Wild About Plymouth

Fascinated by flowers?
Impressed by insects?
Crazy about creepy crawlies?
Think birds are brilliant?
Rave about rocks?

Wild About Plymouth is a family-friendly natural history group that is open to anyone in the Plymouth area. It is led by enthusiastic experts from Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Plymouth City Council’s Nature Conservation Team and the University of Plymouth, plus other selected partners. We have a range of events on offer between now and summer 2009.

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Seashore Safari

Wembury Beach
Saturday 29 November 2008, 11am to 2pm

Crabs, jellyfish and sea spiders! Join our family friendly team looking at the rich wonders of the city’s seashore. Finish the day with a satisfying beach clean up to help the beautiful marine life.

Admission is free and there is no need to book in advance. Meet us at the beach car park (Natural Trust). Bring a packed lunch and a bin bag to help with our beach clean.

Travel: First Bus Devon and Cornwall 48

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Cool Creatures

Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Drake Circus
Saturday 20 December 2008, 1.30pm to 5pm

Spend a day with us finding out about life in the freezer. Enjoy a free screening of 'Happy Feet' from 1.30pm to 3pm (limited places). Then discover some of the creatures that thrive in freezing temperatures from giant isopods to extinct mammoth fossils from the last ice age. If mum and dad are Christmas shopping, why not ask your grandparents to bring you?

Admission is free. Booking is required for the film screening only. Please call 01752 304774 by Friday 5 December 2008. There is no need to book for the activities from 3pm.

Travel: Plymouth City Bus 8, 9, 16, 19, 20, 22, 28, 29, 35 and 42

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Tales from Darwin

Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Drake Circus
Saturday 31 January 2009, 1pm to 3pm

Join us for activities and tales of Charles Darwin as part of the ninth annual National Storytelling Week. Explore how important his scientific work in 1859 changed the thinking of the world.

Admission is free and there is no need to book in advance.

Travel: Plymouth City Bus 8, 9, 16, 19, 20, 22, 28, 29, 35 and 42

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China Clay

Lee Moor China Clay Works
Saturday 21 February 2009, 8.30am to 12 noon

Have you ever wondered where your tea cups come from? Puzzled over the huge white holes in Dartmoor? Wondered how the southwest’s biggest export was taken out of the ground? Now is your chance to find out with a tour around Lee Moor China Clay Works with staff from WBB Minerals.

Admission is £3 per adult, £2 per child and under fives go free. Places are limited and must be booked in advance by completing and returning a booking form by Friday 13 February. Booking forms will be included in the forthcoming Wild About Plymouth leaflet, which will be available from mid-July 2008 onwards.

On the day meet us at the back of the Museum on Tavistock Place for our minibus pickup. Bring a morning snack, comfy shoes and a waterproof coat!

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Naming Nature

Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Drake Circus
Saturday 14 March 2009, 10am to 4pm

Come along to the Museum for a day full of plants, birds, tiny sea creatures and fossils to learn about how scientists name plants and animals. Pluck up the courage to handle giant stick insects and cockroaches!

Admission is free and there is no need to book in advance.

Travel: Plymouth City Bus 8, 9, 16, 19, 20, 22, 28, 29, 35 and 42

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Edgcumbe Explorers

Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, Cremyll, Cornwall
Saturday 18 April 2009, 10am to 12pm

Enjoy a fun day exploring the grounds of Mount Edgcumbe. Be transported back to the time of early explorers with only a map and the landmarks to guide you!

Admission is £2 per adult, £1 per child and under fives go free. Places are limited and must be booked in advance by completing and returning a booking form by Friday 10 April. Booking forms will be included in the forthcoming Wild About Plymouth leaflet, which will be available from mid-July 2008 onwards.

On the day meet us on the lawn next to the Cremyll Ferry and wear comfy footwear and layers.

Travel: First Bus Devon and Cornwall 81C bus or why not catch the Cremyll Ferry from Stonehouse?

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Wriggly Rascals

Blagdon’s Meadow, Embankment Road, Laira, Plymouth
Sunday 17 May 2009, 11am to 1pm

Join us on the banks of the Plym Estuary to find out more about our local wrigglers! Take a closer look at rag worms, lug worms, sand eels and squid. Find out how they’re used to catch different types of fish in and around the shores of Plymouth. See some of the fish too! Plus, have a go at our fun, fishy craft activities and enter our special competition to win a parent and child place on a charter boat fishing trip.

Admission is free and there is no need to book in advance. Meet us at the waterside viewing area at the Meadow - just look out for the three carved wooden totem poles on Embankment Road! Why not bring a packed lunch and stay on after the event to enjoy the area?

Travel: Plymouth City Bus 21 and 51

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Bug Hunt 2009

Efford Marsh Nature Reserve
Saturday 27 June 2009, 11am to 1pm

Our ever-popular Bug Hunt returns for its fourth year! Join us again for this popular event to dip, delve and dig! Our bug experts will be on hand to help you identify the curious creepy crawlies you find.

Admission is free and there is no need to book in advance. Meet us at the entrance to the reserve on Deer Park Drive (this is the entrance near the top of the hill just above Taw Close) and remember some sun cream.

Travel: Plymouth City Bus 28

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Dusk Adventure

Forder Valley Nature Reserve
Saturday 18 July 2009, 6.30pm to 8.30pm

Come along to a campfire and chill-out surrounded by the sounds of the woods. Experience the dusk chorus and look for moths on this evening adventure. A few goodies and hot drinks will be provided.

Admission is £2 per adult, £1 per child and under fives go free. Places are limited and must be booked in advance by completing and returning a booking form by Friday 10 July 2009. Booking forms will be included in the forthcoming Wild About Plymouth leaflet, which will be available from mid-July 2008 onwards. On the day meet us at the entrance to the nature reserve near Fort Austin, just off Fort Austin Avenue and Military Road.

Travel: Plymouth City Bus 28 and 29

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General information

Unless specified, events are free and there is no need to book in advance. We do ask that large groups telephone us prior to the event however and that children under 16 are accompanied by an adult.

If you are intending to bring a large group to a Wild About Plymouth event please telephone us in advance on 01752 304769. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult to our events.

We strongly advise that you check in advance if you are making a special journey to an event - just in case arrangements have to change due to unforeseen circumstances.

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