Younger visitors to Chester and kids who call the city home will soon get an opportunity to get up close and personal with nature.
September will see Chester Zoo host its family-friendly annual event, the Wildlife Connections Festival, featuring two-days of back-to-back performances, guest speakers, activities and experiences entirely for free.
An abundance of fun is on the cards for children at the festival, including native species games like “What’s the time, Mr Owl?” and interactive shows like “What’s that thing?”. Zoo rangers will read stories and help build dens, and kids can meet a magic owl puppet called “Winnie the Witch”.
Crafting sessions will feature where little ones can fashion wearable headbands and dress up like their favourite pollinator. Skilled face painters will be on hand to help, and kids can complete their costumes with a pair of fabric wings.
Unscheduled sessions will allow families to drop in throughout the day and participate. Sessions include Mammal Detectives, Bug Basecamp, Pond Live, Marvellous Meadows and Brilliant Birds, all designed to help children and their parents become aware of the nature surrounding them, sometimes even in their own garden.
Wellbeing with wildlife activities will include thankfulness, meditation, cloud spotting and “Animal Yoga”, where attendees are encouraged to learn from the physicality of Britain’s native creatures and keep fit.
Festivalgoers can also win themselves a £500 voucher towards enjoying a Sykes Cottages holiday when they enter the prize draw at the event.
The Wildlife Connections Festival will be held at Chester Zoo on Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15.