Guided walks
Costs : Adults £7, RSPB members £5, children half price, unless otherwise stated
Places limited. Unless stated, booking is essential. Call 01728 648281 or email [email protected]
Discovering Minsmere
October: Wed 6, Mon 11, Fri 22, Thurs 28
February: Mon 28
March: Wed 9, Thurs 17, Fri 25
Start 9.30 am. (2.5 - 3 hours)
Join us to learn about the reserve’s birds and other wildlife, as well as the habitats we have here and how we manage them. Our guides will show you Minsmere’s varied wildlife, give tips on good fieldcraft, and help you to get the most from your visit to one of Britain’s premier birdwatching spots. Suitable for all abilities.
Weekend wildlife walk
September: Sat 4, Sun 12, Sat 18 & Sun 26
October: Sat 2, Sun 10, Sat 16, Sun 24, Sat 30
November: Sun 14, Sat 27
December: Sun 12
January: Sun 2, Sat 15, Sun 30
February: Sat 12, Sun 27
March: Sat 12, Sun 20, Sun 27
Start at 9.30 am (2.5 - 3 hours)
Join us for a seasonal weekend walk to look for migrants, wintering ducks and a host of other wildlife highlights that may be present at the time.
Migration watch
October: Thurs 7, Thurs 14, Thurs 21, Thurs 28
Start at 7 am (2.5 - 3 hours)
An early morning walk to look for passing migrants. If weather conditions are right, we might see flocks of small birds arriving from Europe, or geese and wading birds moving past offshore. There could be a rarity mixed in too.
Winter wander
November: Wed 3, Thurs 11, Fri 19, Mon 22
December: Wed 1, Thurs 9, Fri 17, Mon 20, Wed 29
January: Thurs 6, Fri 21, Mon 31
February: Wed 9, Thurs 17, Thurs 24
Start at 10 am (1.5 – 2 hours)
Join us for an introduction to Minsmere’s winter wildlife highlights. Enjoy a relaxed walk with a later start, returning to the visitor centre in time to purchase a warming bowl of soup. These shorter walks will take in one or two hides, depending on where the best variety of wildlife can be seen, and are ideal for beginners and improvers. Costs: adult £5, RSPB member £4, children half price.
Magic of Minsmere
September: Wed 1, Thurs 9, Thurs 16, Fri 24 & Wed 29
Start at 9.30 am (2-2.5 hours)
Minsmere is a magical place so come and find out why, and how we keep it that way. Birds, animals, flowers and insects are all part of the magic that we will help you discover.
Woodwose Festival walk – Eastbridge to Minsmere circuit
October: Thurs 21
10.30 am (4 hours plus lunch)
Explore Minsmere’s wetlands from a different perspective. Join us on this walk from Eastbridge to the Minsmere sluice, searching for autumn wildlife. We’ll stop in the Minsmere tearoom for lunch before continuing back to Eastbridge. Cost: Adults £7, RSPB members £5, children £3.50, RSPB Wildlife Explorers £2.50. Lunch is not included (pay for this when you order it in the tearoom). Booking essential. Meet at the Eels Foot pub, Eastbridge.
Events at RSPB Snape
Introductory wildlife walk at Snape Maltings
September: Thurs 2, Thurs 9, Thurs 16 and Thurs 23
October: Thurs 14, Thurs 21, Thurs 28
11 am (60 minutes)
September: Thurs 30
October: Thurs 7
2 pm (60 minutes)
Join us for a short stroll along the river looking for some of the many birds, insects and flowers found around the Snape Maltings area. Adults £3, RSPB members £2, children £1.50, RSPB Wildlife Explorers £1. No need to book. Meet at RSPB Wildlife Information Centre, Snape Maltings
Snape Discovery Walk
September: Sat 4, Sat 18
October: Sat 16
11 am (2 hours)
September: Sat 25, Sun 26 and Mon 27
October: Sat 2 and Mon 4
2 pm (2 hours)
Join an RSPB guide to discover some of the birds, insects and flowers found around the Alde Estuary and the new RSPB Snape nature reserve. Adults £5, RSPB members £3, children £2.50, RSPB Wildlife Explorers £1.50. No need to book. Meet at RSPB Wildlife Information Centre, Snape Maltings
Woodwose Festival walk – Abbey Farm and the Alde Estuary
October: Sat 23
10.30 am (2 hours)
Join an RSPB warden to search for autumn wildlife at RSPB Abbey Farm and on the Alde Estuary. This walk is part of the Woodwose Festival and will start from The Crown Inn, Snape. Costs : Adults £7, RSPB members £5, children half price. Booking essential, via Minsmere visitor centre on 01728 648281
Woodwose Festival walk – RSPB Snape wetlands
October: Sat 30
10.30 am (2 hours)
Join us for an exclusive visit to the new RSPB wetland reserve at Abbey Farm, Snape. There is currently no public access at other times. Meet at The Golden Key PH, Snape. Costs : Adults £7, RSPB members £5, children half price. Booking essential, via Minsmere visitor centre on 01728 648281
Special events for families
Make a bird feeder and craft activities day
October: Mon 25 to Sat 30
11 am – 3 pm
Get mucky and get ready for RSPB Feed the Birds Day (on 30 October) by making your own bird feeders to take away. What will you attract to your garden? There’s a selection of craft activities to add to the fun. Costs: children £4, RSPB Wildlife Explorers £2.50, normal entry fees for adults. Booking not essential.
Special events
Places limited. Booking essential. See details for costs.
Painting workshop with Peter Partington
September: Sat 18
10 am to 4 pm
Peter Partington is one of Britain’s top wildlife artists, an illustrator of many books and cards, and a member of the Society of Wildlife Artists. Whether you are an enthusiastic beginner or experienced hand, Peter will show you how to develop your sketching skills. Cost £25 per person. Send an sae marked ‘Painting workshop’ for more details, or email [email protected]
Winter wildfowl on Havergate Island
January: Sat 29
Boat departs at 9 am and 1 pm (4 hours)
Visit the wild. windswept Suffolk coast this winter for a truly spectacular birdwatching experience. Havergate Island's shingle banks offer little protection from the elements, so you'll be glad of the shelter offered by the birdwatching hides. And what a view you'll get from those hides! Hundreds of ducks, brent geese and wading birds visit Havergate in winter, seeking the relative safety of the shallow lagoons. you may spot a barn owl, short-eared owl or marsh harrier hunting too, and if a peregrine flies over just watch the fireworks as it homes in a hapless teal or lapwing.
This trip is sure to be popular, so book early to avoid disappointment. Members £12, non members £15 (no child discount). Boats depart Orford Quay. Call Minsmere Visitor centre to book.
Red deer rut viewpoint
September: Sat 25 and Sun 26
October: Sat 2, Sun 3, Sat 9, Sun 10, Sat 16, Sun 17
3.30 pm to dusk
Join us on Westleton Heath to witness one of nature’s greatest spectacles, the annual red deer rut. Listen to stags bellowing, watch their posturing and maybe see a clash of antlers. Park in Natural England car park on Westleton Heath and walk half mile to viewpoint. Free. No need to book
Binocular and telescope demonstration
September: Sat 11 and Sun 12
November: Sat 20 and Sun 21
10am to 4pm
Expert advice on choosing the right binoculars, telescopes and accessories. Run in conjunction with Viking Optical of Halesworth, there will be a wide range of optics available to test and buy, so whether you're choosing you first binoculars or looking to upgrade, we'll have the right optics for you.
Digi-scoping demonstration
October: Sat 9
December: Sat 11
10am to 4pm
Have you ever wanted to take excellent wildlife photos with your compact digital camera? Talk to our experts about how to attach your camera to a telescope and discover the art of digi-scoping. There will be a selection of products to try and buy.
Art and photo exhibitions
All year
Visit the Minsmere tearoom gallery throughout the year to see a range of superb exhibitions of art or photography depicting some of Suffolk’s most spectacular wildlife. Contact us for details of each exhibition, or go to www.rspb.org.uk/events.
Events September 2010 – March 2011, by date
Events at North Warren
Events at Havergate Island
Events not on RSPB reserves
Events at Snape Maltings (all other events at RSPB Minsmere)
Family events
Free events
September:
Thurs 9 – Magic of Minsmere: 9.30 am
Thurs 9 – Introductory wildlife walk at Snape Maltings: 11 am
Sat 11 – Binocular and telescope demo: 10 am – 4 pm
Sun 12 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Sun 12 – Binocular and telescope demo: 10 am – 4 pm
Thurs 16 – Magic of Minsmere: 9.30 am
Thurs 16 – Introductory wildlife walk at Snape Maltings: 11 am
Sat 18 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Sat 18 – Painting workshop with Peter Partington: 10 am – 4 pm
Sat 18 – Snape Discovery Walk: 11 am
Thurs 23 – Introductory wildlife walk at Snape Maltings: 11 am
Fri 24 – Magic of Minsmere: 9.30 am
Sat 25 – Snape Discovery Walk: 2 pm
Sat 25 – Red deer viewpoint on Westleton Heath: 3.30 pm
Sun 26 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Sun 26 – Snape Discovery Walk: 2 pm
Sun 26 – Red deer viewpoint on Westleton Heath: 3.30 pm
Mon 27 – Snape Discovery Walk: 2 pm
Wed 29 – Magic of Minsmere: 9.30 am
Thurs 30 – Introductory wildlife walk at Snape Maltings: 2 pm
October:
Sat 2 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Sat 2 – Snape Discovery Walk: 2 pm
Sat 2 – Red deer viewpoint on Westleton Heath: 3.30 pm
Sun 3 – Red deer viewpoint on Westleton Heath: 3.30 pm
Mon 4 – Snape Discovery Walk: 2 pm
Wed 6 – Discovering Minsmere: 9.30 am
Thurs 7 – Migration watch: 7 am
Thurs 7 – Introductory wildlife walk at Snape Maltings: 2 pm
Sat 9 – Digiscoping demo: 10 am – 4 pm
Sat 9 – Red deer viewpoint on Westleton Heath: 3.30 pm
Sun 10 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Sun 10 – Red deer viewpoint on Westleton Heath: 3.30 pm
Mon 11 – Discovering Minsmere: 9.30 am
Thurs 14 – Migration watch: 7 am
Thurs 14 – Introductory wildlife walk at Snape Maltings: 11 am
Sat 16 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Sat 16 – Snape Discovery Walk: 11 am
Sat 16 – Red deer viewpoint on Westleton Heath: 3.30 pm
Sun 17 – Red deer viewpoint on Westleton Heath: 3.30 pm
Thurs 21 – Migration watch: 7 am
Thurs 21 – Woodwose Festival walk, Eels Foot to Minsmere: 10.30 am
Thurs 21 – Introductory wildlife walk at Snape Maltings: 11 am
Fri 22 – Discovering Minsmere: 9.30 am
Sat 23 – Woodwose Festival walk, RSPB Abbey Farm and the Alde Estuary: 10.30 am
Sun 24 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Mon 25 – Make a bird feeder/crafts: 11 am – 3 pm
Tues 26 – Make a bird feeder/crafts: 11 am – 3 pm
Wed 27 – Make a bird feeder/crafts: 11 am – 3 pm
Thurs 28 – Migration watch: 7 am
Thurs 28 – Discovering Minsmere: 9.30 am
Thurs 28 – Introductory wildlife walk at Snape Maltings: 11 am
Thurs 28 – Make a bird feeder/crafts: 11 am – 3 pm
Fri 29 – Make a bird feeder/crafts: 11 am – 3 pm
Sat 30 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Sat 30 – Woodwose Festival walk, RSPB Snape wetland reserve: 10.30 am
Sat 30 – Make a bird feeder/crafts: 11 am – 3 pm
November:
Wed 3 – Winter wander: 10 am
Thurs 11 – Winter wander: 10 am
Sun 14 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Fri 19 – Winter wander: 10 am
Sat 20 – Binocular and telescope demo: 10 am – 4 pm
Sun 21 – Binocular and telescope demo: 10 am – 4 pm
Mon 22 – Winter wander: 10 am
Sat 27 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
December:
Wed 1 – Winter wander: 10 am
Thurs 9 – Winter wander: 10 am
Sat 11 – Digiscoping demo: 10 am – 4 pm
Sun 12 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Fri 17 – Winter wander: 10 am
Mon 20 – Winter wander: 10 am
Wed 29 – Winter wander: 10 am
January:
Sun 2 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Thurs 6 – Winter wander: 10 am
Sat 15 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Fri 21 – Winter wander: 10 am
Sat 29 – Winter wildfowl on Havergate: first boat 9 am
Sun 30 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Mon 31 – Winter wander: 10 am
February:
Wed 9 – Winter wander: 10 am
Sat 12 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Thurs 17 – Winter wander: 10 am
Thurs 24 – Winter wander: 10 am
Sun 27 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Mon 28 – Discovering Minsmere: 9.30 am
March:
Wed 9 – Discovering Minsmere: 9.30 am
Sat 12 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Thurs 17 – Discovering Minsmere: 9.30 am
Sun 20 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Fri 25 – Discovering Minsmere: 9.30 am
Sun 27 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Visiting arrangements at Minsmere
Entry charges to the reserve:
adult £5,
child £1.50 (under 5s free),
families £10 (two adults and up to four children),
concession £3.
Free for RSPB and Wildlife Explorer members.
Your entry fee will be refunded if you become a member on the day of your visit.
Opening times
Nature trails and hides open daily.
From 1 February to 31 October:
Visitor centre open from 9 am to 5 pm.
Shop open 10 am to 5 pm.
Tearoom open 10 am to 4.30 pm, with last orders 15 minutes before closing.
Hot food served 11.30 am to 2.30 pm.
From 1 November to 31 January:
Visitor centre open 9 am to 4 pm
Shop and tearoom open 10 am to 4 pm.
Reserve and all facilities closed 25 and 26 December.
Facilities at Minsmere
Access to the visitor centre is free. At the reception desk, you can hire binoculars or borrow a free children’s Explorer Backpack and Discovery Trail booklet. You can also find out more about the reserve and the RSPB. The shop stocks a wide range of books, outdoor clothing, gifts, binoculars and telescopes. You can enjoy a light meal or snack in the tearoom. There are toilets, with baby changing facilities, and a large car park beside the visitor centre.
A permit is needed for the two nature trails, which are each about 1.5 miles long. Two of the eight birdwatching hides are accessed via steps, and two via the beach. The rest of the hides and trails are accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs. A free trail guide is available from reception. Sorry, no dogs on the nature trails, but they are welcome around the visitor centre and car park, where there is a limited amount of shaded parking.
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