Bath Festival of Nature returns next month with a bigger and better programme to bring nature to life in the heart of the city.
And in a world-first for a science festival, the free event will be hosted online, giving people all over the globe the chance to navigate their way around the festival and enjoy talks, workshops and screenings thanks to a unique collaboration with the University of Bath using the iVent platform. 
Now in its sixth year, the event will also give families and children the chance to discover the latest animal research from the University of Bath, get advice on how to make their garden a friend for nature, hear stories from an award-winning author and even try their hand at angling.
The festival, which this year takes place between 11am and 6pm on June 1 in Green Park, aims to inspire greater engagement with and action for nature through accessible, celebratory public events that attract new audiences and widen participation as well as raising awareness of further opportunities to engage with and take action for nature.
It also recognises and enhances the West of England’s reputation as a leading centre for conservation, environmental research and public engagement with nature.
Highlights of the day will include:
Animal research: Researchers from University of Bath will be showcasing some of the cutting-edge work in the city, including a behind-the-scenes look at animal vision and an in-depth exploration of DNA.
‘Lazy Gardening’: Visitors can find out about plants that can save water (and time) in the garden and discover how a messy garden can help nature, then take away some free seeds to get started.
Get crafty: They can join in with Avon Wildlife Trust to do insect-themed willow crafts, find out what a nature recovery network is, get hands-on with a mini meadow planter and make a pledge for nature.
Meet the Spider Warriors: A series of authors will share stories throughout the day in the festival’s Story Corner including local author Emma Read who read from Milton the Mighty, winner of the 2017 Bath Children’s Novel Award.
Art in the park: Visitors will be asked to participate in a celebration of urban green spaces with Sam Church completing a live animation to mark the launch of the Bristol & Bath Parks Foundation.
Try your hand at angling: Join the casting demonstrations with Wessex Water and the Angling Trust, find out about local fishing spots which are great places to spend time outside in nature, or watch one of our expert flyfishers on display. 
Enjoy the park: Take part in a nature walk with Bath Naturalists and enjoy great food and local entertainment, so make a day of it in Green Park and join us!
The festival is organised by the Natural History Consortium, whose chief executive Savita Willmott, pictured, said: “The Bath Festival of Nature is an incredible day, as we bring the natural world to the heart of the city. We’ve got a host of fantastic exhibitors who will inspire children and families to get hands on with nature and help to create the next generation of environmentalists.
“The launch of the digital festival is truly groundbreaking and we’re thrilled to be able to invite the world to Bath to share in the wonders of nature through this impressive digital platform.”
The digital festival will run alongside the physical event, offering on-site and digital exclusive content to open up the festival to a worldwide audience, thanks to the unique collaboration with the University of Bath using the iVent platform.
The platform will host live talks, video, podcasts and Q&As with specialists, with new content and live screenings being added daily, alongside a range of downloadable resources.
