Why Trentham Gardens is opening at 5am - and how you can be there

Gary Porter

3 May 2024 at 2:37 pm·2-min read

Trentham Estate is offering exclusive early access to the gardens at 5am this Sunday (May 5) for a worldwide celebration of nature's greatest symphony. The first Sunday of May is the annual International Dawn Chorus Day where people across the globe rise early to revel in the sweet sound of birdsong.

Trentham is inviting visitors to experience the magical sounds of the morning bird chorus from within the award-winning Staffordshire gardens. Trentham has a wide and diverse range of resident and migratory birds calling the estate their home, including the blackbird, blackcap, robin, wren, reed warbler, sedge warbler, chiff chaff and other warbler species, song thrush, blue tit, great tit and long tailed tit.

Visitors will also have a chance to see other wildlife rising for the day at the Dawn Chorus event. They may see dippers and kingfishers on the River Trent, herons and cormorants squawking, and gulls and ducks on the lake, and some lucky wildlife spotters may catch glimpses of some nocturnal species, or ones that hide in the day, such as the beaver, otter, water vole, water shrew, stoat, and weasel.

Trentham’s head of horticulture and biodiversity Carol Adams said: "Last year’s Dawn Chorus proved popular with visitors so we thought we would bring it back and give people a chance to join us once again bright and early. The experience offers a wonderful way to engage with nature and discover the variety of wildlife at Trentham. If visitors are lucky, they may even spot the Trentham’s resident beaver family in the lake."

This event is included with a day entry ticket to Trentham Gardens, allowing visitors to start their day with a unique experience and spend the remainder of the day enjoying the site. Attendance is complimentary for Trentham Members, but note that booking in advance is essential as no on-the-day purchases will be available.

The event is designed for wildlife enthusiasts aged 12 and over, keen birdwatchers and photographers. Tickets can be booked at https://bit.ly/TrenthamDawnChorus24

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