Saturday 17 - Sunday 18 June
Head down to Millennium Square and Anchor Square on Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th June to celebrate 20 years of Festival of Nature! Two huge outdoor days of free nature activities, stalls and screenings, food and drink, and special guest talks at the harbourside. The big weekend includes a special appearance by BAFTA award winning TV presenter and YouTuber, Maddie Moate and a “Walking Forest” through the streets of Bristol.
Saturday 17 June, 10am - 4pm
The Walking Forest will arrive on the streets of Bristol for the day! Join our pop-up sensory forest performances as it strolls through Bristol Centre. A comic forest inhabitant will invite you to bask in the shelter of our trees to do nature crafts & listen to forest stories at stopping places in Broadmead, Bristol’s Old City & King Street. Enable the Walking Forest to live on by taking one of our free trees home to plant in your garden or favourite community space.
Sunday 11th June, 10am - 4pm
Come down to the Apex City of Bath Hotel for Festival of Nature's Family Nature Party. A free family-friendly event aimed at under 10s. Come together with other local families for a day of arts and crafts, music and writing workshops, storytelling, games and performances, toddler sessions, and lots of opportunities for little ones and parents to learn about and take action for the natural world. Featuring a special guest talk from Nadeem Perera. No booking required - just turn up!
Saturday 11 June, 1 - 2pm
Join us for this very special Lloyd of the Flies event at Watershed with Aardman to hear from series creator and director, Matthew Walker, alongside world renowned fly expert Dr Erica McAlister, who helped advise on the show. Matt will share some of his favourite clips and funny moments making the series, and Erica will be on hand to help us look at some of the insect facts behind the show. Join us for a buzzing afternoon of laughs and learning!
Wednesday 14 June, 7 - 8pm
Join us for an exclusive look behind-the-scenes of the new landmark natural history series ‘Wild Isles’ from Silverback Films. Hear from series producer Hilary Jeffkins and producer Nicholas Gates, who’ll reveal what it takes to showcase British nature as never before - and discover why the spectacles we marvelled at on-screen were so important to show.
Tuesday 13 June, 7:30 - 9:30pm
Festival of Nature is delighted to present this special evening with the award-winning wildlife film composer and conductor William Goodchild. This spectacular evening will be a musical celebration of William's 100 commissions for natural history programming, including for major broadcasters Netflix and BBC.
Monday 12 June, 7:30 - 9pm
Festival of Nature is delighted to present this headline event with Megan McCubbin, zoologist, conservationist, photographer, author, and television presenter. Megan is regularly seen across the BBC ‘Watches’ – Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch. She co-authored Back to Nature: How to Love Life – and Save It with Chris Packham.
Friday 9 June, 10am - 12pm
Kick off Festival of Nature 2023 by joining members of Trout in the Trym for a morning of litter picking and cleaning up the river and surrounding woods. Meeting at Blaise Castle Estate. RSVP your attendance via the email contact in the programme.
Friday 9 June, 10am - 12:30pm
Whilst out walking, have you ever wondered ‘which tree is that’? If so, then this More Trees workshop is for you. Join More Trees BANES group at Primrose Hill Community Woodland as we show you how to identify a host of tree species by looking at leaves, bark, tree shape and other seasonal features. Along the way, you’ll discover various hints and tips for identifying trees.
Friday 9 June, 2 - 4pm
If you're aged 18-35 and are considering a career in the great outdoors, then join Forestry England's Community Ranger to get an insider's perspective. Explore Leigh Woods considering the different roles which contribute to looking after this protected space for people, wildlife and forestry and discuss the skills and experience involved.
Friday 9 June, 9 - 10pm
Find out more about the mysterious bats that live in Bath and surrounding areas. Try your hand at a bat detector to track them across the farm and (hopefully!) spot them flying.
Saturday 10 June, 10am - 4pm
Discover a whole world of exciting green science at the University of Bristol’s community based micro-campus. Get hands on with some cool experiments and interactive educational games, and chat to environmental researchers from the university and the Avon Wildlife Trust! Explore the latest discoveries that can bring a new perspective on the natural world. No booking required - just turn up!
Saturday 10 June, 10am - 12:30pm
Whilst out walking, have you ever wondered ‘which tree is that’? If so, then this More Trees workshop is for you. Join More Trees BANES group at Breach Wood as we show you how to identify a host of tree species by looking at leaves, bark, tree shape and other seasonal features. Along the way, you’ll discover various hints and tips for identifying trees.
Saturday 10 June, 10:30am - 2:30pm
Bring the family and pop along to the farm for some bug hunting, butterfly netting, moth trapping and pond dipping. Visit the wilder side of Bath City Farm and see some of the hundreds of species of plants and animals that call it their home.
Saturday 10 June, 11am – 4pm
Learn all about the importance of pollinators at this nature themed family event, including flower crown workshops, face-painting and plug planting in a local nature area. The 2023 Bee Bold Awards ceremony will be held on the day, introducing and awarding inspiring projects across the region that are going above and beyond to support pollinators.
Saturday 10 June, 10:30am - 2:30pm
A day of free activities for you and your family. Come along and enjoy Staddlestones Park and share how we might reimagine and develop this green space for nature and the local community. Everyone is welcome - come along, bring a picnic, and tell us what you think while enjoying some free activities, which include a sing-a-ling, yoga and mindfulness, and nature workshops for families.
Saturday 10 June, 12 - 3pm
What exciting nature can you find in Somerdale? Join the WaterSpace team at Somerdale Pavilion in Keynsham who are working to improve the river corridor between Bristol and Bath and explore the site for wildlife. Learn how to use iNaturalist and practice your new skills, searching for and identifying nature. No booking required - just turn up!
Saturday 10 June, 6 - 9pm
Enjoy an exciting playback theatre performance by African women’s group ‘Breathing Fire’, all about local wildlife. The actors will invite stories from the audience about nature connection, celebrating diversity and coming together to help the natural world.
Monday 12 June, 12:30 - 2pm
Bristol Food Network leads this working lunch to celebrate the launch of the Bristol Good Food 2030 Framework. Come and hear about ambitious new goals for the city’s food system, developed in collaboration with local organisations and Bristol City Council.
Monday 12 June, 3.30 - 4pm
Meet the giraffes at Wild Place Project! Join us online for a live behind-the-scenes giraffe feeding session and interview with the team. Ask your questions in the comments and find out more about these charismatic creatures.
Monday 12 June, 1 - 3pm
Take a walk with Forestry England's Community Ranger at Leigh Woods and explore how each woodland is unique and how Forestry England looks after the nation’s forests. Explore the trees of the forest and the role they play in fighting climate change and supplying essential sustainable timber. Keep your eyes and ears open for signs of forest wildlife!
Monday 12 June, 6 - 7pm
Do you want to learn more about making space for nature and helping wildlife, at home or with your community? Join Avon Wildlife Trust and local community groups, as they hear from gardeners and growers who will be sharing their tips and knowledge about community power, food sovereignty and communal growing.
Tuesday 13 June, 12 - 12:45pm
Get outside at lunchtime and connect with nature and your creativity during this guided drawing session. This workshop is open to everyone, from beginners to experienced artists and will be led by wildlife artist Alicia Hayden.
Tuesday 13 June, 2 - 3pm
This event is relevant for anyone who sits on a Local Nature Partnership or would be interested in establishing a LNP or LNP Nature and Health group.
Tuesday 13 June, 2:30 - 5:30pm
Take a closer look at local butterflies and learn how to identify them. Get inspired by the museum’s incredible historic collections and find out more about the 50+ species of butterfly that have been recorded in the Bristol region, from the familiar peacock butterfly to rarely seen marsh fritillary. Weather permitting from 5.30 – 6.00 p.m. we will visit Brandon Hill to record butterflies.
Tuesday 13 June, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Bristol Green Capital Partnership presents this event showcasing community growers of Bristol and the West of England, who will be sharing their experiences, knowledge and insights, aiming to inspire more people to connect and grow with nature.
Tuesday 13 June, 6 - 7pm
Join Festival of Nature, University of Bristol and Faith in Nature to learn how to put nature at the forefront of decision making.
Tuesday 13 June, 7 - 8pm
This interactive webinar provides an inside look at the current development of the West of England Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) which aims coordinate efforts to restore nature across the region (Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire), and welcomes Festival of Nature audiences to share their priorities for wildlife.
Tuesday 13 June, 9 - 11pm
As the sun sets on Bath, join Festival of Nature and explore how the city comes alive after dark. Keep your eyes peeled for bats, moths, foxes, hedgehogs and all the night time wildlife that calls Bath home!
Wednesday 14 June - Sunday 2 July
Critically-acclaimed artist Luke Jerram will world premiere his new art installation 'Oil Fountain' at Bristol Cathedral this June during Festival of Nature. Jerram, creator of Museum of the Moon, Floating Earth and Mars, has produced Oil Fountain to highlight contemporary society’s reliance on oil and how we should shift away from this dependency.
Wednesday 14 June, 10am - 3pm
Are you a researcher, practitioner or professional working in public health, biodiversity and planning in the West of England? The Natural History Consortium and Reclaim Network invite you to participate in a morning, afternoon, or full day (to suit you and your schedule) of discussion, problem-solving and the chance to share best practice around Green, Blue and Grey Infrastructure.
Wednesday 14 June, 10 – 11:30am
My Wild Child sessions are weekly outdoor play sessions for families with under 5s. Held at different sites around Bristol during term time, sessions combine child-led free play with practical activities, including mini-beast quests, wild stories and much more!
Wednesday 14 June, 12 – 12:45pm
Get outside at lunchtime and connect with nature and your creativity during this guided photography session. This walk is open to everyone, from beginners to experienced photographers! The workshop will be led by wildlife photographers Boys in Bristol.
Wednesday 14 June, 4 - 6pm
Come along to this 'Friends of' Groups and Volunteers Networking event with Bathscape and Your Park Bristol & Bath. Get in touch with the email contact via the programme to find out location details and register your interest.
Wednesday 14 June, 6 - 8pm
Have you always wanted to have a go at taking pictures of the natural world but don’t know where to start? Join wildlife photographer George Cook for a beginner’s course on wildlife photography at Bath City Farm.
Wednesday 14 June, 6 – 7pm
Join speakers Dr Dan Maskell and Dr Aoife Houlihan Wiberg, both Senior Lecturers in the Department of Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering. The Minerva Lecture Series is a series of free talks for the local community hosted in Bath with a mixture of in person and online events
Wednesday 14 June, 6:30 - 8pm
The discovery of wild beavers in the River Avon made national headlines in 2021. Dr. Bevis Watts, CEO of Triodos UK, shares his tales of a summer kayaking the River Avon during lockdown, the dawn pilgrimages looking for evidence and close-up encounters with the enigmatic mammals themselves leading to the publication of his first book River Journey: Searching for wild beavers and finding freedom.
Wednesday 14 June, 7 - 8pm
Katie Holten, artist and creator of the Tree Alphabet, leads this special online event sharing her newly published book The Language of Trees: How Forests Make Our World, Change Our Minds And Rewild Our Lives.
Wednesday 14 June, 7 - 10pm
A rare chance to explore the wonderful wildlife at Bathampton Meadows – a Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) close to the city of Bath. This largely undisturbed site can only be visited with a guide, and is home to a range of birds, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies.
Thursday 15 June, 12 – 12:45pm
See Bristol’s Harbour in a whole new way on this walk, taking in the nature thriving on and around Bristol Harbour in June. From the wildflowers flourishing in pavement cracks to our favourite urban birds. Get outdoors and learn about the wildlife living in Bristol City Centre.
Thursday 15 June, 4 - 6pm
An informal networking event, bringing together people interested in nature connection and children and young people's health and wellbeing to share ideas and build new relationships.
Thursday 15 June, 6 - 7:30pm
Join this evening of discussion and debate. Local organisations and stakeholders will share their perspectives on the benefit to the environment, nature and people on reaching Net Zero by 2030 while managing land positively for nature and increasing the abundance of key species.
Thursday 15 June, 6 - 7:30pm
BBC Studios Natural History Unit is delighted to host a screening of the first episode of the brand new season of Prehistoric Planet, the award-winning Apple TV+ natural history series from executive producers Jon Favreau and Mike Gunton and BBC Studios Natural History Unit, with music by Hans Zimmer. Taking place at BBC Studios, Bridgewater House, Bristol. Suitable for age 12+.
Thursday 15 June, 6:30 – 8pm
Festival of Nature are pleased to welcome back Cornish author Natasha Carthew to explore the themes of poverty, nature and resilience in her new book Undercurrent, released in April 2023.
Thursday 15 June, 6 - 8pm
Take an evening paddle and see the River Avon from a whole new angle. Slow down and explore nature along the river, guided by CK Sup & Paddle. Participants will receive a full safety briefing and be guided along a tour of the beautiful River Avon, looking out for wildlife along the way.
Thursday 15 June, 7:30 - 8:30pm
Sail the Bristol Harbour with expert zoologist Ed Drewitt for a one-hour wildlife boat tour. Along the way Ed will be pointing out the range of wildlife that uses the harbourside, from the plants that live in the stonewalls to the ducks and swans that make Bristol their home.
Friday 16 June, 10 – 11:30 am
My Wild Child sessions are weekly outdoor play sessions for families with under 5s. Held at different sites around Bristol during term time, sessions combine child-led free play with practical activities, including mini-beast quests, wild stories and much more!
Friday 16 June 1 - 1:30pm
Have you ever wondered about the rain that falls on your roof? What happens to all that rain? Get ready for a new short film from Wessex Water - 'How to be a Rainsaver', released via Festival of Nature on Friday 16 June at 1pm! Check back here.
Friday 16 June, 2 - 4pm
Explore your creative side on this special riverside walk led by a naturalist and local artist, joining other participants to create a collective digital ‘field notebook’ describing the sights, sounds and the inspiration sparks from the region’s natural place. Observations and creations will be made publicly available after the event itself and form part of the lasting legacy of our 20 year anniversary festival.
Friday 16 June, 7.30 - 9pm
An evening of song inspired by the natural world and a one-off chance to hear two of the UK’s most distinctive and poetic songwriters at St George's Bristol. Karine Polwart and Kitty Macfarlane write with an eco-eye, drawing from the same deep well of greater-than-human life as inspiration for many of their songs.
Saturday 17 June, 10:30am - 12pm
A drop-in session to join Bathscape and Bath Natural History Society members as they survey the plants and minibeasts that have made their home in and around the recently created meadow areas of Innox Park.
Saturday 17 June, 11am - 2pm
Get Fishing events are fun, friendly, and safe beginner fishing days for families and angling newcomers.
All are welcome at this special outdoor activity event to encourage you to discover the wonderful world of angling.