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First ever Yorkshire Nature Fair to include wildlife safaris, treasure hunts and pop-up café

Woodmeadow Trust’s chairman Dave Raffaelli with trustee Dr Sarah West with her two children. Photograph: Mike Cowling
@ Things to do

The very first Yorkshire Nature Fair will be held this weekend near York, with loads of activities for wildlife lovers of all ages.

The pioneering Woodmeadow Trust has teamed up with the Yorkshire branch of Butterfly Conservation to launch the fair.

It will be held at Three Hagges Woodmeadow, on Sunday (July 3) from 10am to 3pm and entry is free. 

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Prof Alastair Fitter constructing a bee hotel with children at Three Hagges Woodmeadow. Photograph: Mike Cowling

The woodmeadow is situated just south of Escrick by the A19 between York and Selby.

On the day, there will be wildlife safaris, face painting, storytelling, treasure hunts and bug hunting.

And there will be lots of opportunities to see and learn about butterflies, moths, bees, dragonflies, snakes, lizards, pondlife, woodmeadow creation and growing native wildflowers with expert naturalists from at least 17 different nature organisations, who are setting out their stalls in the beautiful surroundings of Three Hagges Woodmeadow.

There will also be the opportunity to listen to some of the UK’s leading naturalists, including Professor Sir John Lawton who will be opening the event at 10.30am.

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Rosalind Forbes Adam, founder of the Woodmeadow Trust, said: “We are tremendously excited to be hosting this event and to be working in collaboration with Butterfly Conservation. We hope this inaugural event will be the first of many.”

Refreshments will be provided from Devon’s Kitchen as well as a pop-up café serving tea, coffee and cake. Parking is also free.

“This is very much an event for all the family and we would encourage everyone who enjoys anything to do with the natural world to come along,” said Rosalind.

The Wildlife Fair is supported by Galliford Try Environment and Drax. You can find out more and book a place on the safaris here.

Speaker programme

10.30 – 11.00 Professor Sir John Lawton CBE FRS, British Ecologist

11.15 – 11.45 Craig Ralston, Senior National Nature Reserve Manager, Natural England

12.00 – 12.30 Professor Alastair Fitter CBE FRS, British Ecologist

13.00 – 13.30 Dan Carne, Director, UK Woodmeadow Network, Woodmeadow Trust

13.45 – 14.15 Simon Warwick MBE, Director, Lower Ure Conservation Trust

14.30 – 15.00 Richard Baines PGdip CIEEM, Director/Ecologist, Wold Ecology