Birdoswald Roman Fort says SOS

This October half term, Save our Squirrels (SOS), employed by Northumberland Wildlife Trust, will be dropping into English Heritage’s Birdoswald Roman Fort on Wednesday October 29 from 12noon to 4pm for a series of wildlife events. Birdoswald Wildlife 

Famed as being an important base for over 1,000 roman soldiers, Birdoswald is probably less known for it’s award winning contirbution to the environment and wildlife with a variety of wildlife such as squirrels and badgers, and birds including buzzards, lapwings and curlews that visitors to the site can see.

The event will highlight the range of wildlife within Birdoswald Roman Fort’s vicinity, with a particular focus on the rare red squirrel.

Miriam Lincoln, English Heritage’s visitor operations site supervisor for Birdoswald Roman Fort said: “Apart from our magnificent Roman fort, turret, milecastle and the visitor centre, people don’t realise the abundance of wildlife in the area. Birdoswald and the River Irving that runs by the site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is a protected a haven for many species of wildlife. It’s great to get experts in to provide a range of fun activities for the whole family to highlight Birdoswald’s offering.

"As the site will close for the winter on October 31, I’d urge anyone interested in wildlife and history to come along to the talks. It’s a great way to entertain the kids during the half-term holiday."

The format for the day will be:

• 12 - 4pm - drop in kids arts and crafts with a squirrel theme. Masks, badges, colouring in
• 12- 12.45pm - an introduction to red squirrel ecology and behaviour
• 2pm - 2.45pm - Red squirrels, past and present. Perceptions of red squirrels through history.

Between talks, conservation officer, Simon O'Hare will be there to answer visitors squirrel questions during an "agony aunt" type session.
The events are included in the site entrance fee – adults: £4.50, concessions: £3.60 and children £2.30. English Heritage members are free. Birdoswald is open until October 31 – 10am to 4pm daily and will then be closed until March 2009 For more information on this event call the site on T: 01697 747 602 and for admission prices and opening times, visit Birdoswald Fort.

More about Birdoswald Roman Fort

Birdoswald stands high above a meander in the River Irthing, in one of the most picturesque settings on Hadrian's Wall. A Roman fort, turret and milecastle can all be seen on this excellent stretch of the Wall.

With probably the best-preserved defences of any Wall fort, this was an important base for some 1,000 Roman soldiers, succeeding an earlier fort of turf and timber. The section of Wall to the east, also of stone replacing turf, is the longest continuous stretch visible today.

Archaeological discoveries over the past 150 years have revealed a great deal about Roman military life at Birdoswald. Three of the four main gateways of the fort have been unearthed, as have the outside walls, two granary buildings, workshops and a unique drill hall.

People continued to live at Birdoswald after the Roman withdrawal. In the 5th century a large timber hall was built over the collapsed Roman granaries, perhaps for a local British chieftain. Later, a medieval tower house was raised here, replaced in the 16th century by a fortified 'bastle' farmhouse designed to protect its inhabitants from the notorious 'Border Reivers'. Later still in more peaceful times, a farmhouse stood here.

The Birdoswald visitor centre provides a good introduction to Hadrian's Wall, and tells the intriguing story of Birdoswald and the people who have lived here over the past 2,000 years. There is a cosy tearoom at the site if you need refreshments, and a well-stocked shop for souvenirs.

If you would like to find out more about staying at Birdoswald, please call 01697 747602 for a residential pack.