Ordnance Survey – Great Britain's national mapping agency

Get inspired by nature

26 June 2008

Over the coming weeks visitors to Caravan Club sites can get out and about with the RSPB’s experts and learn about the local birds and other wildlife treasures.

From Top Lodge Caravan Club Site, Lincolnshire, members can enjoy exclusive evening nature walks, courtesy of the RSPB, through the adjacent Fineshade Woods.  This ancient and historic woodland is home to over 30 different species of birds, including the magnificent red kite and the occasional osprey, as well as mammals such as badgers, fallow deer, rare pipistrelle bats and otters.

Top Lodge is a wildlife sanctuary itself, as one of The Caravan Club’s 36 ‘Boosting Biodiversity’ sites. Visitors to ‘Boosting Biodiversity’ sites can complete a nature trail checklist to help monitor the local feathered or furry inhabitants they may be lucky enough to spot from their caravan or motor caravan!

At The Club’s New England Bay site on Scotland’s stunning West Coast, the warden of the nearby Mull of Galloway RSPB Reserve will be giving monthly talks to members on site.  This reserve has the largest mainland seabird colony in south-west Scotland, including the much-loved puffin, and the talks will cover birds and other wildlife in the region.  And on the New Forest Caravan Club Centenary site the RSPB will be hosting an activity day for children on 21 June to coincide with the site’s official opening ceremony weekend.

In addition, The Caravan Club’s own regular wildlife contributor, David Chapman, will be leading nature walks from Cheddar, and Moreton-in-Marsh Caravan Club sites, pointing out interesting flora and fauna on the route.

For further information about these events, or becoming a member of The Caravan Club, visit www.caravanclub.co.uk.  For details about joining a woodland walk and RSPB facilities at Top Lodge, please call the RSPB on 01780 444691. For more general information about Top Lodge visitor centre and its events, please contact the Forestry Commission on 01780 444920 or visit www.forestry.gov.uk/toplodge

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