A day out at Martin Mere?

A Volunteer’s Account of Activities at Martin Mere

Wetland History,  Ancient People, Bog Oaks & a Bronze Bog Body, Canoe Safari, & Lots of Birds

Alan Daglish

Martin Mere is one of about 10 sites run by the Wildlife & Wetlands Trust (WWT). My main involvement is with the living history activities that we do with primary schools.  We have a wetland roundhouse village, thatch and wattle and daub, together with various artefacts. The activities we involve the kids in, include thatching, willow weaving (weaving up a pig pen) charcoal making and foraging.  The highlight of the day is when I take them down to the back of the village and give them swords and shields.  I then proceed to turn all the blue-eyed, blond sweet young things into evil vicious killers!  Mind you given the looks in some of their eyes, girls especially, not much turning is needed.

We can cover four periods of wetland history.  Iron age Celts, I am Alan ap Lagan, Briganties warrior, Romans and Celts Antonious the Gaul, Centurion, Anglo Saxons, Alleyn Edricsson Warlord of Mercia and lastly the all time favourite Vikings,  Allann Shortbeard Viking chieftan.

In the summer holidays the village is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays and fully manned and geared up with various activities.  Usually we do Vikings for the warrior training of the younger visitors (and often some of the adults!). If you want to visit during the summer hols I will be there on Wednesdays. Other holiday activities include pond dipping, bug hunting, den building and various craft based activities.

In addition there is a hugely popular playground with water based activities where the kids can get well and truly soaked.  There is also a canoe safari available. By the way, the bog oaks are scattered around the grounds.  There is also a small display of wetland history and artefacts including a (bronze) bog body.

All this is backed up by the very large collection of waterfowl, a lot feedable by hand, and seven bird hides for the enthusiast.  At the moment visitors can witness the hatching of ducklings to the accompaniment of oohs and aahs.

Details on how to get there, opening times etc., can be found at this link

Alan Daglish

For further information, contact Alan on mail@adaglish.org.uk

May 2016