This February half-term, Margate’s Crab Museum is teaming up with national wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation to organise the isle’s first Conservation Fest.
The two-day event will take place on February 16-17 and will feature workshops, activities, talks and music for all ages.
Thanks to Crab Museum’s active crowdfunder and the National Lottery Heritage Fund the event is free to take part in.
Conservation Fest will provide practical tips and education to help local wildlife get ready for spring. Over the two days people can explore the science of conservation in a fun and interactive way and will be encouraged to engage with nature and stake a claim in improving their areas.
Butterfly Conservation is currently working in Kent on a project called ‘Kent’s Magnificent Moths’ to save and celebrate some of the UK’s most unique and special insects which are found in the county.
Every garden, park, orchard and farm in Kent is home to hundreds of moths, but sadly they’re facing worrying declines. In the last 50 years populations of Britain’s larger moths have declined by 33%. Butterfly Conservation wants to help people to see and identify them whilst highlighting the major role moths play in the ecosystem, as pollinators and food for other species like bats and birds. A continuing decline in moths would have disastrous knock-on effects for all these wildlife species.
Crab Museum Director Bertie Terrilliams said: “Conservation has never been more urgent and change is needed on every scale. Whether you’re a toddler looking at worms in your back garden or an activist plotting radical acts, the art and science of conservation is something we all need to get involved in.
“Improving the environment should be fun too, and reflect the magnificent weirdness of nature itself. We’re confident our collaboration with Butterfly Conservation will achieve this, and probably make a mess of our carpet in the process.”
The all-ages event will feature:
Headline performance from avant-garde electro K-pop band Tirikilatops Activities led by the Windmill Project
Seed Bomb making workshop ‘Build your own Moth’ workshop
Soil under the microscope: explore soil like you’ve never seen it before! ‘What to grow in your garden’ workshops
Talks on topics such as climate change, decolonising conservation, community science and more.
Conservation Fest will take place in the Crab Museum, 9 Broad Street, Margate Old Town. Activities begin from midday onwards on both days.
Find out more:
www.butterfly-conservation.org.
Help us to continue bringing you Thanet news with a donation towards our running costs. Donate at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YF7BH2EF4UG2N
