British Birdwatching Fair 2012

The British Birdwatching Fair (otherwise known as the birdwatcher’s Glastonbury) is now only a month away, with the doors opening on Friday 17th August.

It is the largest international Birdwatching event and it takes place only a few miles away from Puddle Cottage, with the base being in Egleton, Rutland Water at the Rutland Water Nature Reserve. The event runs for 3 days, until Sunday 19th August, and includes lectures, exhibitions and trade stands organised  by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust in conjunction with the RSPB.  The British Birdwatching website http://www.birdfair.org.uk summarises this year’s event, which is set to be the best yet:

‘Our Events and Lecture Programmes are completely jam-packed with a wealth of presentations, quizzes and workshops to keep you engrossed, enthralled and entertained for all three days of the Fair. We are delighted to have the usual celebrity support, which really helps bring visitors through the gates, thus generating crucial funds for our chosen project. Like a tropical island packed with endemics, the Birdfair offers a plethora of personalities, primed and ready to entertain the masses. For those of you partial to a little celebrity-spotting, key ‘ticks’ for your list include Simon King, Mark Carwardine, Nick Baker, Mike Dilger, Johnny Kingdom, Dominic Couzens, Jonathan Scott and the ‘Urban Birder’ himself, David Lindo!

Details of the celebrity events include:

16th & 17th August – ‘Simon King Wildlife Cruise’ departing from Whitwell Harbour at 5:45pm

17th August – ‘The One and Only Bill Oddie ‘Unplucked” in the Events Marque  at 7:30pm

18th August – ‘Mike Dilger Wildlife Cruise’ departing from Whitwell Harbour at 6:30am (early start!)

18th August – ‘Wild Colombia and Untamed China – A Naturalist’s Incredible Journey’ in the Events Marquee at 7:30pm

18th August – ‘Johnny Kingdom Wildlife Cruise’ departing from Whitwell Harbour at 5:45pm

Tickets can be bought in advance from the organiser’s website http://www.birdfair.org.uk/celebrity-lecture-tickets

The British Birdwatching Fair  takes place at Rutland Water Nature Reserve in Egleton, which is only a short drive from the cottage, which is in Edith Weston on the south shore of Rutland Water. Puddle Cottage is a recently refurbished one bedroomed character cottage just a short walk from the banks of Rutland Water and also welcomes well behaved dogs. Short breaks, are available and the cottage is self-catering. The location means that the cottage is alos just 8 miles away from the market towns of Oakham, Stamford and Uppingham. For more details on Puddle Cottage, including availability, please e/mail enquiries@puddle-cottage.co.uk or contact Anna on 07734175291.