The Forest of Dean is an ancient woodland home to all kinds of mighty and mysterious creatures.
Venture out on this evening safari just before the cloak of darkness settles in. Watch in awe as the forest's secretive and shy wildlife begin to resurface for the night. Wild boar, fallow deer, bats, and foxes emerge. Consider yourself even luckier to catch a pine marten or an otter!
During the spring and early summer, the evenings echo with the sounds of woodland birdsong from robins, song thrushes and blackbirds. Woodcock display overhead while tawny owls hoot in the twilight. You might even make out the sound of a churring nightjar.
Cannop Ponds come alive with waterbirds: mandarin ducks, mute swans, little grebes, kingfishers, dippers and grey wagtails. Safaris a little earlier in the day may reveal the local Forest of Dean birds: crossbills, siskins and hawfinches. While you're taking in all of these, don't forget to pay attention to all the butterflies, lizards, glow worms and woodland flowers. This experience is a feast of the eyes.
Please note the event will run once four or more customers have booked per date.
Age restrictions: 8+
per person (The event will run once four or more people have booked.) | Β£40 |
Ed is extremely knowledgeable and really brought the forest alive for us. It was such a great and...
Ed was absolutely fantastic and an incredible host. His passion for wildlife and the forest reall...
Such a lovely evening with Ed showing around a beautiful place. Got to see glimpses of the wildli...
This is such an amazing and exciting experience. Ed is a brilliant guide - so knowledgeable, pass...
Ed is extremely knowledgeable and really brought the forest alive for us. It was such a great and different way to spend an evening.
Ed was absolutely fantastic and an incredible host. His passion for wildlife and the forest really was infectious. I learned so much during this truly unique and enjoyable experience. Thank you!!
Such a lovely evening with Ed showing around a beautiful place. Got to see glimpses of the wildlife and learnt so much more about the habitat and birds in the area. Fabulous - thanks!
This is such an amazing and exciting experience. Ed is a brilliant guide - so knowledgeable, passionate and engaging. We had a really memorable time and even saw some wild boar and piglets along the way!
Great experience. Ed was really knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We saw some really lovely woodland and were lucky to see the Boar and Deer.
The group size was perfect as it meant the tour was personal.
A really informative and enthusiastic guide! We had a brilliant evening and loved learning more about the fauna and flora of the Forest of Dean.
This is the second guided walk Iβve done with Ed. He is an excellent host and very knowledgeable. Itβs great to learn about the nature around us.
This is a truly awesome experience with an experienced and passionate guide. Ed really brought the forest to life, pointing out vital signs of the flora and fauna giving a new understanding of the Forest of Dean. Great sightings of both wild boar and deer were the icing on the cake. Highly recommended.
Excellent. Ed was an great host, passionate and knowledge about the Forest of Dean. We saw some good birds on Cannop Ponds, deer in the Forest and we were lucky to have had superb Wild Boar views. The Forest is both interesting for natural history and it's social/industrial history.
Ed is a great guide who kept interested as we walked through two different environments. He showed us both the range of wildlife but also the impact of some of those wildlife.
Great evening in great company. Very interesting walk, heard and saw wildlife going about their routine, very exciting to be part of their environment.
Ed is very knowledgeable, patient and easy going, will recommend to our friends.
Fantastic wildlife safari with Ed Drewitt. Ed was very engaging and informative. Really enjoyed the experience.
Ed is an engaging guide who draws your attention to things you just wouldnβt have noticed without his knowledge. We also saw a sole fallow deer grazing in a woodland meadow and came within feet of a pack of wild boar who thundered off through the bracken when they realised we were close by. Recommended!
Ed is an excellent host. A very enjoyable experience. Hearing wild boar a few feet away and seeing a beautiful, pregnant fallow deer were the highlights.
A very enjoyable evening with a knowledgeable host in Ed Drewitt and like minded companions. Heard and saw numerous birds, sightings of deer and a very close encounter with the elusive wild boar. Ed taught us to look for the clues of the wild life in the magical Forest of Dean. Highly recommended.
A regular walk brought to life with the relaxed but informative style of Ed Drewitt
Ed was a great guide who had so much knowledge of the nature, history and geography of the Forest of Dean. His enthusiasm is infectious and he led us on a fascinating early evening tour on which we heard wild boar and signs of their digging and wallowing. We saw fallow deer, Woodcoks flying, Mandarin Ducks, greylag geese and other water fowl. We also heard lots of bird song which Ed was able to identify for us but even i could recognise the owl hoots (Tawny Owl).
It was a great evening.
Very enjoyable walk and I learnt lots from Ed, who is very friendly and knowledgeable.
Christmas Present no idea of cost. Instructions for arrival clear and concise. Enjoyed hugley Ed set the scene on landscape and its heritage. Helped to pick out birds - would not have been able to appreciate the birds without his guidance and support. No boar/deer did not detract on the day. However, whole experience was enjoyable - 2 hours was the right length. Not suitable for young children - as the get older I am sure they would appreciate it. Would recommend to friends and family
The activities are held outdoors at a time when there are little to no other people around and social distancing is easy to achieve. Participants will use their own transport and only those not experiencing any Covid-19 symptoms will be permitted to attend.
Your host Ed follows the current government guidelines on groups sizes. The covid-19 risk assessment is part of the overall risk assessment completed.
The safari times can vary depending on the sunset - these will be advised on booking
You will be out for around 2 hours and walk approx 1.5 to 2 miles (2.4km - 3km) at a steady or slow pace taking in the scenery, sounds and wildlife along the way
Walking is along well-surfaced tracks and you are able to venture off onto smaller paths and gentle uphill or downhill terrain
Torches, binoculars and weather-appropriate clothing are advised
Ed's got a passion for wildlife. He enjoys taking people out to see and experience it. Ed offers training courses on identifying birds and their songs. He has been studying urban peregrine falcons for the past 20 years and is the author of Urban Peregrines. He's got an educational background so is always on a quest to learn new things.
Ask your question directly to Ed Drewitt.