IT’S almost time to go wild in the upper dale.
Staff at the Bowlees Visitor Centre have organised a full programme of Wild Wednesday activities throughout the summer holidays.
Events kick off on Wednesday, July 24, with a day devoted to dazzling dragonflies.
Youngsters will take part in a hunt to seek out various types of dragonfly at the Bowlees Quarry special invertebrates site.
There will also be craft activities to produce a piece of artwork to take home at the end of the session.
Other Wild Wednesday activities during the holidays include campfires, on July 31, earthworks, on August 7, dens and habitats on August 14, a picture of nature on August 21, and the ever-popular river dipping on August 28.
Sessions take place from 10.30am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. They cost £3 per child per session.
Organisers say the earthworks day will be of particular interest, as it will help promote the world class geology of the North Pennines and Unesco Global Geo Park as those taking part will explore the layers of rock in the landscape around them.
Simon Wilson, business manager at the North Pennines AONB Partnership, which runs the Bowlees Visitor Centre, said: “These are fun and accessible sessions which give families an opportunity to get up close to nature and learn more about the North Pennines, from its diverse wildlife to the geology beneath our feet.”
Wild Wednesday activities are organised during school holidays throughout the year.
The most recent, at the end of May, coincided with European geoparks week and looked at fossils, and those taking part headed into Bowlees beck looking for fossils. This year’s Wild Wednesday activities conclude in the autumn half term holiday with a session themed In the Dark on October 30.
For further details go to www.northpennines.org.uk/ bowlees-visitor-centre.
