Heaton Park to host free nature and wildlife festival

Heaton Park to host free nature & wildlife festival

Heaton Park is set to host a highly anticipated nature festival which is returning this weekend.

The Manchester Festival of Nature (MFoN) offers a unique opportunity for the community to engage with the rich wildlife in the area.

Held in the Heaton Park Café Garden, the free festival attracts over 5,000 visitors, creating an atmosphere akin to wandering into a beehive or a murmuration of starlings. The event is designed to foster a deeper connection with local wildlife through a variety of engaging activities.

Families attending the festival can participate in wild crafts, badge-making, bug hotel construction, and seed bomb creation. Additionally, there will be opportunities to encounter bats and bugs up close and learn about ongoing efforts to increase their populations.

The festival, which is happening on Sunday 30 June, also provides a platform to meet experts from conservation charities, Manchester Museum, and local universities.

Visitors can learn about Toyota's initiatives towards Net Zero with green vehicles on display and hear from United Utilities about their latest environmental projects.

MFoN Chair, Alan Wright said: “This is our opportunity to show the rich array of wildlife we have in Manchester and the North West. Every day thousands of officers and volunteers work in our towns and countryside to create habitats to welcome plants and creatures, which have benefits for all of us.

“Every day is a festival of nature when you listen to the dawn chorus and the buzz of bees in your garden but Manchester’s Wildest Festival is an opportunity for you to learn more about the wildlife and what you can do help nature on your doorstep.”

MFoN begins at noon and includes the Legendary Pollinator Parade, when hundreds of people dress up as bees and other insects to march around the garden at Heaton Park. This has attracted more than 500 people in past years and has become a popular part of the park’s summer attractions.

Alan said: “The Legendary Pollinator Parade is really popular and we love to see everyone dressing up. It’s not just good fun, it spreads the message of how we love our pollinators and how important they are for our food and plants. I have my bumblebee hoody ready to go!”

MFoN 2024 runs from noon until 4.00pm. Entry to this community event is free, with refreshments available at the park café. The festival is open to everyone interested in celebrating and learning more about Manchester's natural heritage.