Red deer 'Bambi boom' at Leighton Moss

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July is a fantastic month to head to RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Silverdale.

As the sun’s rays cascade through the vast reed bed and bounce a golden glow from the surface of the still pools, red deer emerge from a small gap and seamlessly slink out to the waters edge.

A familiar sight for those who are fortunate enough to have witnessed it, but for many, that special moment is yet to be etched into the memory.

Throughout the summer at Leighton Moss, not only are the magnificent red deer active for most of the day for visitors to view, they are also accompanied by their new calves. The calves are a joy to watch as they bound around the reed edge and follow the rest of the group around.

Despite the recent inclement weather the red deer are taking it all in their stride. Kevin Kelly, the Red Deer Date with Nature Information Assistant said "It is always a special sight to see the first calf of the year, the first has been visible so far, gambolling after its mother, and we are expecting more to appear over the coming month. It has to be said they are incredibly cute in their spotty coat, bounding around and looking mischievous."

There is a good population of red deer at Leighton Moss, and it is undoubtedly a superb platform to be introduced to Britain's largest land mammal as well as an impressive array of other wildlife.

Kevin added "People are often amazed to see the deer out in the open in broad daylight, but we work hard to create the perfect habitat for them here at the reserve. The reedbed offers plenty of cover, fresh water and an abundance of suitable plants to munch on.”

The Red Deer Date with Nature is running throughout the summer months where information assistants will be based in some of the hides showing visitors the red deer and other wildlife.

Guided walks are also taking place on Monday and Friday evenings in July from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. These leisurely walks are an ideal opportunity to hopefully connect with the magnificent red deer as well as other species. And of course there is always the chance of spying one of this year’s enchanting calves. The cost is £10 for a family, discounted to £4 for RSPB members.

For more information on other events being held at Leighton Moss throughout the summer holidays, and the rest of the year, visit www.rspb.org.uk/leightonmoss