Wild About Whitstable

For a second year running, the Ct5 People’s Forum Eco Group are excited to be running a week of nature-related activities and adventures for all ages, from Monday August 7th to Sunday August 13th 2023. Wild about Whitstable will be a community collaboration by many individuals, groups and locations who share a common desire to improve and celebrate biodiversity in CT5 and beyond. We will also highlight the impact of climate change and the depletion of nature to show how we can play our part in its restoration. Details of the Wild About Whitstable programme can be found here including a day by day guide to what’s on, who it’s for, how to book and how to join. Here you’ll also find highlights and pictures of last year’s events. WAW are also taking over The Horsebridge for several workshops each day, a balcony display, evening talks and a nature related film. Places are free on all of these events, please make sure you book your ticket below as places are limited. In the main Hall of the Umbrella Centre they will be holding an Eco Fair on Saturday 12th Aug, 10am - 4pm. The Fair will bring together many of the participants in the week and others who share our common purpose. Highlights of the week will include: Sand under the microscope at Whitstable Museum; a Bee-Bomb making workshop in the Umbrella Centre garden; a Seaside Walk with Ian Tittley of the Natural History museum; Folklore of Wild Plants with Roy Vickery at the Castle; a day in the life of Longrock’s wildlife with our own Andy Taylor (the Bird Man); a Bioblitz at Streamwalk Community Garden; Saturday morning Beach Clean; creative nature-related workshops for children and young people at the Horsebridge, how to rewild your garden in a local back-garden, and lots, lots more… Competition! Can you capture the Wild World of Whitstable with a photograph? Our natural world gives us such glories, from beautiful Maritime panoramas, stunning sunsets, dramatic landscapes, rare plants, wildflowers and incredible birds and insects. What is the one aspect of our natural world which you would like to share through a photograph? There are four categories: 5-11 years, 12-17 years, 18 and over, Professional Photographer. WAW are delighted that international photographer Alistair Philip Wiper will be judging the competition. You will be able to submit your entry online from 10am on August 7th, read all about how to enter and get thinking! Prints will be cropped to 30 x 40cm for framing, so please consider this for your composition. Evening events at The Horsebridge: All activities are FREE, but please book tickets as spaces are limited. Monday 7th August at 6.30pm: Talk - All about eels with Matthew Hatchwell. Matthew will talk about the amazing ecology of the European eel and its marathon migration between Europe and the Sargasso Sea, threats to the survival of this critically endangered fish, and its place in British history and popular culture. Tuesday 8th August at 6.30pm: Talk - Practical Wildlife Gardening with Dr Steve Head, Founder Patron of the Wildlife Gardening Forum. Steve will give you some clear pointers to how you can make your home a haven for wildlife and add birdsong, colour and movement to your garden. Wednesday 9th August at 7pm: Film - River. RIVER takes you on a journey through space and time; spanning six continents, and drawing on extraordinary contemporary cinematography, showing rivers on scales and from perspectives never seen before. Narrated by Willem Defoe. Friday 11 August at 6.30pm: Talk - Why did the Hedgehog cross the road? with Hugh Warwick, hedgehog-loving ecologist and author. Hugh shares his love of hedgehogs in an illustrated (and funny) talk, explaining why they are in trouble – and what we can do to help. Kids activities at The Horsebridge: All activities are FREE, but please book tickets as spaces are limited. Monday 7th August: Down Under the Sea with Hey Diddle Music. Enjoy songs, movement, activities and instrument play to help little one