Twenty years of giving nature a home

In the 20 years that the reserve has been open, it has become an important refuge for threatened birds like lapwings and nightingales; but the work the RSPB has done here has made it a great place for insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammals too. And over their anniversary weekend of Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August, everyone is invited to their summer fair, showcasing the great wildlife that makes Pulborough Brooks its home.

As well as guided walks, bug hunting, den building, wildlife spotting activities, storytelling, games and crafts, you will be able to meet local artists, photographers and craftspeople as the reserve opens up to a host of stallholders.

Anna Allum, RSPB Visitor Officer, says: “I’m looking forward to a really exciting and busy weekend. Many of our visitors and volunteers live locally and the summer fair gives us a great opportunity to thank them and showcase some of the wonderful wildlife that would not have been here without their support.

“For those people who haven’t visited us before, we’re hoping that the event will serve as a good introduction to what we are about and what we have to offer. ”

During the weekend you can go along to ‘giving nature a home workshops’ and give a bug a home by helping to construct a mini-beast mansion for the reserve, or meet some marvellous moths and find out how to attract them to your garden.

The RSPB recently launched their new campaign, Giving Nature a Home, urging people from West Sussex and across the nation to act for nature in their own gardens, and these workshops will offer plenty of tips on how to get involved and start creating a haven for wildlife in your own garden.

The conservation charity’s campaign comes after 25 wildlife organisations, including the RSPB, released the groundbreaking State of Nature report, which revealed that 60 per cent of the wildlife species studied, including garden favourites like starlings, hedgehogs and some butterflies, has declined over recent decades. And they are in danger of further declines unless more is done to provide better habitats.

RSPB Pulborough Brooks nature reserve will be holding their summer fair on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August. The activities start at 10 am and continue through to 4 pm, and entry to the event is free to everyone.

Anna added: “In our well stocked bird care and gift shop there will be specials offers and discounts exclusive to the anniversary weekend. We will have experts on hand to demonstrate our range of binoculars and telescopes and answer any queries you may have. There will also be a dedicated bird food and care area where we will be giving advice and ideas on how best to attract and feed the birds in your garden”.

You can find out further details about summer fair or any of the events during the summer online at rspb.org.uk/pulboroughbrooks or from the visitor centre by calling 01798 875851 or email [email protected].

RSPB Pulborough Brooks is open daily, with nature trails, gift shop, information area, toilets and café which serves lunch from 12 noon – 2.30 pm and cakes all day. The reserve is located off the A283 between Pulborough and Storrington.