Beginners' birding guided walk led by RSPB staff and volunteers at RSPB St Aidan's, with a free hot drink in the Little Owl cafe.
RSPB St Aidan's is running a guided walk for complete beginners on Friday 23 October, from 13:00 to 15:00. It's led by RSPB staff and volunteers, and it's pitched at people who've never picked up binoculars before. They'll go through the basics: how to spot and identify birds, what to wear, and which books and apps are actually worth having. Along the way, they'll show you how to observe birds, understand their behaviour, and tell common species apart, so you'll come away knowing a bit more than you did when you arrived.
St Aidan's itself is a great spot for it. It sits just outside Leeds on the banks of the River Aire and is a big, open space to walk, run, cycle or ride a horse, home to thousands of birds and wildlife like brown hares, roe deer and wildflowers. The landscape is a mix of vast reedbeds, grassland, woodland, lakes, ponds and islands, with more than 7.5 miles (12 km) of footpaths, bridleways and cycle routes to explore. It's a proper bit of nature on the edge of the city, and the walk is a good way to get a handle on what's actually flying around it.
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On the practical side, the site has accessible parking, an accessible toilet, baby changing facilities and wheelchair access, so it's easy enough to get to and get around. You also get a free hot drink at the Little Owl cafe as part of the session. It costs £11.00 and you'll need to book in advance, so if you fancy it, get your spot sorted before the day.
