Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s is inviting you to make a wild weekend of it and come along to their two great family days out on Cumbria’s coast on 6 and 7 August. Book on to the Trust’s sponsored Walk Across the Bay from Arnside to Grange-over-Sands with the Queen’s Official Guide to the Sands on Saturday 6 August.  Then on Sunday, head to St Bees for Beached Art where you can enter the sand sculpture competition, have your face painted, take part in rockpool rambles, take part in the filming of the BIG Wildlife Days Out coastal workshop or just learn more about local sustainable seafood.

Stride out and help raise valuable funds for local wildlife

The Walk Across the Bay is a 6-8 mile sponsored walk across the mystical yet notoriously dangerous Morecambe Bay sands at low tide. The experienced Cedric Robinson will carefully guide you past the quick sand to the shore opposite. In addition, the Trust will also have marine experts on the walk so you can ask questions about life in the Irish Sea and maybe learn more about some of the 4000 species that live in the Bay. 

Be prepared to also get your legs wet as you make the crossing of the river flowing out to sea – you might even feel some fish brushing against your legs! On the sands, keep an eye out for wading birds like curlew, red shank, dunlin and eider duck and, at your feet, lugworm, cockle and the tiny trap door snail. Pre-registration is essential and costs £5.00 for adults and £2.50 for children. Book online at www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk

Head to St Bees for a day of wildlife on the beach

If you are a beach lover, also come along to the Trust’s Beached Art at St Bees where you can help create a sand menagerie of marine wildlife. You will take part in designing and making sand sculptures to highlight how amazing our living seas really are. You could choose to create basking sharks, starfish, minke whales, cuttlefish and periwinkles.

The day runs from 11am to 4pm and also includes rockpool rambles, bird walks, artist workshops and Kids’ activities including face-painting. Entry to the sand sculpture competition costs £1 per participant aged 5 and over. Under 5s can join in for free. Book online at www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk

Lindsay Sullivan, Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Wild Oceans project Officer, said: “Many people don’t realize just how fabulous the marine life is along our coast. This weekend will be a fun way of showing everyone what’s out there and how we can protect it, whatever your age.”

Take part in the filming of one of the Trust's BIG Wildlife Days Out films

The Trust will also be filming its BIG Wildlife Days Out – Wild about Seas workshop at Beached Art and is looking for 30 people to take part – ideally children between the ages of 5 and 12 years and their parents. It will run from 10am – 12pm (2 hours) and is free! The Wild about Seas workshop will consist of a selection of marine-based fun games and activities ranging from a run-around games looking at over-fishing and climate change to making smelly cocktails from natural materials found on the beach.

The majority of the workshop will be held outdoors and you should be happy to take part in energetic games and activities and come suitably attired (warm waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear but also sunscreen etc) with refreshments (there will be some available to purchase). For more information and to book your place by calling Graham Jackson-Pitt on 01539 816300.

Book your places now!

To book your place on the sponsored walk and secure your sand sculpture plot, visit www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk

The weekend of coastal activity is part of National Marine Week, which runs from 30 July to 14 August.