Image by ALETC.
Trails, tales, and Halloween fun this half-term
Northumberland Wildlife Trust is all holding its annual programme of half-term and Halloween events at three of its popular reserves, and, as with previous years, the public won’t be spooked by the prices.
The Trust’s Championing Nature project team will be hosting two free events over the Halloween season.
The first is a Spooky Scavenger Hunt on Monday 26th October between noon and 4:00pm at St Nicholas Park in the grounds of St Nicholas Hospital) in Newcastle.
Anybody aged four and upwards is invited to drop by with an adult to find out more about the spooky wildlife that may hide in the St Nicholas Park woodland including bats and bugs. Afterwards, there’ll be free treats, but no tricks, available at The Owl Tree Community Nest on Kenton Road.
The second Championing Nature free event is the Halloween Nature Funday on Friday 30th October at Northumberlandia on Blagdon Lane in Cramlington.
Between 10:30 and 12:30pm and 1:00pm and 3:00pm there’ll be a full range of spooktacular nature-themed activities from crafts, games, hunts, bushcraft and much more.
The annual Northumberlandia Halloween Pumpkin Trail will be running on the site every day between 10:00am and 3:00pm from Monday 26th October to Sunday 1st November when visitors will be able to hunt for twelve pumpkins around woodland and learn fascinating facts about spooky creatures, via a downloadable trail.
Weetslade Country Park on the outskirts of Newcastle will be hosting three events over the half term week.
Between Sunday 25th October and Monday 2nd November, between 10:00am and 3:00pm daily, there will be the opportunity to download a self-guide trail to discover 10 stopping point around the site to learn fascinating facts about the wildlife that calls the former colliery site home as well as enjoy the tranquillity and autumn colours.
On Friday 30th October, little legs aged two and upwards will be able to take part in the Weetslade Hedgehog Walk to find out more about how far a hedgehog’s little legs can travel in one evening around the site.
Between 11:00am and noon, there’ll be pictures of hedgehogs along the way for young hoglets to spot as well as the chance for them to find out facts about Autumn along the way.
On Saturday 31st October, between 10:00am and noon, the Trust’s events team will be hosting its popular Doggy Spooktacular event on the former colliery site which is always guaranteed to attract pooches in all manner of Halloween costumes.
And finally… to get in the Halloween mood, head to Northumberlandia on Saturday 31st October - All Hallows’ Eve - between 11:00am and noon and 1:00pm and 2:00pm for two Mystical Halloween Stories sessions with local storyteller Jim Grant.
Some events are bookable, some are drop-in, some are free, and some have a small charge. For more information visit www.nwt.org.uk/events
The free events have been made possible by Postcode Lottery players, The Land Trust, and Wimbledon and Emirates.