Tayside Biodiversity

Walk with a Focus on the Lens
2024-06-22 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | Blairgowrie, St Catherine's Centre, George Street,, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, PH10 6EY, United Kingdom
Join Mike Jones on a hunt for a good wildlife photograph. Make sure you bring a camera. Please book in advance so we know who to expect!

Worm Charming Competition
2024-06-22 12:30 - 13:30 UTC | Blairgowrie, St Catherine's Centre, George Street,, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, PH10 6EY, United Kingdom
Teams of two are needed (a charmer and a picker) to entice as many worms (no digging, no chemicals/vinegar) out of a marked area of ground. Singing, tap-dancing, fork-twanging and silly bird costumes all encouraged to get those worms out.

Small Blue Survey and Butterfly Walk
2024-06-22 12:00 - 14:00 UTC
Join Caitlin, Buglife Species on the Edge Conservation Officer for a butterfly walk at Elliot Links SSSI as she searches for the rare Small Blue butterfly! This event is completely free and all under18s must be accompanied by an adult. Please wear suitable clothing.
Location: Meeting West Links beach beside the playground.
No booking required.
• https://www.facebook.com/SpeciesontheEdge?locale=en_GB
• https://www.facebook.com/buglife?locale=en_GB

Pond Dipping Workshop
2024-06-22 10:30 - 12:00 UTC
You are invited to come along to a pond dipping workshop at the Dundee Botanic Gardens.

Pond Dipping and Freshwater Life
2024-06-22 10:00 - 15:00 UTC | University of Dundee Botanic garden, Riverside Drive, Dundee, Dundee, DD2 1QH, United Kingdom
Join us, the Dundee Naturalists’ Society, for some pond dipping and to look at the freshwater creatures in the Dundee Botanic Gardens.
We hope to also have the results of a night’s moth trapping to see for those who arrive early.

Dun Coillich: Past, Present and Future
2024-06-22 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | Dun Coillich Community Land, Glengoulandie, Dunkeld, PERTHSHIRE, PH16 5NL, United Kingdom
Join our Forest Manager and native woodland expert Willie McGhee and our Project Officer Heather Hamilton on a guided walk of Dun Coillich.
During the walk you will be introduced to the emerging Native Woodland on the hill, both planted and naturally regenerating, and the associated ecology and natural history, whilst we also delve into the past and look forward to the future.
This will be a great opportunity to get to know Dun Coillich better and learn how to go about creating a native woodland in the uplands of Scotland (there is a little more to it than just sticking a tree in the ground!)
All Welcome!
Free event for HPCLT Members, £5 suggested donation for others. To join the trust visit www.hpclt.org/support-us
For more information contact email: projectofficer@hpclt.org; call Heather on 07849268411; or visit www.hpclt.org

Guided Exploration
2024-06-22 10:00 - 11:00 UTC | Blairgowrie, St Catherine's Centre, George Street,, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, PH10 6EY, United Kingdom
You are invited to join a short walk to identify plants, bugs, birds and animals in different areas of the town. No previous knowledge expected – just come and see what we find!

Alan Stewart's Morning Book Talk
2024-06-22 10:00 - 11:00 UTC | Blairgowrie, St Catherine's Centre, George Street,, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, PH10 6EY, United Kingdom
Following decades of being a police inspector in Tayside, renowned author, Alan Stewart, will be giving a presentation on one of his well-known wildlife crime fiction books with reference to the local area.
He will give a different talk in the afternoon too so please note the date and time and come along to that as well if you can!

Moth Morning at the Botanics
2024-06-22 09:00 - 10:30 UTC | University of Dundee Botanic garden, Riverside Drive, Dundee, Dundee, DD2 1QH, United Kingdom
Join us at Dundee University Botanic Gardens at 9.00am to discover which moths have been caught overnight in the moth trap. We will explore the amazing variety of moths and learn how to identify them with local experts. All moths are released unharmed after the event.
Entry to the gardens will be free. Suitable for families, individuals – all ages and abilities. Make time, perhaps, to enjoy a breakfast or coffee in the Botanics cafe!

Dawn Chorus
2024-06-22 04:15 - 05:15 UTC | email info@biodiversityblair.scot for location
Wrap up warm & enjoy coffee and a croissant in a town garden!
email info@biodiversityblair.scot for location
The dawn chorus is the symphony of song performed by birds looking for love,
and to defend their patch.
Some species sing throughout the day, but it’s at dawn, as the morning light begins to break, that many different birds join together to perform.

Nature Excursion - Rockrose and Northern Brown Argus
2024-06-22 | Kirton Hill, Perth, United Kingdom
A combined outing exploring both botany and butterflies.
Please check the PSNS (Perthshire Society of Natural Science) web site as the date may change.

Riverside Bat Walk
2024-06-21 21:30 - 23:00 UTC | Ericht Riverside, Blairgowrie, Riverside, Blairgowrie, PH10 6GB, United Kingdom
Why not join our bat walk to identify species along the riverside? Everyone welcome.

Birds, Bats & Beavers! (St Fillans)
2024-06-21 20:30 - 22:30 UTC | St Fillans
Join us on the Summer Solstice to look for birds, bats and beavers.
Meet us by the village noticeboard at 8.30pm for a twilight walk as we go in search of birds, bats, beavers and any other wildlife around the river and loch. We will also look at plants under UV light and use bat detectors to identify what bat species are around.
The event is free, but donations towards future CIC events will be much appreciated. Everyone welcome but please book in advance, if possible, via info@aquila-cic.org.

Why not Scotland?
2024-06-21 20:00 - 21:00 UTC | Blairgowrie, St Catherine's Centre, George Street,, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, PH10 6EY, United Kingdom
Scotland: The Big Picture’s first documentary film, sees Flo Blackbourn’s journey across Europe, discovering a variety of rewilding projects. This leads her to ask “Why Not Scotland?”

Moth and Bat Night at the Botanics
2024-06-21 19:30 - 22:00 UTC | University of Dundee Botanic garden, Riverside Drive, Dundee, Dundee, DD2 1QH, United Kingdom
Join us at Dundee University Botanic Gardens to discover the creatures that take over the gardens at night. There will be a short chat and talk. Then we will be setting up moth traps and taking a walk to meet the bats in the gardens. Bring a torch and suitable clothing.
On Saturday morning we will around at 9:00am to open the moth trap and see what we have caught.
Entry to the gardens will be free. Suitable for families.

Scottish Beavers
2024-06-21 11:30 - 12:30 UTC | Blairgowrie, St Catherine's Centre, George Street,, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, PH10 6EY, United Kingdom
Come along to find out all about these wonderful ecosystem engineers with ecologist and beaver expert Jean Oudney.

Restoring the River South Esk – Nature Restoration on a Landscape Scale
2024-06-21 10:30 - 13:00 UTC | Glen Clova, DD8 4QT
Landscape scale approaches to nature positive land management are becoming more effective in addressing the nature and climate crisis across Scotland and in Angus. Join the River South Esk Catchment Partnership, RSPB, CIEEM as we explore Glen Clova hearing about the Partnership’s Nature Restoration Funded multihabitat project in the Angus Glens.
Spaces limited to 20 – book your place here Restoring the River South Esk – Nature Restoration on a Landscape Scale (cieem.net)

Biodiversity Villages & Towns Midsummer BioBlitz
2024-06-21 - 2024-06-22 | online, United Kingdom
Every Action Counts – Tayside’s Local Patch Project
Our Perth and Kinross Biodiversity Village, Town & Neighbourhood communities can add their own wildlife records all year round using their own individual page (check out the details in the link below). First though, it is very easy to sign up as an iNaturalist observer to add your sightings – https://uk.inaturalist.org/signup.
For the Festival’s Midsummer BioBlitz, you can discover the wildlife in your own community over the next two days and add your observations online via the iNaturalist App. No wildlife knowledge is expected so just follow the advice on the App!
Knowing what wildlife is using “our patch” we can look after it far better. You can concentrate just on your own garden, local park, churchyard or allotment, involve the school or nearby businesses, or ask if residents in the local care home can enjoy some wildlife-spotting in their grounds.
Please record and share observations of your local pollinators, birds, animals, trees or wild plants – whatever you see. Beyond these two midsummer “bioblitz” days, you can still record all the species you see in the months to come.
Find out more by going to the dedicated Biodiversity Villages & Towns iNaturalist page –
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/biodiversity-village-communities-mini-bioblitz?tab=about
We will be adding to the list below so let us know if you can’t see your community –
Abernethy / Alyth / Ardler / Auchterarder
Bertha Park, Perth / Blairgowrie & Rattray
Crieff / Crook of Devon Dunkeld & Birnam / Dunning
Errol / Guildtown / Kettins / Kinnesswood, Portmoak and Scotlandwell
Kinross / Luncarty / North Muirton, Perth / Pitlochry
St Madoes & Glencarse / Stanley / Wolfhill

Blairgowrie BioBlitz
2024-06-21 - 2024-06-22 | Blairgowrie, St Catherine's Centre, George Street,, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, PH10 6EY, United Kingdom
Blairgowrie are hosting their first town BioBlitz on the 21st and 22nd of June 2024. The weekend will be filled with activities, information stalls, surveys, expert led walks and presentations. We will also be hosting the “Why not Scotland” film by Scotland the Big Picture, as well as including our local schools in various nature inspired arts and crafts competitions.

Join our Online Midsummer BioBlitz!
2024-06-21 - 2024-06-22 | online, United Kingdom
Every Action Counts – Tayside’s Local Patch Project
Discover the wildlife in and around your own home over the next two days and add your observations online via the easy iNaturalist App. No wildlife knowledge is expected so just follow the advice on the App!
If we know what wildlife is using “our patch” we can look after it – and enjoy it. This can be in our own garden or allotment, school, business or care home grounds, or a local park or graveyard.
Recording wildlife means that every action really does count so please record and share observations of your local pollinators, birds, animals, trees or wild plants – whatever you see. You can aim for a “bioblitz” of your patch recording all the species you see over a short time – or you can take it steady and visit the same space every few weeks or once in each season.
Find out more by going to the dedicated Tayside iNaturalist page – https://uk.inaturalist.org/projects/every-action-counts-tayside-s-local-patch-project?tab=about and make a start!
If you have yet to join iNaturalist as an observer just go to http://uk.inaturalist.org/signup first and then you can add your observations from anywhere in the world for as long as you want!

Summer Solstice Walk
2024-06-20 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Montrose Basin
Join Scottish Wildlife Trust staff for a nature walk at the Montrose Basin Wildlife Reserve to celebrate the Summer Solstice – we will be identifying wildlife as we go along, and listening to the late evening birdsong. We will also discuss some of the recent reedbed restoration carried out at the Millburn Reedbed, made possible by the Tayside Biodiversity Partnership.
We will be meeting at the Old Mill Car Park at 7:00pm.
Please see the map here. The Old Mill Car Park is marked as “NTS Old Mill”. It is under a height barrier. what3words: ///natural.guideline.hobbit
Come dressed for the weather! Wellies should only be required if the weather has been very wet recently.

Elliot Links Coastal Walk
2024-06-20 15:00 - 16:30 UTC | Elliot public car park, Dundee Road, Arbroath
A short walk along the coastal cycle path to look at how we plan to manage Elliot Links Site of Special Scientific Interest for biodiversity and public access, and the active travel improvements we are making to National Cycle Network Route 1.
We will mostly be on surfaced paths, but there may be some wet or muddy areas. Please wear appropriate footwear and dress for the weather. We will access the coastal path via a footbridge over the railway, with steps, or over a level crossing. Please let us know if you have any mobility issues that may make either option difficult.
https://www.trybooking.com/uk/DLKK
Meet at Elliot public carpark, Dundee Road, Arbroath (beside Arbroath Mini Lighthouse).
What3words https://w3w.co/ticket.kite.wished

Amphibian Ladder Workshop (Stanley)
2024-06-20 10:00 - 15:00 UTC | Stanley, Village Hall, Stanley, United Kingdom
A free workshop to learn about our amphibians and how to help them. We will be making a number of amphibian ladders to go into roadside gullypots and installing them in the afternoon.
To find out more information and to book your free place please contact Daniele on taysidepondsproject@gmail.com. Everyone welcome including older teens – no previous experience expected. Bring your own snack lunch and refreshments. We will provide the biscuits!

Walk and Talk at Murton
2024-06-19 10:15 - 11:30 UTC | Murton Trust for Education and the Environment, Arbroath Road, Forfar, Angus, DD8 2RZ
Join Murton staff for a short informal talk about Murton. A brief history of Murton, and the conservation work that has taken place to make it the flourishing nature reserve it is today. This will be followed by a gentle walk around the nature reserve (just over a mile) when our staff will do their best to answer any questions you may have as you enjoy the flora and fauna on your walk.

The impact of winter storms
2024-06-18 14:00 - 16:00 UTC | Lunan Bay, DD11 5ST, United Kingdom
Join the Tay Estuary Forum and CIEEM on a walk through the spectacular dunes to examine the erosion that has taken place following a series of major, destructive storms that took place during the winter months of 2023-2024. Are the dunes and the beach recovering? Let’s find out.
Meet at Lunan Bay Car park – what3words adventure.mailing.trials
Contact TayEstuaryForum@dundee.ac.uk to book

Starting with Moths - an introduction to moth trapping and recording
2024-06-18 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Guardswell Farm, Guardswell Farm, Kinnaird, Inchture PH14 9QZ, Perthshire, Scotland, PH14 9QZ (do not follow postcode as it takes you into Kinnaird Village), United Kingdom
Find out more about these beautiful and fascinating creatures which form an important part of the ecosystem. We will introduce you to positioning and setting up a moth trap, plus the processes involved in analysing, identifying and recording your catch.
If the weather is suitable and there is time, we may also be able to look around a wild flower meadow for moth food plants and day flying insects. We have a number of traps available for loan if you decide to try out moth trapping for yourself. Please contact us for further details.
It is essential to register your free place in advance. Please book via
perthshire.butterflies@fireflyuk.net. The event will take place on the Carse of Gowrie near Inchture.

A Wildflower Walk to Culhawk
2024-06-17 09:30 - 12:00 (Europe/London)
Join us for a walk out to Culhawk Wildflower Garden to admire and learn about the diverse range of plants in this beautiful garden.
Please email for meeting details and any queries: sustainablekirriemuir@gmail.com.

Small Blue ID Workshop and Survey Day
2024-06-15 12:00 - 14:00 UTC | Lunan Bay beach car park, Lunan, Arbroath, DD11 5ST
Join Caitlin, Buglife Species on the Edge Conservation Officer for a butterfly walk at Lunan Bay as she searches for the rare Small Blue butterfly! This event is completely free and all under18s must be accompanied by an adult. Please wear suitable clothing.
Location: Meeting at the Lunan Bay car park.
No booking required.
• https://www.facebook.com/SpeciesontheEdge?locale=en_GB
• https://www.facebook.com/buglife?locale=en_GB

Ancient Woodland & a Bog-Standard Treasure (Den of Alyth)
2024-06-15 11:00 - 15:00 UTC | Den of Alyth, PH11 8JX, United Kingdom
THE DEN OF ALYTH AND THE RAISED MIRE OF DUN MOSS
£17.50 and £20
The Den of Alyth, an ancient woodland, is a naturally seeded relic of the deciduous forests that once covered much of lowland Scotland. It is set on the Highland Boundary Fault.
We will discuss the geology, history and ecology of this Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI), along 2.5 miles of paths. Afterwards, we will make the short trip to Dun Moss, an extremely rare raised bog, and another SSSI. Peatlands store more carbon than all other vegetation types in the world combined.
Dr Keith Skene will explain the biology of one of the least known SSSIs in Britain, and just why it is so important.
Participants must arrange their own transport and lunch. Details will be supplied as to the exact meet-up point later.
NB If you decide to participate in these walks, you do so at your own risk. You should be aware that the routes may present difficulties for people with mobility problems. Wear sensible shoes and be prepared for rain.
Please note: Participants must arrange their own transport and lunch.
Book via the website and eventbrite.

Stories from Green Trees and Blue Water
2024-06-15 11:00 - 13:00 UTC | AK Bell Library, Perth, AK Bell Library, Perth, Scotland, Perth and Kinross, PH2 8EP, United Kingdom
Join Perthshire-based storyteller Claire Hewitt for an hour of storytelling about green trees, blue water, and the dangers they are facing in our current world.
