Pumpkins carved at the Kingcombe Centre © Sally Welbourn
Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) is hosting a series of outdoors and crafty events guaranteed to keep children entertained this half term – and they may learn a thing or two about wildlife!
In east Dorset, Dorset Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve on Brownsea Island has the ‘Wildlife of the Witching Hour Halloween Trail’ every day of the half term week, from 10am – 2pm. The trail is suitable for kids (and big kids!), and if you’re nuts about nature you’ll be sure to learn lots about the wildlife the reserve is home to, and receive a spooky prize on completion.
Celebrating Wild about Gardens Week, Knoll Gardens in Wimborne is offering free entry to DWT members, (or a refund on the entry fee if visitors become DWT members) on Friday 30t October from 10am – 4pm. The Knoll Gardens Foundation and The Great Heath team have teamed up to show visitors how they can make their gardens wildlife friendly, such as making habitat to welcome hedgehogs into green spaces. Adults and children welcome.
The Fine Foundation Marine Centre at Kimmeridge is offering kids the chance to make some carnival themed masks for Halloween on Wednesday 28 October from 1pm – 3pm. Make or decorate your own ocean-themed mask to take home, using inspiration from mystical mermaids to creepy creatures of the deep! £3 per child.
Staying with the coast, why not visit Chesil Beach this half term and stop off at the DWT Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre for some ‘Halloween Bird Feeder’ craft sessions on Saturday 31 October from 11am – 3pm. The ‘Half-Term bird bonanza’ can be explored every day throughout half term, from 10am- 4pm, with children invited to make fat balls and bird feeders to help get gardens ready for winter. All craft activities 50p per item.
Nearby, at Lorton Meadows Nature Reserve in Weymouth, the ‘Minibeasts in the Wild Woods’ event on Thursday 29 October from 10.30am-12.30pm invites children to explore the wild withy woods, looking for bugs and beetles, and then having a go at making some beetle badges. The ‘Spooky Bats’ event on Friday 30 October, also from 10.30am – 12.30pm gives children the opportunity to make some ‘bouncing bats’ to take home. Booking essential on 01305 816546.
