Nature Features

Over the weekend of 6th and 7th June, loads of events took place across Birmingham and the Black Country as part of BBC Breathing Places' Dirty Weekend - from Teddy bears picnics to working on an allotments and helping out in woodlands.

Water for Life Festival

The Water for Life Festival at Birmingham Nature Centre was held on Sunday 7th June.

It got off to a very wet start, and as the rain poured, the puddles developed - much to the delight of the children.

Despite the rain, the entertainment started - and the enthusiasm of the crowds shone through. By mid afternoon the rain had stopped, giving people a chance to explore the festival without having to run from tent to tent!

Do one thing

The festival was aimed at encouraging people to get their hands dirty and think about doing one thing for nature - whether it was installing a water butt at home, planting a tree, or getting involved in a local nature project.

Rose with Jelly from CBeebies

Chris Packham, the new BBC Springwatch presenter, said: "Going outside, getting my hands dirty and making a difference for wildlife is probably the most satisfying thing about my job.

"And the Dirty Weekend is all about getting people across the UK to do the same. If everyone gets stuck in and does just one thing, then over one weekend together we'll make a big difference."

Jelly from CBeebies' Green Balloon Club and Detective Dan were at the event and proved a massive hit with the kids.

Fun and games

David Gregory, the BBC Midlands Today Environment Correspondent was also at the event talking wildlife and sharing nature filming tips. The children especially enjoyed the role play - acting the parts of a wildlife camera operator and an illusive animal.

A South African dancer

BBC WM's Jenny Wilkes and Jenny Jones were also at the festival. Jenny Wilkes was encouraging people to 'do one thing for nature', while Jenny Jones was reporting on the event for BBC WM.

The main stage provided entertainment throughout the day, with everything from African dancers, Indian drummers, traditional Polish music and dancing, hip hop artists, as well as a Chinese Lion dance.

There were stalls from a range of environmental organisations and charities such as RSPB, WaterAid, Fairtrade and Friends of the Earth, as well as community groups.

The Environment Agency was encouraging visitors to think about water - it seemed rather apt bearing in mind the very wet weekend. They highlighted the importance of water - from water quality and pollution to storing water and preparing for flooding.

The BBC Breathing Places team were dishing out lots of water based ideas and some goodie bags.

Take a look at a round-up of the event:

Birmingham Nature Centre

Get even dirtier

There are many projects in the region that need volunteer helpers. If you want to take part in a project see the events finder to locate a local project.