Free, non-bookable activities for all the family at WWT Castle Espie.
Event Highlights
Fun Activities
Enjoy outdoor games in the courtyard. Keep an eye out for themed characters who will be exploring Castle Espie, and listen to some storytelling - why not bring and old book and swap for another at the Book Nook?
Archery Taster Sessions
Try your hand at archery with Strangford Lough Activity Centre. Fun, games, and competitions for all ages and abilities.
Creative Family Fun
Join Mural Magic with Mrs Maker and add your mark to a colourful community mural inspired by the sea.
Wildlife Discovery
Visit the Hide to watch ducks, swans, and Brent geese up close, with expert staff on hand to share stories and facts.
Traditional Skills Demo
Watch Clive Lyttle of Welig Heritage Crafts weave sustainable oyster baskets from Portaferry-grown willow.
Engaging Talks and Tours
Learn about the local wildlife, conservation efforts, and the history of WWT Castle Espie through guided tours and expert talks.
Live Music
Enjoy performances from local musicians throughout the day.
Find the Brent Geese
Find the Brent Geesehidden around the venue and claim a small prize when you return it to the Ards and North Down Borough Council Visitor Information Centre caravan. (Prizes are subject to availability).
Get creative, and close to nature
Enjoy free entertainment and creative activities for all ages, live music and a few surprises as you explore the grounds.
Mini beasts backpacks
Borrow a mini beast backpack, perfect for budding wildlife explorers. Kids can use their very own magnifying bug collector and binoculars to take a closer look at all kinds of wildlife and bugs.
Special Guests
Hear from representatives from WWT Castle Espie and local environmental organisations, who you will find in the hides and lookout points, they will be sharing their insights and answering your questions. This is a unique opportunity to learn more about appreciating and protecting our beautiful shoreline.
Demo of willow weaving at Limekiln Observatory
Clive Lyttle, traditional skills specialist, from Welig Heritage Crafts will be weaving prototype baskets to house our native oysters.
Working in conjunction with the Ulster Wildlife Trust Clive has been asked to design and produce baskets which are both sustainable and functional for the native oyster project.
The baskets will be woven from willow grown and harvested by Clive on his smallholding near Portaferry.
Guided tours at Castle Espie
Escape to the tranquil shores of Strangford Lough
Escape into a nature paradise and centre of learning at Castle Espie. Join us for a guided tour along the quiet pathways around the nature reserve as you listen to the amazing birdsong. Enjoy the opportunity to get close to Ireland’s largest collection of native and exotic birds, ducks and geese. Spot the Brent geese. Participants will be accompanied by a local expert guide and storyteller, Brigid Watson from Sustainable Journeys Ireland. She will ‘bring the landscape alive’ for you with stories. There will be fun activities to engage children on the walk. Go on… get into nature…and enjoy our Autumn season.
>> Free Ticketed Event | Book now
Archery at Castle Espie
Strangford Lough Activity Centre will be offering Archery Taster Sessions at Castle Espie from 11am - 4pm.
With expert tuition, loads of games and competitions, this is a brilliant outdoor activity for all ages and abilities. Offering both adults and kids bows, for beginners and improvers alike, there is no age limit! Using a bow & arrow, individuals and teams can score points by hitting the target face closest to the bulls eye. There is nothing quite like the thrill of hitting dead centre!
Mural Magic with Mrs Maker is Art at Castle Espie
Unleash your creativity and dive into a world of colour at Mural Magic with Mrs Maker! This interactive graffiti mural invites visitors of all ages to “make their mark” using eco-friendly paints and stencils in a celebration of marine life and personal expression.
Side One: Sea of Voices
Share your thoughts, memories, and messages inspired by the sea. Whether it’s a doodle, a poem, or a heartfelt note, this side of the mural becomes a living canvas of voices connected by water.
Side Two: Graffiti Reef
Help bring an underwater wonderland to life! Add your own splash of colour to a collaborative reef scene filled with imaginative fish, swirling seaweed, shimmering shells, and whatever else your creativity conjures.
A joyful, hands-on experience that blends art and nature, only at Castle Espie during the Shorelife Festival.
Mrs Maker is Art is one of our Sustainable Giants - find out more about the role she has in this green tourism network within Ards and North Down.
Discover the Hide at Castle Espie – A Wild Adventure for All Ages
Step into nature’s secret viewing spot at Castle Espie and get up close to the wonders of the wetlands. During the Shorelife Festival, the hide will be brought to life by Castle Espie’s expert team, who’ll be on hand to share amazing stories about the wildlife you’ll see—especially the incredible brent geese that travel thousands of miles from the Arctic to visit our shores.
Kids and grown-ups alike can watch ducks, swans, and geese in their natural habitat, learn fun facts from friendly staff, and enjoy a peaceful moment surrounded by nature. Whether you're spotting your first bird or adding to your list, the hide is the perfect place to explore, ask questions, and be inspired by the wild world just beyond the glass.
Plan your trip to the Shorelife Celebration events in WWT Castle Espie Saturday 4 of October.
