A RURAL visitors’ centre is inviting nature enthusiasts and families to celebrate its first anniversary.
The Bowlees Visitors Centre, in Upper Teesdale, hosts the Great North Pennines Biohunt and a family fun day, this Saturday, for people of all ages to investigate the area around the centre for wildlife and recording their findings.
The events mark a year since the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership reopened the former Methodist chapel as a place for visitors to learn about the protected landscape and the animals and plants that make it their habitat.
Samantha Finn, from the partnership's WildWatch project, urged anyone with an interest in nature to attend.
She said: “We hope our WildWatch regulars and new volunteers come along and uncover what life lives here.
“Those keen to have night adventures will be delighted by the colourful world of moths and bats that become active around Bowlees after dark.”
The biohunt starts at 2pm with a wildflower walk, followed by butterfly and snail spotting from 3pm to 4pm and a bird walk from 4pm to 5pm.
A small mammal trek takes place at 7pm, moths will be the focus at 8pm and the event culminates with a hunt for bats from 9pm to 10pm.
The family fun day runs in the visitor centre, from 10am to 4pm, with storytelling, campfire cooking, children’s craft activities, honey-tasting, willow weaving and face-painting.
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