The Wet and Wild Weekend at Seaton Marshes 

Hundreds of people enjoyed the Wet and Wild Weekend (29-31 August 2008) at Seaton Marshes Local Nature Reserve, organised by East Devon District Council’s Countryside Service.

The event was staged to celebrate the outstanding wildlife on the estuary and to give people the chance to get up close and hands-on with wildlife.

Pond dipping and bird watching proved popular over the whole weekend, with much excitement over the catch of newts and water scorpions, among other mini-beasts. On Friday evening 85 people turned up for a bat walk. A similar number of bats turned up fashionably late!

On Saturday morning there was an early start for a ‘moth breakfast’ which involved eating bacon butties whilst the previous night’s ‘catch’ of moths were identified and their colours and markings marvelled at, before their later safe release.  

During the day a fishing competition was run in the Borrow Pit, which has never been fished before. Fortunately the fishermen attending were a good humoured crowd since the winning catch of the day was only 3oz in weight. There were bigger fish in the pond but, of course, they got away!

There was also the chance for the artistically inclined to weave a dragonfly from willow – with some spectacular results – and the chance to learn some survival skills such as making twine from stinging nettles (don’t try that at home!) and starting a fire from friction.

Although Sunday started slightly wet, the bird ringing went ahead, with blackbirds, wren, blue tits and chiffchaff being caught, weighed, measured and having small identifying rings attached to their legs.
Staff and volunteers were on hand to explain plans to expand and link Seaton Marshes and Colyford Common Local Nature Reserves, both of which border the Axe Estuary.

Part of the aim of the weekend was to find out what children like to do most in the countryside and they produced some fantastic pictures of their favourite activities. The results of our consultation showed us that children like playing in the natural environment just as much as in playgrounds and that they definitely prefer getting muddy to staying clean!