|
|
|
|
|
|
A local family enjoy the sun at RSPB Black Devon Wetlands.
Photo by RSPB volunteer David Seaton.
|
|
Welcome to IFLI's June 2017 eNewsletter
In this issue:
|
|
Following their premieres at Alloa Academy on the 21st June, we are delighted to bring you two short films created with the help of local school pupils.
The first film you can watch below is 'Our Alloa', which highlights some of the special places that make Alloa a great place to live, including RSPB Black Devon Wetlands and Alloa Tower. Pupils from the school also interviewed some of the people who care passionately for these places, and learnt more about the important role Alloa has to play in the Inner Forth, and Scotland's, historic and natural heritage.
The second film is 'Wetlands Watch', an animation made by Alloa Academy pupils with help from animator Henry Cruickshank. It explains why wetlands like Black Devon are so important to wildlife.
Well done and thank you to all the pupils, teachers and everyone else who was involved in making this possible.
Scroll down to watch both the videos.
|
|
|
Our Alloa
Thanks to Chas Whatmore/Sole Productions and Alloa Academy
|
|
|
Wetlands Watch
Thanks to Henry Cruickshank and Alloa Academy
|
|
Bog sun jumper. Photo: Chris Cathrine - Caledonian Conservation Ltd.
On 21st July from 10:00 to 15:00 Butterfly Conservation will be at their Wester Moss reserve at Fallin, near Stirling, looking for the rare Bog sun-jumper spider (Heliophanus dampfi), and are calling on citizen scientists to join in the hunt.
These cute wee jumping spiders are only found on a few lowland raised bogs around Stirling, and a single site in Wales. On the day volunteers will be joined by IFLI and Buglife staff, and together will check how wide-spread the species is at Wester Moss. We will also be recording other wildlife including another bog-specialist, the Large Heath butterfly (Coenonmypha tullia), which may still be flying. The day is open to all and there is no need to book in advance. Bring yourself, a drink and packed lunch, plus sturdy waterproof boots then meet us at the Fallin Mining Museum at 10am to walk out to the site.
|
|
On Saturday 17th June RSPB Black Devon Wetlands hosted a family-friendly wildlife event called Hug-A-Bug! The event was a huge success, with over 50 people of all ages joining in to hunt for bugs and beasties in the sun.
The day involved pond dipping and bug hunting, with newts, fish fry and water beetles in the pools on site, and ladybird larvae, spiders and froghoppers in the long grass and wildflowers. There was also the chance to make a bug hotel, which are great ways to encourage invertebrates into your own garden and provide them with a healthy habitat.
RSPB staff will be hosting a series of events throughout the summer to introduce even more people to their new Reserve, see below for more details, and remember to keep an eye on IFLI twitter and facebook pages for more events.
'Come And Try' Survey Walk, Wednesday 28th June, 10am
Come along, enjoy the walk and try some simple wildlife identification techniques to unlock the secrets of RSPB Black Devon Wetlands.
Wetland Wander: Historic Landscape, Sunday 9th July, 1:30pm
Enjoy a guided walk of the Wetlands to hear about its interesting past and then walk up to Clackmannan Tower for an exclusive look inside this historic building.
Wetland Wander, Saturday 5th August, 2pm
Enjoy a guided walk of the Reserve to discover some of the wonderful wildlife, habitats and management of the reserve and plans for the future.
Go Wild! Family Nature Club, Friday 7th July/Friday 21st July/Wednesday 2nd August, 10am - 2pm
Bring your 'wild creatures' down for a day of wildlife adventure. Each day will be packed with different activities and games focusing on wildlife 'in the air', 'underwater', and 'on the ground'. Feel free to book on to one or all three days. Please note there is a charge of £3 per child.
For information on the site or any of these events, and to book a place, please contact the RSPB Skinflats Reserve office on 01324 832853.
Photo: RSPB
|
|
If you are out and about making the most of the summer weather this July why not keep an eye out for this month's Target Species, and help us help us build a better picture of wildlife in the landscape by adding your nature records from the Inner Forth area and beyond to iRecord.
This can be done online, or via the iRecord app. Check out http://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/enter-inner-forth-records for more information.
Throughout the year we'll also be hosting a series of 'come and try' survey walks in six chosen routes across the landscape. Anyone interested in wildlife and nature recording is welcome to come along, enjoy the walk, and try some simple wildlife identification techniques to unlock the secrets of each location, and help to build a better picture of Inner Forth wildlife.
The upcoming survey walks will be taking place at RSPB Black Devon Wetlands on the 28th June (10:00am - 12:00pm) and Valleyfield Woods on the 26th July (2:00pm - 4:00pm)
For more information visit the IFLI website, or get in touch with our Wildlife and Recording Assistant Lizzy Cairns at 01324 831568 or on info@innerforthlandscape.co.uk.
|
|
To celebrate the national Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, Dig It! 2017 are asking the public to unearth the best heritage Hidden Gems from across Scotland from a 24-strong shortlist, and we delighted to say that Kennetpans Distillery in Clackmannanshire is in the running!
Through a public vote the shortlist will be whittled down to six, all of which will be hosting events in September during Scottish Archaeology Month.
Head over to the Dig It Facebook page where you can vote for the Distillery, once the largest and most technologically advanced in Scotland, and see the other shortlisted locations.
|
|
Grangepans meadow. Photo by Norman Still
Although the Inner Forth is a fantastic place for nature lovers all year round, one of the best things about having such a varied ecosystem is seeing how areas change through the year, and how some months give prominence to certain species or habitats. So while winter sees the coastal mudflats and lagoons packed with migrating birds, summer is the time for the numerous wildflower meadows across the landscape to blossom.
The rainfall and warmer weather of the past month has really brought the Inner Forth's wildflower meadows, such as Grangepans Meadow near Bo'ness (part of a Buglife project and photographed above by Norman Still during a recent IFLI photography workshop), Kinneil Estate, and in Valleyfield Woodland Park around the orchard.
Valleyfield meadow. Photo by Stan Walsh, West Fife Woodlands
As well as providing bursts of colour in the landscape, wildflower meadows also provide fantastic habitats for pollinating insects, a vital component in any ecosystem. The meadows of the Inner Forth, with smaller patches of wildflowers in between, create a 'stepping-stone' of habitats for those pollinators across the landscape.
And if you'd like to grow your own patch of wildflowers in your garden check out this extensive How-to guide from Plantlife.
|
|
If you do decide to get out and about in the landscape, to see the meadows or otherwise, there are two great new resources on the IFLI website you should know about.
Our new wildlife guides showcase the different birds, animals and plants you can find around the area, and is divided into Coastal, Woodland, Grassland, Freshwater, Urban and Peatland habitats.
We've also started to upload various walking and cycling routes which can help you to explore new areas of the Inner Forth. You can sort by difficulty and location to find short strolls down to a foreshore, to the sections of long-distance routes which run through the area.
Both parts of the website are brand new and will be updated with even more information in the coming weeks.
|
|
If you are aged 18-24 and are interested in heritage our bursary student Julie Ann McHale would like to hear from you, to build a better understanding of what heritage means to young people.
|
|
CIEEM (Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management) recently held their annual award ceremony in London, where IFLI were shortlisted and Highly Commended in two Best Practice categories.
Project Manager Tom Churchyard and Community Engagement Officer Kate Fuller went down to the prestigious Drapers' Hall in London to pick up the awards, which were given for the Best Practice Award for Knowledge Sharing, and Best Practice Award for Stakeholder Engagement.
The awards recognise the practice of the Partnership as a whole, which is a testimony to the close, hard-working relationship which has been built up across the multiple organisations and individuals who are involved in IFLI. Our thanks to everyone who has helped make this possible.
|
|
Come and Try Survey Walk
Wednesday 28 June, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Black Devon Wetlands
Discover new wildlife hotspots and help build a better picture of the nature of the Inner Forth. More info.
RZSS 'Wild About Scotland' Bus
Saturday 1 July, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's bus parks up at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre in Grangemouth. More info.
Jupiter's Magical Meadows
Saturday 1 July, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre
Celebrate National Meadows Day by learning about the importance of this rare habitat. More info.
Moths Around The Forth 2
Tuesday 4 July, 8:30am - 10:30am
Skinflats Nature Reserve
Open up moth traps left overnight to find out more about the varieties of species in the area. More info.
Bridgeness Biodiversity - Volunteer Day
Wednesday 5 July, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Bridgeness Ship Breakers
Buglife continue their conservation work at an important wildlife site near Bo'ness. More info.
Weird Watery World
Wednesday 5 July, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre
Dip into the pond at Jupiter and discover the weird and wonderful watery creatures. More info.
Introduction to Solitary Bees
Thursday 6 July, 10:00am - 3:00pm
Balallan House, Stirling
A workshop focusing on the Mason mining bees, and how survey and record them. More info.
Go Wild! Family Nature Club
Friday 7 July, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Black Devon Wetlands
A day of fun family activities at Black Devon Wetlands. More info.
Saltmarsh Plant ID Workshop
Saturday 8 July, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Skinflats Nature Reserve
Explore the Inner Forth saltmarsh, a key local habitat, with ecologist Chris Knowles. More info.
Get Lost!
Saturday 8 July, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre
Put your map reading skills to the test and have a go at an orienteering challenge. More info.
Common Plants of Woodland
Sunday 9 July, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Callendar House
Spend a day exploring the expansive woodland in Callendar Park with botanist Ben Averis. More info.
Hermitage Wood and Airthrey Loch Excursion with TWIC
Sunday 9 July, 10:00am
Stirling University
Join The Wildlife Information Centre to generate a botanical species list at two proposed Local Nature Conservation Sites. More info.
Wetland Wander - Historic Landscape
Sunday 9 July, 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Black Devon Wetlands
Find out about the interesting past of RSPB Black Devon Wetlands, and have a closer look at Clackmannan Tower. More info.
Clackmannanshire Field Studies Society Summer Walk
Wednesday 12 July, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Gartmorn Dam Country Park & Nature Reserve
Part of a series of guided walks exploring the industrial heritage of Clackmannanshire. More info.
Conservation Voluteering with the RSPB
Friday 14 July, 10:00 - 3:00pm
Skinflats Nature Reserve
Learn useful conservation skills and help the RSPB protect wildlife across the Inner Forth. More info.
Bonny Butterflies
Saturday 15 July, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre
Take part in the Big Butterfly Count with SWT. More info.
Wester Moss Volunteer Work Party
Sunday 16 July, 10:00am - 3:00pm
Wester Moss
.Butterfly Conservation Scotland and volunteers will continue to restore Wester Moss in Fallin. More info.
Introduction to Wildflower Identification
Monday 26 June, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Fallin Church Hall
Improve your wildlife ID skills as our CSGNT-led workshop returns for another year. More info
Willow Weaving
Sunday 16 July, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Kinneil Estate
Get crafty and learn some willow-weaving techniques at Kinneil Estate. More info.
Bog sun-jumper hunt at Wester Moss!
Friday 21 July, 10:00am - 3:00pm
Wester Moss
Join staff from Butterfly Conservation, Buglife and IFLI for a survey day hunting the rare Bog sun-jumper spider. More info.
Go Wild! Family Nature Club
Friday 21 July, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Black Devon Wetlands
A day of fun family activities at Black Devon Wetlands. More info.
Magical Moths 1
Friday 21 July, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre
Learn about these interesting insects and help set up moth traps for the Saturday session. More info.
Dry Stone Walling: Traditional Skills
Saturday 22/Sunday 23 July, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Kinneil Estate
This two day course is for volunteers who would like to learn about the traditional drystone building technique. More info.
It's A Bug's Life
Wednesday 26 July, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Kinneil Estate
Join experts from Buglife to find out more about the bugs at Kinneil, and have a go at building homes for them. More info.
Come and Try Survey Walk at Valleyfield Estate
Wednesday 26 July, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Valleyfield Woods
Discover new wildlife hotspots and help build a better picture of the nature of the Inner Forth. More info.
Conservation Volunteering with the RSPB
Saturday 29 July, 10:00am - 3:00pm
Skinflats Nature Reserve
Learn useful conservation skills and help the RSPB protect wildlife across the Inner Forth. More info.
Know Your Nettles
Saturday 29 July, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre
Discover the many amazing uses for this plant for both people and wildlife. More info.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
