Wighteye has been fortunate to partake of a couple of events in the Isle of Wight Walking Festival this week. The first event was one evening at Parkhurst Forest, detecting bats and watching newts, curious at the light from torches shining into their pond. A large crowd of us enjoyed the activity, as did the mosquitoes as they feasted upon any areas of flesh that they could find! The second event was walking the solar system at Newchurch Observatory and the chance to view the sun through a special solar telescope - something that should never be done through a normal telescope or binoculars if one values one’s eyesight. Well done, festival organisers and the kind souls that gave their time to provide these two particular events.