Wetland Weekender celebrates the renewed beauty of the Otter Estuary with a weekend full of activities that highlight the estuary’s vibrant ecology, rich history, and unique recreational opportunities. Wetland Weekender is a new event for the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust in 2024 running from Friday 18th October to Sunday 20th October and was supported by a number of organisations, including:
- Clinton Devon Estates
- Jurassic Coast Trust
- Devon Loves Dogs
- Otter Valley Association
- Budleigh Salterton Cricket Club
- Budleigh Salterton Lions Club
- Budleigh Salterton Art Club
Throughout the weekend, attendees enjoyed walks, talks and activities for all ages and interests including ranger walk, migration watch, waggy walk, botany walks, geology talk, self-guided trails, and much more!
Amongst a wide range of activities going on throughout the weekend, Saturday was supported by Budleigh Salterton Cricket Club who hosted our ‘Discover The Otter’ open day, where people were able to visit the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust, Clinton Devon Estate’s ‘Heaths to Sea’ project team and the Otter Valley Association (OVA). Budleigh Salterton Art Club also held an art exhibition celebrating the Otter Estuary and its restoration, with opportunities to purchase and support local artist’s work, with The Holt Bar and Terrace being open all day providing refreshments for visitors while admiring the birds eye view of the estuary. This event gave visitors the opportunity to talk to staff working across the estuary about the landscape and its wildlife to better understand the features and importance of the Otter Estuary Nature Reserve, to support visitors’ confidence and appropriate use of the estuary outside of the Wetland Weekender.
Many of the activities during the Wetland Weekender have been made possible using money raised by National Lottery players. The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. The Pebblebeds For All Project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to:
- Create and co-ordinate this new event with our Community Engagement Ranger
- Create a new Otter Estuary Self-Guided Trail
- Create new children activities including logic puzzles and word searches.
Thanks to National Lottery Players, over 300 people visited the estuary during the Wetland Weekender 2024 and enjoyed the wide range of activities on offer.
Thanks to National Lottery Players
Thank you to everyone who attended Wetland Weekender 2024, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2025!
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