Lego fans will be able to set their sights on giant animals built from thousands of the colourful bricks at a wild adventure trail.
An enormous otter, a kingfisher and a flamingo will be among the models forming part of the trail at Martin Mere Wetland Centre.

Around half an hour's drive from Manchester, the site, in Burscough, gives families the perfect opportunity to get close to nature.

Depending on the season you can spot everything from ducklings to migrating swans.

There's loads of fun to be had outside, with a muddy meadow and play areas for kids of all ages, and at weekends and in school holidays, they can join in activities in the craft room between 1pm and 4pm.

But it's the Lego trail that many visitors flock to see and this year it will kick-off on May 9 and run until June 24 - with three new models joining this year's crowd.
Once families have completed the trail, they can collect a certificate from the information desk, before making their own model at the Lego brick play table.

Lego brick workshops will also be available to book online from February 10.

Other events taking place at the site this year include Dusty’s North West Puddle Jumping Championships this February.

The event - which costs 50p to enter on top of usual admission fees and is open to all ages - is on at 2pm daily from February 10 to 18.

On top of that there are daily feeds and talks including a chance to meet the site's three cheeky Asian otters. You watch them forage, swim, rest, sleep and bath in the sunshine.

The first Lego animal trail opened at the site in 2015, with 10 individually-designed Lego brick characters on display.

The trail is included in the usual admission fee - adults £11.45, children £6.13, under fours free, or a family ticket for two adults and two children £29.90.

For details of the 2018 spring trail visit the WWT Facebook page here or the WWT website .

A collection of giant LEGO birds have been unveiled today at WWT Martin Mere. The 10 characters that form part of a LEGO brick animal trail were made from 123,200 LEGO bricks and took over 965 hours to build. This is the first time these amazing sculptures, especially created for WWT, have been seen in the North West among the real life animals which inspired them. A brand new addition to the trail was also unveiled, Kate the Kingfisher, who the CBBC Blue Peter presenter Barney Harwood helped to build. She has been made especially for the Martin Mere trail and is being featured on Blue Peter, along with her other giant brick friends who Barney also helped put out on the trail on CBBC on Thursday, December 3.
Through the giant brick animal trail, the nature reserve in Burscough, Lancashire is using the world’s most popular toy to encourage kids to build a better future for nature.

What animals can you see on the trail?

Visitors to Martin Mere Wetland Centre can enjoy the 10 individually-designed LEGO brick characters revealed for nine weeks over the winter including the Christmas holidays from this Saturday, November 28 to Sunday, January 31.
You will be able to see all sorts of animals including:

• Kate the Kingfisher
• Flavia the Andean flamingo
• Benedict the Bewick’s swan
• Emily the Emperor dragonfly
• Lottie the otter
• Bruce the Red Breasted goose

Nick Brooks, Martin Mere’s general manager said: “Here at Martin Mere Wetland Centre, we take particular pride in helping to conserve the Hawaiian goose (Nene) the world’s rarest goose, which was originally identified as a species that needed protecting by our founder Sir Peter Scott.
“Today, we are using LEGO bricks to inspire the next generation to continue Sir Peter’s work of saving threatened wildlife.”

What else can you do when you visit the trail?

As well as the trail, budding sculptors can take part in creative fun and games at exclusive LEGO brick workshops at weekends and daily through the Christmas holidays, build minifigures and buy limited edition mini LEGO brick animal models, only available at WWT.
All proceeds will support WWT’s essential conservation work in the UK and around the world.
There is no extra cost to meet the giant LEGO brick animals at Martin Mere Wetland Centre, the trail is included in the admission price.

Places for the workshops can be pre-booked online HERE.
To find out more about the Giant LEGO brick animals and other brick activities visit wwt.org.uk/legobrickanimals or follow #LEGOBrickAnimals.

Win a LEGO experience day at WWT Martin Mere

The prize is free entry to Martin Mere for a family of four, a Lego animal kit, free Lego workshop for the children (one hour at the centre doing fun activities plus build your own Lego duckling to take home) plus lunch at the centre.
Five runners up will win family tickets to visit the centre to see the Lego brick animals. The competition closes at 3pm on Friday, December 4. Winners will be informed by email.
The prize must be redeemed anytime on or before January 31, 2016.