activities events and - Scottish Wildlife Trust

events and 

activities 

March – August 2012

welcome to the 

spring events guide 

The unseasonably warm start to the year has already seen hundreds of you out and 

about on Trust reserves. Now, with spring fast approaching and renewed signs of life 

appearing in hedgerows, fields and woodlands across the country, what better time 

to reconnect with nature? 

Whether it be dolphin watching in Moray or a mini-beast hunt in 

Newhailes, osprey watching in Dunkeld or Mother’s Day crafts in New 

Lanark, there’s something here for wildlife enthusiasts of all ages. 

Trust members get in free to most of these events and there is 

a discount for children too. Go on – why not bring 

the whole family along this season? 

3 Highlands and Islands 

5 Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Grampians 

8 Perthshire, Angus & Dundee and the Kingdom of Fife 

14 Edinburgh and Lothians 

16 Scottish Borders 

17 Ayrshire & Arran and Dumfries & Galloway 

18 Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley 

26 Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond and Stirling & the Trossachs 

GUIDE to SYMBOLS: 

Admission/ticket cost 

Adults only 

Children 8 years + 

Children must be with an adult 

Family friendly 

Disabled/limited access (call for details) 

Bring packed lunch 

Members only 

Bring torch 

Bring binoculars 

Dogs welcome 

Waterproof clothing / stout footwear 

Livestock present 

Parking nearby 

Booking essential 

Public transport 

For all outdoor events and walks, please wear suitable clothing. It is advisable to phone prior to the event as changes can occur. 

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Front cover image © Zsuzsanna Bird

Highlands 

and Islands 

FRI 2 – SUN 4 MAR 

Drystone dyking residential weekend 

Learn a variety of traditional stone working 

techniques on Tanera Mor. Meet at Badentarbet 

Pier, Achiltibuie. £220 all inclusive for weekend 

course; reduced non-residential rates available. 

Contact Richard Williams 01854 622252 

Isle of Tanera Mor, www.summer-isles.com 

THU 15 MAR at 7:30pm-9:45pm 

Landscape photography 

Talk by Jon Pear. Meet at Tigh na Sgire, Portree. 

£1 to Members, £2 to non-Members. 

Contact David Ashford 01471 833463 

Skye Members’ Centre 

WED 21 MAR at 7:30pm-10pm 

Conservation and the Trust 

Talk by Jonny Hughes, the Trust's Director of 

Conservation. £2. Meet at tbc. 

Contact Patric Baird 01349 830737 

North of Scotland Members’ Centre 

MON 2 – FRI 6 APR at 9am-6pm 

Annual meadow management at Talich 

Open week for volunteers to gain experience in 

meadow management and fence improvements. 

Call for further details. Meet at Talich car park. 

Contact Glen Campbell 01463 811497 / 

07920 468567 gcampbell@swt.org.uk 


WED 18 APR at 7:30pm-10pm 

AGM and Members’ evening 

Social and Members’ talks following AGM. Quiz 

and raffle. £2. Meet at tbc. 

Contact Patric Baird 01349 830737 


THU 24 MAY at 11am-3pm 

Nature walk: River Inver to Glencanisp 

Highland Biodiversity Partnership Soils Week 

event. Look for black-throated divers, discover 

abandoned villages, enjoy riverside wildlife. Meet 

at Assynt Visitor Centre. Adult £5, Concession £3. 

Contact Andy Summers 01571 844654 

Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape 

MON 28 MAY – FRI 1 JUN at 9am-6pm 

Counting and recording on Coigach 

Open week for volunteers to gain experience of 

deer counting, mapping sightings, and upland bird 

recording. Maps provided. Call for further details. 




THU 7 JUN at 9am-6pm 

Suilven mountain walk 

A long hill walk to enjoy the magnificent views from 

the summit of Suilven. A low-level alternative will be 

used in poor weather. Meet at Assynt Visitor Centre, 

Lochinver. Adult £10, Concession £5. 



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© Amy Lewis 

THU 26 JUL at 10am-6pm 

Cul Mor mountain walk 

Hill walk with wonderful views and rare plants. 

Low-level option for bad weather. Meet in lay-by 

north of Knockan Crag. Adult £10, Concession £5. 



TUE 19 JUN at 9pm-11pm 

Bat evening 

Slideshow and visit to a bat roost to watch 100+ 

pipistrelles emerging. Meet at Assynt Visitor 

Centre, Lochinver. Adult £3, Concession £2. 



TUE 26 JUN at 11am-3pm 

Nature walk: River Inver to Glencanisp 

Look for black-throated divers, explore abandoned 

villages, enjoy riverside wildlife. Meet at Assynt 

Visitor Centre, Lochinver. Adult £5, Concession £3. 



MON 9 – FRI 13 JUL at 9am-6pm 

Summer wildlife surveys at Talich 

Open week for volunteers to gain experience in 

surveying: birds, butterflies, bats and much more. 

Call for further details. Meet at Talich car park. 




WED 11 JUL at 11am-1pm 

Nature walk: Leitir Easaidh 

Gentle walk on all-abilities path into rugged 

scenery with freshwater lochs. Meet at all-abilities 

car park east of Lochinver. Adult £3, Concession £2. 



TUE 31 JUL at 11am-1pm 

Survival skills in Culag Woods 

Can you light a fire from old sticks? Can you build a 

shelter? Come and learn the art of survival! Meet 

at woodside car park, Culag Woods, near Lochinver 

primary school. Adult £3, Concession £2. 



WED 8 AUG at 11am-1pm 

Gruffalo’s child 

No gruffalo should ever set foot in the deep, 

dark woods. Meet at woodside car park, Culag 

Woods, near Lochinver primary school. Child £2, 

accompanying adults free. 



TUE 28 AUG at 7:30pm-9:30pm 

Bat evening 

European Bat Week: slideshow and visit to bat 

roost to watch 100+ pipistrelles emerging. Meet at 

Assynt Visitor Centre. Adult £3, Concession £2. 



THU 6 & THU 20 SEP at 11am-2pm 

Fungi in Culag Woods 

Explore the wonderful world of fungi. Meet at 

Woodside car park, Culag Woods, near Lochinver 

primary school. Adult £3, Concession £2. 



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Aberdeenshire, Moray 

and the Grampians 


Birds in your locality 

Illustrated talk by Grace Banks. Meet at Zoology 

Building, Aberdeen University, Tillydrone Avenue. 

Free to Members, £1 for tea/coffee. 

Contact Rodney Payne 01569 763742 

Aberdeen Members’ Centre 

SAT 24 MAR at 10am-12 noon 

Crazy cavemen! 

Meet us at Covesea Beach for a caveman party! We’ll 

try out cave painting and fire lighting in a very old, 

ready-made shelter. Meet at Covesea Beach. £1. 

Contact Donna Mathieson 0131 312 4712 

dmathieson@swt.org.uk 

Moray Wildlife Watch Group 

SUN 8 APR at 11am-4pm 

Easter eggstravaganza 

Celebrate Easter with us at a fun-filled day of 

games, Easter crafts, egg hunting and face painting. 

Meet at Scottish Dolphin Centre, Spey Bay. Free. 

Contact Laura Smith 01343 820339 

lsmith@swt.org.uk 

Spey Bay Wildlife Reserve 

THU 19 APR at 7:30pm-9:30pm 

AGM and wildlife crime talk 

Illustrated talk by Andrew Turner. Meet at Zoology 

Building, Aberdeen University, Tillydrone Avenue. 

Free to Members, £1 for tea/coffee. 



WED 4 & 11 APR at 2pm-4pm 

Wildlife warriors 

Discover the amazing wildlife of Spey Bay at our 

wildlife kids’ club. Each week has a different 

theme, from teeny insects to humungous whales! 

Aimed at children aged 6-10. Meet at Scottish 

Dolphin Centre, Spey Bay. Adult Free, Child £2. 




FRI 6 APR at 7pm-9pm 

Otter and osprey walk 

Ever seen an osprey dive into the Spey at 30 mph, or 

heard the splash of an otter as it plays in the shallows? 

Join us on this evening walk to find out more about 

these amazing animals as we try to spot them. Meet at 

Scottish Dolphin Centre, Spey Bay. Free. 




SAT 28 APR at 10am-12 noon 

Dolphin fun! 

Another beach trip this month. We’ll watch a 

dolphin performance and maybe even get to 

meet a 40 ft dolphin too! Meet at tbc. £1. 




FRI 4 MAY at 7pm-9pm 

Wild foods and foraging 

Spey Bay is practically bursting with food at this 

time of year. Join us on a wild food wander to 

discover which animal is eating what, and get 

some tips on foraging for your own table. 





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THU 17 MAY at 7:30pm-9:30pm 

Planning and the Scottish Wildlife Trust 

Illustrated talk by Dr Maggie Keegan. Meet at 

Zoology Building, Aberdeen University, Tillydrone 

Avenue. Free to Members, £1 for tea/coffee. 



SAT 26 MAY at 10am-12 noon 

Wildlife crime 

Grampian Police are coming along to tell us all 

about the work they do to protect our local 

wildlife. Meet at Lhanbryde Primary School. £1. 




FRI 1 JUN at 7pm-9pm 

Tracking and the art of seeing the unseen 

Spey Bay is home to many secretive and hard to 

spot animals. Hone your tracking skills and discover 

how to see the unseen on this guided walk. Meet 

at Scottish Dolphin Centre, Spey Bay. Free. 




MON 4 JUN at 11am-4pm 

Wild Spey Bay Festival 

Come and enjoy a celebration of nature and the 

great outdoors at the Scottish Dolphin Centre 

and Scottish Wildlife Trust nature reserve, Spey 

Bay. This gala event will be packed with interest, 

activities and entertainment for all ages. Meet at 





SAT 16 JUN at 10:30am-4:30pm 

Botanical outing 

Wildlife walk with David Welch – Corbie Den, 

Maryculter. Meet at car park at Mill Inn 

(grid ref. NJ 857 001). Free to Members. 



THU 21 – SUN 24 JUN at 2pm-3:30pm 

Moray Walking Festival 

Celebrate the Moray Walking Festival by joining us 

on the Spey Bay Walking Challenge. Every day we 

will lead a short guided walk along a fully accessible 

path, and anyone who wants to can join us on a 

longer route. Look out for amazing wildlife including 

dolphins, ospreys, seals and wading birds. Meet at 





© Rebecca Govier 

Throughout July 

Aberdeen Members' Centre events 

July programme tbc. Please call us for details. 



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WED 4, 18 & 25 JUL at 2pm-4pm 










© Scottish Wildlife Trust 

FRI 6 JUL at 7pm-9pm 

Wild woods walk 

The wild woods of Spey Bay are full of wildlife 

and mystery. Join us as we explore the woods 

to uncover some of their secrets and meet the 

animals that live there. Meet at Scottish Dolphin 

Centre, Spey Bay. Free. 




FRI 13 JUL at 10am-12 noon 

Pond dipping 

What weird and wonderful creatures lurk beneath 

the surface of a pond? Join us on a quest to find 

out! Meet at Lein car park, Kingston. Free. 




FRI 27 JUL at 10am-12 noon 

Wilderness survival day 

What do you need to survive in the wilderness? 

Join the Moray Council and Spey Bay Rangers 

to find out! Build a shelter, make fire, find and 

cook food to eat. Meet at Speyside Way car park, 

Fochabers Wood, just off the A96 (east) after the 

Spey Bay roundabout. Adult free, Child £2. 




Throughout August 

Aberdeen Members' Centre events 

August programme tbc. Please call us for details. 



WED 1 & 15 AUG at 2pm-4pm 










FRI 3 AUG at 8:30pm-10:30pm 

Creatures of the night walk 

Once the sun goes down, a new world awakens. Join 

us on a walk to discover animals on the nightshift. 





FRI 10 AUG at 10am-12 noon 

Pond dipping 

What weird and wonderful creatures lurk beneath 

the surface of a pond? Join us on a quest to find 

out! Meet at Lein car park, Kingston. Free. 




7

Perthshire, Angus & Dundee 

and the Kingdom of Fife 

8 

All year round 

Upper Strathearn events 

Events held throughout the year. Email to join the 

circulation list and receive details of events. 

Contact Anne Baker a.baker445@btinternet.com 

Upper Strathearn Members’ Centre 

SAT 3 MAR at 1pm-4pm 

Homes for wildlife 

Drop in and join the Ranger to make a bird or 

bat box. Additional donation per box. Meet 

at Montrose Basin Visitor Centre. Adult £4, 

Concession £3, Family £7.50 (2 adults plus 2 

children), extra child 50p, Members free. 

Contact Laura Dennis 01674 676336 

Montrose Basin Visitor Centre 


Scottish nature 

Illustrated talk by photographer Fergus Gill; joint 

meeting with Kinross Camera Club. Meet at Kinross 

Church Centre. Donation for refreshments. 

Contact Deborah Cottam 01333 422116 

Fife and Kinross Members’ Centre 

SAT 10 MAR at 10am-2pm 

Scottish Mink Initiative event 

Illustrated talk and workshop by Ann-Marie 

MacMaster and Emma Rawling. Come and find out 

why American mink are a problem and what you 

can do to help. Booking essential. Meet at Loch of 

the Lowes Visitor Centre. Free. 

Contact Ann-Marie MacMaster 07825 186043 

Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre 

THU 15 MAR at 7:30pm 

Coastal erosion and what it means for us 

Talk by Professor Robert Duck, Department of 

Geography, Dundee University. Meet at Upper 

Reid Hall, Castle Street, Forfar. £3.50. 

Contact Liz Houghton 01307 818302 

Angus and Dundee Members’ Centre 

MON 19 MAR at 7pm-9pm 

Highland Wildlife Park talk 

From animal park to international player – talk 

by Jasper Hughes. Meet at The Tryst, Pitlochry. 

Members £2, non-Members £3. 

Contact Richard Horobin 01796 474480 

Pitlochry Members’ Centre 

FRI 23 MAR at 7:30pm 

Scottish native woods 

An illustrated lecture by Victor Clements. Meet at 

Luncarty Church Centre. Free with collection. 

Contact Charlie MacPherson 01738 552972 

Perth Members’ Centre 

WED 4 APR at 10:30am-12:30pm 

Who lives in a nest like this? 

Children’s activity. Nest building games and 

activities both inside and outside the Centre. Meet 

at Montrose Basin Visitor Centre. Accompanying 

adults free, Child £3. 



SAT 7 APR at 1pm-4pm 

Family fun day – Easter fun 

Fun day for all the family with biscuit decorating 

and Easter crafts including cards and bonnets. 

Meet at Montrose Basin Visitor Centre. Adult 

£4, Concession £3, Family £7.50 (2 adults plus 2 




WED 11 APR at 10:30am-12:30pm 

Mud glorious mud 

Children’s activity. Discover and examine the 

many “muddy” creatures living in the Basin. Wear 

wellies. Meet at Montrose Basin Visitor Centre. 

Accompanying adults free, Child £3. 


Montrose Basin Visitor Centre

SAT 14 APR at 10am-5pm 

Children’s activities – crafty children 

For The Wildlife Trusts' national “Our Woodland 

Wildlife” day, join the volunteers and staff at 

the Visitor Centre for lots of messy fun with leaf 

collages, bark rubbings and much more! Meet 

at Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre. Adult £4, 

Concession £3, Family £7.50 (2 adults & 2 children 

aged 16 and under), Members free, extra child 50p. 

Contact Jonathan Pinnick 01350 727337 


SAT 14 & SUN 15 APR at 10am-5pm 

Optical fair 

A wide selection of binoculars and telescopes 

available to buy. Get expert advice from an 

Opticron representative. Meet at Loch of the 

Lowes Visitor Centre. Adult £4, Concession £3, 

Family £7.50 (2 adults & 2 children aged 16 and 

under), Members free, extra child 50p. 



MON 16 APR at 7pm-9pm 

Red squirrels and the squirrel pox threat 

Is a vaccine the answer? Talk by Dr Colin McInnes. 

Meet at The Tryst, Pitlochry. Members £2, non- 

Members £3. 

Contact Richard Horobin 01796 474480 

Pitlochry Members’ Centre 

THU 19 APR at 7:30pm 

The Ben Mor Coigach project, and AGM 

Talk by Scottish Wildlife Trust staff officer, following 

the AGM. Meet at Upper Reid Hall, Castle Street, 

Forfar. Free to members. 




Oil spills – public perception and reality 

Talk by Professor Paul Kingston, Marine Biologist. 

Meet at St Bryce Kirk, Kirkcaldy. £2. 



SAT 14 APR at 11am-3pm 

Guided woodland walk 

On The Wildlife Trusts' national “Our Woodland 

Wildlife” day, join the Ranger on a walk from 

Dunkeld through a variety of spring woodlands to 

Loch of the Lowes, with time to enjoy our Visitor 

Centre and its ospreys, and then a return walk to 

Dunkeld (via an alternative route). Meet at tourist 

information office, Market Square, Dunkeld. Adult 

£3, Concession/Members £2, Child £1. Admission 

to Visitor Centre extra. 




Family fun day – amazing ospreys 

Fantastic day out for all the family with children’s 

crafts and activities. Learn more about our ospreys. 

Meet at Visitor Centre. Adult £4, Concession £3, 





FRI 4 & SAT 5 MAY 

Basic photography and wildlife workshop 

A basic workshop on rudimentary photography 

field craft and technical skills, utilising the 

abundant wildlife around Loch of the Lowes. 

Hosted by local wildlife photographer Kevin 

Hacker and Ranger Emma Rawling. Talk on Fri 

afternoon at 6pm to 9.30pm followed by early Sat 

morning exclusive access to hides and centre for 

photography with tutorial (7am to 10am). Meet 


Concession/Members £45. 



© Perthshire Picture Agency 

9


Montrose coffee morning 

Meet at Old and St Andrews Hall, West High Street. 



SUN 6 MAY at 10am-5pm 

Family fun day – otter mayhem 

A fantastic day out with children’s crafts and fun 

activities. Learn about one of Scotland’s most 

elusive mammals – the otter. Meet at Loch of the 






SAT 12 MAY at 11am-3pm 

Guided walk: bluebells and ospreys 

Join the Ranger on a walk from Dunkeld via a 

spectacular bluebell wood to Loch of the Lowes, 

with time to enjoy our Visitor Centre and its 

ospreys, and then a return walk to Dunkeld (via an 

alternative route). Joint event with Atholl Estates 

Ranger Service. Meet at tourist information office, 

Dunkeld. Adult £3, Concession/Members £2, Child 

£1. Admission to Visitor Centre extra. 



SUN 13 MAY at 2pm-4:30pm 

Bluebells, broadleaves and beavers! 

Visit to Islabank, led by James Ivory. Meet at 

Islabank Farm Steading (grid ref. NO305481), near 

Ruthven, between A926 and A94. 



SAT 26 MAY at 10:30am-3pm 

Dundee plant sale 

A variety of plants on offer. Meet at Demonstration 

Gardens, Dawson Park, Caenlochan Road, Dundee. 



SAT 26 & SUN 27 MAY at 10:30am-5pm 

Optical fair 

A wide selection of telescopes and binoculars to 

choose from. Let us help you make the right choice 

with expert advice from the Opticron representative. 

Meet at Montrose Basin Visitor Centre. Adult £4, 

Concession £3, Family £7.50 (2 adults plus 2 children), 

extra child 50p, Members free. 



SAT 26 & SUN 27 MAY at 1pm-4pm 

Meet the Ranger 

Afternoon of Ranger-led birdwatching. Staff and 

volunteers will show you how to use telescopes 

and binoculars and point out the wildlife of the 

Basin. Meet at Montrose Basin Visitor Centre. 

Adult £4, Concession £3, Family £7.50 (2 adults plus 

2 children), extra child 50p, Members free. 



SAT 2 JUN at 10am-5pm 

Family fun day – osprey chick party 

Join the staff and volunteers to celebrate osprey 

chicks. Loads of fun children’s activities and crafts 

including building a life-sized osprey nest! Meet 


Concession £3, Family £7.50 (2 adults & 2 children 

aged 16 and under), Members Free, extra child 50p. 



SUN 10 JUN at 10:30am-4pm 

Visit to Fowlsheugh 

Outing to seabird cliffs, led by RSPB warden. Meet 

at Montrose Basin car park – parking limited at the 

reserve. Free to Members. 



10

SUN 10 JUN at 2pm-4:30pm 

Walk and picnic 

Visit to Fleecefaulds Meadow, including picnic 

refreshments and home baking. Meet at 

Fleecefaulds Meadow reserve near Ceres 

(grid ref. NO401086). £2. 




Guided orchid walk at Keltneyburn 

Discover one of the best wild orchid reserves in 

Scotland and see innumerable other wildflowers, 

too. Learn to identify many species and also look 

for dragonflies on this beautiful summer meadow. 

Meet at Keltneyburn Bridge at 11am. Directions on 

booking. Adult £3, Concession/Members £2, Child £1. 



SAT 16 JUN at 2pm-5pm 

Garden party 

Garden party with a wildlife theme. Stalls for 

books, plants, gifts, garden advice and a raffle. 

Entry includes tea with home baking. Meet at 

18 Manse Road, Milnathort. £5. 

Contact Jack Matthews 01577 861066 



Summer saunter 

Join the Ranger for a stroll around the Mains of Dun 

to identify some of the butterflies and other summer 

species found around this area of the reserve. Meet at 

Old Mill car park. Adult £3, Child £2, Members free. 



SUN 24 JUN at 10am-4pm 

Barry Buddon open day 

Visit led by Bob McCurley and Jim Cook. See birds, 

flowers and butterflies. Meet at Monifieth playing 

field car park (grid ref. NO503324). 



THU 28 JUN at 11am-3pm 

Guided walk: wildflowers and ospreys 

Join the Ranger in a walk from Dunkeld through 

a variety of woodlands and fields to Loch of the 

Lowes, with time to enjoy our Visitor Centre and 

its ospreys, and then a return walk to Dunkeld (via 

alternative route). Meet at tourist information 

office, Market Square, Dunkeld. Adult £3, 

Concession/Members £2, Child £1. Admission to 

Visitor Centre extra. 




Big bug hunt at Lowes 

Search for weird and wonderful wee beasties then 

get up close and microscopic! Create your own bug 

hotels to take home too. Lots of creative fun for 

kids and adults alike. Morning session 11am-1pm; 

afternoon session 1.30pm-3.30pm. Meet at Loch of 

the Lowes Visitor Centre. Accompanying adults free, 

Child £2. Admission to Visitor Centre extra. 



SAT 7 JUL at 10:30am-9pm 

Cullaloe Wildlife Reserve drop-in day 

Events include pond-dipping, butterfly and moth 

walks, bat detecting and a quiz. Meet at Cullaloe 

Reserve car park on B9157, 1.5 miles north of 

Aberdour (grid ref. NT186878). 

Contact Janie McNeil 07590 590382 


SUN 8 JUL at 10:30am-4:30pm 

Ben Vrackie hill walk 

Walk led by Liz and Alban Houghton, with rare 

mountain flowers. Meet at Atholl Street car park, 

Pitlochry, by the information office – parking is 

limited above Moulin (grid ref. NO941580). Bring 

walking boots, lunch and binoculars. 



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© Elliot Smith 

SUN 8 JUL at 2pm-4pm 

Open day and afternoon tea 

Visit to Barnyards Marsh Reserve followed by tea 

in Kilconquhar Church. Meet in Kilconquhar, Fife; 

car park opposite church at minor road junction. 

Reserve can be found just north of this. 



WED 11 JUL at 10:30am-12:30pm 

Bugs and slugs 

Children’s activity. Join our mini-beast hunt in the 

grounds of the Visitor Centre to see what’s lurking 

in the undergrowth. Meet at Montrose Basin 

Visitor Centre. Accompanying adults free, Child £3. 




Art attack at Montrose 

Children’s activity. Let your creative side go wild as 

we use natural materials to inspire our art! Meet 

at Montrose Basin Visitor Centre. Accompanying 

adults free, Child £3. 




Mud glorious mud 

Children’s activity. Discover and examine the 

many “muddy” creatures living in the Basin. Wear 

wellies. Meet at Montrose Basin Visitor Centre. 




THU 26 JUL at 11am-3pm 

Guided walk: wildflowers and ospreys 

Join the Ranger in a walk from Dunkeld through 

a variety of woodlands and fields to Loch of the 

Lowes, with time to enjoy our Visitor Centre and 

its ospreys, and then a return walk to Dunkeld (via 

an alternative route). Meet at tourist information 

office, Market Square, Dunkeld. Adult £3, 

Concession/Members £2, Child £1. Admission to 

Visitor Centre extra. 



SAT 28 JUL at 10am-5pm 

Family fun day – super squirrels 

All day event to help support red squirrels. Join Ken 

Neil for an illustrated talk in the Crannog hide at 2pm. 

Children will be kept busy making squirrel boxes with 

our Ranger (separate charge of £5/box) and will have 

bundles of fun with all the squirrel crafts on offer. 

Meet at Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre. Adult £4, 

Concession £3, Family £7.50 (2 adults & 2 children aged 

16 and under), Members free, extra child 50p. 




Help a red squirrel 

On our red squirrel family fun day, make your own 

red squirrel feeder box to take home to your garden 

or local woodland and help our wee furry friends. 

Meet at Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre. £5/box. 



WED 1 AUG at 10:30am-12:30pm 

Pondamonium 

Children’s activity. Discover the variety of 

creatures in our pond and how they are adapted 

for life there. Meet at Montrose Basin Visitor 

Centre. Accompanying adults free, Child £3. 



12

SAT 4 & SUN 5 AUG at 10am-5pm 

Optical fair at Lowes 

A wide selection of binoculars and telescopes 

available to buy. Get expert advice from an 

Opticron representative. Meet at Loch of the 






SAT 4 & SUN 5 AUG at 1pm-4pm 

How to be a wildlife spy 

Camera traps and hidden wildlife: discover the 

secret world of night-time and hidden wildlife all 

around you. Hands-on experience of how to use 

camera traps and nest cameras. What will we find 

around the reserve? Meet at Loch of the Lowes 

Visitor Centre. Adult £3, Concession/Members £2, 




SUN 5 AUG at 10am-2:30pm 

Journey to the centre of the mud 

See Montrose from an unusual angle on a guided 

walk across the mud! Lunch at the Shelduck Hide 

to watch the birds and wildlife. Wear wellies and 

old clothes. Bring a packed lunch. Advance booking 

essential. Meet at Old Mill car park. Non-Member 

Adult £5, Child £3. Member Adult £3, Child £2. 




Rockpool ramble 

Children’s activity. Hunt for the creatures 

lurking in the Arbroath rockpools. Wear wellies. 

Meet at north end of Victoria Park, Arbroath. 




WED 8 AUG at 6:45pm-8:30pm 

Evening walk at Bankhead Moss 

Guided walk to see the wildlife of Bankhead 

Moss Wildlife Reserve. Bring insect repellent! 

Arrangements for meeting made when booking. 

Contact Jean Stewart 01334 475763 



Wonderful wildflowers 

Children’s activity. Join us to look at the wide 

variety of flowers in our grounds and discover why 

insects love them too! Meet at Montrose Basin 

Visitor Centre. Accompanying adults free, Child £3. 



SAT 25 AUG at 1pm-4pm 

Messy mud at Montrose 

Family fun day – afternoon for the kids to get 

messy with mud and craft activities. A chance 

to get out on the mud too. Bring wellies. Meet 

at Montrose Basin Visitor Centre. Adult £4, 

Concession £3, Family £7.50 (2 adults plus 2 




THU 30 AUG at 11am-3pm 

Guided walk to Loch of the Lowes 

Join the Ranger in a walk from Dunkeld through a 

variety of woodlands and fields to Loch of the Lowes, 

with time to enjoy our Visitor Centre and its ospreys, 

and then a return walk to Dunkeld (via alternative 

route). Meet at tourist information office, Market 

Square, Dunkeld. Adult £3, Concession/Members £2, 




13

Edinburgh 

and Lothians 


Carrifran Wildwood: past, present, future 

Illustrated talk on the Carrifran Wildwood project 

by George Moffat. Meet at 33 Melville Street, 

Edinburgh, EH3 7JF. Donation requested. 

Contact Averil Stewart 01506 842676 

Lothians Members’ Centre 

SAT 10 & SUN 11 MAR at 1pm-4pm 

Get out there! 

Come to the Royal Botanic Gardens and learn all 

about the wildlife on your doorstep. Scotland is 

home to some of the UK’s most amazing wildlife 

– come along and find out more. Meet at Real Life 

Science Studio, John Hope Gateway. Free. 



Scottish Wildlife Trust 

SAT 31 MAR at 7:15am-8:45am 

Dancing grebes on Linlithgow Loch 

Wildlife walk with the chance of seeing breeding 

great crested grebes and hearing the dawn chorus; 

led by Ian Lewis. Meet at car park by south west 

corner of loch. Access by Water Yett, 1/4 mile west of 

Linlithgow Palace and Market Cross. 



First Sun of month, Apr-Oct at 2pm-4pm 

Bawsinch open afternoons 

Guided walk on first Sun of month from 2 Apr to 

7 Oct. Includes entry to bird hide. Meet at wicket 

gate on Duddingston Road West (OS Landranger 

66: NT285725). Donation requested. 

Contact Ken Knowles 0131 539 6643 


SAT 14 APR at 10am-12 noon 

Birdwatching at the Lagoons 

Discover what birds are around on Musselburgh 

Lagoons. Identify their interesting calls and 

find out about the fish in the River Esk. Meet at 

Newhailes, Musselburgh. 

Contact Stuart Whittaker 0844 493 2124 

lothianranger@nts.org.uk 

Newhailes Detectives Club 

SAT 14 APR at 10:30am-12:30pm 

Visit to Aberlady Bay 

Reserve visit: mostly for the birds, led by John 

Harrison. Meet at Aberlady Bay Local Nature 

Reserve (OS Landranger 66: NT472804). 

Contact Colin Shepherd 0131 229 5427 


© Zsuzsanna Bird 


Our Lothians reserves, and AGM 

Short illustrated talks on three Lothians reserves 

followed by AGM. Meet at 33 Melville Street, 

Edinburgh, EH3 7JF. Donation requested. 



14

Visit to Woodhall Dean 

Guided walk around Woodhall Dean Wildlife 

Reserve with Lesley Fairweather. Meet at reserve. 

Parking limited up track from ford (OS Landranger 

67: NT685734). Car sharing recommended. 

Contact Lesley Fairweather 01875 340284 


© Rachel Scopes 


SAT 19 MAY at 10am-11:30am 

Wee beasties get a helping hand 

Visit Inveresk Garden and search for wee beasties. 

We will build mini-habitats for spiders, ladybirds 

and bees. Meet at Newhailes, Musselburgh. 




SAT 19 MAY at 2pm-4pm 

Birdwatching at Musselburgh Lagoons 

Watching waterfowl with Nick Aitken. Meet at 

Goose Green, end of Balcarres Road, near mouth 

of the Esk (OS Landranger 66: NT347734). 



TUE 22 MAY at 1pm-4pm 

Amazing diversity 

Celebrate the International Day for Biological 

Diversity by coming along to meet the Scottish 

Wildlife Trust at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Learn 

all about Scotland’s exciting wildlife! Meet at Real 

Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway. Free. 




SAT 16 JUN at 10am-11:30am 

Damselfly ceramics 

The detectives will be looking for dragonflies and 

damselflies at Inversesk Garden pond. Then we 

will make our own ceramic damselfly. Meet at 

Newhailes, Musselburgh. 





Johnston Terrace family open day 

Wildlife Trusts' "Our Garden Wildlife" event. 

Explore this wildlife oasis in the heart of the Old 

Town, in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. Wildlife 

and gardening activities suitable for all ages. Meet 

at Johnston Terrace, Castle Wynd Steps. Free. 

Contact Nick Wright 0131 312 4750 

Johnston Terrace Wildlife Reserve 

SAT 21 JUL at 9:30am-11:30am 

Visit to Aberlady Bay 

Reserve visit: moth trapping and more with John 

Harrison. Meet at Aberlady Bay Local Nature 

Reserve (OS Landranger 66: NT472804). 



THU 9 AUG at 8:45pm-10pm 

Bat watch at Blackford Pond 

Bat watching with volunteers from Lothians Bat 

Group. Bring insect repellent! Meet at the gate to 

Blackford Pond on Cluny Gardens at the junction with 

Oswald Road, Edinburgh. £3 donation requested. 



SAT 18 AUG at tbc 

Gorgie City Farm visit 

Visit to a community green space. Meet at tbc. 




15

Scottish 

Borders 


Berwickshire butterflies illustrated talk 

By Ian Cowe. Meet at Duns Church. £1.50 inc. teas. 

Contact Ron McBeath 01289 308516 

Berwickshire Members’ Centre 


Home and away illustrated talk 

By D. Methven and E. Middleton. Meet at Langlee 

Community Centre, Galashiels. Non-Members £1. 

Contact Malcolm Lindsay 01896 753425 

Central Borders Members’ Centre 


Members’ night - slides and curios 

Meet at Duns Parish Church. £1.50 including teas. 




AGM & film with Frank Brown 

At Langlee Community Centre. Non-Members £1. 



TUE 24 APR at tbc 

Watery wonders of the deep 

Ages 5-12. Meet at Focus Centre, Galashiels. 50p. 


Galashiels Wildlife Watch Group 

SAT 12 MAY at 11am-5pm 

Holy Island walk - birds, insects & plants 

Led by R. Crosbie. Meet at Beal end car park. Free. 




Hare Moss & Bemersyde Moss open day 

Learn about these two reserves and their wildlife. 

Families welcome. Meet at Hare Moss (NT471247) 

or Bemersyde Moss (NT614340). Free. 


or Frank Brown 01750 21819 


TUE 29 MAY at tbc 

Bushcraft session 

Create dens, make music, eat wild plants and get 

muddy! Meet at Focus Centre, Galashiels. Child 50p. 




Birds and botany at St Abbs 

Walk to the Mire Loch for spring migrants and 

spectacular cliffs hosting thousands of seabirds. 

Meet at Head Start Cafe, St Abbs (NT913674). Free. 

Contact John and Nancy Marshall 01896 850564 

Central Borders Members’ Centre & Borders RSPB 

TUE 19 JUN at tbc 

Walk and picnic at Wooplaw Woods 

Woodland walk, campfire and marshmallows! Bring 

picnic. Meet at Focus Centre, Galashiels. Child 50p. 




Flowers, moths and butterflies at Lindean 

Study Lindean's birdlife, butterflies and wild flowers. 

Meet at Lindean Reservoir car park (NT505293). Free. 


or Frank Brown 01750 21819 


16

Ayrshire & Arran and 

Dumfries & Galloway 

TUE 20 MAR at 7:30pm-9:30pm 

Mammals and birds of the Cairngorms 

Illustrated talk by Allan Bantick, Chairman of the 

Scottish Wildlife Trust. Meet at Horizon Hotel, 

Esplanade, Ayr, KA7 1DT. Free. 

Contact Wendy Annan 01292 264170 

swtayrshire@gmail.com 

Ayrshire Members’ Centre 

TUE 17 APR at 7:30pm-9:30pm 

Species conservation in riparian areas 

Illustrated talk on species conservation by Stuart 

Brabbs, Ayrshire Rivers Trust. Meet at Horizon 

Hotel, Esplanade, Ayr, KA7 1DT. Free. 

Contact Wendy Annan 01292 264170 

swtayrshire@gmail.com 

Ayrshire Members’ Centre 


Birdsong in spring 

Walk the Nature Trail at Cream o’ Galloway with 

the Trust's Graham Smith and enjoy the birdsong 

from resident and migrant songbirds. The Visitor 

Centre is 3 miles south of Gatehouse of Fleet (grid 

ref. NX600518). Bring sensible footwear. Free. 

Contact Graham Smith 01644 423881 

Galloway Members’ Centre 


Stenhouse Woods walk 

Enjoy the birds and plants in this ancient woodland 

with the Trust's Colin Mitchell, including pied 

flycatcher, redstart and the parasitic toothwort. 

Some steep slopes. Bring boots. Meet at Moniaive 

car park (by the river – grid ref. NX780910). Free. 




Carsegowan Moss walk 

Discover the insects and plants at Carsegowan 

with the Trust's Euan Macdonald, including the 

large heath butterfly and sundew. 4 miles south of 

Newton Stewart. Wellies essential. Meet at car park 

down farm track at Bishopburn (NX423595). Free. 




Dragonfly day at Barstobrick 

Join Trust Members at Barstobrick and enjoy the 

country walks and local wildlife, including dragonflies, 

damselflies, butterflies and moths. Barstobrick is 

2 miles north of Ringford off the A762. Meet at 

Barstobrick Visitor Centre (grid ref. NX684604). Free. 




Knockman Wood walk 

Insects and birds at Knockman with Peter Robinson 

of CVCWT and the Trust, including the dark green 

fritillary and keeled skimmer dragonfly. Knockman 

is 1 mile north of Newton Stewart. Bring sensible 

footwear. Meet at car park (NX408674). Free. 



SAT 18 AUG at 10:30am-1pm 

Rascarrel insect foray 

Search for butterflies, grasshoppers and other 

insects on the Rascarrel coastal path with Mark 

Pollitt of DGERC. Look out for the “conehead” cricket. 

Rascarrel Bay is 2 miles south of Auchencairn on 

the road to Rascarrel Farm. Bring sensible footwear. 

Meet at car park (NX801481). Free. 



17

Greater Glasgow 

and Clyde Valley 


Wild plants and gardens 

Illustrated talk by Roy Sexton of Stirling Members’ 

Centre. Meet at Milngavie Lesser Town Hall, 

Milngavie. £2 donation. 

Contact Jenny Maskell 01360 770336 

Clyde Members’ Centre 

SUN 11 MAR at 2pm-4pm 

Frogs and toads for beginners 

Tutorial about frogs and toads: life cycle, ponds, 

predators, perils and problems. With Froglife 

special guest Zoe Ross (12). Zoe will tell us how she 

helped save over 2,000 toads. Meet at Palacerigg 

Country Park. Adults £2.50, Child £1. Contact for 

full details and to book. 

Contact Patricia Stewart 0141 775 3850 

Cumbernauld Naturewatch 

FRI 16 MAR at 2pm-4pm 

Ranger-led walk at Falls of Clyde 

Go on a woodland walk through the stunning 

Clyde Valley Woodland NNR. Learn how to identify 

some of our most common native and non-native 

species. Find out about the history and folklore of 

the woods, and about the designed landscape at 

the Falls of Clyde. Meet at Visitor Centre. Adult £4, 

Child £2, Members half price. 

Contact Falls of Clyde 01555 665262 

Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre 

SAT 17 MAR at 9am-5pm 

Trip to Caerlaverock Wetland Centre 

A guided trip to Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, 

Dumfriesshire – a 1,400-acre reserve situated 

on the north Solway coast. Watch thousands of 

barnacle geese and whooper swans. Book early 

as only 16 places available. Meet at Lanark bus 

station. £11 including transport. 

Contact Jason/Josanne Newton 01555 893804 

Lanark Area Members’ Centre 

SAT 17 MAR at 1:30pm-4:30pm 

Winter birdlife at Endrick Mouth 

A walk in the woodlands by the Endrick Estuary 

near Gartocharn, Loch Lomond. Approx 4 miles. 

Wellies or waterproof boots essential. Meet at 

Gartocharn Millennium Hall car park. 

Contact David Shenton 0141 776 5506 


SUN 18 MAR at 10am-5pm 

Mother’s Day at the Falls of Clyde 

Free entry to Visitor Centre with a full paying child. 

Themed craft activities on offer throughout the 

day. New Lanark are also hosting this special offer 

in their Visitor Centre. Meet at Falls of Clyde. Adult 

£2, Concession £1, Child £1, Family £4, free to 

Members (and Mothers!) 



© Scottish Wildlife Trust 

Daily, 24 Mar to mid-Jun at 10am-8pm 

Britain’s best peregrine falcon viewing! 

Visit the nest site for an unrivalled opportunity to 

view wild peregrine falcons nesting on the side of 

the gorge. Meet at Visitor Centre. Free to all. 



18

Daily, 24 Mar to mid-Jun at 10am-5pm 

The Peregrine Experience 

Come and see the Peregrine Experience in our 

Visitor Centre. Live video footage of the resident 

peregrine falcons in an atmospheric viewing hide. 

Meet at Visitor Centre. Adult £2, Concession £1, 

Child £1, Family £4, Members free. 



SUN 25 MAR at 11am-2pm 

Guided walk at "The Pineapple" 

A walk of 2 to 3 miles on prepared muddy paths 

at NTS's "The Pineapple", near Airth. Good for 

birdsong and woodland flowers. Meet at NTS car 

park, up long drive from A905 north of Airth. Free. 

Contact Ruth Llewelyn 0141 576 2151 

Glasgow Members’ Centre 


Scottish ants 

Talk by Jonny Hughes, Director of Conservation 

at the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Meet at St Nicholas 

Parish Church Main Hall, Lanark. Members free, 

non-Members £1. 



WED 28 MAR at 7:30pm-9pm 

Ospreys talk 

Illustrated talk by Robert Fraser Binns, Education 

Officer for Forestry Commission Scotland, based 

at David Marshall Lodge. Meet at Airlie Theatre, 

Hyndland Secondary, Clarence Drive, Glasgow. £1 

(includes refreshments after talk). 



SUN (date tbc) APR at 11am-4pm 

Butterflies and moths for beginners 

Find out which plants and habitats they prefer and 

when to see them. With Butterfly Conservation 

Trust. Meet at Luggiebank Wood Wildlife Reserve. 

Free. Call for full details and to book. 



THU 5 & FRI 13 APR at 2pm-4pm 

Mini-beast hunt in New Lanark 

Become a mini-beast hunter, exploring the secret 

life of mini-beasts at the New Lanark World 

Heritage Site. Includes a visit to Scotland’s largest 

roof garden! Meet at Visitor Centre. Adult £4, Child 

£2, Members half price. 



FRI 6 – MON 9 APR at 10am-5pm 

Easter wildlife trail at Falls of Clyde 

Take part in our Easter wildlife trail. Collect your 

clue sheet from the Visitor Centre and return at 

the end for your prize. Lasts approximately 1 hour. 

Meet at Visitor Centre. £4 per family. 




Family woodland walk 

Wildlife Trusts' "Our Woodland Wildlife" event. 

Woodland wonder at Falls of Clyde with fun 

activities, including leaf bingo, nature crowns, 

scavenger hunts and more! Suitable for ages 5+. 

Adult £3, Child £1.50, Members half price. 



SUN 15 APR at tbc 

Falls of Clyde evening badger watch 

An evening stroll through ancient woodland 

experiencing the sights, scents and sounds of 

wildlife at dusk. A chance to view badgers, bats 

and other nocturnal creatures! Children must be 

over 8 years of age. Meet at Visitor Centre. Adult 

£8, Child £4, Members half price. 



© Neil Aldridge 

19


AGM and Trust planning issues 

Report to Members for 2011-12 and election of 

Office Bearers followed by a talk by Dr. Maggie 

Keegan (National Planning Coordinator for 

Scottish Wildlife Trust) and David Shenton of Clyde 

Members’ Centre. Maggie and David will provide a 

national and local perspective on planning issues. 

Meet at Clarkston Hall, Clarkston Rd, G76 8HE. Free. 

Contact Pat Lerpiniere 07543 497294 

cek.swt@gmail.com 

Clarkston & East Kilbride District Members’ Centre 


Backing the future – Scotland’s wildlife 

and landscapes in 2050 

AGM and illustrated talk with Jonny Hughes, Director 

of Conservation, Scottish Wildlife Trust. Meet at The 

Park Centre, Kerr Street, Kirkintilloch. £2 donation. 



SAT 21 APR at 10am-12:30pm 

Visit to Whitelee Wind Farm 

A guided walk with the Whitelee Ranger followed 

by viewing of an exhibition at the Visitor Centre. 

3 to 4 miles with resting points on the way. Meet 

at Whitelee Wind Farm Visitor Centre, Moor Rd, 

Eaglesham, G76 0QQ. Free. 





Guided walk in Mugdock Country Park 

A walk of 2 to 3 miles on prepared muddy paths in 

Mugdock Country Park. View flowers of woodland 

and moorland. Meet at stable courtyard beside 

Visitor Centre car park. Free. 

Contact Elspeth Mulholland 0141 942 9872 



Animals of the Cairngorm National Park 

Talk by Allan Bantick, Chairman of the Trust. Meet 

at St Nicholas Parish Church Main Hall, Lanark. 

Members free, non-Members £2. 



WED 25 APR at 7:15pm-9pm 

Cairngorms talk and AGM 

A short AGM followed by an illustrated talk on 

mammals and birds of the Cairngorms by Allan 

Bantick, Chairman of the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Meet 

at Airlie Theatre, Hyndland Secondary, Clarence 

Drive, Glasgow. £1 (includes refreshments after talk). 




Ratty’s new home 

A walk near Aberfoyle to see where water voles 

have been reintroduced. Approximately 6 miles. 

Meet at the west end of the main car park in the 

centre of Aberfoyle. 



THU 3 & FRI 18 MAY at tbc 











Raptors and other birds of Garelochhead 

A guided walk with John Simpson on MOD land 

near Garelochhead. Booking essential, no later 

than 27 Apr. Call Jenny for full details. 


Clyde and Glasgow Members’ Centres 

20

SAT 12 & 26 MAY at tbc 

Falls of Clyde family badger watch 

Follow the clues to a secret sett! As per badger 

evening but for a younger audience. Please note 

there is a 40 min walk to the sett. Meet at Visitor 

Centre. Adult £8, Child £3, Members half price. 



MON 14 MAY at 7:30pm-9:30pm 

Butterflies of South West Scotland 

An illustrated talk by Richard Sutcliffe of the 

Butterfly Conservation Trust and co-author of the 

book Butterflies of South West Scotland. Meet at 

Clarkston Hall, Clarkston Rd, G76 8HE. Members 

£2, non-Members £3, Under-16 free. 




SUN 20 MAY at 10:30am-1:30pm 

Dullatur Marsh – bugs, birds and botany 

Guided walk by Paul Carter. Learn about the 

marsh and the scary history of this amazing place. 

Returning via the Antonine Wall, Paul will tell us 

more of our local history. Bring a snack; no dogs 

allowed. Meet at Dullatur Railway Bridge. Free. Call 

for full details and to book. 




Visit to Inch Cailloch, Loch Lomond 

A guided tour of Inch Cailloch on good paths with 

a hilly section. See spring flowers and birds. Meet 

at McFarlane’s Boatyard, Balmaha. Ferry fare 

approximately £5. 



SUN 27 MAY at 5:30am-8:30am 

Dawn chorus walk at Cathkin 

Rise and shine for an early morning stroll to 

experience the legendary dawn chorus in all its 

glory. Bird expert Toby Wilson will be on hand to 

help us identify birds by sight and song. Bring stout 

footwear, warm clothes and binoculars if you have 

them. Meet at Cathkin Marsh. Free. 

Contact Katrina Martin 01236 457050 

Cathkin Marsh Wildlife Reserve 

WED 30 MAY at 7pm-9pm 

Wild flower identification for beginners 

Brush up on your flower identification skills with 

a walk in Merklands Nature Park, Kirkintilloch, led 

by Alan McBride from Mugdock CP Rangers. Meet 

at Nature Park car park on east side of Merkland 

Drive, Kirkintilloch. 



SUN 3 JUN at 11am-5:30pm 

Full day Cowal safari 

Morning wildlife walk along Loch Fyne and 

Ardkinglas Policies, among red squirrels and otters, 

led by Alasdair McCallum. After lunch, head for the 

hills of Cowal to track and follow herds of red deer 

hinds and fawns with Winston Churchill Venison. 

Meet at Ardkinglas House car park, Cairndow, 

Argyll. £20. Call for full details and to book. 



SUN 3 JUN at 2pm-4pm 

Pond-dipping and mini-beast hunt 

Discover the wee beasties that lurk in the ponds 

and vegetation at Cathkin. Wellies are essential. 

Places limited so book in advance to avoid 

disappointment. Meet at Cathkin Marsh. Free. 



21

SUN 3 JUN at tbc 










WED 6 JUN at 7:15pm-9:30pm 

Ballagan Glen walk 

A walk with reserve convenor, Dave Garner, to 

look for spring birds and flowers. The walk involves 

some steep terrain. Meet at Strathblane Parish 

Church car park, Campsie Glen Road. 

Contact Dave Garner 07825 780173 


SAT 9 JUN at 9am-5:30pm 

A citizen science event – bumblebees 

Lanark Area Members’ Centre joint event with the 

Bumblebee Conservation Trust and the Society 

of Biology Glasgow Branch. Please call for more 

information. As the event is to be held at the 

University of Stirling, a minibus will set off from 

Lanark bus station at 9am; back by 5pm. £11 – as 

spaces are limited, please book early. 




Beginners' photography workshop 

Spend the morning learning basic skills to help 

you take stunning photographs of wildlife. Bring 

stout footwear, suitable clothing and a camera. 

Places are limited so book in advance to avoid 





Joint outing on Bute 

A 5-mile walk over rough terrain with Bute 

Natural History Society: from Kilchattan, along the 

rocky shore to St. Blane’s Chapel, and return via 

farmland. Meet at CalMac ticket office, Wemyss 

Bay for 10:15am ferry. Ferry fare approximately £8, 

minibus approximately £4. 




Father’s Day at the Falls of Clyde 

Free entry to Visitor Centre with a full paying child. 

Themed craft activities on offer throughout the 

day. New Lanark are also hosting this special offer 

in their Visitor Centre. Meet at Falls of Clyde. Adult 

£2, Concession £1, Child £1, Family £4, free to 

Members (and Fathers!) 



TUE 12 JUN at 7:30pm-9:30pm 

Badgers and wildlife crime 

An illustrated talk by Joe Connelly. Come along 

and learn about badgers and their habitats. Find 

out how badgers, deer and hares are affected by 

wildlife crime. Meet at Ballerup Hall, Civic Centre, 

Andrew Street, East Kilbride, G74 1AB. Members 

£2, non-Members £3, Under-16 free. 




SUN 17 JUN at 11am-4:15pm 

Loch Ardinning family day 

Pond-dipping, guided walks and other activities 

from around noon. Displays and other information 

from 11am. Meet at Loch Ardinning dam on east 

side of A81 between Milngavie and Strathblane. 



22


Osprey watch and picnic 

Drop in at any time and stay as long as you like. The 

longer you stay the more ospreys you are likely to 

see! Meet at Carron Valley, near Kilsyth. Free. Call 




SUN 1 JUL at 2pm-5pm 

Discover the dragons of Cathkin Marsh 

Spend the afternoon searching for the dragonflies 

and damselflies of Cathkin Marsh. Bring wellies, 

suitable clothing and binoculars if you have them. 

Meet at Cathkin Marsh. Free. 



SUN 17 JUN at 5pm-8pm 

Midsummer on New Lanark roof garden 

In collaboration with New Lanark – live music, 

plant stalls, stargazing, talk on wildlife gardening 

and much more. Held in Scotland’s largest roof 

garden! Bookings to be taken through New Lanark 

Visitor Centre. Non-members £5, Members £4. 

Contact New Lanark 01555 661345 

New Lanark World Heritage Site 

SAT 7 & 21 JUL at 2pm-4pm 



life of mini-beasts at New Lanark World Heritage 

Site. Includes a visit to Scotland’s largest roof 

garden! Meet at Visitor Centre. Adult £4, Child £2, 

Members half price. 




Ranger-led walk at the Falls of Clyde 

Join the Ranger for a walk through the historic 

landscape and woodlands of the Corehouse Estate, 

with close-up views of the waterfalls. Meet at 

West Lodge, Corehouse. Adult £3, Child £1.50, 




Every Sun & Wed in Jul & Aug, 2pm-4pm 

Falls of Clyde guided wildlife walk 

Go on a woodland walk through the stunning 

Clyde Valley Woodland NNR. Learn how to identify 

some of our most common native and non-native 

species. Find out about the history and folklore of 

the woods, and about the designed landscape at 

the Falls of Clyde. Meet at Visitor Centre. Adult £4, 

Child £2, Members half price. 



7, 13, 19 & 28 JUL at tbc 


Evening stroll through ancient woodland 








SAT 14 JUL at 2pm-4pm 

Ranger-led walk at the Falls of Clyde 

Join the Ranger for a walk through the historic 

landscape and woodlands of the Corehouse estate, 

with close-up views of the waterfalls. Meet at 

West Lodge, Corehouse. Adult £3, Child £1.50, 




23

© Andrew Mason 

SUN 15 JUL at 1pm-4:30pm 

Guided walk at Cathkin 

Join us as we explore the beauty of Cathkin Marsh 

and Cathkin Braes on a 3-hour circular walk. Bring 

stout footwear, suitable clothing and a drink to 

keep you hydrated! Meet at Cathkin Marsh. Free. 




Carman Muir & Renton prehistoric hill fort 

Moorland wildlife and history. Hilly walk with fine 

views of the Clyde and Vale of Leven. Joint outing 

with Glasgow Members’ Centre. Meet at Renton 

Railway Station. 



SAT 21 JUL at tbc 








THU 26 JUL at 7:30pm-9:30pm 

Botany: reeds and grasses 

Back by popular demand, Dave Knox takes us 

on a botanical excursion, teaching us about the 

beautiful grasses and reeds we often overlook, but 

which play an important role in the lives of many 

other species. Meet at Luggiebank Wood Wildlife 

Reserve. Free. Contact for full details and to book. 




Marshland plant identification 

Learn how to identify the flora of Cathkin Marsh 

with the help of plant expert, Ben Averis. Bring 

wellies and suitable clothing. Places are limited so 

book in advance to avoid disappointment. Meet at 

Cathkin Marsh. Free. 



2, 17, 23 AUG at tbc 


Evening stroll through ancient woodland 











life of mini-beasts in New Lanark World Heritage 

Site. Includes a visit to Scotland’s largest roof 

garden! Meet at Visitor Centre. Adult £4, Child £2, 




SAT 4 & 11 AUG at tbc 








24

THU 9 AUG at 8:15pm-10pm 

Evening bat walk at Falls of Clyde 

Learn about British bats, how to identify them and 

where best to find them. The Rangers will take you 

on a guided walk around the reserve. Long sleeves 

and insect repellent are advisable if you’re prone 

to being bitten by midges! Meet at Visitor Centre. 

Adult £6, Child £3, Members half price. 



SUN 19 AUG at 10am-5pm 

The secret life of honey bees 

Come and see the observation hive. Learn about the 

honey bee, find out about beekeeping, taste Scottish 

honey and take a visit up to Scotland’s largest roof 

garden in New Lanark to see the bees gathering 

nectar for their hive! Meet at Visitor Centre. Adult £2, 

Concession/Child £1, Family £4, free to Members. 



FRI 17 AUG at 9pm-11pm 

Bat walk at Cathkin 

Wrap up warm and join us for a fun evening 

learning all about these fascinating mammals. The 

walk ends with a warm cup of hot chocolate. Bring 

stout footwear, waterproof clothing and a torch. 

Places are limited so book in advance to avoid 




SAT 18 AUG at 10am-1pm 

Baron’s Haugh reserve 

A guided walk with reserve ranger, Pardeep Chand, 

to look for wetland and woodland birds in this RSPB 

reserve at Motherwell. Packed lunch optional. Joint 

outing with Glasgow Members’ Centre. Meet at 

reserve car park, Manse Road, Motherwell. 



SAT 18 AUG at 10am-5pm 

Celebrating National Honey Bee Day! 

Come and see the observation hive. Learn about 

the honey bee, find out about beekeeping, taste 

Scottish honey and take a visit up to Scotland’s 

largest roof garden in New Lanark to see the bees 

gathering nectar for their hive! Meet at Visitor 

Centre. Adult £2, Concession £1, Child £1, Family 

£4, free to Members. 



SUN 19 AUG at 10:30am-4pm 

Mammal tracks and signs 

Who has been here? Who lives there? Who made 

this trail? Learn to identify the different signs made 

by badgers, watervoles, squirrels, deer, rabbits, 

otters, foxes and voles. The morning session will be 

a tutorial to prepare us for the afternoon’s practical 

identification. Meet at Palacerigg Country Park and 

Luggiebank Reserve. Adults £15, Child £5. Contact 





An evening encounter with moths 

Learn about moths with the Rangers and a local 

expert. We will be setting up a variety of traps 

and sugar ropes to entice these misunderstood 

creatures out into the open. Meet at Visitor 




SUN 26 AUG at 10am-3pm 

New Lanark circular guided walk 

Beginning at the Visitor Centre, we will head up the 

Clyde Walkway to Bonnington Bridge then back down 

the other side to Kirkfieldbank. We will then cross 

over the river and make our way back to New Lanark. 

On the way the Ranger will point out interesting 

natural and historic features. Meet at Visitor Centre. 

Adult £6, Child £3, Members half price. 



25

Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond 

and Stirling & the Trossachs 

SAT 3 MAR at 10:30am-12:30pm 

Wildlife gardening – bug mansions 

Come along and lend a hand making a huge hotel 

for creepy crawlies in the Jupiter Watch Group 

wildlife garden. Meet at Jupiter Urban Wildlife 

Centre. Child £1. 

Contact Stephen Owen 01324 486475 

Jupiter Wildlife Watch Group 


Breathing new life into old woods 

Woodlanders: breathing new life into old woods. 

Talk by Ian Edwards (RBGE). Meet at Raploch 

Community Campus, Stirling. £3, Student £1. 

Contact Sue Sexton 01786 833409 

Stirling Members’ Centre 


The role of the North Sea Bird Club 

Illustrated talk. Meet at St Andrew’s Church Hall, 

Leny Road, Callander. £2, free to full-time students. 

Contact Lesley Hawkins 01877 339080 

mlhawkins@tiscali.co.uk 

Callander Members’ Centre 


The Western Isles 

Talk by Angus Smith. Meet at Falkirk Christian 

Centre, Glebe Street, Falkirk. £1. 

Contact Andrea McCabe 01324 559700 

Falkirk Members’ Centre 


Beyond boundaries: the future of 

wildlife conservation in Scotland 

Talk by Jonny Hughes (the Trust's Director 

of Conservation) and AGM. Meet at Raploch 

Community Campus, Stirling. Adult £3, Student £2. 

Contact Sue Sexton 01786 833409 

Stirling Members’ Centre 

THU 5 APR at 10:30am-12:30pm 

Dawn chorus time 

Come along for a morning walk in the woods with the 

Jupiter Ranger and get to know some of our common 

bird species. Meet at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre. 

Donation (suggested £2 per person). 


Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre 


Scottish Beaver Trial update 

Talk by Simon Jones, Beaver Project Manager – a 

first-hand account of how our beaver families are 

faring in Knapdale. Meet at Dunoon Camera Club, 

Castle Street, Dunoon. £2.50. Call for full details or 

to lend a hand with the event. 


Clyde Members' Centre - Cowal 


Junior beaver explorers 

Explore the site of the Scottish Beaver Trial. Search 

for beaver signs, discover how a beaver lives and 

try your hand at dam building. Suitable for children 

age 4+ years. Meet at Barnluasgan Information 

Centre, Knapdale Forest, Argyll. £1 Child, Under-5 

and Adult free. 

Contact Scottish Beaver Trial 0131 314 0335 

Scottish Beaver Trial 

26


Eggstravagant Easter 

A spring walk, followed by Easter egg painting and 

rolling competition. Please bring a hard boiled egg 

per person! Meet at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre. 





Rivers, wildlife & 30 years of brown trout 

Illustrated talk and AGM. Meet at St Andrew’s 

Church Hall, Leny Road, Callander. £2, free to fulltime 

students. 




SAT 7 APR at 6:30pm-8:30pm 

Beaver explorers 

Look for beaver signs, try your hand at dam 

building and have a go at beaver spotting. Suitable 

for children age 8+ years. Meet at Barnluasgan 

Information Centre, Knapdale Forest, Argyll. £1 

Child, Under-5 and Adult free. 




Red squirrel projects 

Talk by Scottish Wildlife Trust Member – how 

Cowal is taking up the challenge and what still 

needs to be done. Meet at Dunoon Camera Club, 

Castle Street, Dunoon. £2.50. Call for full details or 

to lend a hand with the event. 


Clyde Members' Centre - Cowal 

WED 11 APR at 2pm-4pm 

Wild food wander 

Search out some tasty edible treats with the 

Jupiter Ranger. There will be wild salad to munch 

on and natural herbal teas to swig. Meet at Jupiter 

Urban Wildlife Centre. Suggested donation £2 pp. 



SAT 14 APR at 10:30am-12:30pm 

Jupiter 20th anniversary ceramics 

Get creative and make some wildlife-inspired 

ceramic tiles as part of Jupiter’s 20th anniversary 

celebrations. Meet at Jupiter. Child £1. 




Wildlife on the Braes of Doune 

Wildlife walk with Kevin Duffy. Meet at Doune, 

details tbc. Free. 





AGM and Members’ slides 

Talk by Nicki Baker, Friends of the Ochils, AGM and 

Members’ slides. Meet at Falkirk Christian Centre, 

Glebe Street, Falkirk. £1. 

Contact Andrea McCabe 01324 559700 

Falkirk Members’ Centre 


Through the lens of a birdwatcher 

Illustrated talk by Terry Robilliard, and AGM. 

Meet at Scottish Marine Institute, Dunstaffnage. 

Members free, non-Members £2.50. 

Contact Maurice Wilkins 01852 200366 

Lorn & Mid-Argyll Members’ Centre 

FRI 4 MAY at 6pm-8pm 

Spring evening campfire cook out 

Come along and make the most of the long spring 

evenings. We will be practising our fire lighting 

skills and cooking some fine food on the camp fire. 

Parents and guardians most welcome too. Meet at 

Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre. Child £1. 



27

TUE 15, 22 & 29 MAY at 6pm-7:30pm 

Dubh Loch guided walk 

Guided walk around the Beaver Trial site. Meet at 

Barnluasgan Information Centre, Knapdale Forest, 

Argyll. £2 Adult, £1 Child, Under-5 free. 

Contact Scottish Beaver Trial 01546 603346 


SAT 26 MAY all day 

Kilmartin Gala 

Come and see the Scottish Beaver Trial at the 

Kilmartin Gala. Meet at The Village Green, Kilmartin. 

Visit www.scottishbeavers.org.uk 


SAT 26 MAY at 1pm-4pm 

Jupiter 20th anniversary celebrations 

Come along and help celebrate Jupiter’s 20th 

anniversary! On this special day there will be 

all kinds of fun drop-in workshops for all ages 

taking place throughout the gardens, woods and 

wetlands. Meet at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre. 




TUE 5, 12, 19 & 26 JUN at 6pm-7:30pm 








Getting arty in the wilds 

Spend the morning getting creative with some 

of the many natural materials that can be found 

around Jupiter’s woods, gardens and fields. 

Everyone can be a budding artist and create some 

fantastic pictures and sculptures. Meet at Jupiter 

Urban Wildlife Centre. Child £1. 




Wildlife photography for everyone 

You don’t have to be a photography whizz to take 

amazing pictures of wildlife. Photography is a great 

way to explore the natural world. Bring a camera 

if you can, even a camera phone will do. Meet at 

Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre. Donation (suggested 

£2 per person). 




Orchids around Callander 

Identification walk. Meet at Ancaster Square, 

Callander. Free. 




TUE 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 JUL at 6pm-7:30pm 







WED 4 JUL at 2pm-4pm 

Creepy crawly time 

With summer well and truly here, the bugs are 

out in force! Come along and have a rummage in 

amongst the woods and meadows as we search 

for all kinds of little creatures, from spiders to 

millipedes. Meet at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre. 




28

SAT 7 JUL at 10:30am-12:30pm 

Photographic wildlife detectives 

Survey some of the many plants and animals at 

Jupiter by taking photos of them. We will work out 

what they are back at Jupiter base camp. Bring along 

a camera if you; even a camera phone will do. Meet 

at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre. Child £1. 



SAT 7 & 21 JUL at 2pm-4pm 










SAT 7 & 21 JUL at 6:30pm-8:30pm 


Join us as we search for beavers at the Scottish 

Beaver Trial site. Look for beaver signs, try your 

hand at dam building and have a go at beaver 

spotting. Suitable for children age 8+ years. Meet 

at Barnluasgan Information Centre, Knapdale 

Forest, Argyll. £1 Child, Under-5 and Adult free. 



THU 12 JUL at 2pm-4pm 

Aquatic delights 

Join the ranger to search out some of the dwellers of 

the ponds’ depths. From water scorpions to leeches, 

there are plenty of weird and wonderful things below 

the surface. Expect some fun watery games and 

crafts as well. Meet at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre. 




SAT 14 JUL at 2pm-4pm 

Jupiter wildlife olympics 

On the Wildlife Trusts' “Our Garden Wildlife Day”, 

help carry out some simple wildlife surveys and get 

to know some of the common species you might 

find in your garden or nearby parks. The afternoon 

is also part of the Cultural Olympiad “Meet the 

Species” events. Meet at Jupiter Urban Wildlife 

Centre. Donation (suggested £2 per person). 



THU 19 JUL at 2pm-4pm 

Magical woodland creatures 

Head out to the forest and try your hand at making 

mystical puppets and woodland creatures. Let your 

imagination run wild, and there will even be the 

chance to put on a show with your new creations. 

Meet at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre. Donation 

(suggested £2 per person). 



WED 25 JUL at 2pm-4pm 

Eight legs and webs 

Whatever you think about spiders, they are 

fascinating creatures. We will be tracking down as 

many spiders as we can, as well as getting to know 

more about their lives through some fun games 

and activities. Meet at Jupiter Urban Wildlife 

Centre. Donation (suggested £2 per person). 



SUN 29 JUL all day 

Crinan Canal Water Festival 

Come and see the Scottish Beaver Trial at the 

Crinan Canal Festival, also featuring dragon boat 

racing, kite flying and dingy sailing. Meet at 

Dunardry Lock Flight, Crinan Canal. 

Visit www.scottishcanals.co.uk 


29

30 

TUE 31 JUL at 2pm-4pm 

Brilliant butterflies 

There are plenty of beautiful, colourful butterflies 

to be seen at Jupiter. We will try to locate as many 

as we can, and get involved in some fun games and 

crafts to find out how they eat, move and grow. 





SAT 4 AUG at 10:30am-12:30pm 

Super shelter building 

Head off to the woods to build brilliant shelters 

out of branches, twigs, leaves and tarps. Meet at 

Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre. Child £1. 



TUE 7, 14, 21 & 28 AUG at 6pm-7:30pm 







WED 8 AUG at 2pm-4pm 

Clever camouflage 

There are many creatures that make a fine job of 

blending into their surroundings. We will have a 

look at a few and see how they do it, before having 

a shot at camouflaging ourselves. Expect to get 

messy! Meet at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre. 




SAT 11 AUG all day 

Mid-Argyll Agricultural Show 

Visit the Beaver Trial stand at the Mid-Argyll 

Show. The show features livestock competitions, 

sheep shearing, flowers, produce and children's 

entertainment. Meet at Kilmory, Lochgilphead. 

Visit www.mid-argyllshow.co.uk 



Getting arty with natural paints and dyes 

Squeezing leaves, mashing up ash and clay, and 

squishing brambles - what colours can nature 

provide? Use your new paints to create artwork to 

take home. Meet at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre. 




SUN 12 AUG at 2pm-4pm 










SUN 12 AUG at 6:30pm-8:30pm 


Join us as we search for beavers at the Scottish 

Beaver Trial site. Look for beaver signs, try your 

hand at dam building and have a go at beaver 

spotting. Suitable for children age 8+ years. Meet 

at Barnluasgan Information Centre, Knapdale 

Forest, Argyll. £1 Child, Under-5 and Adult free. 



WED 15 AUG at 2pm-4pm 

Get lost: orienteering challenge 

Do you think that you have a good sense of 

direction? If so, come and try our tricky Jupiter 

orienteering challenge! It will take you to the 

farthest reaches of the wild woods and beyond. 




Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre

further 

information 

For further information about Members’ Centres, please contact 

Nick Wright on 0131 312 4750. Alternatively, if you would like to submit 

events for this leaflet, please email cthompson@swt.org.uk 

For more details on any of the events in this leaflet, 

please contact the relevant Members’ Centre or Visitor Centre. 

MEMBERS’ CENTRES 

Aberdeen 

Rodney Payne 01569 763742 

Angus & Dundee 

Liz Houghton 01307 818302 

Ayrshire 

Wendy Annan 01292 264170 

Berwickshire 

Ron McBeath 01289 308516 

Callander 

Lesley Hawkins 01877 339080 

Central Borders 

Shirley McLaren / Alan Pringle 

01896 822510 

Clarkston & East Kilbride 

Pat Lerpiniere 07543 497294 

Clyde 

Patricia Stewart 0141 775 3850 

Falkirk 

Andrea McCabe 01324 559700 

Fife & Kinross 

Deborah Cottam 01333 422116 

Galloway 

Graham Smith 01644 420881 

Glasgow 

Ruth Llewelyn 0141 576 2151 

Lanark 

Josanne Newton 01555 893804 

Lorn & Mid-Argyll 

Maurice Wilkins 01852 200366 

Lothians 

Averil Stewart 01506 842676 

North Angus 

Joyce Cooper 01674 676783 

North of Scotland 

Patric Baird 01349 830737 

Perth 

Charlie MacPherson 01738 552972 

Pitlochry 

Liz Nicholson 01882 634307 

Skye 

David Ashford 01471 833463 

Stirling 

Sue Sexton 01786 833409 

Upper Strathearn 

Anne Baker 

a.baker445@btinternet.com 

MAJOR PROJECTS 


Polly Phillpot 0131 314 0335 


Viv Halcrow 01854 655212 

VISITOR AND WILDLIFE CENTRES 


Laura Whitfield 01555 665262 


Stephen Owen 01324 486475 


Jonathan Pinnick 01350 727337 


Laura Dennis 01674 676336 


Katrina Martin 01236 457050 

Highlands & Islands 

Glen Campbell 07920 468567 

Irvine Greenspaces 

Gill Smart 01294 279376 

Isle of Eigg (Mar – Sept) 

John Chester 01687 482477 


Laura Smith 01343 820339 

WILDLIFE WATCH 

Donna Mathieson 0131 312 4712 

scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/kids 

If you have any questions about protecting 

Scotland’s wildlife, please contact us: 


Harbourside House 110 Commercial Street Edinburgh EH6 6NF 

T 0131 312 7765 F 0131 312 8705 E enquiries@swt.org.uk 

31


and People’s Postcode Lottery 

Snowdrops © Amy Lewis 

Supporting Scotland’s natural habitats 


would like to thank all the 

players of People’s Postcode 

Lottery, from whom we’ve 

received over £2 million to 

support our work. 

These funds have helped us to 

look after Scotland’s natural 

habitats, provide ranger services 

and much much more. As well as 

covering the running costs of all 

three of our visitor centres, 

funding is helping the Trust to 

reconnect Scotland’s urban and 

rural landscapes to help wildlife 

thrive. Encouraging seasonal 

native plants such as snowdrops 

to flourish helps to create living 

landscapes for all to enjoy. 

As well as supporting our work, 

People’s Postcode Lottery offers 

you the opportunity to win 

fantastic sums of money every 

single day. 

The April Millions draw is just 

around the corner. One lucky 

postcode will scoop £1million – 

will it be yours? Sign up today for 

your chance to win! 

All the money raised in Scotland stays in Scotland, benefiting charities like Scottish Wildlife Trust 

www.postcodelottery.co.uk 0808–10•9•8•7•6•5

activities events and - Scottish Wildlife Trust

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