We are really looking forward to our February coach trip to the Wildlife and Wetland Trust centre at Caerlaverock. When the society last went – seven years ago! – it was the most popular trip of the year and lots of members have already indicated that they are looking forward to this visit.
Caerlaverock WWT in Dumfries and Galloway is the most northerly WWT reserve and is often said to have been Sir Peter Scott’s favourite. It occupies a spectacular area of wild habitat on the north Solway Coast. From October to April it is alive with flocks of tens of thousands of Barnacle Geese, hundreds of Whooper Swans and other wintering birds. The entire Svalbard population of Barnacle Geese winter on the Solway and there is the opportunity to see Whooper Swans closer than anywhere else in Britain as there are two daily wild swan feeds.
A couple of important pieces of information about this coach trip, both of which are directly linked to the fact that it’s further than we usually travel:
1) It will be an 8.00 am start to allow us more time to admire the wildlife!
2) The cost of the coach is such that we will need to charge £30 per person instead of our usual £20. We also need people to book places well in advance – 26th January is the deadline
Entry to the reserve is free for WWT members but there is an admission charge for non-members of £6.60 which is the group discount rate.
The trip is open to members as well as friends and family. The coach will leave Manchester Road cul-de-sac, Rochdale OL11 4HY at 8.00am prompt and will set off on its return journey at 4.00pm. To book: Firstly email rfnspublicity@gmail.com. You will receive an email saying booking confirmed. Then pay your £30 beforehand by bank transfer: Sort code 05-07-67 Account number 60931963 and use your name as reference. Please note that your place is not reserved until you receive a reply to that email. Cheques should be made payable to “Rochdale Field Naturalists’ Society”.
Please note we need a minimum of 35 people booking to make this a viable trip.