THE 2017 Oxford Festival of Nature will kick off on Thursday.

The celebration of environment from June 1 to 14 is promised to be ‘two weeks of non-stop wild fun’.

In fact the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) says this year’s event promises to be ‘the best ever’ with ‘dragons, wolves, bees, wild flowers, swifts, ugly animals, a trip to Northern Mozambique, a treasure hunt and the ever-popular pond-dipping’ among the attractions.

This year’s festival, organised by BBOWT in conjunction with Oxford City Council and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, involves more nature and wildlife groups across the city and the county than ever before.

The wildlife trust’s director of education Neil Clennell said: “This is a unique festival that brings together the people of Oxford and the fascinating wildlife that lives alongside us here in our green city.”

The festival will launch with the museum’s Wild Fair on Saturday, June 3.