North West Bird Watching Festival: A Weekend of Wild Adventures
From guided walks to canoe safaris and ringing demos, Martin Mere’s festival weekend is packed with ways to get closer to wetland wildlife.
Guided Walk with BTO (09:00–10:30, Sat & Sun)
Start the day with Jon Carter of the British Trust for Ornithology, spotting and recording birds while learning how your sightings feed into conservation science.
Wildlife Photography Tips (10:00–10:40, Sat & Sun)
Photographer Alan Hewitt shares quick, practical advice to improve your field shots and make the most of your time in the hides.
Waterfowl Ringing (10:00–11:00, Sat & Sun)
See experts measure and ring ducks up close, and hear how these records inform migration and survival studies.
Canoe Safari & Boat Tours (11:00–16:00, Sat & Sun)
Explore the wetlands from the water – paddle a canoe or take a guided boat trip for a new perspective on Martin Mere’s wildlife.
Bird Ringing (12:00–14:00, Sat & Sun)
Join Reserve Manager Louise Clewley for a closer look at ringing small birds, with clear explanations of the process and its importance.
Reserve Walk (13:30–14:50, Sat & Sun)
Warden Jack Grimsditch leads a tour of the reserve’s highlights, with insights into habitat management and seasonal species.
Wild Bird Feed (15:00, Sat & Sun)
Round off the day in the Discovery Hide as thousands of wild birds gather for the daily feed – a spectacular sight and sound.
Exhibitors & Stalls
Browse wildlife art, books, optics and tours throughout the weekend, and chat with experts between events.
A Weekend of Discovery
With activities running across both days, you can plan your perfect mix of walks, demos and water trips, while leaving time to soak up the festival atmosphere. Whatever your level of birding, there’s something here to inspire you.
A full list of events, speakers and exhibitors can be found on the WWT Martin Mere website.
September 2025
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