Wildzone Lays On A Naturally Riveting Red October

Head to Cumbria for a really wild time this October, as Wildzone Cumbria lays on a feast of wildlife and out-in-the-wild experiences that will have the red ruling your heart.

Wildzone Cumbria creates and delivers exciting wildlife encounters, which encourage wild exploration and foster an interaction and engagement with flora and fauna. It introduces visitors to the best wild places, experiences and wild sightings available across the county.

The Wildzone’s ‘Red October’ is a month packed with things to do outdoors based in locations rich in some of Cumbria’s most iconic wildlife – red squirrels, red deer and red kite to name but three species. With the red leaves of autumn on the trees and red sunsets over Morecambe Bay, nature animates an autumnal stay, day trip or one-off experience.

October activities in the Wildzone Cumbria include exciting walks, creative creature-focused crafts, wildlife watching, outdoor exploration, cycling, fishing, photography, naturally spooky Halloween goings on, conservation, volunteering and taste-bud-tingling foodie experiences.

There is something for everyone, whether that’s a ‘Fungal Foray’ with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, a Red Deer cruise with ‘Steamers’, photographing wild deer with a National Trust deer stalker, fishing for rainbow trout or becoming a nature detective in Whinlatter Forest!

Fun can be found by getting outdoors on the trail of sausage and real ale thanks to the Beer ‘n’ Bangers Festival in the Western , enjoying red squirrel themed craftwork at the World of in Bowness, taking a Walk on the Wildside on the Bearded Tit trail at the RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve and following in the footsteps of Romans with the Lake District National Park and the and Eskdale Railway.

Wild activities of the spooky kind for the October half term/Halloween week include following a ‘Creatures of the Night’ family trail at RSPB Leighton Moss, making pastry pumpkins in the Georgian kitchen of Wordsworth House (Cockermouth), listening to spooky stories in Wild Ennerdale and exploring haunted woods at the National Trust’s Acorn Bank.

Add to this leisure learning in the wild, whether that is sketching or using natural materials to create something special, and hunting down Red October in the Wildzone Cumbria, really is the recipe for a truly exceptional autumn jaunt, made even easier by Wildzone Cumbria accommodation members who help guests ‘unwild’ after a naturally action-packed day.

To celebrate its first birthday, Wildzone Cumbria has a super prize of a four-night, full board photo workshop up for grabs courtesy of Lakeland Photographic Holidays. Amateur photographers can enter by posting a photo of wildlife or scenery taken in the Wildzone on Facebook page www.facebook.com/WildzoneCumbria or on its wildlife sightings page at www.wildzonecumbria.org. This prize is worth £495 and covers photography tuition, accommodation, food and excursions.

Wildzone Cumbria wants to CU go wild this October, so why not let the red rule your heart and give in to your wild child instincts? You will be assured of all your creature comforts and masses of fun to boot! ENDS

Press calls: Jane Hunt, Catapult PR, 01253 891114 – [email protected]

Notes to Editors

Things to do during Wildzone Cumbria’s Red October include:

Date Venue Activity Description Type of Activity

All month Dove Cottage & the ‘Pen, Paint and Pixels: Photography & Wordsworth Touring the English outdoor exploration Museum, Lakes across 250 years’: in 28 locations. (Additional this exhibition is unique children’s thanks to the development activities during of an app which allows the half term – smartphone owner to try to October 22-26). follow in the steps of writer, Thomas Gray 9.30am to 5.30pm (1769), artist Joseph (last admission at Farington a few years later 5pm). and photographer, John Murray (21st century), taking the exhibition outdoors into the Wildzone! By using the app to reach the 28 locations at which they each captured the same scene (in words, watercolour and digital image respectively) the app user can try to get their version of Farington and Murray’s scene. It helps if you see the exhibition at Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum first – standard admission charges apply. Visit www.wordsworth.org.uk and download the app at downloading the app ‘A Tour of the English Lakes’ in the Apple Store, or go to the Dove Cottage website for the android link. All month High Newton Trout Fish for probably the best Fishing Fishery ‘top of the water’ rainbow trout fishery in Cumbria, while enjoying views over Coniston Fells, Cartmel Valley & Morecambe Bay. Day permits available. Visit WADAA – www.lakedistrictfishing.net 3rd of October RSPB Leighton Wednesday Walkabout: Walk/wildlife (and 10th, 17th, Moss, near Beardie Bonanza – see the spotting. 24th, 31st). Time Carnforth, North charming bearded tits 9am-11am. Lancs coming out of the reeds to the grit trays. Cost £5 adults (members £2.50). No need to book. 5th to 7th of Various – Western Beer ‘n’ Bangers: Food-related/walks October 2012 Lake District Celebration of local breweries and Cumberland Sausage makers across 18 different venues. Self- guided walks & great food & drink. Visit www.beernbangers.com 6th of October RSPB Leighton Sketch Club – untutored (10.30 am) Moss, near sketching of wildlife: bring Art/craft Carnforth, North your own kit. Adults £3. Lancs Members free. 6th of October Birkrigg Common Fungal Foray: Examine the Fungus discovery. (11am to 3pm) near . world of fungi at Birkrigg, near Ulverston, with a fungus specialist. Book early on 01229 582790 for this 2-3km walk over grassland, limestone pavement and bracken on Birkrigg Common with some uphill sections. £2 donation. 7th of October Brockhole – Lake I Spy – Birds of Wildlife spotting District National Brockhole. Head to the Park Visitor Centre, bird hide to find volunteers . who will help you identify birds and animals in the woodland. Free activity. 9th of October Mirehouse Estate, Fungal Foray with Fungus discovery. (11am to 3pm) near Keswick. Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Walk accompanied by a fungus specialist, examining the wide variety of fungi found in this diverse woodland and grassland. Cost is a suggested donation of £2. Book on 01524 276460. 11th, 12th, 13th and Ullswater RSPB/Ullswater Wildlife watching. 4th of October ‘Steamers’ pier at ‘Steamers’ Red Deer (10.30am to Glenridding Cruise. Short cruise on 3.30pm) Lake Ullswater to Howtown, followed by an escorted minibus drive and walk into Martindale to see one of nature’s greatest sights – the Red Deer Rut. £14 adult non-RSPB members (£12 members); children half price – aged 5-15). Book online at www.ullswater- steamers.co.uk Wear appropriate footwear and clothing. 17th of October Glenridding Val Corbett Photo Landscape/wildlife (and 19th): 11am – Workshop – a cruise on photography 4.30pm Ullswater and day out with an acclaimed Cumbrian photographer learning how to best capture the beauty of the Cumbrian scenery on digital camera. Bring packed lunch and suitable clothing, as some walking is necessary. 21st of October Brockhole – Lake I Spy – Birds of Wildlife spotting District National Brockhole. Head to the Park Visitor Centre, bird hide to find volunteers Windermere. who will help you identify birds and animals in the woodland. Free activity. 22nd -30th of Grizedale Forest Forests Take Flight – free Art/craft; walking; October near Coniston. event to create a piece of biking. artwork inspired by everything that flies in the forest – leaves, seeds, bats, bird of prey. Explore the forest while there on walking & mountain bike trails and discover over 60 outdoor sculptures. 22nd – 30th of Whinlatter Forest, ‘Live ‘n’ Deadly’ – turn Nature discovery; October near Bassenthwaite nature detective in the mountain biking; forest, solving clues and walking; wildlife deciding which animal spotting. committed the crime! Free activity for children. Pick up activity pack at Whinlatter Visitor Centre. Whinlatter is ’s only mountain forest and has a WildPlay trail, mountain bike trails, bike hire, walking trails and lots of wildlife, being a red squirrel ‘Stronghold’.

24th of October National trust Photograph Wild Deer Wildlife watching. (7am to 9am) North Lakes Office with National Trust Deer CA12 5UP Stalker – a dawn walk with deer stalker to hidden places where wild Red and Roe deer gather in Borrowdale’s dramatic scenery.Take photos and dress in dark or neutral colours! Need stout walking boots with good grips. Some steep ascents. Price is £30 including refreshments/snack. Booking essential on 017687 74649. 24th of October Ravenglass Steam & Romans – a Wildlife & heritage. bespoke tour exploring Roman Eskdale with an expert guide. Tour the bathhouse at Ravenglass, board the heritage railway and spot wildlife en route to Dalegarth, enjoy soup and a sandwich and head by minibus up the winding Hardknott Pass to the Roman fort of Mediobogdum. Price is £23 per person. Not suitable for young children. 25th of October (all Windermere Join in with practical Volunteering day) conservation work to help look after the Lake District landscapes. This could be footpath repair, drainage clearance, coppicing, woodland work, walling and surveying. There is a task for all, whatever age or level of fitness. Booking is essential on 01539 733187. 26th of October Beckfoot Barn, Spooky Stories in Wild Naturally (6pm to 9pm) Ennerdale, CA23 Ennerdale – make a spooky/Halloween! 3AU witches broom, listen to spooky stories and take a walk in the dark! Dress in warm and waterproof clothing with something scary on top and bring a torch. Suitable for children aged 4-11. Cost £3 children and £1 adults. 27th of October to RSPB Leighton Creatures of the Night Naturally 4th of November Moss, near Trail: families can follow spooky/Halloween! (9.30am to 4pm) Carnforth, North this trail and find out what Lancs wildlife comes to life after dark. RSPB members free. Other families £10. 27th of October to Acorn Bank Haunted Woods: self- Naturally 4th of November (National Trust) guided spooky family trail spooky/Halloween (10am to 4.30pm) near Penrith with hidden horrors, with a small prize per child on completion. Steep slopes and steps in places and close to deep water, so children must be accompanied. £1 per trail sheet. 27th of October Coniston Boating Electric Bike Ride around Cycling (electric) (and 30th of Centre : Take an October) 10.30am electric bike ride in the glorious countryside around Coniston. Suitable for adults and children aged over 14 (legal requirement). Bike hire is £20 for a 16.7-mile (27km) ride lasting 5 hours. Booking essential on 0845 272 0004. 28th of October Dalegarth, near Conservation Day – Wildlife awareness. Boot Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway. Conservation organisations Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Copeland Red Squirrel Group, RSPB, Cumberland Bat Group and World Owl Trust will all be at the Railway, to explain their conservation work. Travel on the train from Ravenglass (normal fares apply) or head direct to Dalegarth. More information at www.ravenglass- railway.co.uk 28th of October Brockhole – Lake Apple Day – sample Food-related (11am) District National different varieties, find out Park Visitor Centre, more about apple Windermere production, go on an apple treasure hunt and see the longest peel contest.

29th of October World of Beatrix Red Squirrel Day – hourly Art/Craft Potter, Bowness red squirrel themed craft activities. Admission charges; adult £6.75; children £3.50; family ticket £18.

29th of October RSPB Leighton Children’s Bird Cake Art/craft Moss, near Animal Sculptures – Carnforth, North model bird cake into an Lancs animal sculpture. Charge £1.50 (RSPB members £1). 29th of October Wordsworth Pastry Pumpkins: bring Food-related (11am to 3pm) House, the outdoors indoors Cockermouth making a pastry pumpkin to take home. Find out how Georgian’s used natural ingredients such as crushed bluebottles for colouring! 29th of October Coniston Tourist Woods, Tarns & Gills – Information Centre Lake District National Park walk through woods to Boon Crag and Tarn Hows, returning by a beautiful route. Five-hour, 6.2 miles/10km walk. Wear appropriate footwear.

30th of October Lake District Walk With the Romans – National Park’s leisurely stroll from Waterhead car Waterhead to the ruins of park, : the old Roman fort Galava. 10.30am Walk along the banks of the River Rothay, returning through Skelghyll Wood. Distance: 2.2 miles (3.5km). Wear appropriate footwear. Free, but donations welcome.

30th of October RSPB Leighton Walk on the Wildside: Walk/wildlife (10.30am to Moss, near take to the Bearded Tit trail spotting. 12.30pm) Carnforth, North and find out more about Lancs these cheeky little birds. Adults £5 (RSPB members £2), Children £2 (members £1), Family £10 (members £4)

30th of October Arnside Knott Family 50 Things to do Walk/outdoor fun & (1.30pm to National Trust car Before 11&3/4 Challenge discovery. 4.30pm) park, Arnside. Walk – track animals, climb, look inside a tree, hunt for fossils and more! Two miles of easy terrain, with a slight slope. Bring clothing to crawl in! Normal admission applies. 31st of October Acorn Bank Free guided walk to hidden Walk (10am to 1pm) (National Trust) parts of the Acorn Bank near Penrith. estate, then visiting the River Eden and the village of Temple Sowerby. Walk is around 5 miles, fairly level but with some stiles. Appropriate footwear/clothing required. 31st of October Sandscale Haws Join National Trust ranger Wildlife watching (10am to Car Park, Roanhead to see thousands of wading 12.30pm) birds at high tide and possibly migrating ducks and geese over the estuary. Walk is guided and 3-4 miles in length through dunes to the western beach. See waders such as dunlin, grey plover, sanderling. Warm clothing, boots and waterproofs needed. Call Neil Forbes on 01229 462855.