CHILDREN were given the chance to explore the great outdoors at a fun event in the woods to recognise a birdwatch initiative.

Visitors aged five and under learnt about nature, wildlife and the season at the interactive session held at Belfairs Woodland Centre, in Belfairs Woods, Leigh.

The event focused on robins and finding birds’ nests to commemorate the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, which will take place between January 28 and 30.

Beck Fitzpatrick, education officer, said: “Our theme at the moment is Birds are Brilliant to tie in with RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch.

“We thought it would be nice to concentrate on robins on this occasion.

“Children made craft paper plate robins first of all and then we went into the woods with a toy that made the bird call of a robin.

“That normally means that we can attract robins along the way and they sometimes hop along and follow us.

“The children were bird spotting through binoculars with their parents and we were collecting sticks to name a nest.”

She added that the seven children who attended the session saw three robins.

The next session will be a drop-in event for all ages on January 28 from 10am to 3pm.

Visit wildlifetrusts.org or call 01702 477467.