Last Few Days of the Summer holiday and looking for something fun to do in Nature? Then look no further, join us at Stanctuary Nature Explorers Day in Stranraer.
When: Tuesday 19th August, two sessions: 10am – 12noon, 1pm – 3pm.
FREE Fun for all the family and an opportunity to get close to all the wee creates that are living in this beautiful community rewilding space. Get up close to all the wee creatures in the long grass and the Black Stank burn and be surprised at the wealth of Biodiversity.
Hosted by SCAMP Landscape Connections this is a Species Identification, Nature Journaling and Eel Survey Workshop. Most of all, it’s an adventure to explore all aspects of nature on the burn, on the grasslands and in the trees and shrubs on the Stanctuary community rewilding site.
The workshop, designed for children and adults alike, blends science, wildlife survey techniques and art. Each session (morning and afternoon) will give you the opportunity to take part in all three activities. These include:
- Our nature explorer, Antione, will show you a variety of ways to identify plants, insects and other organisms, as well as their tracks and signs using books and charts like in the “olden days”, as well as using the latest citizen science apps such as iNaturalist or Merlin Bird.
- SCAMP eco artist, Jan, will share the skills that our great Victorian naturalists used to ID Species before the camera. Including the power of the naked eye to observe and record species and plants and the magic of observational sketching for identifying and connecting with the biodiversity on the Sanctuary site.
- And join Kacie for an exciting demonstration on how we can use electricity to survey fish while getting a close-up look at the eels living in our local rivers. You will hear more about the European eel and its incredible life cycle. Did you know they travel over 4,000 miles to and from our rivers, using the Earth’s magnetic field and ocean currents to help guide them across the planet.
Antoine Lemaire from the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere is passionate about the natural world, he said:
“I’m excited as these sessions will not only equip you with the tools to explore nature around you and document your findings, but the results of the ecological survey will help document the species present on the site as the Stanctuary project evolves and rewilds naturally for future generations and for nature.”
Stanctuary, a refuge for people and wildlife, is a project that will take the degraded Black Stank burn from poor ecological condition into good ecological condition, at the same time creating a wild landscape on the land around it for the people of Stranraer to enjoy and use for educational, well being and recreational purposes.
Lucie Stewart, a SEPA River Restoration Specialist with the Water Environment Fund said:
“Stanctuary is an exciting project that is bringing both river restoration and communities together in an inclusive and collaborative way. Building an understanding of how to encourage nature into the site and restore the health of the Black Stank burn. This Nature Explorers Day is all about connecting people with all the exciting life that is returning to this community nature space as it is recovering and restoring.”
Stanctuary is a project funded by SEPAs Water Environment Fund and delivered by Dumfries and Galloway Council with assistance from The Galloway Fisheries Trust as part of the SCAMP – Landscape Connections program, made possible with the National Lottery Heritage Fund.