April
Tuesday 7 Apr
11am - 3pm
A Quacking Good Easter
Are you an egg-cellent egg painter? We have plenty of wildlife-themed Easter activities for children of all ages, including egg decorating a treasure hunt and face painting.
£3 non members, Free for RSPB members
Friday 10 Apr & Friday 17 Apr
11am – 2pm
Lochwinnoch Holiday Club
Throughout the school holidays, join us to take part in mini-beast safaris, pond dipping, bird watching, wildlife gardening or indoor activities if the weather is poor.
Please bring a packed lunch and be sure to book in advance. £2 Wildlife Explorer members. £4 non-members. Adults must accompany children aged 8 and under.
Tuesday 14 Apr
12noon – 2pm
Does that nest need a duvet??
Give a helping hand to nesting birds on the reserve and at home. Learn about nesting materials, good and bad types of food for baby birds and find out how to keep an eye on your own nest box.
£2 non members, Free for RSPB members
Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April
10am – 12noon
Wildlife Wander Plus: Bird song
Get your listening apparatus in gear with this great opportunity to learn more about bird song, with expert help from the reserve team.
Stout footwear and waterproofs recommended.
Booking essential. Cost £2 non-members, FREE for RSPB members.
Saturday 25 Apr
10am - 2pm
Plant sale and wildlife gardening day
Find out how to turn your garden into a wildlife paradise, then stock up at our annual plant sale organised by the Renfrewshire Local Group.
May
Saturday 2 May
11am – 4pm
Teenage Volunteers Group
Join us for the monthly teenage club, with activities including bird surveying, outdoor work, finding out more about RSPB campaigns and much more.
Booking essential. Event open for those aged between 12 and 18
£2 non-members, free for RSPB members. Participants will be registered as RSPB volunteers.
Sunday May 3
4.30am - 6.30am
Lochwinnoch Dawn Chorus
Today is International Dawn Chorus Day and all around the world, people are getting up early to listen to the amazing morning-time choir. Why not be one of them? Tea and toast will be provided afterwards.
Stout footwear and waterproofs recommended.
Booking essential. Cost £2 non-members, FREE for RSPB members.
Saturday 9 and Saturday 16 May
10am – 12noon
RSPB Art: Sculpture
Join us at the visitor centre for this two-part event, with local artist Kate Lilley, to create a sculpture for the reserve. Ideal for beginners and families, but more experienced artists also welcome. Basic equipment provided.
Cost: £5 per session, booking essential
Sunday 24 May
11am – 4pm
Fantastic Frogs: The Tadpoles
Join in with the hunt to find frogspawn and tadpoles on the reserve and find out more about reserve amphibians.
Stout footwear and waterproofs recommended.
Cost £2 non-members, FREE for RSPB members.
Friday 29 – Saturday 30 May
8pm till late Friday 29 and 10am – 12 noon Saturday 30
Moth and Bat Night
Join the RSPB team and staff from Butterfly Conservation’s Moth Count project to delve into the nocturnal world of moths and bats. Then come back in the morning to see what has crept in overnight.
Stout footwear and waterproofs recommended.
Booking essential. FREE EVENT.
Saturday & Sunday May 30 and 31
10am – 4pm
Optics Weekend
An opportunity to choose from a wide range of competitively priced binoculars and telescopes, including RSPB Optics, with the added bonus that 100% of the profits go directly to helping conservation. FREE expert advice available all weekend.
June
Saturday 6 June
11am – 4pm
Teenage Volunteers Group
Join us for the monthly teenage club, with activities including bird surveying, outdoor work, finding out more about RSPB campaigns and much more.
Booking essential. Event open for those aged between 12 and 18
£2 non-members, free for RSPB members. Participants will be registered as RSPB volunteers.
Sunday 7 June
11am - 4pm
Springwatch Discovery Day
Springwatch is here again, so we will be hosting a day of free fun filled activities for all the family to enjoy. Free event.
National Bike week is 13 – 21 June. Entry to our trails will be free if you arrive at the reserve by bike! You can also take advantage of special offers for other attractions in the Lochwinnoch area. In partnership with Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park and SUSTRANS.
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June
10am – 12noon
Wildlife Wander Plus: Pond Dipping
Join the reserve team for a walk around the reserve, and then find out all about reserve pond life. A great chance to try out pond – especially good for adults!
Stout footwear and waterproofs recommended.
Booking essential. Cost £2 non-members, FREE for RSPB members.
General Information
Welcome to Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, which has:
· WILDLIFE VIEWING ALL YEAR ROUND
· NATURE TRAILS AND HIDES (OPEN AT ALL TIMES)
· VISITOR CENTRE OPEN 10AM – 5PM DAILY
· BIRD FEEDING STATION AND TREETOP TOWER
· DAILY ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES
· SUPERB RSPB SHOP
· DRINKS AND SNACKS
· IDEAL FOR ALL!
WHERE TO MEET:
Events start from the RSPB Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve visitor centre unless otherwise stated.
BOOKING, COSTS AND ENQUIRIES:
Numbers are limited on certain events so please book in advance to avoid disappointment. Email Lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk, phone 01505 842663 or visit us in the visitor centre for more information.
Events cost £3 for adults and £2 for children/concessions unless otherwise specified.
Many events are FREE to RSPB & Wildlife Explorer members!
REGULAR ACTIVITIES:
During the school holidays and at weekends, there will be regular family activities other than those in the events programme, from pond-dipping to bug hunting and in the winter crafts and story time. For regular updates of these, please email Lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk to be added to our monthly updates list.
LOCHWINNOCH UPDATE BY E-MAIL:
To receive monthly updates of our events, please e-mail Lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk .
FAMILY EVENTS:
We strive to make all of our events suitable for all the family; however, if this is not the case, further explanation will be given on the events description.
Children aged 8 years and under are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult.
ACCESS FOR DISABLED VISITORS:
Our visitor centre, toilets, nature trails and viewing hides are accessible to wheelchair users. We aim to make our events program suitable for all. However, if you have any special requirements please tell us in advance.
TRAVEL AND GREEN TRANSPORT INFORMATION:
RSPB Lochwinnoch nature reserve is now easily and safely accessible from both Lochwinnoch train station and Lochwinnoch village, via a new footpath (marked in blue).
Come by train:
Lochwinnoch railway station is immediately opposite the reserve.
Come by bus:
There are bus services to Lochwinnoch village and train station, which is nearby.
Please do consider travelling by public transport. For further information, please telephone Traveline Scotland on 0870 608 2 608 or visit www.travelinescotland.com.
Free entry to the reserve if you travel using ‘green’ transport.
Come by car:
The reserve is located 18 miles (25 minutes) South-West of Glasgow, beside the A760 Largs Road, which is off the A737 Irvine Road (easily reached from the M8 at junction 28A). Car parking facilities are available.
Contact us at
Reserve:
RSPB Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, PA12 4JF. Telephone 01505 842663/Fax 01505 843026 or email lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk www.rspb.org.uk/scotland
Regional Office:
RSPB Scotland, South and West Regional Office, 10 Park Quadrant, Glasgow G3 6BS
Telephone: 0141 331 0993
