Birches Farm, lying on the outskirts of Kington, has become well-known across the county after it was purchased by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust following a public fundraising appeal and it has since been featured on BBC Countryfile.

This small, 60-acre farmstead, now managed primarily for its wildlife, remains a patchwork of smaller fields. Birches Farm has been traditionally managed through the centuries and this continues today with the meadows grazed by sheep and cattle and cut each summer for hay. Here, laid hedges, staked with hazel poles, are rustling and bustling with wildlife; the meadows they border are thick with wildflowers and the hum of insects; cool, shallow ponds teem with life above and below the surface.

The Big Birches’ Bug Hunt aims to engage as many people as possible with nature & wildlife; it’s part of the large, national Wildlife Trust campaign ’30 Days Wild’. 30 Days Wild challenges the nation to get closer to nature, by completing one ‘Random Act of Wildness’ every day, for 30 days, throughout the month of June. To celebrate, each Wildlife Trust will be putting on an event for the ‘Big Wild Weekend’ on the 15^th & 16^th June. It’s another great chance to get involved and do something different!

During the day, expert naturalists will offer guided walks around the reserve, focusing on different species throughout the day, whilst recording as much as possible! There will be various stalls, including the Ice Age Ponds Project staff, Herefordshire Amphibian and Reptile Team and Orchard Origins will be showcasing their delicious, locally made apple juice alongside other refreshments.   

Entry to the Big Birches’ Bug Hunt is free of charge, with catering and toilets available plus free on- site parking!