What is Wildlife Watch?
Wildlife Watch is the junior wing of the Wildlife Trusts and is an exciting nature club for kids from around 6 to 14 years old. It's a great way to explore your surroundings and get closer to the wildlife you share it with!
Your little ones can become a Wildlife Watch member to receive an exciting pack full of wild goodies and a seasonal newsletter, but our Watch Group activities and events are open to all, members and non-members alike!
Wildlife Watch groups
The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has 12 Wildlife Watch groups around the county, meeting once a month for a couple of hours over a weekend. Joining a local group is a great way to explore nature in the company of like-minded young people.
Activities range from minibeasting to pond dipping and even bushcraft. Being outdoors and experiencing nature for real is a great change from staring at a computer or TV screen!
As well as our Wildlife Watch groups, some of our larger reserves also host Nature Tots for the under 5s, and Junior Wardens for 10 to 16 year olds. Find out more below.
Seasonal activities for the under 5s
Our Nature Tots group is designed for pre-school children with activities usually taking place outdoors, so please dress appropriately. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Prices range from £2 to £3 per child and booking is essential.
Far Ings
When: The second and last Thursday of the month, check events before booking
Where: The Education and Visitor Centre, Far Ings National Nature Reserve, DN18 5RG
Contact: Education Officer, faringseducation@lincstrust.co.uk or call 01652 637055. Booking essential.
Gibraltar Point
When: First Wednesday of the month, 10.00am - 11.30am, check events before booking
Where: Gibraltar Point, Skegness, PE24 4SU
Contact: Education Officer, gibeducation@lincstrust.co.uk. Booking essential.
Snipe Dales
When: First Thursday of the month, 10.00am - 11.30am
Where: Snipe Dales, PE23 4JB
Contact: Education Officer, gibeducation@lincstrust.co.uk. Booking essential.
Whisby Nature Park
When: Check our events page for details
Where: Whisby Education Centre, Moor Lane, Thorpe-on-the-Hill, Whisby, LN6 9BW
Contact: Education Officer, whisbyeducation@lincstrust.co.uk. Booking essential.
Nature club for around 6 to 14s
Our Wildlife Watch group activities usually take place outdoors and range from pond dipping to shelter building, so please dress appropriately. Prices range from £1 to £4 per child and booking is essential.
Alford Watch Group
When: Normally second Sunday of the month, 10.00am - 11.30am
Where: In and around Alford including Gibraltar Point, Beck Wood, Rigsby Wood and Donna Nook
Contact: Margot Charlton, charlton.margot@gmail.com. Booking essential.
Bourne
When: Normally second Sunday of the month, 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Where: In and around Alford including Gibraltar Point, Beck Wood, Rigsby Wood and Donna Nook
Contact: Dave Vandome or Jill Francis, david@davevandome.plus.com, jill12@live.co.uk. Booking essential.
Coningsby Wildlife Watch
When: Third Sunday of the month, 10.00am unless stated otherwise in events page
Where: In and around Coningsby including Moor Farm, Gibraltar Point, Chambers Farm Woods and Donna Nook
Contact: Roger Parsons, old.museum@yahoo.co.uk. Booking essential.
Far Ings
When: First Sunday of the month, 1.00pm - 3.00pm unless stated otherwise in events page
Where: The Education and Visitor Centre, Far Ings National Nature Reserve, DN18 5RG
Contact: Education Officer, faringseducation@lincstrust.co.uk. Booking essential.
Grimsby Turnstones
When: First Saturday of the month, 10.00am unless stated otherwise in events page
Where: In and around Grimsby including Cleethorpes, Bradley Wood and Far Ings Nature Reserve
Contact: Jan Dring, janicedring@hotmail.com. Booking essential.
Horncastle Limewoods
When: Usually third Saturday of the month, 10.00am - 12.00pm unless stated otherwise in events page
Where: Meeting in and around Horncastle
Contact: Mary Porter, watch@lincstrust.co.uk or call 07909 925419. Booking essential.
Louth Watch Group
When: Third Sunday of the month, 2.00pm
Where: Spout Yard Gallery, Louth, LN11 0LW unless stated otherwise in events page
Contact: Avril Huke, p.a.huke@talk21.com. Booking essential.
Rimac (Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe)
When: Second Sunday of the month, 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Where: Usually Rimac Classroom at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes nature reserve, Louth
Contact: Roger Briggs, rimacwildlifewatch@gmail.com. Booking essential.
Spalding
When: Usually fourth Sunday of the month, 2.00pm - 4.00pm unless stated otherwise in events page
Where: In and around Spalding including Willow Tree Fen, Arnolds Meadow and Moulton Marsh
Contact: Eileen Pearson or Bridgette Walker, p1neelie@gmail.com or 07443 485524/07790 077176. Booking essential.
Stamford
We would love to re-launch our Stamford Watch Group this year! But we need more volunteer leaders!
If you know somebody who would be interested, or would like to find out more, please contact Mary Porter, Education and Community Officer at Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, for more information. It's great fun being a Watch leader!
email: watch@lincstrust.co.uk
Meanwhile, if you are looking for Watch meetings quite near you, our Bourne, Spalding and West Kesteven Watch Groups all have meetings in the south of the county.
West Kesteven
When: Alternating Sundays, 10.00am - 12.00pm check the events page for details
Where: In and around West Kesteven including Welbourn, Chambers Farm Woods and Twyford Wood
Contact: Marianne Overton, Jean Martin or Jenny Giles, marianneoverton@biosearch.org.uk, jcmartin0448@gmail.com, jenny.tim@btinternet.com
or 01400 273323/01636 626176. Booking essential.
Whisby Nature Park
When: Usually second Saturday of the month, 10.00am - 12.30pm unless stated otherwise in events page
Where: Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, LN6 9BW
Contact: Education Officer, whisbyeducation@lincstrust.co.uk. Booking essential.
For youngsters aged 11 to 18
From habitat conservation to pond exploration and bird surveys, Junior Wardens has everything for the young naturalist. Events are usually outdoors so please dress appropriately. Prices range from £2 to £4 per person.
Far Ings
When: Usually Tuesdays during the school holidays, 1pm - 3.30pm, check our events page for details
Where: The Education and Visitor Centre, Far Ings National Nature Reserve, DN18 5RG
Contact: Education Officer, faringseducation@lincstrust.co.uk or call 01652 637055. Booking required.
Gibraltar Point
There is currently no active Junior Wardens group at Gibraltar Point.
For events and volunteering activities, check our events page or contact gibeducation@lincstrust.co.uk for more information.
Whisby Nature Park
When: Check our events page for details
Where: Whisby Education Centre, Moor Lane, Thorpe-on-the-Hill, Whisby, LN6 9BW
Contact: Education Officer, whisbyeducation@lincstrust.co.uk. Booking essential.
Joining Wildlife Watch
Membership costs £17 per year to join up to four children at the same address to Wildlife Watch, or you can convert your existing adult membership to the family category for £40.
What do Wildlife Watch members get?
- A membership card
- 60-page 'Wildlife Watchers' handbook
- Four exciting magazines a year
- A2 UK wildlife posters
- Lincolnshire's own local newsletter
- Wildlife stickers
- A Wildlife Watcher badge
- And a member's folder to keep it all in!
Watch members can also buy a special club T-shirt for £5. They can choose between a green Wildlife Watch T-shirt or yellow "Don't bug me, I'm Wildlife Watching" T-shirt.