Tayside Biodiversity

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.

FLS Glen Prosen Open Day
2024-06-15 10:00 - 16:00 UTC
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
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
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, 2024-06-08 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
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.

Rewilding Denmarkfield Open Day
2024-06-09 10:30 - 13:30 UTC | Denmarkfield Allotments, Denmarkfield Allotments, Perth, PH1 3EH, United Kingdom
Come and learn about the work being done at this exciting local rewilding project!
Join us for a fun filled day celebrating three years of Rewilding Denmarkfield! Explore Denmarkfield’s rewilding project first-hand and learn about our efforts to restore native habitats and promote biodiversity.
Discover the rewilding interventions that have been created on the site during a guided tour. Find out about how you can with the get involved with the project, and the ways in which Rewilding Denmarkfield is providing for the local community. Bring the family along for some fun activities for all ages, and enjoy some delicious vegan refreshments courtesy of Syrian caterer Roba.
See you at the Rewilding Denmarkfield Open Day!

FLS Open Day Glen Doll
2024-06-09 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | Glen Doll Ranger Base, Glen Doll Ranger Base, Kirriemuir, Angus, dd8 4rd, United Kingdom
Come and see Forestry and Land Scotland at the Glen Doll Ranger Centre, 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. Drop-in anytime between 10am and 4pm to talk to staff and tell us what you think.

Perth Beaver Talk
2024-06-08 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Luncarty Memorial Hall, Off Scarth Rd, Luncarty, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland, PH1 3HP, United Kingdom
Do you have questions?? Want to know more about beavers?
Come along to this free talk to find out the answers to your questions:
– How to recognise beaver field signs
– What benefits do beavers bring to your ecosystems
– Their impacts and solutions for co-existing with your beavers
– How having local beavers can help you
– Beaver ecology and history

Interactive Gardening Workshop - at Nature Market (Perth)
2024-06-08 11:00 - 12:00 UTC | Civic Hall, 2 High Street, Perth, Civic Hall, 2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH, United Kingdom
Butterfly Conservation wants to help more people connect with nature and support butterflies and moths in their local spaces. Wild Spaces aims to gives you hints and tips for making space for nature in your own gardens and local spaces.
Join our Perth Wild Spaces Project Officer for a “Gardening for Butterflies” workshop at the Perth Nature Market, where we will show you how to make space for butterflies and moths as they complete their lifecycles in your gardens or community spaces.
This workshop is open to all and will be a family-friendly interactive workshop. Work as a family to plan your garden for butterflies!
RSVP now to secure your spot and let’s grow together!

Angus Coastal Tour
2024-06-08 10:00 - 17:00 UTC | Monifieth Station, United Kingdom

Small Blue ID Workshop and Survey Day
2024-06-08 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | Arbroath
Come along to this FREE workshop to learn about the fascinating life cycle of one of Scotland’s rarest butterfly species and how you can help us conserve this wonderful butterfly. Join Caitlin, Buglife Species on the Edge Conservation Officer, to learn how to identify the Small Blue butterfly and how to survey both species and habitat. The workshop will be followed by a survey along the Seaton Cliffs. All under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Please wear suitable clothing and bring a packed lunch.
Location: Workshop location will be in Arbroath, venue TBC
Booking will be advertised on the Buglife and Species on the Edge social media pages nearer the time, or you can email caitlin.mcleod@buglife.org.uk
• https://www.facebook.com/SpeciesontheEdge?locale=en_GB
• https://www.facebook.com/buglife?locale=en_GB

Dun Coillich Community Land Guided Walk - Symbiosis: Relationships In Nature
2024-06-08 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | Dun Coillich Community Land, Glengoulandie, Dunkeld, PERTHSHIRE, PH16 5NL, United Kingdom
This event is part of the Dun Coillich Summer Events programme.
Join our very own Richard Paul who will explain some of the weird and wonderful ways our species rely on each other for their survival. This guided walk will use Dùn Coillich to illustrate the complex range of relationships between animals, plants, fungi and their physical environments. How rocks become eagles and eagles become rocks. Set your watches to deep time.
Please note this walk will involve travelling over rough ground: sturdy walking shoes are recommended. For more information email: projectofficer@hpclt.org or visit www.hpclt.org
All Welcome.
This event is free for HPCLT members, we are asking for a £5 donation for non-members.
For more information contact email: projectofficer@hpclt.org; call Heather on 07849268411; or visit www.hpclt.org

Community Garden Open Day (Kirriemuir)
2024-06-08 10:00 - 13:00 (Europe/London) | Sustainable Kirriemuir Community Garden, St. Mary's Field, West Hillbank, Kirriemuir, Angus, DD8 4HX, United Kingdom
Our Action for Nature and Food & Growing volunteers are hosting a Summer Open Day at the Community Garden at St. Mary’s Field to coincide with Tayside Biodiversity Partnership‘s 25-year anniversary!
We are developing our Community Garden into a space where we grow climate-friendly food alongside nature, and want to share our tranquil and productive space with you.
In 2020 we kicked off our food growing with a polytunnel, potting shed and composting toilet, and we’ve come a long way since then! Last year we added a huge wildlife pond to the garden, and later a hibernaculum, to support our many amphibian friends in the garden. We’ve also built huge composting bays to increase our capacity to create our own gardener’s gold! St. Mary’s Field is also home to our Outdoor Tots group, who earlier this year developed their own exploration area in the garden with the help of many volunteers.
Everyone is very welcome to come along to our Open Day to relax in the peaceful atmosphere of the garden. You will be able to try your hand at some nature-friendly activities and enjoy some tea and cake! Our volunteers will be on hand to share their knowledge and enthusiasm about a variety of wildlife species. Zoe, our Food & Growing Project Officer, will also be there to talk about how you can get involved with growing food, flowers, herbs and skills!

Nature Cycle
2024-06-08 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Civic Hall, 2 High Street, Perth, Civic Hall, 2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH, United Kingdom
Come join us for an exciting outdoor adventure where we’ll explore the beauty of nature together. This session is all about connecting with the outdoors and enjoying the fresh air. Whether you’re a seasoned nature enthusiast or just looking to try something new, this event is perfect for you!
Session 1 starting at 10am – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/890173973317?aff=oddtdtcreator
Session 2 starting at 11.30am – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/890185257067?aff=oddtdtcreator

Nature Market
2024-06-08 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Civic Hall, 2 High Street, Perth, Civic Hall, 2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH, United Kingdom
Everyone is welcome to join us on Saturday 8th June 2024. 10am to 1pm at Civic Hall, 2 High Street, Perth.
PK Climate Action will be hosting a summer market with a focus on biodiversity, in collaboration with the Tayside Biodiversity Festival. Both the market and festival aim to inspire and inform people about the rich diversity of wildlife present in Perth and Kinross. Raising awareness about the importance of taking steps to increase biodiversity, and how we can all act to help nature. The market will be a platform to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
Guidance via the stalls, workshops and tours (walking and cycling) will provide attendees with inspiration to take action at home, in the garden, in their community, at work and at school.
More information can be found at https://www.pkclimateaction.co.uk/event/summer-market

Big Bug Hunt - Perth Wildlife Watch
2024-06-08 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | South Inch Park, Perth, PH2 8BU
Join Perth Wildlife Watch group for a morning of invertebrate-themed fun, including a minibeast hunt. 🦋🐝🐞
For children aged 8-12
South Inch Park, Perth
10am-12pm
Saturday 08 June
This event is free but *booking is essential*, and a consent form will need to be completed prior to the day. Please contact PKCT’s Discovery, Learning and Engagement Officer for more information and to book your free space:
Catherine.Leatherland@pkct.org
