If you went back 200 years ago, long before Bristol was paved, the areas surrounding the harbourside lay on marshland (so that’s why it’s called Canon’s Marsh!!) This weekend (June 14 and 15), Festival of Nature is bringing back one of the world’s most important ecosystems to the city’s Harbourside—with the UK’s first ever pop-up wetland to be built in a city centre.
In an environmental first, the 8×8 metre wetland in Millennium Square forms the centrepiece of the final weekend of the annual festival – the UK’s largest free celebration of nature – and is the culmination of nine days of free nature events and activities across Bristol and Bath. It was dreamt up by WWT in partnership with Festival of Nature and Beautiful Wonder.
Visitors can wander among over 400 plants—including common reed, bulrush, water mint and sedge—while an immersive soundtrack of birdcalls and rippling water brings the marsh to life. Plus, spot the life-size cut-outs include kingfishers, dragonflies, cranes, butterflies and other wetland species, along with handcrafted nests for reed warblers and coots. Meanwhile, water ripple devices demonstrate how wetlands cleanse and circulate water.
Young explorers can even build a mini wetland to take home, whilst WWT experts and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about wetland science and local conservation. After the Festival, every plant will be replanted at WWT Slimbridge’s new Estuary Shoreline garden. In addition, Bristol’s Harbourside will see two days of free, family-friendly nature activities, including:
- Trips aboard SeaCycler, Bristol’s recycled-plastic fishing boat, where families can help remove litter from the harbour.
- Animal Electro Dance Party from family favourites Poco Drom.
- A colourful water parade through Millennium Square with a giant salmon puppet.
- Live music from Jump Street Brass Band on Saturday afternoon and sea shanties from the Tawny Shantymen on Sunday.
“Bringing a living wetland into the city centre is a brilliant way for people to experience firsthand a vital habitat they might not otherwise have access to,” said Savita Willmott, chief executive of festival organisers. “Last year, more than 10,000 visitors came along to our festival weekend in Millennium Square.
“We hope to see similar numbers again – it’s a fantastic opportunity to reach lots of people, and hopefully they will all leave feeling encouraged to take simple steps at home to support nature and wildlife around them.”
The festival site is open from 10am-6pm in Millennium Square, on Saturday and Sunday. Activities in Millennium Square are free to drop into with no booking required. To learn more about Festival of Nature head here.