Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve Wetlands Day Event

In celebration of World Wetlands Day 2025, the Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve is hosting an event to raise awareness about the importance of preserving our local in-land wetland and its rare wildlife inhabitants. In partnership with Leeds Beckett University and The Countryside Code's research study on "Responsible Recreation in National Nature Reserves," this event aims to educate attendees on making mindful choices to protect these fragile ecosystems. Held at the Village Hall in Melbourne, the event will be an immersive experience adorned with nature-inspired artwork by students from Melbourne Primary School. Engaging activities and informative sessions await, ranging from expert-led educational talks on wetland preservation to guided wildlife walks that reveal the beauty of the surrounding ecosystem, and hands-on arts and crafts activities like creating bird feeders, bird boxes, and wildflower seed bombs, as well as colouring and other creative crafts. Throughout the day, visitors are invited to participate in a conservation volunteer task aimed at preserving the wetland habitat. This hands-on experience offers a glimpse into the work involved in maintaining the nature reserve and provides an opportunity for individuals to consider volunteering with us in the future. In addition, there will be bird ringing demonstrations offering a chance to observe birds up close and learn about conservation efforts and the importance of safeguarding their habitat. To add to the excitement, there will be a special guest appearance from Shaun the Sheep, and a raffle prize draw featuring contributions from organisations like the Field Studies Council, Beevive, Circular&co, Tesco, and Bare Kind.