Join the ducks and ‘go quackers’ at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands, near Neston, as the RSPB’s newest nature reserve gets ready for Christmas and lays on a feast of festive family activities.
Once the Christmas holidays begin, younger visitors will be able to follow a ‘Ducking and Diving’ quiz trail around the picturesque paths and make a tree decoration that helps to feed the garden birds. Visitors can also take part in a festive raffle.
The ‘Christmas Quackers’ event will be running from Saturday 17 to Friday 23 December, from 10 am until 3 pm. The cost is free for RSPB members, otherwise the normal admission price to the nature trails is just £6 for a family.
Visitors will also have the chance to learn about the different types of ducks that come to the reserve for the winter, all in the comfort of a fully accessible and heated building. Friendly RSPB staff and volunteers will be around with telescopes to zoom in and provide close-up views of the birds.
RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands is an important haven for thousands of ducks and geese in the colder months and it is a fantastic experience to watch them. Colourful teals, whistling wigeons and elegant pintails are some of the wildfowl delights on show.
Paul Brady, Visitor Development Officer at RSPB Dee Estuary nature reserves said “Ducks are amazing birds, not only are they extremely colourful but they fly hundreds of miles very quickly to get here. With the Olympics on the horizon these birds are definitely the Paula Radcliffe’s and Mo Farrah’s of the bird world.”
To warm up, the reception building has a selection of hot drinks available plus a seasonal selection of snacks. Christmas cards, calendars and diaries will be on offer, so get that ‘feel good factor’, as all the profits go to helping nature. For the perfect present this Christmas then a special RSPB gift membership can be bought for nature-loving friends and family.
Burton Mere Wetlands will be open every day over the holidays apart from Christmas Day and the reception building is open from 9.30 am until 4 pm.
RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands is off the A540 (Chester High Road) and just 10 minutes from the M56. Follow the brown signposts from the A540. The reserve entrance is on Puddington Lane, just outside Burton village near to Bishop Wilson Primary School. The reserve has a car park with cycle racks and there are toilets available on site.
For more information about RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands nature reserve visit: www.rspb.org.uk/burtonmerewetlands or phone 0151 353 8478.