RSPB Lochwinnoch is celebrating 40 years as a nature reserve with a birthday party this weekend.

The free event runs on Saturday June 14 from 12pm-3pm, and includes a magic show, face painting, games, and wildlife activities. Two new fundraising pin-badges, which have been specially produced for the reserve, will also be available for the first time.

Zul Bhatia, who’s been reserve manager at RSPB Lochwinnoch for 17 years, said: “It’s been a real privilege to be a part of this community for such a long time, and I’ve worked with and met some extraordinary people here.

“I think the reserve provides a great focal point for visitors, and we must have interacted with hundreds of thousands of people through the years. It’s been great to see both adults and children taking what are often their first steps towards supporting wildlife conservation through visiting the reserve or volunteering here.

“And of course, we’ve also had some really fantastic wildlife moments at Lochwinnoch, like a family of otters that played around in the water right outside the visitor centre for over an hour. With the habitat we’ve created in the last couple of years, Lochwinnoch is now an even better home for nature, and it’s a fantastic place for people to come and enjoy wildlife. We’re all really looking forward to celebrating this Saturday.” The RSPB purchased Lochwinnoch in 1974 when the site was mostly marshland, though a small area of meadow has been maintained using traditional practices. A visitor centre opened at the reserve in May 1978.

Today, Lochwinnoch provides a huge range of educational and volunteering experiences for people of all ages, as well as events, walks, a photography hide, and a shop with products to help people create space for nature in their own gardens.