If we tread quietly and watch carefully, what can we observe together of the natural world enjoying warmer days? Birds? Butterflies? Fox cubs? Slowworms? We'll be in the expert hands of Dominic Couzens, a renowned natural history author and an Othona favourite for his dawn chorus mornings.

There's no telling what will happen. This time last year we searched in vain for small mammals like voles and dormice, but saw everything from deer to hermit crabs, and were treated to the rare sight of a female hare – briefly on heat – racing round a field with three males in hot pursuit. 

Not every knowledgeable naturalist is also a talented communicator, but Dominic has a passion for unfolding the wonders of creation to adults and children alike. His latest book "My family and 50 other animals" tells how he, his wife and their two children spent a year on the trail of 50 British mammal species in the wild. Who better to lead this long weekend event suitable for all the family?

More about Dominic: www.birdwords.co.uk