THIS year’s inaugural Wild at Kielder Festival was such a success that plans are already under way for an even bigger and better event in 2018.

The festival was aimed at encouraging everybody to experience at first hand the wonders of the area and, in total, over 1500 people took part in more than 30 wildlife-related activities across eight sites at Kielder.

Katy Cook, who is the Living Wild project co-ordinator at Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: “Kielder is a wonderful part of the world, so it goes without saying I’m delighted that so many people came to the festival to experience the fantastic wildlife that the area has to offer.”

This year’s festival took place alongside the longstanding and ever popular Kielder Classic & Vintage Vehicle Show.

Wild at Kielder is part of the wider Living Wild at Kielder project, which has been made possible by National Lottery players and a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

It is delivered by Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Northumbrian Water the Forestry Commission and the Environment Agency, with support from Newcastle University and Northumberland National Park Authority.