Cambridge Nature Festival 2022
27th May – 30th June
Go on safari in Cambridge’s green spaces to discover the plants and animals that live in these city centre wildlife havens. Follow the map and clues below to discover the wildlife of central Cambridge. Our Wildlife Safari Trail can be followed on a smartphone, downloaded to your own device, or printed at home before your journey. …
Read more "Cambridge Wildlife Safari Trail – Museum of Zoology"
Eugène Decan (1829 - after 1894), Corot at his easel, Crècy-en-Brie, oil on canvas, The Fitzwilliam Museum, bequeathed by John Tillotson, 1984, received 1985, PD.132-1985 Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. An integral part of art education in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, open-air painting was a core practice for emerging artists …
Read more "True to Nature Art Exhibition: Open-air Painting in Europe 1780-1870"
A different way to experience the Fen, our 50-minute boat trip along Wicken Lode is a relaxing and peaceful journey into the heart of the reserve. Our open boat Mayfly seats up to 12 passengers; we offer 2 trips a day Wed - Fri, 12 noon and 2pm, and 3 a day at weekends, at …
Follow our seasonal trails around Sedge Fen routes on the Boardwalk and Woodland Walk to find out lots of fun and fascinating facts about bees. Follow up with simple craft activities in our Visitor Centre family alcove. No booking required - drop-in activity
We consider the vital role of fungi in our ecosystem; as well as making our own striking fungi sculptures to take home.
   Image credit: University of Cambridge Join us as we explore the wildlife of town and countryside. Add your animals to the local habitats we are building in the Museum and find out how you can help the wildlife in your patch at this family event. Drop-in – no booking required. Free.
Transform an empty toilet roll tube into a fabulous bird feeder for your garden! All materials provided. Suitable for all ages, although seed mix may contain traces of nuts.
      This self-led trail will take you around the Botanic Garden from the viewpoint of the wildlife that it supports, and hopes to inspire you to think of your garden as more than just a place for recreation, growing food or a place of beauty and relaxation, but also an …
Read more "Wildlife Friendly Gardening Trail – CU Botanic Garden"
Delve into the watery world of Wicken Fen to find out what is living beneath the surface. All equipment provided, plus a helping hand to identify the creatures you find. Child ticket £4.00                          Booking essential - please book via link below Sessions: 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm
Beetles are so varied that they make up 40% of all insect species and 25% of all animal species on Earth! There are currently recorded 350,000 different species of beetle that have been discovered, but it's very likely that there are many more out there waiting to be found. Find out a bit more about …
   Climate change is threatening many ecosystems worldwide. In order to manage and conserve species, we need to understand the effects of temperature on wildlife. However, conservation is challenged by knowledge gaps in how this will affect species across different stages in their life cycle. Esme Ashe-Jepson discusses temperature’s role in the small blue’s …
Every Thursday. Get out and about in nature with a walk to boost your health too! Our weekly health walk takes place every Thursday at 10:00am. The walks are 3 - 4 miles long, lasting around one hour, on paths through flat and open countryside around Anglesey Abbey. There is no charge to take part and …
Explore the different stages of the fascinating lifecycle of butterflies and make a special flower that will help to attract them into your garden.
That snake could be venomous! Or perhaps its mimicking something deadly to avoid being eaten... Find out about different adaptions of snakes in the UK and beyond and create your own species!
Free family drop in activity. In celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee weekend, join us to make a fabulous queen bee and take her on a journey to visit the royal plants of the Botanic Garden.
We consider the vital role of fungi in our ecosystem; as well as making our own striking fungi sculptures to take home.
Join us for an evening to explore the amazing world of bats. The event will begin with a short introductory talk on bats in general and the species we have here in Cambridgeshire, and will touch on common myths about bats. Armed with bat detectors, we will then go for a walk as it is …
Transform an empty toilet roll tube into a fabulous bird feeder for your garden! All materials provided. Suitable for all ages, although seed mix may contain traces of nuts.
Eddington is a new community in Cambridge, developed by the University of Cambridge. Discover some of the habitats and features created at Eddington in this walking tour led by Mike Dean, the project’s ecologist. The tour will outline some of the works undertaken to enhance the area’s biodiversity, such as the lagoon, tree planting and …
Gentle guided walk around the beautiful park to learn about native trees. Led by a knowledgeable Cambridge Past, Present & Future Warden, who will help you to identify tree species using features such as bark, leaves, flowers and fruits. Please wear footwear and clothing for being outdoors. Meet at the large noticeboard near the car …
***Extra Tour Added Due to Demand*** Eddington is a new community in Cambridge, developed by the University of Cambridge. Discover some of the habitats and features created at Eddington in this walking tour led by Mike Dean, the project’s ecologist. The tour will outline some of the works undertaken to enhance the area’s biodiversity, such …
Join an expert from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Amphibian and Reptile Group as they take you on a journey to discover the hidden lives of the creatures just under our noses, but that we barely see! Watch via the link - available at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HeFfNWydPx8&feature=youtu.be
Join our knowledgeable volunteers for a walk around the reserve lakes and trails, taking in the seasonal highlights and sights and sounds of the wildlife that calls Fen Drayton Lakes home. Tickets are available online.
Fen Edge Trail landscape heritage walk in Cambridge from Castle Hill to the Sedgwick Museum. This guided walk (3 miles easy walking, taking about 1.5 – 2 hours) celebrates the publication of the Walk Guide (available by June) for this part of the Trail that passes through the ‘fen edge’ city of Cambridge. Starting high up on Castle …
   Join us over Zoom as Professor Jeremy A Thomas talks about extinction and re-establishment of the large blue butterfly in Britain. The large blue has long been an iconic species among British wildlife. However, despite many unsuccessful attempts at conservation, UK populations had been in decline for 150 years. Still, this all changed with …
This talk will introduce some recent collaborative work between Insect Ecology Group in the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge and the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust. This includes cataloguing long-term change in butterflies from the Museum's UK butterfly collection, studying current butterfly requirements on Wildlife Trust reserves, and trialling alternative management options to conserve …
Read more "Using butterflies to understand past and present change, and inform future conservation"
Come and visit the beautiful Anglesey Abbey and stop in at the pop up bookshop, full of books inspired by nature. The House will also be sharing the nature-inspired items of collection on their social media. The Shop and Plant Centre will be highlighting the plants that are good for nature, with labels on particular …
FRIDAY 10TH JUNE 5pm – 11pm SATURDAY 11TH JUNE 8am – 1pm Clare College Sports Ground Bentley Road, Cambridge ///lions.friday.free Back for 2022! Bioblitz is our annual public-participation survey of the wildlife present along the Hobsons Brook corridor. Timetabled events led by enthusiastic experts Includes small mammal identification, bat detection, moth trapping, bird spotting, butterfly …
Calling all 2-5 year olds! Join us at the Museum for stories & play. Go on a garden safari in the Museum with stories and play. Hear a prickly tale and uncover hedgehogs, minibeasts and more at the Museum of Zoology. Suitable for ages 2-5. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Two sessions …
Read more "Animal Tails: Hungry Hedgehogs and other garden creatures – Museum of Zoology"
Our monthly pre-school session, for nature connection fun in the outdoors. Seasonal activities, crafts and stories for children aged 2-5 years, with an accompanying adult. This month the theme is all about water and plants! Child ticket £6.50                          Booking essential via link below
 University-of-Cambridge-Julieta-Sarmient Uncover the fascinating stories behind our collections, from the beetles of Charles Darwin to the tale of our fin whale. Why is there a fin whale skeleton in Cambridge? What can we learn from our Dodo skeleton? What did Darwin collect here and on the Voyage of the Beagle, and what can these …
Read more "From Darwin to Dodos: Guided Tour of the Museum of Zoology"
  Set in our beautiful landscape, the Festival of Plants celebrates the wonder of plants when the Garden is in full bloom. A fun-filled, fact-finding day out with something for everyone to enjoy: from gardeners to budding plant scientists; families to photographers or anyone looking to spend an interesting day in the Garden when …
   Multiple Dates: 11th, 18th and 25th June. Our volunteer guides share their personal selection of fascinating stories about gender and sex in the animal world at the Museum of Zoology ‘Animals don’t do sexual identity; they just do sex.’ From same-sex sexual behaviour in giraffes and penguins to the scientists working in the …
Read more "Bridging Binaries Guided Tour – Museum of Zoology"
Join one of our expert volunteers, for a walk around the newly flooded reedbeds to look at all the wildlife that is starting to colonise. At this time of year, the reserve is alive with all sorts of sights and sounds which our knowledgeable volunteer will be able to show you. Â Tickets are available online …
Bird Ringing Demonstration on Sunday 12th June at Croft Close Set-aside, CB24 9HU Histon & Impington Green Spaces Charity (www.abbeyfields.online) Come and join us for a Bird Ringing Demonstration at Croft Close. Pop along any time between 08:30 am and 10:30 pm. Find out about the science of bird ringing and see some of the …
Read more "Bird Ringing Demonstration – come and meet our feathered friends"
In collaboration with the Cambridge Nature Festival, join us for a days pond dipping and fishing at Hall’s Pool with coach, John Pope and the Environment Agency. Catch your first fish, put it in the large fish tank so you can see how they behave under water. Pond dipping for underwater bugs, crustaceans and aquatic …
Join our LEAF event to learn about all things wildlife-friendly farming, where your food comes from and how we look after nature too. LEAF Open Farm Sunday is the one day of the year that farms across the country take part in a nationwide festival of all things farming and food produce, to open their …
Weekdays in June. Join one of our experienced garden guides for a wander through the gardens. Our programme of seasonal highlights tours will be taking a summer focus and including areas such as the Rose Garden, Herbaceous Border and our Wildflower Meadows, which will buzzing with wildlife activity. Prebook your tickets on our website: nationaltrust.org.uk/AngleseyAbbey …
An illustrated talk around the different ways that video has helped Liam, from a A Shot of Wildlife YouTube channel, to connect people and UK wildlife in an online world. Zoom:Â https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85398120372?pwd=TGZZamJoakxsSExDY01IOHk3TXI5dz09 Meeting ID: 853 9812 0372 Passcode: 765698 @AShotOfWildlife
Follow our seasonal trails around Sedge Fen routes on the Boardwalk and Woodland Walk to find out lots of fun and fascinating facts about bees and beetles. Follow up with simple craft activities in our Visitor Centre family alcove. No booking required - drop-in activity
**Date has been changed to Friday 17th June to allow for better weather!** We will be hosting potentially the world's first ever botanical swimmer certification where participants will learn the basics of plant identification, ecology of aquatic plants, and have fun while admiring the beautiful nature in Cambridge! Swimming not actually required for certification. If you …
Read more "World’s First (Maybe) Botanical Swim Certification *Change of Date*"
   Multiple Dates: 11th, 18th and 25th June. Our volunteer guides share their personal selection of fascinating stories about gender and sex in the animal world at the Museum of Zoology ‘Animals don’t do sexual identity; they just do sex.’ From same-sex sexual behaviour in giraffes and penguins to the scientists working in the …
Read more "Bridging Binaries Guided Tour – Museum of Zoology"
That snake could be venomous! Or perhaps its mimicking something deadly to avoid being eaten... Find out about different adaptions of snakes in the UK and beyond and create your own species!
Join us for an evening to explore the amazing world of bats. The event will begin with a short introductory talk on bats in general and the species we have here in Cambridgeshire, and will touch on common myths about bats. Armed with bat detectors, we will then go for a walk as it is …
Join us on our wild food tour of Cambridge.... where we will look at what edibles can be found in our beautiful city, along with some poisonous ones too! We will talk about sustainable practices, see some invasive species and discuss how we at The Foraging Chef preserve these plants for future culinary use. Meet …
Read more "Wild Food Tour – Sustainable foraging and invasive species"
We consider the vital role of fungi in our ecosystem; as well as making our own striking fungi sculptures to take home.
Discover the principles behind extensive grazing as a way of restoring and managing landscape-scale habitats on this walk with Wicken Fen’s expert ranger, Carol Laidlaw. Our koniks (ponies) and highland cattle out on the wider reserve at Wicken Fen have become an iconic part of the landscape, and a favourite with many visitors. Living out …
Read more "Grazing for Landscape – a guided walk to meet the herds at Wicken Fen"
Join an expert from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Amphibian and Reptile Group as they take you on a journey to discover the hidden lives of the creatures just under our noses, but that we barely see! Watch via the link - available at: https://youtu.be/pLf3vuYnUkQ
 Tuesday 21 & Wednesday 22 June, 7pm-8pm. Online. Free. Sign up for notifications: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/zoology-live-2022-wildlife-past-present-and-future-tickets-336484382847?aff=ebdssbdestsearch Join the Museum of Zoology on YouTube for two fantastic livestreams broadcast live from the Museum of Zoology at 7pm on Tuesday 21 June, and from the Cambridge University Botanic Garden at 7pm on Wednesday 22 June. This year Zoology …
Read more "Zoology Live! – Museum of Zoology and Cambridge University Botanic Garden"
**This guided walk has been cancelled** Gentle guided walk to learn about summer wild flowers at Coton Countryside Reserve. Led by a knowledgeable Cambridge Past, Present & Future Warden, who will help you to identify wild flowers using features such as colour, form and habitat. Please wear footwear and clothing for being outdoors. There are …
Join our knowledgeable volunteers for a walk around the reserve lakes and trails, taking in the seasonal highlights and sights and sounds of the wildlife that calls Fen Drayton Lakes home. Tickets are available online.
Explore the Cambridge Botanic Garden wildlife, helping to count as many species as possible! Join a nature walk or workshop and help us discover, identify and record the wonderful wild animals and plants of the Garden. There will also be plenty of drop in activities for families too, including minibeast hunts, pond dipping, crafts and …
Read more "BioBlitz 2022 with the Museum of Zoology and CU Botanic Garden"
A tree lined street from Guangzhou, China, provides inspiration for what more sustainable neighbourhoods might look like. Reproduced under Creative Commons License – Luc Nadal. Join Cambridge Ahead on the 25th June in the beautiful Cambridge University Botanic Garden as part of Cambridge Nature Network’s first ever Nature Festival! We will be running a crafts …
Read more "Cambridge Ahead’s City of Quarters – imagining sustainable neighbourhoods"
   Multiple Dates: 11th, 18th and 25th June. Our volunteer guides share their personal selection of fascinating stories about gender and sex in the animal world at the Museum of Zoology ‘Animals don’t do sexual identity; they just do sex.’ From same-sex sexual behaviour in giraffes and penguins to the scientists working in the …
Read more "Bridging Binaries Guided Tour – Museum of Zoology"
Join us on our wild food tour of Cambridge.... where we will look at what edibles can be found in our beautiful city, along with some poisonous ones too! We will talk about sustainable practices, see some invasive species and discuss how we at The Foraging Chef preserve these plants for future culinary use. Meet …
Read more "Wild Food Tour – Sustainable foraging and invasive species"
Beetles are so varied that they make up 40% of all insect species and 25% of all animal species on Earth! There are currently recorded 350,000 different species of beetle that have been discovered, but it's very likely that there are many more out there waiting to be found. Find out a bit more about …
Join Liam Smith from A Shot of Wildlife (YouTube channel) for a gentle stroll along snakey path (Beginning at Burnside at the end of Mill Road) This will take around 60 mins with the hope of spotting Kingfishers, water voles and other illusive wildlife in one of Cambridge's wildlife hotspots. Please book via the Eventbrite …
Read more "A Nature Stroll Down Snakey Path – A Shot of Wildlife"
Life can feel too busy and stressful sometimes, so why not earmark an hour of self care in the form of a mindful walk in nature? I will be offering basic guidance in mindful walking and leading a small group in silence through the lush June splendour of Wandlebury woods. This is a taster for …
Take a free one-hour guided tour of the gardens of Trinity College with a fellow of the College, as part of the Cambridge Nature Festival. Discover the plants and bird life of the gardens and understand how Trinity gardeners maintain and care for the gardens throughout the seasons. Places limited - please book via the …
Read more "Free Guided Tour of Trinity College’s Gardens 1 of 2"
**Date changed from Tue 21/6/22 to Tue 28/6/22 due to unforeseen circumstances.** We apologise for any inconvenience and hope to see you on the 28 June. Want to learn more about wild flowers? Enjoy a gentle walk around the woods and meadows of Wandlebury with one of the Wardens who will help you to identify …
Read more "Summer Wildflowers of Wandlebury **Change of Date**"
Take a free one-hour guided tour of the gardens of Trinity College with a fellow of the College, as part of the Cambridge Nature Festival. Discover the plants and bird life of the gardens and understand how Trinity gardeners maintain and care for the gardens throughout the seasons. Places limited - please book via the …
Read more "Free Guided Tour of Trinity College’s Gardens 2 of 2"
Gentle guided walk around the beautiful park to learn about native trees. Led by a knowledgeable Cambridge Past, Present & Future Warden, who will help you to identify tree species using features such as bark, leaves, flowers and fruits. Please wear footwear and clothing for being outdoors. Meet at the large noticeboard near the car …
Join one of our expert volunteers, for a walk around the newly flooded reedbeds to look at all the wildlife that is starting to colonise. At this time of year, the reserve is alive with all sorts of sights and sounds which our knowledgeable volunteer will be able to show you. Â Tickets are available online.
Head down to the beautiful venue that is Tall Trees for a night of fantastic live music, with proceeds going to the Cambridge Nature Network. To round off an incredible month of nature based activities and events, Tall Trees will be hosting an evening of live music with nature-themed cocktails and mocktails brewed from sustainable …