Events & Activities

NovEmbEr 2009 – mArch 2010

Scottish Wildlife Trust | Autumn/Winter Events 2009 2

Aberdeenrodney Payne 01569 76374219 November 7.30pm Talk: Painting wildlife by Derek Robertson. Meet at main lecture theatre, Zoology Building, Aberdeen University.SWT member free.

21 January 7.30pm Talk: Priorities for spider conservation by Mike Davison. Meet at main lecture theatre, Zoology Building, Aberdeen University. SWT member free.

18 February 7.30pm Talk: Seaweeds in a changing environment by Clare Scanlan. Meet at main lecture theatre, Zoology Building, Aberdeen University. SWT member free.

18 march 7.30pm Talk: A new breeding bird atlas for NE Scotland by Ian Francis. Meet at main lecture theatre, Zoology Building, Aberdeen University. SWT member free.

AberfeldyTim Fison 01887 87720710 January 7.30pm Talk: Action for wildlife by Antonio Pinilla and Fergus Crystal. Meet at Lesser Town Hall, Aberfeldy. Adult £2. SWT member £1.

11 December 7.30pm Talk: Argentina tropics to Patagonia by Eric McCabe. Meet at Locus Centre, Aberfeldy. Adult £2. SWT member £1.

Events & Activities

Welcome to the November – march events guide.

Go wild in Scotland from November to March and take part in one of our exciting events. There are lots of things to do and we have events suitable for all ages. All events are open to non-members unless otherwise stated.• Learn about wildlife in Scotland and other countries in our illustrated talks• Explore new areas by joining a guided walk • Find our about our major beaver reintroduction project in Knapdale• Discover the wonderful Cairngorm wildlife

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

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

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14 January 7.30pm Talk: Will the Scottish red squirrel survive the squirrelpox? by Dr Peter Nettleton. Meet at Lesser Town Hall, Aberfeldy. Adult £2. SWT member £1.

Angus & DundeeLiz houghton 01307 81830226 November 7.30pm Talk: Alpine flowers by Mike Almond. Meet at Meffan Gallery, West High Street, Forfar. Adult £3.50.

30 January 10am Walk followed by pub lunch. Meet at Ranger’s Centre, Forfar Loch (grid ref: NO451507).

18 march 7.30pm Talk: Whales & dolphins in the 21st Century by Ian Cumming. Meet at Meffan Gallery, West High Street, Forfar. Adult £3.50.

AyrshireWendy Annan 01292 26417017 November 7.30pm Talk: The Ayrshire Coastal Path by Jimmy Begg. Meet at The Green Room, The Refectory, SAC Auchincruive, Ayr.

19 January 7.30pm Talk: Birding down under by Angus Hogg. Meet at The Green Room, The Refectory, SAC Auchincruive, Ayr.

16 February 7.30pm Talk: Ayrshire Rivers Trust and a whole lot more by Stuart Brabbs. Meet at The Green Room, The Refectory, SAC Auchincruive, Ayr.

16 march 7.30pm Talk: The return of the beaver by Simon Jones, Scottish Beaver Trial Project Manager. Meet at The Green Room, The Refectory, SAC Auchincruive, Ayr.

members centres

Callander Members Centre Callander in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park is a lively and bustling Highland town and a popular tourist resort. The Callander Members Centre took advantage of a busy Saturday to set up a stall to raise funds and recruit members.

Setting up the stall in front of the busy Tourist Information Centre in the town square with banners, displays, quiz and a colouring competition for children, MC volunteers set about the task of recruiting, raising funds and talking about the work of SWT to locals and visitors. The day was a great success with funds raised, members recruited and a young girl’s drawing of a wildcat winning the colouring competition, entitling her to a free SWT Junior Membership for a year.

Dolphins bow-riding © Charlie Phillips (see Angus & Dundee 18 March)

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members centres

central bordersShirley mcLaren 01896 822510.12 November 7.30pm Illustrated talk: Eye of newt, tongue of frog by Peter Leach. Meet at Langlee Centre, Marigold Drive, Galashiels. Adult £1, child free, SWT member free.

10 December 7.30pm Illustrated talk: Images of the Arctic. Meet at Langlee Centre, Marigold Drive, Galashiels. Adult £1, child free, SWT member free.

14 January 7.30pm Illustrated talk and members’ night. Meet at Langlee Centre, Marigold Drive, Galashiels. Adult £1, child free, SWT member free.

11 February 11 7.30pm Illustrated talk: Botanical exploration of China by David Long. Meet at Langlee Centre, Marigold Drive, Galashiels. Adult £1, child free, SWT member free.

11 march 7.30pm Illustrated talk: The art of nature by Liz Hanson. Meet at Langlee Centre, Marigold Drive, Galashiels. Adult £1, child free, SWT member free.

clydeJenny maskell 01360 77033612 November 7.30pm Talk: Wild plants and their uses in medicine by Roy Sexton. Meet at Milngavie Lesser Town Hall, Milngavie. Donations £2.

8 December 7.30pm Members night: Lions, lochs and lots more. Meet at The Park Centre, 45 Kerr Street, Kirkintilloch. Donations £2.

berwickshireJohn Kay tel: 018289 39754228 November 10 – 11.30am Coffee morning: Meet at Duns Parish Church Hall (grid ref: NT786539). Adult £1.

3 December 7.30pm Talk: St. Abbs Head by speaker from National Trust for Scotland. Meet at Duns Parish Church Hall (grid ref: NT786539). Adult £1.

7 January 7.30pm AGM and members slides: Meet at Duns Parish Church Hall (grid ref: NT786539).

callander cherie bettison 01877 330847

Bumblebee on flower © Darin Smith (see Clyde 11 February)

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11 February 7.30pm Talk: Birds, bees and butterflies - wildlife friendly gardening. Meet at Milngavie Lesser Town Hall, Milngavie. Donations £2.

Falkirk margaret Wotherspoon 01324 717031

Fife and KinrossElizabeth Adams 01333 4502674 November 7.30pm Members Centre AGM and talk: Damming and blasting for conservation by Patrick Bowden Smith. Meet at Supper Room, Town Hall, St. Andrews. Refreshments £2.

5 December 10am – 12 noon Christmas coffee morning: Fundraiser for SWT. Help and usual donations please. Meet at Crail Parish Church Hall, Marketgate, Crail. Adult £1.50, SWT member £1.50.

9 January Tbc Visit: Winter wildlife by RSPB Reserve Warden. Meet at RSPB Reserve Vane Farm, Kinross. Entrance fee, free to RSPB members.

21 January 7.30pm Illustrated talk: Follow-up to Isle of May visit (June 2009) with an introduction by the NNR Warden. Meet at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Hall, Hope Street, Inverkeithing. Adult £2.

17 February 7.30pm Illustrated talk and joint meeting with Pitcairn Society: Woodlands by John Christie (TBC). Meet at Lomond Centre, Glenrothes. Adult £2.

18 march 7.30pm Illustrated talk and joint meeting with Kinross Camera Club: speaker to

be arranged. Meet at Church Centre, Kinross. Donations welcome.

GallowayGraham Smith 01644 4208814 November 7.30pm AGM and illustrated talk: A study of badgers by Elaine Rainey. Meet at St. Ninians Church Hall, Castle Douglas.

2 December 7.30pm Illustrated talk: Planning for wildlife in Dumfries & Galloway by Peter Norman. Meet at St. Ninians Church Hall, Castle Douglas.

6 January 7.30pm Illustrated talk: Grasslands – the world at your feet by Pam Pumphrey. Meet at St. Ninians Church Hall, Castle Douglas.

3 February 7.30pm Illustrated talk: All about bumblebees by Bob Dawson. Meet at St. Ninians Church Hall, Castle Douglas.

3 march 7.30pm Illustrated talk: Wildlife of the Cairngorms by Allan Bantick, SWT Chairman. Meet at St. Ninians Church Hall, Castle Douglas.

Glasgow & clydesideruth Llewelyn 0141-576215127 January 7.30pm Illustrated talk: Urban wildlife and the Jupiter Project by Stephen Owen. Meet at The Library, Lauderdale Building, Hyndland Secondary, Clarence Drive. Donations £1 towards tea/coffee & baking.

21 February 11.00am Guided walk: Woodland walk at Finlaystone. Meet at visitor’s car park, Finlaystone Country Estate. Adult £4, child £2.50, SWT member £2.50.

members centres

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members centres

8 December 7.30pm Talk: Westering home by David Jardine, Forestry Commission Scotland. Meet at Special Unit, Inverness Royal Academy. Adult £2.

21 January 7.30pm Talk: On the reintroduction of the beaver by Allan Bantick, SWT Chairman. Visit from Jean Barr, Vice-Chairman for Members Centres and Watch. Meet at Special Unit, Inverness Royal Academy. Adult £2.

18 February 7.30pm Talk: The work of the SWT north office, marine species, habitats and wildlife reserves by Mark Foxwell, SWT Reserves Manager for North Scotland. Meet at Special Unit, Inverness Royal Academy. Adult £2.

Lanark Area Josanne Newton 01555 89380424 November 7.30pm Talk: The Divers Marine Life Rescue by Jo Hedley, BDMLR Assistant Co-ordinator, Edinburgh Region. Meet at St. Nicholas Parish Church Main Hall, Castlegate, Lanark. Donations £1.

15 December 7.30pm Talk: Members talks and social. Meet at St. Nicholas Parish Church Main Hall, Castlegate, Lanark. Donations £1.

26 January 7.30pm Talk: Badgers of Strathclyde by Steve Jackson and Ann McKillop, Strathclyde Badger and Mammal Network. Meet at St. Nicholas Parish Church Main Hall, Castlegate, Lanark. Donations £1.

23 February 7.30pm Talk: Langlands Moss Local Nature Reserve by John R. Hawell, Senior Countryside Ranger, South Lanarkshire Council. Meet at St. Nicholas Parish Church Main Hall, Castlegate, Lanark. Donations £1.

24 February 7.30pm Illustrated talk: Biting beasties by Geoff Hancoc, Glasgow University. Meet at The Library, Lauderdale Building, Hyndland Secondary, Clarence Drive. Donations £1 towards tea/coffee & baking.

21 march 11.00am Guided walk: Dollar Glen and Castle Campbell. Meet at the junction of A91 and signed road for Dollar Glen (grid ref: NS963979).

24 march 7.30pm Illustrated talk: The return of the beaver by Simon Jones, Scottish Beaver Trial Project Manager. Meet at The Library, Lauderdale Building, Hyndland Secondary, Clarence Drive. Donations £1 towards tea/coffee & baking.

Inner moray FirthJim miller 01463 71355219 November 7.30pm Talk: Mammals of Europe by Callum Rankine. Meet at Special Unit, Inverness Royal Academy. Adult £2.

Beaver © Kenneth Malcolm (see Glasgow & Clydeside 24 March)

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30 march 7.30pm Talk: An update on the reintroduction of beavers to Scotland by Simon Jones, Scottish Beaver Trial Project Manager. Meet at St. Nicholas Parish Church Main Hall, Castlegate, Lanark. Donations £1.

Lorn & mid-Argyllmaurice Wilkins 01631 71037618 November Talk: The benefit of marine protected areas by David Ainslie. Meet at Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Dunbeg.

9 December Talk: The challenges of wildlife videography by Bob Grove. Meet at Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Dunbeg.

14 January Talk: Wildlife encounters in Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands by Frithjof Kuepper. Meet at Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Dunbeg.

17 February Talk: Thirty years with badgers by David Croucher. Meet at Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Dunbeg.

24 march Talk: A garden of British ferns by Alastair Wardlaw. Meet at Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Dunbeg.

LothiansAveril Stewart 01506 84267612 November 7.30pm Talk: Celebrating and protecting Scotland’s seas by Calum Duncan. Meet at 33 Melville Street, Edinburgh. Donations welcome.

14 November 10.30am Outdoor event: Musselburgh Lagoons led by Nick Aitken. Meet at Goose Green, end of Balcarres Road, near river mouth (grid ref: NT347734).

10 December 7.30pm Talk: Nature’s wild harvest by Ian Edwards. Meet at 33 Melville Street, Edinburgh. Donations welcome.

11 February 7.30pm Talk: Eye of newt and toe of frog - amphibian and reptile magic by Peter Leach. Meet at 33 Melville Street, Edinburgh. Donations welcome.

11 march 7.30pm Talk: Moths by John Harrison. Meet at 33 Melville Street, Edinburgh. Donations welcome.

27 march 10.30am Outdoor event: Musselburgh Lagoons led by Nick Aitken. Meet at Goose Green, end of Balcarres Road, near river mouth. (grid ref: NT347734).

members centres

Scaly male fern © Alan Price (see Lorn & Mid-Argyll 24 March)

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members centres

North Angus Joyce cooper 01674 676783

Perthmoira hutchinson 01738 8287506 November 7.30pm Talk: Biodiversity in Tayside by Cath Lloyd. Meet at Luncarty Church Centre.

4 December 7.30pm Joint meeting with PSNS and talk: Whales, dolphins & porpoises in the Firth of Forth by Nikki McLeod. Meet at Perth Museum.

15 January 7.30pm Talk: Scottish insects by Iain MacGowan. Meet at Luncarty Church Centre.

12 February 7.30pm Talk: Perthshire wildflowers by Alistair Godfrey. Meet at Luncarty Church Centre.

12 march 7.30pm Talk: Wildlife of Antartica by Moira Hutchison. Meet at Luncarty Church Centre.

Pitlochry richard horobin 01796 474480

Skye marjorie macInnes 01470 52121516 November 7.30pm Talk: In the land of Prester John. A birding trip to Ethiopia by Mike Betts. Meet at Tigh na Sgire, Portree. Adult £2, SWT member £1.

21 January 7.30pm Talk: Wildlife mitigation measures. A safe passage for all….or are they? By Roger Cottis. Meet at Tigh na Sgire, Portree. Adult £2, SWT member £1.

16 February 7.30pm Talk: Geology of Skye and the west coast of Scotland by Peter Reynolds. Meet at Tigh na Sgire, Portree. Adult £2, SWT member £1.

18 march 7.30pm Talk: Rhododendron ponticum. Problem? What problem? by James Merryweather. Meet at Tigh na Sgire, Portree. Adult £2, SWT member £1.

StirlingSue Sexton 01786 8334099 November 7.30pm Talk: Wetland birds of the Forth Estuary by Neil Calbrade, BTO Thetford. Meet at Raploch Community Campus, Stirling. Adult £2

14 December 7.30pm Talk: Scottish plant conservation at The Botanics by Heather McHaffie, RBGE. Meet at Raploch Community Campus, Stirling. Adult £2.

11 January 7.30pm Talk: The Flying Flock by Tim Brain, SWT Conservation Shepherd. Meet at Raploch Community Campus, Stirling. Adult £2.

8 February 7.30pm Talk: Structures built by animals: how do they do it? by Professor Mike Hansell, Glasgow University. Meet at Raploch Community Campus, Stirling. Adult £2.

8 march 7.30pm Talk: Wildlife of the Cairngorms National Park by Allan Bantick, SWT Chairman. Meet at Raploch Community Campus, Stirling. Adult £2.

Upper Strathearn bob Fryer 01764 670526

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Watch Groups

Kelburn kids go wildlife crazyKelburn Wildlife Watch club hosted the annual Inter-Club challenge this year and won second place. Six junior wildlife clubs from across the southwest of Scotland took part in the wildlife-themed extravaganza and each group took a game along, with points awarded for winning and also for behaviour.

One game involved children dressing up as giant bees and fighting other insects away from the pollen in giant colourful flowers. Another game had children imitating badgers on their nightly forages and a third was based on the pirate legends of the south coast of Scotland.

A giant beaver representing SWT, with whom the Kelburn group are affiliated, took part in the leaders race, which involved collecting water in a container balanced on its head whilst running the gauntlet of plastic-ball wielding children!

Kelburn Countryside Park Rangers run the monthly Wildlife Watch Club in association with SWT, where children ages 8–12 explore the flora and fauna of the park, and play wildlife and conservation-themed games.

For more information about Wildlife Watch, email dmathieson@swt.org.uk

Focus on Galashiels Watch ClubThe Galashiels Watch Club has been on the go for about 12 years and the children are always out in their local area having lots of fun and learning loads of new things.

At the last meeting they walked up to their local woods and searched for damselflies in the river. Afterwards they went pond-dipping where they discovered the amazing array of underwater creatures including damselfly larvae, a newt, a massive leech and loads of water boatmen. After identifying their finds and returning them to the water, they headed back to their base for some snacks and each child made a badge which they kept.

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Falls of clyde visitor centre Willie buttery 01555 665262

Loch of the Lowes visitor centre Peter Ferns 01350 727337

montrose basin visitor centre caroline hendry 01674 676336

Jupiter Urban Wildlife centre Stephen owen 01324 486475Donation of £2 per person welcomed.7 November 1 – 3pm Living willow scuplture workshop. Make a living willow chair. Meet at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre.

13 December 1 – 5pm Willow lantern parade. The annual Jupiter mid-winter lantern parade. Meet at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre.

16 January 10.30am – 12.30pm Bird watching at Kinneil Kerse. Meet at Kinneil Kerse (layby car park) (grid ref: NS967808).

Irvine Greenspacesbrian Dawkins 01294 279376

highland & Islands residential work parties Glen campbell 07920 468567

Spey bay Wildlife reserveLaura Smith 01343 820350

visitor and Wildlife centres

Watch Events hannah Levene hlevene@nts.org.uk21 November 10 –11.30am Preparing for winter - how does wildlife cope with winter in Scotland. Meet at Education Room, Newhailes, Musselburgh.

hannah Levene hlevene@nts.org.uk5 December 2 – 4pm Winter survival. Meet at Holyrood Park Education Centre, Edinburgh. Adults £1.

Lynne Laing watchgroupmoray@btinternet.com5 December 10am – 12noon Animals and Christmas. Meet at Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre, New Lanark.

Dawn honnet dhonnet@o2.co.uk12 December 10 –11.30am Crafty Christmas. Meet at Education Room, Newhailes, Musselburgh.

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For information about members centres contact Nick Wright 0131 312 4750.

For information about submitting events to this leaflet, contact Debbie Russell 07544 412789, swtevents@hotmail.co.uk

For more information on any of the events in this leaflet, please contact the relevant members centre or visitor centre.

mEmbErS cENTrESAberdeen Rodney Payne 01569 763742

Aberfeldy Tim Fison 01887 877207

Angus & Dundee Liz Houghton 01307 818302

Ayrshire Wendy Annan 01292 264170

Berwickshire Rose Kay 01289 307542

Callander Cherie Bettison 01877 330847

Central Borders Shirley McLaren 01896 822510

Clyde Jenny Maskell 01360 770336

Falkirk Margaret Wotherspoon 01324 717031

Fife & Kinross Elizabeth Adams 01333 450267

Galloway Graham Smith 01644 420881

Glasgow & Clydeside Ruth Llewelyn 0141 576 2151

Inner Moray Firth Jim Miller 01463 713552

Further Information

For general information about protecting Scotland’s wildlife, please contact us:

Scottish Wildlife Trust Cramond House, 3 Kirk Cramond, Edinburgh EH4 6HZ 0131 312 7765 enquiries@swt.org.uk

Front cover thumbnails © Ronald W Weir

Lanark Area Josanne Newton 01555 893804

Lorn & Mid-Argyll Maurice Wilkins 01631 710376

Lothians Averil Stewart 01506 842676

North Angus Joyce Cooper 01674 676783

Perth Moira Hutchinson 01738 828750

Pitlochry Richard Horobin 01796 474480

Skye Marjorie MacInnes 01470 521215

Stirling Sue Sexton 01786 833409

Upper Strathearn Bob Fryer 01764 670526

vISITor AND WILDLIFE cENTrESFalls of Clyde Visitor Centre Willie Buttery 01555 665262

Loch of the Lowes Visitor CentrePeter Ferns 01350 727337

Montrose Basin Visitor Centre Caroline Hendry 01674 676336

Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre Stephen Owen 01324 486475

Spey Bay Wildlife Reserve Laura Smith 01343 820350

Irvine Greenspaces Brian Dawkins 01294 279376

Highland & Islands Glen Campbell 07920 468567

WATchDonna Mathieson 0131 312 4712