Things got off to a great start this year when our little festival was listed by the Guardian newspaper as one of the UK’s top wildlife festivals. This created a huge demand for tickets which sold-out soon after the article appeared and introduced lots of new people to the Secret Campsite
The Festival is a chance to glimpse into the huge variety of native species we share the campsite with and Michael Blencowe and his team put together a programme packed full of activities.
Our 2026 programme
Following a quick introduction to the site we walked out along the dismantled railway track and into Knowlands Wood which was alive with butterflies and after a quick tour we set up the trail camera to record any nocturnal activity in the area.
Once the filming area had been baited we headed back to the campsite to set up mammal and moth traps and followed this with a bat walk out onto the old railway.
The evening was rounded off with a short walk through the campsite looking for Glow worms. They are an amazing species with a fantastic life story and we found a few females, tucked away in the long grass around the site.
We enjoyed a very brief look at the amazing moon before the clouds drifted in and obscured everything. How very English!
Saturday started at 7am for the early risers with a walk into Knowlands Wood where we spotted and heard a wide array of birds.
The Nightingale in the camping meadow was performing its less appealing, growling song, from the brambles. 6 weeks earlier and we would have been treated to its more famous song. Other birds we heard included Woodpeckers, Green and Greater Spotted, Buzzards, a Thrush and multitude of other small birds. With the sun rising the butterflies started to cross the meadow and we headed back to open the mammal traps before the sun was to high.
The traps were much more successful than last year and we saw Yellow Necked and Wood Mice as well as a tiny shrew.
Next up were the moth traps which were full of a range of moths including the beautiful Elephant Hawk Moth and lots of other smaller species. Each one identified and logged by the on site experts.
Later in the morning we headed out on the search for the Purple Emperor, a totemic species that lives in the adjoining woodland. This year we didn’t get to see this elusive insect but we did see plenty of other woodland butterflies including Silver Washed Fritillaries and White Admirals, Speckled Woods and Ringlets.
The afternoon provided lots of forest school activities with Paula, Steffi and Catherine in the Festival Marquee. This year it didn’t blow down which was good news.
The activities included making paper, clay statues and badges from wood.
The afternoon’s solar viewing was scuppered as clouds drifted across the sky so instead we went Honey Buzzard Hunting.
After feasting we set up the mammal traps and moth traps and went on a search of the nearby land for owls, particularly Barn Owls and Tawny Owls, listening for their different calls.
Back at camp we searched the campsite again, looking for more Bats and Glow Worms. A few campers got the chance to see the moon and stars with the Seven Sisters astronomers before a few disruptive clouds rolled in.
Campers then headed back to their tents and campfires to fall asleep to the sounds of tawny owls calling across the site.
Sunday morning started with the mammal traps and moth traps being opened again and once again Michael pulled off a last minute victory over Ryan when Harry Styles appeared from one of the mammal traps near the entrance.
Forest School activities carried on throughout the morning and we were treated to footage from the trail camera set up in Knowlands Wood where we spotted squirrels, blackbirds, a fox and a very inquisitive rat. Sadly the badgers and deer stayed away.
The final walk through the woods looking for butterflies was a great success although the Purple Emperor continued to keep a low profile. The Marbled Whites were everywhere and the cinnabar moth caterpillars munched their way through the Ragwort as the temperature rose into the afternoon.
The festival was another rousing success with lots of friends made and heaps of new encounters enjoyed.
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Watch a Reel of our brilliant wildilfe-filled weekend here!
We run just one Secret Wildlife Festival each year, but the wildlife that lives here doesn’t know that. Come and stay with us for your chance to see these amazing creatures, hear the birdsong, taste the foraged fruit and smell the petrichor. We look forward to showing you around!
Tim, Michael, Chloe, Ryan, Paula, Steffi Clare, Lois, Catherine & Esther