Wildlife Roadshow a great success
Tuesday 10th May
Our Idle Valley Nature Reserve held its much-anticipated Wildlife Roadshow event this Saturday (7th May) - marking the opening of new facilities at the Rural Learning Centre - another major milestone in the development of Retford’s biggest hidden jewel and the county’s largest nature reserve.
The Wildlife Roadshow was a chance for wildlife lovers to have fun discovering this beautiful reserve. Kids enjoyed activities such as pond-dipping, a brass-rubbing adventure and nature trails, whilst our wildlife walks were extremely popular with visitors of all ages.
Many also enjoyed the chance to experience the wonderful world of bird-ringing, with demonstrations throughout the day.
The support from local people was evident in the attendance figures, with over 300 people throughout the day. A number of local people who visited the reserve for the first time were amazed at the quality of the facilities, the ingenuity of the activities for children and the sheer scale of the nature reserve which is over 450 hectares and still growing.
Speaking about the event, our Communications Manager Erin McDaid said:
“It went extremely well and we had tremendous feedback from visitors, many of whom were visiting the Idle Valley for the first time. Now that the facilities are open every day, we look forward to welcoming many more people to the nature reserve so that they can enjoy the wildlife that is on their doorstep.”
During the event, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust also welcomed the support of the Nottinghamshire Police Authority Motorcycle Off-Road Team who explained their role in deterring the use of illegal off-road bikes and how the visibility of the Police Team in rural areas has consistently been given positive feedback from residents.
The Idle Valley Nature Reserve now has car parking facilities and Reception Facilities open to the public 7 days a week. The Café is open at weekends and a varied programme of courses, events and activities are scheduled for the rest of the year.
Click to discover more Idle Valley, including educational and volunteering opportunities, contact the Idle Valley Team on 01777 713945 or call in at the Centre.
