Read on for all the exciting details of what is happening and when at Carsington Water on Action for Wildlife Day, Saturday 10th of August.
All the stalls and stands will be open for visitors from 11am to 5pm.
At 12.30pm, inspirational community gospel choir Sing It Bold will take the stage to open the event with their unique blend of gospel and popular songs.
At 1.20pm, Hen Harrier Action will welcome everyone and kick off an afternoon of outstanding speakers.
At 1.40pm, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust CEO Jo Smith will share her vision for a wilder Derbyshire, and talk about the Ghosts of the Landscape.
She’ll be followed by Sheffield Hallam MP Olivia Blake, Campaign for National Parks’ Dr Rose O’Neill, and Protect the Wild’s Rob Pownall and Charlie Moores.
At 2.45pm, legendary folk musician Martin Simpson will perform a guest set including tracks from his new album Skydancers.
Then at 3.15pm, award-winning children’s author Gill Lewis will be on the main stage announcing the results of Hen Harrier Action’s Young Wild Writers Competition and talking about the Importance of Nature for Young People.
At 3.30pm, Head of Investigations for the RSPB Mark Thomas will be speaking about Catching the Raptor Killers, and what comes next.
Then at 3.45pm, acclaimed author Mark Cocker will take the main stage to talk about how we can Save British Nature Before It’s Too Late. Read our interview with Mark here.
And finally at 4.05pm, the Wild Justice team – Ruth Tingay, Mark Avery, and Chris Packham – will take the stage to Celebrate 10 Years of Hen Harrier Day Activism, before all the speakers return to the stage at around 4.25pm to conclude the event, and send you home with some final thoughts.
Book and CD Signings
There will be book and CD signings throughout the morning and afternoon. Chris Packham and Mark Avery will be signing copies of their books outside the RSPB Shop in the main Visitor Centre atrium.
Gill Lewis and Mark Cocker will be signing copies of their books, and folk musician Martin Simpson will be signing copies of his latest CD, Skydancers, at the Hen Harrier Action stand.
With more than 20 organisations both national and local taking part in Action for Wildlife Day, there is lots to discover and something for everyone.
From creating a Possibility Bird with Greenwood Growth and building bird feeders and bat boxes with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to seed bomb making with Save Danes Moss and making animal puppets with Creeping Toad, there are plenty of activities to keep younger visitors happy while you take in events on the stage.
Plus with prize draws and raffles, sustainable merchandise to buy, and excellent catering facilities, you can enjoy a great day out.
