HISTORY COMES ALIVE AT WWT MARTIN MERE

Ever wondered how our ancestors made clay? Or what materials were used for clothing, shelter and everyday items? How charcoal was made?

As part of the ‘Drawn to Water’ trail at the popular Burscough wetland centre, families are being invited to take a step back in time and find out more about how wetland materials were used. Go foraging for wetland materials, and have a go at making a medieval lucet cord, willow weaving, and even weapons training to defend the village.

Wetlands have long been considered one of nature’s most diverse ecosystems, teeming with life and offering a wealth of resources. Humans utilised rushes, sedges and cattails to create durable mats, baskets and more, creating functional objects out of raw materials. They even made boats out of reed!

Wetlands offered an abundance of food – from wild rice harvested by Native Americans, to cattail shoots used in Asian cuisine. Some were even used as medicine, like the marsh mallow, a wetland herb used to treat wounds and soothe inflammations.

Join WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre as they journey through time and explore how wetland materials were used for food, textiles, crafting and more as part of the year-long ‘Drawn to Water’ partnership with the UK’s most loved illustrator, Quentin Blake. Complete activities and attend a ceremony at the end of the day to collect your badge.

During your visit, you can expect to see over 70 wetland species from around the world, like fabulous flamingos, adorable otters, impressive Inca terns, and wonderful white storks – so you can really immerse yourself in the wetland world! With pond dipping, canoe safaris, art and crafts and more, it’s a fantastic day out for the family. Search WWT Martin Mere to find out more about what’s on offer this summer.