Harvest Mouse Explorers at Stanwick Lakes This Half Term
If your half term to-do list needs something a bit different to soft play and cinema trips, this one might be it. Stanwick Lakes is running two Harvest Mouse events this half term, giving families and older kids the chance to search the reserve’s grasses for signs of the UK’s smallest rodent – and even contribute to a genuine national wildlife survey while they’re at it.
There are two sessions on the same day, split by age group, so there’s an option whether you’ve got younger children in tow or a nature-mad tween or teen who wants to get more hands-on with real survey work.
Harvest Mouse Explorers (Ages 4-11)
- Date: Monday 26th October
- Time: 10:30am – 12:00pm
- Price: £3.00 – £6.00 (under 4s free)
- Venue: Stanwick Lakes, NN9 6GY
Grab a magnifying glass and head out on a fun-filled walk around the nature reserve to discover the secret world of the harvest mouse. Children will search the grasses for abandoned nests, spot signs of wildlife, and try out real survey skills used by scientists – all while helping the Mammal Society’s National Harvest Mouse Survey, so the adventure has a genuine purpose behind it. Children must be accompanied by their adult at all times.
Wild About Harvest Mice (Ages 11-17)
- Date: Monday 26th October
- Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
- Price: £6.00 (accompanying adults go free)
- Venue: Stanwick Lakes, NN9 6GY
This session is run in partnership with the Nene Valley Mammal Youth Group and is designed for ages 11-17. It’s a more hands-on Harvest Mouse Survey, where young people learn how to identify suitable habitat, search for harvest mouse nests, and collect data that feeds into a national citizen science project. No previous experience is needed, just an interest in nature and a willingness to get stuck in. Young people must be accompanied by their adult at all times, though accompanying adults go free.
The Nene Valley Mammal Youth Group was set up to inspire young people under 30 to learn about mammals and take action to protect them, giving them the chance to spend time outdoors, meet like-minded people, and develop skills as citizen scientists. It’s part of the local network of the Mammal Society, Britain’s leading charity for the science-led conservation of mammals.
Good to Know
- Normal parking charges apply at Stanwick Lakes
- Both sessions take place outdoors, so dress for the weather and wear suitable footwear
- Booking is essential via the Stanwick Lakes website, with limited spaces on each session
The events listed in this guide are run by third-party organisers, and all details were correct at the time of publication, based on information from their official websites. However, changes or cancellations can happen at short notice. To avoid any disappointment, we recommend double-checking the event information on the official websites before making plans.
If your little ones enjoy this kind of outdoor detective work, our free nature scavenger hunt is a great one to take with you on any woodland walk, not just this one. And if you’d rather have half term events like this land straight in your inbox, sign up to my weekly newsletter for a regular round-up of what’s on across Northamptonshire.
