Wednesday Wander at Fen Drayton Lakes

A weekly, low-key wander round one of Cambridgeshire's best wetland reserves with an RSPB volunteer who actually knows the place — former gravel pits turned into a genuinely good spot for terns, warblers and, if you're lucky, otters. It meets in the main car park at 10am every Wednesday and ambles the lake trails, stopping wherever there's something worth stopping for.

Dogs are welcome on leads on the public paths, so this is a solid one for a dog-walking regular who fancies some company and expert eyes for once. Turning up solo is completely normal — most of the group will be doing exactly that.