride for those who may find in-person visits inaccessible.

Free

Tyntesfield’s Week of Walks: Family Walk

Wednesday 5 June

3.30 – 4.30 p.m. and 4.00 – 5.00 p.m.

Meet outside the welcome building. National Trust Tyntesfield, Wraxall, Bristol, BS48 1NX

Come along for an after-school adventure around Tyntesfield’s estate. Guided by our friendly volunteers, stretch your legs and socialise with other families as you uncover nature’s hidden treasures. Along the way, there will be exciting activities for you to take part in, including creating a story stick and searching for creepy-crawlies.

This walk is drop-in, and free for National Trust members, otherwise an entry fee of £9 per family applies

Insect Collage Workshop with Marian Hill

Wednesday 5 June

4.00 – 5.30 p.m.

Somer Centre, Gullock Tyning, Midsomer Norton BA3 2UH

Join Somer Valley Rediscovered and get crafty with illustrator Marian Hill! Create your own beautiful collaged bee, beetle, butterfly or moth using old magazines in this fun workshop, suitable for all accompanied children.

Free

Bristol Distinguished Address Series: Danielle Mulder

Wednesday 5 June

6.30 – 7.30 p.m. followed by a drinks reception Watershed, 1 Canon’s Rd, Bristol, BS1 5TX

Danielle Mulder is Director of Sustainability for BBC Group, and was awarded UK Green Business Leader of the Year in 2023. She has spearheaded the BBC’s “Nature Positive” programme and will share insights on leadership, environmental sustainability, and the business case for biodiversity. Free

Family Nature Walk and Sing-A-Ling Music Workshop

Thursday 6 June

10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.

Midsomer Norton Town Park, Gullock Tyning, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, BA3 2UH

Come and join the Somer Valley Rediscovered team at Midsomer Norton Town Park for a Family Nature Walk & Music Workshop with Sing-A-Ling in the Amphitheatre.

Free

How to Plan a Walk

Wednesday 5 June 7.00 – 8.00 p.m.

Do you want to get out exploring? Not sure where to start? Join us on Zoom for some inspiration and advice!

Whether you’re a beginner looking to discover the joys of walking or a guidebook lover looking to carve your own path, this event is designed to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge for a walking adventure. Hosted by Siân of Discover Your Outdoors, a geographer, mountain leader and outdoor learning practitioner.

Tyntesfield’s Week

of Walks: Ancient Tree

Photography Walk

Thursday 6 June

10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.

Meet outside the welcome building. National Trust Tyntesfield, Wraxall, Bristol, BS48 1NX

HERE

Learn about the living legends of ancient trees at Tyntesfield and learn to capture their glory on camera with hints and tips from a professional photographer, journeying through Tyntesfield’s majestic woodlands and historic parkland.Submit your favourite photographs to the Forest of Avon’s Ancient Trees Photography competition, a project funded by the Woodland Trust. A free light lunch will be provided.

This walk is for under 30s. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult (who could be over 30)

Free

Nature Storytime at Keynsham Library

Thursday 6 June

11.00 – 11.30 a.m.

Keynsham Library & Information Service, Civic Centre, Market Walk, Keynsham, Bristol, BS31 1FS

Join the Keynsham Library team for a nature themed Storytime, perfect for tiny explorers!

Free

Community Gardening at Alive Activities’ Garden Project

Thursday 6 June

1.30 – 3.30 p.m.

Wellspring Settlement, 43 Ducie Road, Barton Hill, BS5 0AX

Help the Wellspring Settlement Community Gardening Group to turn this urban space into an oasis for nature. Build hedgehog hotels, paint bird boxes and tend to the fruit, veg and flowers on site. All materials will be provided, as well as refreshments.

Free

Bristol Library Lunchtime Lecture – Nature: Playing Our Part

Thursday 6 June

12.30 – 1.20 p.m.

Bristol Central Library, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TL

Speaker: Simon Lawrence OBE, General Manager Bristol, National Trust

Take a look behind the scenes of National Trust’s work with nature at the places they care for, and the Trust’s priorities and role in the restoration of a healthier and more beautiful natural environment. Simon will discuss the National Trust’s cross-cutting strategic objective on climate change and commitment to environment management, giving examples from across the Bristol portfolio. This event is drop-in with no need to book – just come along!

Free

Lunchtime Guided Wildlife Walk with Ed Drewitt

Thursday 6 June

12.30 – 1.15 p.m.

Meet outside Left Handed Giant Brewpub, Hawkins Lane, Bristol, BS1 6EU

Led by wildlife expert Ed Drewitt, take a lunchtime break and tour the nature thriving in and around Bristol City Centre. Ed Drewitt is a naturalist, author, zoologist and wildlife tour leader. Ed has been involved with broadcasting on TV and radio, including appearances on the BBC’s One Show, Springwatch and Autumnwatch, Radio 4 Natural History Radio, and BBC Radio Bristol.

Free with optional donation

BBC Studios Natural History Unit Screening: MAMMALS + Q&A

Thursday 6 June

6.00 – 7.30 p.m.

BBC Studios, Counterslip, Redcliffe, Bristol, BS1 6BX

Twenty years after Life of Mammals, Sir David Attenborough revisits this extraordinary group of animals in a major new series for BBC One: Mammals

BBC Studios Natural History Unit is delighted to host a screening from Mammals. Full of new, never-before-seen behaviours, this series offers fascinating insights into the most successful animal group in the world. Mammals will reveal the secrets of their success, and how their winning design, incredible adaptability, unrivalled intelligence and unique sociability have all contributed to their remarkable rise.

Followed by a Q&A with the programme makers, including series producer, Scott Alexander.

Doors open at 5.45 p.m.

Free

Deep Dive into the Downs

Friday 7 June

10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.

Front entrance of former Bristol Zoo Gardens site, College Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3HA

Come and delve into the Downs and Avon Gorge in all their summer glory; from beautiful native tree species to the tiny invertebrates which call the habitat home. Seek out our nesting pair of peregrine falcons, and meet the conservation goats in the Gully. A friendly event full of nature and local history with Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife.

Free

Campfire Conversations

Friday 7 June

6.00 – 8.00 p.m.

Grow Wilder, 181 Frenchay Park Road, Bristol, BS16 1EL

An evening of inspiring facilitated conversation about nature connection, eco-anxiety, and young people’s experience at the heart of the climate crisis. Come along to share some delicious, local food and meet other young people with a similar passion for change.

Organised by Festival of Nature’s Youth Panel. Open to people aged 16–24.

Free

National Trust

Tyntesfield Online Walk

Friday 7 June 1.00 – 2.30 p.m.

Online

Join us online for a walk around the beautiful National Trust Tyntesfield estate, all from the comfort of your own home.

This online experience has been designed for Disabled people and people with chronic illness, offering the opportunity to explore Tyntesfield for those who may find in-person visits inaccessible.

Free

Beavers in Batheaston

Friday 7 June

7.30 – 9.30 p.m.

Batheaston New Village Hall, School Lane, Northend, Bath, BA1 7EP

Join Grow Batheaston for an evening of talks, discussion, artwork and films, all about the beavers who have taken up residence in the local river. A chance to hear from experts on these fascinating creatures, alongside artwork by Batheaston Primary School. Talks by: Bevis Watts (Author and CEO Triodos Bank), Emma Fennel Hodson (Avon Wildlife Trust), Aleks Domanski (Documentary filmmaker, biologist and photographer) and the Beaver Trust.

Doors at 6:30pm. All ages welcome.

Creative Willow Workshops

Saturday 8 June

11.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m

Banks of River Avon, Riverside Car Park, Batheaston, BA1 7NB

Did you know willow is a favourite food of beavers? Drop in to a creative willow workshop, as part of the Beavers in Batheaston activities.

Celebrate beavers and their river habitats at two free, outdoor art workshops led by local artists in a beautiful riverside location.

No booking required. Materials provided. All ages welcome.

Free

Image ©️ Aleks Domanski

Get Crafty with Nature! Online session

Saturday 8 June

1.00 – 2.00 p.m.

Online

BOOK HERE

Join other Disabled people for a social online craft session with a nature theme. Make a beautiful summer wreath with materials that will be posted to you in advance.

We’ll be taking inspiration from our WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre online walk but you can do one event without going to the other.

This online experience has been designed for Disabled adults and those with chronic fatigue, offering the opportunity to get creative and connect to nature from your home.

Free

Henleaze Concert Society: Music for a Blue Planet

Saturday 8 June

7.30 – 9.30 p.m.

Trinity Henleaze URC Church, Waterford Road, Bristol, BS9 4BT

BOOK HERE

In collaboration with Festival of Nature, the Bristol Ensemble takes you on a breathtaking musical exploration of our beautiful planet with music from the BBC series Blue Planet by George Fenton together with Schubert’s enduringly popular Trout Quintet. Written by the young composer at just 22 years of age, it has a freshness and serenity that has engaged players and audiences for nearly 200 years.

This event is organised by the Henleaze Concert Society.

Tickets for under 25s are £5, society members £15, non-members £18

Festival of Nature’s Bath Takeover on Milsom Street

Saturday 8 June

11.00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Suitable for all ages

Festival of Nature is returning to Bath City Centre - and greening up Milsom Street!

Come down to Bath’s grand high street for an exciting day of free family-friendly nature stalls, special guest talks and shows, drop-in interactive activities, storytelling, crafts and more.

There will be lots of opportunities to learn about the natural world and how you can help it flourish, with a host of local and national organisations all along Milsom Street.

In addition to the activities along Milsom Street, we’re running a programme of talks and performances at the Bath Assembly Rooms. Turn over to see what’s on and book your seats!

Free

Festival of Nature Talks at Bath Assembly Rooms

Saturday 8 June

12.00 – 4.00 p.m.

National Trust - Bath Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath, BA1 2QH

Alongside our Milsom Street takeover in Bath, we’re delighted to be hosting an afternoon of talks supported by the National Trust at Bath Assembly Rooms. A Grade 1 listed building designed for assembly – connecting and delighting people in the 18th century and today.

Visit nationaltrust.org.uk/bath-assembly-rooms to find out more about the site, including accessibility and facilities information.

Cam Whitnall: My Wild Life

12.00 – 12.45 p.m.

Cam appears on the hugely popular CBBC TV series, One Zoo Three, which he films with his brothers Tyler and Aaron.

Cam has also appeared on Blue Peter, The One Show, Saturday Mash Up and Newsround, among others, and partnered with TikTok during COP26 to present live on the TikTok ForGood channel, to help spread the message of environmental sustainability.

Cam has an incredible life story having grown up in his family’s zoo and sanctuary; Hertfordshire Zoo and The Big Cat Sanctuary.

All ages welcome, brilliant for those 5+ and their grown-ups.

Host – Ali Vowles

Ali Vowles is a multi-skilled freelance journalist, presenter, panel facilitator and conference host who loves meeting people and finding out about their lives. After 30 years at BBC, she now supports events across the region.

Jon Chase: Science Rapper

13.00 – 1.45 p.m.

Learn all about space and our relationship with it using raps and demos! What keeps the planets in orbit? What are the seasons all about? What is the Sun? How much do you really weigh?

Jon Chase is a science communicator, author and rapper. He has presented science for BBC Learning on TV and YouTube. He was awarded the Josh Award in Science Communication and is known for his family-friendly science raps, which he has produced for organisations including NASA and the BBC.

All ages welcome, brilliant for 6–11 year olds and their grown-ups.

In Conversation: Turi King

2.00 – 2.45 p.m.

Turi King’s expertise areas are ancient/forensic DNA research and public engagement. Formerly Professor of Genetics and Public Engagement at the University of Leicester, she has joined the University of Bath as the Director of the Milner Centre for Evolution.

She is probably best known for having led the identification of the remains of King Richard III and as co-presenter of BBC DNA Family Secrets with Stacey Dooley.

All ages welcome, brilliant for 12+

In Conversation: Hugh Warwick

3.00 – 3.45 p.m.

Hugh Warwick is an ecologist, writer and hedgehog expert.

He is the author of several books on hedgehogs and beavers and a number of other non-fiction narratives including Linescapes and The Beauty in the Beast. He has written for BBC Wildlife, New Scientist, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph, and is the spokesperson for the Hedgehog Preservation Society.

Hugh will share highlights and readings from his latest book “The Cull of the Wild” which explores the complex history of species control, revealing the global movement of species and the impacts of their presence.

All ages welcome, brilliant for 12+

BOOK HERE

Image ©️ Carl Vivian

BOOK HERE

The World’s

Smallest Wildlife Film Festival on Milsom Street

Saturday 8 June

11.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.

Milsom Street, Bath

It might just be... The World’s Smallest Wildlife Film Festival!

Sol Cinema is a 1940s-style mobile cinema, fully powered by renewable energy and repurposed inside a 50-year old caravan. Visitors can strut the mini red carpet, grab some popcorn and enjoy 4 short films from Our Planet Earth, a global digital initiative from BBC Earth produced in Bristol by the Natural History Unit’s digital team and co-produced with The Wellcome Trust.

Free

Saving Europe’s Large Mammals

Meet the team creating a better future for wildlife and people in the Carpathian Mountains.

Ocean Gardeners

Whales are key to healthy ocean ecosystems, but some species could soon be lost forever.

Ice Bears: A Fragile Future

Meet the Ice Bears of the frozen Yukon in Canada and discover an ecosystem that hangs in the balance.

The Last Hope of the Muskoxen

Musk Oxen, integral to Inuit people, are declining due to disease and climate change, can they be saved?

Great

Community Day

Sunday 9 June

All day

Multiple locations across the West of England

FIND OUT MORE

Festival of Nature is coming to your neighbourhood! Community Day is a day to celebrate the actions your community are taking for nature across the West of England region.

Discover a new community group, garden or organisation helping people and planet on Sunday 9 June. Pick up a printed map of events at Bristol’s Wild Weekend and Bath’s Milsom Street Takeover!

Festival of Nature and Avon Wildlife Trust have teamed up to help the West of England celebrate our green and blue spaces and encourage residents to be part of Team Wilder – a movement of people taking action for local nature.

Don’t

miss

Family Woodland Adventure

Sunday 9 June

10.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.

Meeting at Westfield Surgery, 51 Waterford Park, Westfield, Radstock, BA3 3UJ

Join Somer Valley Rediscovered for a fun-filled morning exploring the great outdoors at our Family Woodland Adventure! Steve England will lead you through bushcraft skills in Waterside Valley, perfect for nature-loving families looking for an exciting outdoor experience.

Free

Don’t miss

Barton Hill Family Day

Sunday 9 June

10.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.

Wellspring Settlement, 43 Ducie Road, Barton Hill, Bristol, BS5 0AX

Discover a whole world of exciting green science at the University of Bristol’s community based micro-campus. Chat with the fantastic environmental researchers and get hands on with some cool experiments and interactive educational games.

Suitable for all ages.

Free

Events Taking Place All Week

Broad Meadow

All week

11.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.

Broadmead West, Bristol City Centre, BS1 3EA (outside Boots)

Imagine a colourful, tranquil wildflower meadow amidst the hustle and bustle of Bristol’s built-up shopping centre, Broadmead. With their new project Broad Meadow, artists Sylvia Rimat and Charli Clark are growing that very place. You’re invited to take a seat and relax in a wildflower meadow installation.

Whilst immersed in the plants, you’ll be able to listen to an audio piece about our intertwined relationship with the plant world and the state of Bristol prior to the 1500s, when Broadmead was simply a meadow.

Suitable for ages 11+

Free

Sunshine on the Fallen Tree

All week

10.30 a.m. – 3.30 p.m.

National Trust Tyntesfield, Wraxall, Bristol, BS48 1NX

Pif Paf’s Sunshine on a Fallen Tree is an immersive sound and light sculpture, made from Ash trees felled due to ash dieback.

As you walk through its branches and take a seat in the canopy, the work will invite you to reflect on the decline of the Ash Tree and the energy and optimism we need to fill the spaces created when we lose species to climate change.

Free for National Trust members, otherwise entry fees apply

Echoes from the Aviary

All week

10.30 a.m. – 3.30 p.m.

National Trust Tyntesfield, Wraxall, Bristol, BS48 1NX

Colour, collage and sound are filling Tyntesfield’s aviary all week. Young people from Hartcliffe have been working with artists Oshii and Jono Gilmurray to create a sound and visual art installation, exploring the history of the building and the bird life that would have inhabited it. The final artwork encourages us to learn from history and think about how we can look after nature and our birdlife in future.

Free for National Trust members, otherwise entry fees apply

Nature Trails at Bath and North East Somerset Libraries

All week

Prepare yourself for a wild adventure at B&NES Libraries! Drop in to Bath, Midsomer Norton and Keynsham libraries to take part in an exciting nature trail, running all week.

Free

Professional Programme

Do you volunteer or work in the environmental sector - or would you like to? Our professional events programme is open to all, with a focus on networking, skills, and key environmental issues facing the region.

Nature and Business: Sector Roundtables

Monday 3 June

Bristol

We’ll be hosting professional events on June 3 to take a deep dive into the business case for nature in different sectors.

Roundtable 1: Nature and the Creative Industries

Roundtable 2: Biodiversity Net Gain and The Regional Skills Agenda

For more information or to get involved please email Savita Willmott, Chief Executive, The Natural History Consortium at festival@bnhc.org.uk

Nature Away Day for Businesses

Tuesday 4 June

10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.

Multiple locations across Bristol

Take your team out of the office for a purposeful away day this June. Reconnect, align, and motivate in beautiful green spaces in and around Bristol, while championing local community initiatives. Grow the positive impacts of your business and strengthen employee relationships to one another and the wider community

Natural England and the NHS are collaborating with Festival of Nature on this pilot event, connecting businesses with Green Social Prescribing practitioners that offer inspiring outdoor sessions, as part of the Healthier with Nature programme.

£25 per person

Wessex Citizen Science Conference

Wednesday 5 June

10.00 a.m. – 3.30 p.m

Apex City of Bath Hotel, James Street West, Bath, BA1 2DA

Do you work or volunteer in Citizen Science? Join us as we explore ways to improve citizen/community science in the Wessex region. Through engaging workshops, insightful presentations, and collaborative discussions, we aim to explore the changes that can be made to create better data, improve science, and support the wider community. This event has been organised by the Natural History Consortium as part of the Citizen Science Local Pilot led by Natural England and funded by Defra’s Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme.

Interested in attending? Please contact loz@bnhc.org.uk

Nature in Statutory Health and Social Care – Blue Health Meeting

Thursday 6 June

9.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.

All Aboard Bristol, Baltic Wharf, Cumberland Road, Bristol, BS1 6XG

Do you have an interest in bringing nature into health and social care practice? ‘Nature in Statutory Practice and Allies’ (NISPA) is part of the Nature and Health Practice Network. Our meetings provide a valuable space for practitioners and anyone interested in this area to build a community of practice. Everyone is welcome!

This meeting will have a water theme, taking place at All-Aboard, a centre for inclusive water sports. There will be an optional breakfast bell boat paddle before the main meeting, which will include talks from a variety of blue health specialists and space to network.

Refreshments provided.

Book for the paddle taster and meeting

UWE Science Communication South West Conference

Friday 7 June

9.00 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.

UWE Bristol, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY

Book for the meeting only BOOK HERE

The South West is a hub for science communication, with a wide range of organisations contributing to the sector. At this second SciComm South West conference, we’ll have an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of this expertise and reflect on the challenges we face.

Help shape the discussion by joining us to hear the perspectives from a range of organisations from the South West and beyond.

Become a Force for Nature: Bee Bold Awards

Thursday 6 June

3.00 – 6.00 p.m.

University of Bath, School of Management, Bath, BA2 7AZ

Join organisations from across the West of England for an afternoon of exploring and discussing leading nature solutions at the University of Bath School of Management, as part of the 2024 Bee Bold Awards.

Hear from experts in the business and nature fields about the range of actions organisations are taking to support nature. Explore an exciting and diverse marketplace of biodiversity solutions and services that are already supporting organisations in achieving their nature ambitions.

The event will culminate in the crowning of several leading nature recovery projects from businesses, education providers and community-based groups as the 2024 Bee Bold winners.

Free

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Environmental courses at UWE Bristol:

• FdSc/BSc (Top Up) Integrated Wildlife Conservation

• BSc Biological Sciences*

• BSc Environmental Science*

• BSc Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science*

• BSc/BA Geography

• BSc/MSc Environmental Management

• MA Wildlife Filmmaking

• MRes Applied Sciences

• MSc/PGDip/PGCert Applied Wildlife Conservation

• MSc/PGDip Science Communication

• MSc Environmental Consultancy

• MSc Sustainable Development in Practice

• MSc Sustainable Food Systems

*Foundation Year option available for these courses.