Tewkesbury Abbey welcomed 120 people to Wings of Wonder at their Wild about the Abbey event this month.
This was the third Wild about the Abbey event, and was run with partners from Tewkesbury Nature Reserve and the John Moore Museum. The event aimed to encourage people of all ages to discover the birdlife around the Abbey.
Helen Wolfson from the Abbey Ecochurch group said, “Tewkesbury Abbey is always a great place to visit, but this time of year we want to inspire people to enjoy nature outside the Abbey. This event got everyone looking at the skies, learning about the peregrine falcons on the tower, the swifts in the roof eaves, and the different birds in the Rose Garden.”
Bird experts helped families watch the peregrine parents ‘Christopher Robin’ and ‘Bella’ and their three chicks that hatched at the end of April. Visitors put ideas for names in a hat, and the winners—Eleanor, Flash, and Fluff—were pulled out live on BBC Radio Gloucestershire a few days later.
As well as bird watching, attendees made bird boxes to take home, planted wildflower seeds for insects (food for the birds), used the Merlin app to identify birdsong, and joined a bird-themed trail around the Abbey.Helen added, “It was fantastic to see so many people come out, and families loved the activities. Part of our Eco Church project is having these ‘Wild About the Abbey’ events to get kids and families into wildlife. We love working with Tewkesbury Nature Reserve and their ‘do-one thing for nature’ activities and our partners at the John Moore Museum.
The next ‘Wild About the Abbey’ event is set for Saturday, July 5, from 10.30am to noon, focusing on ‘Bugs, bees and butterflies.”
Learning about our native wildlife is a great way to feel more connected to God’s creation and helps excite us about caring for the planet. If Tewkesbury Abbey’s team has inspired you, why not pledge an hour a week to caring for the environment by registering for Eco Church? Small actions make a big difference.
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