Festival of Nature 2024: Full line-up of events and activities for the UK’s biggest free nature festival

Bristol Harbor is set to be taken over by a family festival celebrating nature next month. The Wild Weekend will bring two days of family-friendly nature activities to the city center.

Millennium Square and Anchor Square’s ‘Wild Weekend’ will take place on Saturday 1 June and Sunday 2 June and will also include exhibitor stands, wildlife film screenings, talks and performances and special appearances. A mermaid, CBeebies’ Andy Day, emerging presenter Nadeem Perera and BBC Radio One medical expert Dr Radha Modgil are just some of the names set to appear in Bristol and Bath for the 21st Festival annual of Nature.

Organizers said the event is the UK’s biggest free celebration of the natural world, adding that it will take place between June 1 and 9 in the two cities. Over 20,000 people attended the festival last year, according to the organizers.

Read more: Bristol pub to close two days a week ‘for the foreseeable future’

Read more: A much-loved pub near Bristol with ‘the best beer garden in the UK’ is on the market

In a statement, the Natural History Consortium said: “To deliver the biggest and most diverse festival yet, organizers have created a packed program of over 70 events and activities, including wildlife walks, workshops and talks , eco-friendly crafts, music and exhibits, and more.

• A chance to have a charming marine encounter with real-life mermaid Hannahai Pearl, take a “shell” with her and learn more about how to help our oceans on Saturday, June 1.
• CBeebies superstar Andy Day and his interactive family show Dino Raps on Sunday 2 June with a special post-show meet and greet;
• A series of talks and screenings in Bristol Aquarium’s former IMAX theater including Nadeem Perera’s family show I like birds, do you like birds?; Lira Valencia explores the hidden corners of cities to find the secret world of urban wildlife; and renowned insect expert George McGavin, taking the audience into the world of minibeasts.
• The final day, Sunday 9 June, brings the festival’s first Community Day, celebrating the actions taken by communities across the two cities and beyond. A map of activities and locations will be available for people to get out and explore new community groups, gardens and events.

Savita Willmott, chief executive of the Natural History Consortium, said: “We’re so excited to unveil this year’s festival program and it’s bigger and better than ever – the nine days are packed with activities and opportunities for action. for nature.

“As the UK’s biggest nature festival, it really does offer something for everyone young, old, visitors, students, residents, businesses and most of it is free. We want to see more people than ever come and be inspired, give it a try. something new, visit a place they’ve never been before and get involved in an environmental project.”

Most of the events within the festival are free, and the public can connect from any part of the world to any of the events that take place online. To see the full festival programme, visit www.festivalofnature.org.uk.