What’s On This Summer at The Glade Trust Nature Reserve!

The school holidays are just around the corner, and we have a packed summer lineup here at the reserve. To help you plan your family diary, we are running two events a week across July and August—ranging from hands-on pond dipping to early-morning wildlife science.

We are also taking our traditional break in mid-August so everyone can support the wonderful Kirkby Fleetham Feast!

Grab your boots, pack your sun cream, and take a look at what we have planned:

🌿 July: Creepy Crawlies & Holiday Launches

• Wednesday 22nd July (10:00 AM – 12:30 PM) | Family Pond Dipping Exploration Kick off the summer holidays by discovering what lurks beneath the surface. We’ll be hunting for dragonfly nymphs, water beetles, and lesser water boatmen. Great for young, curious minds!

  

• Saturday 25th July (1:00 PM – 3:30 PM) | Minibeast & Grassland Safari A weekend afternoon session using sweep-nets and exploring log-piles to find the reserve's champion jumpers, camouflaged caterpillars, and brilliant beetles.

🦋 Early August: Moths, Birds & Village Celebrations

• Wednesday 5th August (9:00 AM – 10:30 AM) | Moths & Morning Coffee Come along to see the spectacular reveal as we open our Robinson light traps from the night before. See beautiful, intricate species up close before they are safely released.

• Friday 7th August (8:00 AM – 11:00 AM) | Early-August Bird Ringing Demo See conservation science in action. Meet our local bird ringers and watch how we safely catch, weigh, and ring the reserve’s resident birds to track their health and populations.

  

• Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th August | 🌟 LOCAL EVENT: Kirkby Fleetham Feast 🌟 The reserve is quiet this weekend! Our team and volunteers will be out in the village supporting the annual Kirkby Fleetham Feast. Be sure to head into the village to enjoy the stalls, food, and community spirit!

  

🔔 Note: The reserve will have a public event blackout from Sunday 9th August to Sunday 16th August to support post-Feast activities and village tidying.

🪵 Mid-August: High-Summer Wildlife

• Wednesday 19th August (10:00 AM – 3:00 PM) | The Big Bug & Pond Day (Drop-in) Can't decide between nets or trays? This full-day summer special combines both pond dipping and minibeast trails. Drop in at a time that suits you!

• Thursday 20th August (9:00 AM – 10:30 AM) | High-Summer Moth Box Opening August is the peak month for giant Hawk-moths and vivid, colorful autumn-emerging moths. An early morning treat you won't want to miss.

🦅 Late August & Bank Holiday: The Autumn Migration

• Wednesday 26th August (9:00 AM – 10:30 AM) | Late-Summer Moth Reveal Our final moth event of the holidays. Watch how the insect populations are starting to shift as summer begins to wind down.

• Friday 28th August (8:00 AM – 11:00 AM) | Migration Special Bird Ringing Demo A brilliant window for bird lovers. We'll be monitoring independent juveniles and early passage migrants as they fuel up at the reserve before heading south for the winter.

• Bank Holiday Monday 31st August (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM) | Bank Holiday Family Pond Dipping Make the most of the long weekend with one final splash! A dedicated family session on the pond platforms before the school run begins.

• Friday 4th September (8:00 AM – 11:00 AM) | End of Holidays Bird Ringing Demo A quiet, focused, scientific demonstration to wrap up our summer holiday season as the birds strictly enter their autumn movement patterns.

ℹ️ Important Visitor Info

• Booking: Space is limited for our early morning bird ringing and moth events to keep wildlife disturbance to a minimum. Keep an eye on our page for booking links! Or WhatsApp 07563219606 for info.

• What to bring: Sturdy footwear or wellies are highly recommended for pond and minibeast safaris.

• Weather: Events are subject to the British weather (especially bird ringing, which cannot run in heavy rain or high winds). Check our feed on the morning of the event for live updates.