Tayside Biodiversity

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) | Scotland
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.

FLS Glen Prosen Open Day
2024-06-15 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | Scotland
Come and join us at the Forestry and Land Scotland Offices, Glen Prosen, for an opportunity to find out more about our land management proposals and see what this could look like on the ground in the future. Explore the beautiful surroundings, learn more about forestry, woodland creation and habitat restoration, and enjoy a guided site tour.
90-minute walking tours will begin at 11am and 2pm, with a lunchtime BBQ from 12pm-2pm. Come along for as little or as long as you like. There will be information available and staff on hand to chat and answer any questions from 10am-4pm.
LOCATION: FLS Glen Prosen site office – The Postcode is DD8 4SD – not accurate enough to aid navigation. Please use What3Words ///jukebox.jumbo.clashing or Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XLahtENzXbWWL5iw8

Bug Hunt and Butterfly Walk
2024-06-15 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | East Haven, East Haven community Gardens, East Haven, Scotland, DD7 6LS
Why not join East Haven on a Bug Hunt and Butterfly walk. We will identify as many species as we can and all data will be uploaded to irecord. We will start in the Community Gardens and work our way up the coast. Around 1km in total. People of all ages welcome.

Nature Excursion: Herb-rich Grasslands, Enochdhu, Pitarrig/ Straloch Moraines
2024-06-15 | Scotland
The Perthshire Society of Natural Science has an extensive programme of events. During the Tayside Biodiversity Festival there will be an all-day excursion looking for the rare plant Meum (Spignel) and other botanical species.

Art of Walking
2024-06-14 13:30 - 17:30 UTC | Scotland
The Kinross-shire Climate Café will meet before our summer break on 14th June in the centre of Milnathort and walk together to Tillywhally Community Woodland. The walk will be an experience of our fragmented and volatile nature in the modern world. The woodland provides a very small wildlife habitat in a sea of agricultural land scarred by the road’s network. Nevertheless it is a place where woodland birds raise their chicks, pipistrelle bats hunt for moths and lonely hares and deer seek refuge at night.
We will enjoy a mindfulness walk, observing nature and looking for signs of its adaptation to climate change and habitat loss.
After the walk we will return to Milnathort Town Hall to enjoy refreshments and share home-made food to nourish and connect with each other.
This will be followed by a screening “Of Walking On Thin Ice” organised by Milnathort Filmhouse Community Cinema. It is a film made by Benjamin Wigley, following the 500-mile journey (Camino to COP26) made on foot by hundreds of climate activists from Bristol and London to Glasgow for the COP26 Climate Conference in November 2021. “Of Walking On Thin Ice” is a beautiful film which captures the spirit of hope in action, embodied by the Camino, and the community of care and connection that was formed on this journey. The film shows us not only how we can advocate and influence, but also BE the change that we want for our world.
That special “pilgrimage” took place a few years back. Reliving it will bring an opportunity to reflect on what has changed since then. The film will be followed by a discussion on benefits of walking, our links with nature and how we could preserve this for the future. It will also be a positive start to our Scottish summer to discover the benefits of gentle exercise.
Event price: £10/£5 (the reduction if you contribute sandwiches, scones or a cake to share).

WizzyWARP24 - Birdsong and More
2024-06-14 11:00 - 16:00 UTC | Taymount Wood, Stanley, From Taymount Wood car park on C406 road between West Tofts and Kinclaven, near Stanley, Perthshire, PH1 4PH, United Kingdom
This event by West Stormont Woodland Group is being arranged with Vision PK to bring a small group of visually-impaired people to Taymount Wood for an enjoyable few hours in nature.
WSWG has secured funding for this event from the PKC Green Living Fund which will enable us to provide transport on the day. There will be shelter and seating in the WSWG gazebos where we will offer our visitors a woodland picnic and some engaging conversation and activities around nature, wellbeing, woodland history and simple information and actions we can all use to live greener lives. With one-to-one support from volunteers on the day, we will take a walk together up the woodland track to experience as much as we can of the birdsong and other woodland sounds, smells, textures and more.
As a closed event, we unfortunately can’t take bookings for this specific event. However, we would love to run similar events in the future – so please do contact us if you would like to be part of these: contact@weststormontwoodlandgroup.scot

Pocket Garden Public Voting Begins
2024-06-14 | online, United Kingdom
Keep Scotland Beautiful had 100 entries to this year’s Pocket Garden Design Competition. Run in partnership with the Garden for Life Forum (of which the Tayside Biodiversity Partnership is a member), the 2024 competition now has 30 entries from 19 local authorities, representing the work of whole classes and schools.
Two schools from Tayside are in the list of finalists: Grove Academy in Broughty Ferry and Glenlyon Primary School near Aberfeldy. The public voting starts today so we need your help to choose the winners from all across Scotland! Click on the website link to find out more.
The online showcase will remain open until 24th June so please explore the amazing work that has been achieved and vote for the nation’s favourite Pocket Garden!

Angus Coastal Tour
2024-06-13 10:00 - 17:00 UTC | Monifieth, Union Street,, Monifieth, DD5 4NN, United Kingdom
Join us on a day trip to explore the best that the Angus coast can offer – beautiful beaches, sea bird colonies, coastal wildflowers, the chance of seeing dolphins and traditional seaside fare for lunch (vegetarian & vegan options are available).
Meeting at Monifieth train station at 10am, we visit a number of the best locations along the coast to spot wildlife and enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches in Scotland.
Where we go depends on where the dolphins have recently been spotted – we are members of the Angus Cetacean Sightings Group so get regular updates – but it will be three or four of the following top wildlife sites – Monifieth Bay, Easthaven Beach, Seaton Cliffs and Auchmithie Beach, along with a lunch stop in a popular local cafe. Each stop involves a guided wildlife walk to spot birds, sea mammals, wildflowers and appreciate the beautiful scenery.
Species we expect to see (though not on every tour) include Puffin, Gannet, Eider Duck, Fulmar, Arctic tern, Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake, Grey seal, Common seal, Bottlenose dolphin, Sea campion, Purple milk-vetch, Northern marsh orchid, Kidney vetch, Burnet moth.

Beaver Canoe Safari (Aberfeldy)
2024-06-12 18:30 - 21:00 UTC | Aberfeldy, United Kingdom
This canoe safari takes place on a beautiful section of the River Tay near Aberfeldy. This is an ideal way to get close to wildlife with minimal disturbance and we usually see a variety of bird life as well as the local beaver lodge, beaver trails, evidence of feeding and hopefully the beavers themselves.
Meeting in Aberfeldy around 6.30pm, the Beaver Safari by Canoe includes canoeing guides, your canoe, buoyancy aid, guiding by your wildlife guide and a wee beaver memento!
Please book directly with our canoeing partners Beyond Adventure on 01887 829202.

FLS Angus Glens Drop-in Consultation Kirriemuir Town Hall
2024-06-12 12:00 - 19:00 UTC | Scotland
Come and see Forestry and Land Scotland staff in Kirriemuir Town Hall to find out more about our land management proposals for Glen Doll and Glen Prosen and see what this could look like on the ground in the future. Drop-in anytime between 12pm and 7pm to speak to staff and let us know what you think.

Peat Free Gardening
2024-06-11 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | AK Bell Library, Perth, AK Bell Library, Perth, Scotland, Perth and Kinross, PH2 8EP, United Kingdom
To mark World Environment Day, the Perthshire Seed Library is holding an interactive workshop about peat free gardening.
Explore different growing media, learn about the importance of peat in the challenge of climate change and learn how to grow healthy plants without peat.

21 Days of Nature 2024
2024-06-10 - 2024-06-30 | online, United Kingdom
Why not join our challenge to give nature a helping hand every day for 21 days from 10th – 30th June 2024?
Participants will be sent a daily email featuring a number of suggested actions for each day, along with some inspiration and tips for taking action in your own neighbourhood. There’ll also have be a private space online, where you can share your stories and pictures as well as interact with those posted by other participants.
To sign up, please register at www.kindspring.org/challenge/join/2241/

Make and Take - Tin Can Bug Hotels
2024-06-09 11:00 - 14:00 UTC | Murton Trust for Education and the Environment, Arbroath Road, Forfar, Angus, DD8 2RZ
Drop-in to the cabin at Murton and decorate your own tin can bug hotel. Sessions will be 11am to 12pm and then 1pm to 2pm ona first come, first served basis. You can then head off on to the nature reserve with a butterfly ID sheet to see if you can find any, and your bug hotel to fill exactly how you want, ready for all it’s little bug visitors.
While you are in the cabin, you will be able to look at photos of Murton taking it from quarry to the thriving nature reserve it is today. Whilst the focus of the bug hotel activity is for kids, your walk with them to fill their bug hotel and the history of Murton will be for adults and children alike.
