Yorkshire Wildlife Trust share why their Wildlife Zone should be on your must-do list at Countryfile Live this month
For the first time ever, Countryfile Live is coming north. The four day event is setting up camp in the beautiful grounds of Castle Howard from August 15-18 - and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust will be hosting the Wildlife Zone.
Tucked along a strip of woodland by the lake, the zone will be the perfect peaceful haven away from the hustle and bustle of what promises to be a fun-filled long weekend. Themed on a Wilder Future, visitors can go on a journey through some of the county's most striking and well known landscapes to discover how nature is connected and why we need to protect wildlife to safeguard a wilder Yorkshire for everyone.
Split into three zones - Coast, Town upon the River and Peatlands - each area will tell a different story about Yorkshire's wildlife and shows how all landscapes are connected. Like how rainwater falls on to the peatlands and, as long as the peatlands are healthy, is then filtered down into rivers which flow through towns and cities down to the coast and into the sea.
'Yorkshire is such a wonderful county, full of diverse and exciting wildlife,' says Helen Jones, visitor experience manager for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. 'But with busy, desk-orientated lives we don't have the chance to experience as much of its wonders as regularly as we ought to or would like.
'That's why we have created a pocket-sized Yorkshire for everyone to enjoy. From doing a beach clean to discovering the wildlife in your back garden, we've brought Yorkshire's wildlife to Castle Howard so you can remember why you fell in love with our beautiful landscapes and learn how you can help protect them.'
The Wildlife Zone will aim to inspire visitors to protect and restore nature and wildlife from their doorstep all the way down to the sea. And remember, for everything you do for nature, it is helping you right back.
'Spending time outdoors is so beneficial for our physical and mental health, continues Helen. 'And absorbing yourself in nature only increases that benefit. Once you've travelled from the Coast area through the Town and up to the Peatlands and back, you can take a time out in our Wildlife Retreat. In a quieter edge of the woodland, we've created a sanctuary where you can rediscover the incredible powers of nature on our minds and souls.'
All the demonstrations and activities will be happening throughout the four days and everything in the Wildlife Zone is absolutely free to take part in. Throughout the rest of the site, the Countryfile team will be giving talks and hosting demonstrations, giving the public the chance to speak to, and learn more about, their favourite presenter. You can extend your outdoor adventure by visiting the Equine Arena, National Trust Acre and Dog Lovers' Arena or take in all the fun of the fair at The Village Green.
In addition to The Graze Inn, the Le Creuset Kitchen Theatre hosted by Brian Turner is a must see with a host of celebrity chefs dishing up some culinary inspiration, while the Big Barn offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the production and creation of some of the BBC's best-loved series. Visitors can enjoy a drink at the Craven Arms where, for the first time, Countryfile presenter John Craven will host a daily pub quiz.
For Countryfile Live's first trip to Castle Howard, take a walk on the wild side through Yorkshire's spectacular landscapes and discover how we can help create a wilder future for everyone at the Wildlife Zone. Tickets are £27.50 per adult per day, with a family ticket (2 adults 2 children) costing £68.75.
