Where to take 'wildlife' mad child?

[Gunznroses]

Ds2 is absolutely passionate about anything to do with wildlife. Nat Geo is his favourite tv channel and is becomming a bit of an expert on animal habitat lifecycles etc. He is also into spotting rare birds, over summer we breeded catepillars and watched them turn into butterflies.

Ive recently subscribed him to Nat Geo kids magazine but does anyone have ideas where i can take him to visit, possibly meet other like minded individuals, are there kids clubs or associations ? We have a local RSPB group but doesnt sound very.....exciting? Are there any MUST join or visit places?

The mention of Chris Packham reminds me that theres sometimes info on local activities on the spring/whatever-watch pages on the BBC website.

The Woodland Trust have a good website for kids called Nature Detectives - they have downloads, activity packs and a membership club.

My kids liked St Tiggywinkles near Aylesbury.

Perhaps quite close to home and for a winter's day when you can't observe wildlife outside, Tring Natural History Museum?

Holiday on the N Norfolk Coast?
Birdwatching on the saltmarshes at Cley - good little visitor centre and plenty of hides. You will see Marsh Harriers, avocets, all sorts of waders, a bittern if very lucky.
A ferry trip to see the seals on Blakeney Point - you get v v close to loads of seals
Go at the end of Aug when the National Tust are advertising Adder Walks at Sheringham Park - we saw 3 adders this year!
Get up at dawn and see the sky looking like lace, so many skeins of geese filling the sky in patterns as they fly inland for the day - at Brancaster

I'd just like to recommend RSPB at Rainham Marshes.

Shepreth Wildlife park, near Royston, has a very friendly education woman called Lainey. You can go and meet her in her room and handle the reptiles etc.