WILDLIFE CONNECTIONS FESTIVAL

Get closer to nature than ever before at our FREE annual Wildlife Connections Festival

We have two jam-packed days filled with wild activities, enthralling performances, and amazing speakers that will captivate you with the wildlife found right on our doorstep, all set in our stunning Nature Reserve.

All our exciting performances, activities, and workshops are FREE!

Enjoy the perfect festival food from our BBQ, selling burgers and hotdogs. Other refreshments such as cold drinks, ice creams and coffees will also be available to purchase. We can accept payments via cash and card on the day.

AMPHITHEATRE

11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Native Species Games: Join in our native-themed games such as the frog hop race, predator-prey game, and “What’s the Time, Mr. Owl!”

12:05 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. – What’s That Thing Interactive Show: Can you help our puzzled rangers figure out what the mystery item is along with the help of several native animals they meet along the way in this fun interactive show about sustainability?

12:35 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. – Native Gameshow: A fun family game show with links to classic game shows to celebrate all things native species.

1:20 p.m. – 2 p.m. – Native Species Stories: Find a comfy spot and settle down for some native species-themed stories read by our friendly Zoo Rangers.

3:05 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. – Winny’s Wildlife Wish: Meet Winnie, the magical owl puppet, and help her to decide what she should wish for.

3:45 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Pollinator Parade: Come dressed up as your favourite pollinator or make a headband in our wellbeing craft sessions, then join in our parade to celebrate our wonderful wildlife.

WELLBEING AND WILDLIFE

Animal Stories: Find a comfy spot and settle down for some native species-themed stories read by our friendly zoo rangers.

• 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• 1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.
• 3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Animal Yoga: Get ready to limber up—animal style! Family-friendly yoga inspired by our most nimble native animals…can you curl up as tight as a hedgehog?

• 12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• 2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Meditation: Tune in to your senses to get a new appreciation of nature’s details, focus on your breathing, and discover a moment’s calm in our mindfulness meditation session.

• 12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m.
• 2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Thankfulness: Taking a moment to recognise thankful feelings is so good for our well-being. What would you say thank you to nature for? Add a thank you note for nature on our thankfulness tree.

• 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• 1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.
• 3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Crafts: Make pollinator headbands and show them off at the pollinator parade at the end of the day (see the amphitheatre programme).

• 12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m.
• 2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Cloudspotting: Lay back and see what adventures are unfolding in the clouds above us. What shapes and stories will you imagine up?

• 1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• 3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• 4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Nature Connection: Learn more about why connecting to nature is so important, tell us how connected you already feel, and discover some of the best ways to increase your levels of nature connectedness.

• 2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.