‘Let’s inspire the next generation’ - Nick Baker’s environmental message at Norfolk park’s nature day

Getting hands of with nature at Pensthorpe Natural Park's Wild About the Wensum event. Photo : Steve Adams (Image: Steve Adams 2018 : 07398 238853)

Mr Baker is the special guest at today’s (Saturday, May 12) Wild About the Wensum nature day at Pensthorpe Natural Park, near Fakenham.

Thousands of people including groups of Scouts and Brownies flocked to the beauty spot for activities and exploration designed to get them excited about the environment.

Mr Baker, 46, said: “You can become a mentor for a younger generation. They’re all there to be inspired and you can open up all these doors and all these adventures for them.

“These are the sort of gatherings that can potentially change the course of your life.”

Getting hands of with nature at Pensthorpe Natural Park's Wild About the Wensum event. Julia Fustegueras examining an owl pellet. Photo : Steve Adams (Image: Steve Adams 2018 : 07398 238853)

Bill Jordan, who owns the park with his wife Debs, said Wild About the Wensum, which has been running for 12 years, was always a highlight.

He said: “We’re very keen to give the younger generation an understanding of nature, and also to enjoy it. It’s a balance of fun and play and this event has really been designed like that.”

Children had the chance to take part in a bug hunt as well as ‘Hootz House’ play sessions, and learn about nature from groups including the Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service, the Wensum Valley Birdwatching Society, Butterfly Conservation, the Norfolk Badger Trust and more.

Pensthorpe is set over 700 acres of natural landscape and is home to many species of birds and other animals.

Eli and Beth Nixon on the hunt for bugs at Pensthorpe Natural Park's Wild About the Wensum event. Photo : Steve Adams (Image: Steve Adams 2018 : 07398 238853)

The park runs reintroduction projects for species such as red squirrels and corncrakes, a migratory farm bird last common in the region about 100 years ago.

The nature day also featured a trail of leveret sculptures which are part of this year’s GoGoCreate and GoGoHares! charity art project.

Mr Jordan said: “The theme is ‘hare today, gone tomorrow’ and there’s a serious message behind that which the red squirrels are part of.

“They’re real examples of wildlife that we’ve got to hold onto and it’s going to be these young guys who get the job.”

Getting back to nature at Pensthorpe Natural Park's Wild About the Wensum event. Photo : Steve Adams (Image: Steve Adams 2018 : 07398 238853)

Mrs Jordan said: ““Not only are the leverets representative of the school and community groups who decorated them, but they will demonstrate the beauty of these majestic, and not commonly seen, creatures.”

GoGoCreate leverets forming a trail at Pensthorpe Natural Park's Wild About the Wensum event. Photo : Steve Adams (Image: Steve Adams 2018 : 07398 238853)

Getting hands of with nature at Pensthorpe Natural Park's Wild About the Wensum event. Photo : Steve Adams (Image: Steve Adams 2018 : 07398 238853)

Nick Baker getting up close and personal with bugs at Pensthorpe Natural Park's Wild About the Wensum event. Photo : Steve Adams (Image: Steve Adams 2018 : 07398 238853)

TV presenter and naturalist Nick Baker with Katherine Rushden, left, and Lizzy Oddy from the Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service at the Wild About the Wensum event at Pensthorpe Natural Park. Picture: STUART ANDERSON (Image: Archant)

Thousands of people have been at Pensthorpe Natural Park for the Wind About The Wensum event. Picture: STUART ANDERSON (Image: Archant)