Worldlife Global have teamed up with Larkwood Lakes Nature Reserve to put together a fun filled weekend of events in the most idyllic setting.
Larkwood Lakes is situated in West Stow, near Bury St Edmunds, and is adjacent to the famous Kings Forest.
Crystal clear chalk streams feed into the lakes before carrying on to the River Lark.
The lakes are home to myriad species including the iconic Kingfisher and the incredible European Otter, as well as countless fascinating Invertebrates and Reptiles.
Starting out as a trout fishery, Larkwood Lakes Nature Reserve is now a wildlife hotspot.
The trout are gone leaving two stunningly naturalised artificial lakes (not that you’d think that they are created now nature has had her way).
Events to join in include, guided walks, various talks, Photography Workshops, fascinating bug show and the chance to be a ranger for the day and help with tasks around the nature reserve.
The price for this event is inclusive of all events to be held on the day.
Talks and Attractions
Bugfest
Will be in Attendance
The UK’s leading entomology experience provider is joining us
for two days of exciting exotic minibeast handling and learning activities.
Nathan will be showing you the delights of stick insects, snails, millipedes, tarantulas and more, giving you a chance to see how our own native species differ to those found elsewhere around the world, and to give you a chance to see first hand in advance, some of the marvels of evolution you will get to see if you travel around the world with us at a later date.
Bugfest are available nationwide for school visits, talks, shows and parties.
Finn Holmes Kellet
From a very young age, the natural world has always fascinated me.
This was certainly helped by school visits to zoos, museums and more, as well as documentaries featuring legends such as David Attenborough and many others.
While my bread and butter is certainly reptiles, especially snakes, due to them being underrepresented and needlessly feared, all organisms are essential to the tree of life.
For me, it was going to be an animal-related career or nothing. It is my job and duty to help inspire others to make positive changes for a sustainable lifestyle which will enable us to live at one with nature again. A lifelong fascination with nature can be ignited simply by some fun facts, and everyone has a part to play no matter how small!
Finn’s topics for the weekend will be:
How to Get into the Zoo Keeper World
Zookeeper. Educator. Passionate about invertebrates. Reptile enthusiast.
I have always been fascinated by animals from a very young age, but I was particularly intrigued with reptiles and invertebrates.
While in university, completing my Zoology degree and Evolutionary Biology masters, I spent some of my summers volunteering in remote locations around the world, helping out with a variety of biodiversity and conservation projects.
I also volunteered with my local herpetology society, doing outreach events to educate the public on reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
Despite initially having wanted to pursue a career studying dinosaurs, these experiences helped to steer me in a different direction and I wanted to work in a zoo, conservation or animal education!
I worked as a zookeeper for many years, specialising in (no surprise here!) reptiles and invertebrates.
As part of this, I got to be actively involved in some conservation breeding projects…it doesn’t take long for me to bring up my favourite one; the native tiger beetles!
I love being able to pass my knowledge onto others, and as such, I am now a lecturer in Animal Management, helping future generations on their way to pursue their dream careers in the animal industry.
But you don’t need to have an animal job to be able to help animals – anyone and everyone can play a part in helping to support your local wildlife to thrive.
Emma’s topics for the weekend will be:
1) The importance of conservation
2) Conservation: Small Ways to Make a Big Impact
Stuart Priest
With a lifelong obsession with animals of all kinds, World Life co-owner, Stu, has a particular love for Reptiles. He’s kept and bred snakes for over forty years (Don’t let his baby face fool you) but he now keeps only a few, preferring to see them in their natural glory in the wild.
With a military background in The RAF, he has already seen much of the World during his service.
Now he provides education based Invertebrate experiences at various schools throughout the UK via Bugfest, and as a partner in World Life Global Safaris, he is one of our lead field guides, responsible for showing you the wonders of the natural world. Whether it be Rattlesnakes in the deserts of Arizona, sloths and tree frogs in Costa Rica or lemurs in Madagascar – he has been there many times.
He is a very proficient photographer and able to help you get that once in a lifetime shot.
Stu has literally LIVED it, having lived in South Africa for a number of years, he considers himself to be familiar with the fauna of the continent.
His love of animals runs deep, and he has a strong focus on conservation and aims to assist conservation projects worldwide.
Stu’s topics for the weekend will be:
Arizona and it’s Amazing Fauna
Lisa Matthews
Naturalist and Director of Nature Citzen
Lisa’s topics for the weekend will be:
Solitary Bees
Nature Citizen – a community conservation project.
Tony
Owner of Larkwood Lakes Nature Reserve
As well as taking you out on guided nature walks, Toni’s topics for the weekend will be:
Larkwood Lakes and the rich variety of wildlife to be discovered..