Grampian Events
| Sunday 24 Feb 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Seminar for Planning Students Effective planning creates sustainable places and cares for the natural environment. Using a blend of presentations, themed sessions and access to a panel of experienced professionals, student planners are encouraged to explore the key issues and opportunities for safeguarding the environment. The event aims to influence those who will one day, through the decisions they make, have a critical role in determining the impact of planning on Scotland’s natural heritage. Priority will be given to those following RTPI and Landscape Institute accredited courses. This event is often oversubscribed, so early booking through universities is recommended. |
| Tuesday 26 Feb 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Students' Seminar: Planning, Landscape and the Natural Heritage One of the primary objectives of the Planning system is to maintain and enhance the quality of the natural heritage and this event is for students who will one day play a pivotal role in achieving this through the decisions they will take. Through presentations, case studies and workshops, we will explore the key issues and opportunities for safeguarding and enhancing Scotland’s natural heritage through the planning system. Priority will be given to those following RTPI and Landscape Institute accredited courses, and early booking through universities is recommended. |
| Wednesday 5 Mar 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Leading Edge Leading Edge goes from strength to strength! At this lively and very popular annual event, environmental educators get together to share ideas and inspiration for practical activities that promote outdoor learning and first-hand experience of the natural world. |
| Thursday 6 Mar 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Leading Edge Fossicking about for rocks and fossils can be great fun and there are some excellent resources and activities available to get people excited about geology. This year’s Leading Edge event is an opportunity for environmental education practitioners to learn more about rocks and fossils, share ideas on how to raise awareness of their significance, and consider how they may be collected responsibly, using the new Scottish Fossil Code. |
| Wednesday 26 Mar 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Managing Visitors on Sensitive Natural Heritage Sites Outdoor Access Event. Scotland's natural heritage includes its plants, birds and animals, landforms and geology, natural beauty and amenity. Our enjoyment of outdoor recreation, with its important cultural and economic dimensions, is also dependent on the quality of the natural heritage. This workshop will examine ways to balance visitor and natural heritage needs on sites sensitive to disturbance from recreational pressures, including how to monitor recreational use and its impact on the natural heritage. We will also look at how to plan positive visitor management approaches. This event is for access officers, land managers and their advisers, representatives of recreational bodies and other users. |
| Thursday 24 Apr 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Inspired by nature How do we find inspiration? This event, led by Gordon MacLellan (‘Creeping Toad’), will focus on ‘hands on’ creative activities to foster our own excitement and sense of connection as interpreters, educators and workshop leaders. These same activities can be used with groups, offering new ways of inspiring the people we work with and developing different relationships between public, place and ourselves as professional environmentalists. |
| Tuesday 29 Apr 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Going wild again! Informal camping is enjoyed by a wide spectrum of people along quiet roadsides, loch shores and river banks. Although this type of camping is lawful within the exercise of access rights, some people are claiming access rights in defense of unacceptable behaviour and overlooking their responsibilities. Evidence of litter, human waste, poorly controlled fires, vegetation damage and vandalism is contributing to problems for local people and land managers, and worsening the environment to be enjoyed by others. This workshop will share experiences of management options, awareness-raising messages and communication methods aimed at campers who are neglecting their responsibilities. The focus will be on how to target small informal groups who go social camping mainly congregating to drink and party. |
| Wednesday 14 May 2008 |
What practical management action can we take to prepare for and adapt to Scotland’s changing climate ? How can we develop an informed response on which to make decisions? This event will look at case studies, management techniques and information sources being developed to support action for adaptation and will highlight the role a healthy environment can play in helping to safeguard us from the consequences of climate change. The event will focus on how we can help nature adapt, at the same time as exploring how nature can help people adapt to a changing climate. It will be relevant for land managers and their advisors, local authority planners and environmental managers, conservation managers, policy officers from NGOs, and policy and advisory officers from governmental organisations. See also 15 May: these linked events stand alone, but there is a discount for attending both days. |
| Saturday 17 May 2008 |
Butterfly Identification and Recording Workshop Learn how to identify butterflies and contribute records to national and local recorders. Suitable for beginners or improvers, the day will include informationn on Scottish species and visits to local sites, where spring butterflies such as Pearl-bordered Fritillary should be on the wing. Helen Row, Aberdeenshire Council Countryside Ranger (Marr Area) and butterfly/moth recorder will lead this workshop. Please bring a packed lunch, stout footwear, waterproofs, sun protection etc. |
| Wednesday 28 May 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Sustainable places and sustainable development Event presentations: Sustainable places and sustainable developmentThis event is for the Chief Executive and Senior Management levels of government agencies, local authorities, business and the voluntary sector. It will make sense of the complex cross-sectoral relationships and interdependencies required to make sustainable places. Being realistic about the role of policy and the role of people in making sustainable places work, real examples will be used to identify barriers and find opportunities to put policies into practice and make successful sustainable places. |
| Tuesday 3 Jun 2008 |
Do your bit to keep St Cyrus Beach beautiful and take part in the Marine Conservation Society’s annual Beachwatch event. Gloves and litterpickers provided. |
| Friday 6 Jun 2008 |
Local Nature reserve - Spring Shoreline Davina Thomas
01309 690223
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| Saturday 7 Jun 2008 |
St Cyrus National Nature Reserve is home to a huge variety of butterflies and moths but many people miss the moths that fly at night. Celebrate National Moth Night by joining moth expert Brian Stewart and Scottish Natural Heritage staff on a evening exploring the moths attracted to light traps. Remember to bring a torch and wrap up warm! |
| Sunday 8 Jun 2008 |
Local Nature reserve - Spring Shoreline Davina Thomas
01309 690223
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| Tuesday 17 Jun 2008 |
SCRA Training Day - Dragonfly Ecology and ID This day will be mainly field based, covering dragonfly ecology, collecting techniques and identification skills. It will be useful for those wanting to improve or refresh their knowledge and understanding of insects, including anyone applying it in education and interpretation work. Dr. Mark Young, entomologist and Director of Teaching at the School of Biological Sciences, Aberdeen University, will lead the course.
Please bring sweep nets, beating trays/sheets, collecting pots, pooters, hand lenses and field guides/keys if you have them. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided.
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| Tuesday 24 Jun 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Walkies Taking the lead for closer control Can you teach old dogs new tricks? All dog owners should know what the Scottish Outdoor Access Code means for them. We've got a host of fresh and innovative ideas on how to influence dog owners who can sometimes forget their responsibilities. Evidence suggests there is increasing cause for concern about dog fouling, worrying and attacking of farm animals and disturbance to sensitive natural heritage interests such as ground-nesting birds. If you’d like to help dog owners to take closer control of their pets, this workshop will help you take the lead. |
| Tuesday 24 Jun 2008 |
Local Nature reserve - Sand dune safari Banff & Buchan ranger
Tel 01261 813299 |
| Saturday 28 Jun 2008 |
Take part in with National Whale & Dolphin Watch Week by helping reserve staff scan the bay for whales, dolphin & porpoises and learn more about the marine mammals that live around our coast. Remember to bring binoculars if you can and wrap up warm – the cliff top can be cold even on a sunny day! |
| Saturday 12 Jul 2008 |
Long before supermarkets and pharmacies, people had to feed and doctor themselves with the plants around them. Join us to find out which plants they used and try some wild foods! |
| Saturday 12 Jul 2008 |
The fantastic displays of flowers at St Cyrus National Nature Reserve change with the seasons and the dunes are carpeted with pinks, purples and yellows throughout the summer. Join botany expert David Welch and Scottish Natural Heritage staff on a guided walk through the flower rich grasslands of the reserve and discover some of the hidden beauties beneath your feet. Remember to find a hand lens and flower ID book if you have them! |
| Sunday 13 Jul 2008 |
Come & join the fun at St Cyrus National Nature Reserve. Lots of games & activities for all the family based at the visitor centre. |
| Sunday 27 Jul 2008 |
Come and join the fun at Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve. Lots of gamesand activities for all the family based at the visitor centre. |
| Sunday 27 Jul 2008 |
Muir of Dinnet NNR - Management Proposals Consultation Launch Your Nature Reserve needs you! Have your say in how we manage Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve over the next 5 years. Drop by our stand, come on a walk with us or speak to the staff…find out what we’re planning…then let us know what you think! |
| Saturday 23 Aug 2008 |
St Cyrus National Nature Reserve is much more than just golden sands and beautiful flowers, the area is steeped in human history too. From Stone Age hunters and cannibal lairds to brave soldiers and amazing innovators discover the daring deeds and tragic stories from St Cyrus’ past on a guided walk around the reserve. |
| Sunday 24 Aug 2008 |
A celebration of the world between the tides. Join local salmon fisherman Jim Ritchie on a fascinating walk to learn how local folk have made a living from the world between the tides, harvesting salmon from the beach at St Cyrus for hundreds of years. |
| Sunday 31 Aug 2008 |
St Cyrus National Nature Reserve has had an eventful life! From its days near the equator to volcanic eruptions and ice ages. Celebrate the start of Scottish Geology Month with a stroll through the reserve & travel back in time to uncover the clues to St Cyrus’ past hidden in the cliffs and dunes. |
| Wednesday 3 Sep 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Flying Flocks Grazing has played a key role in creating some of the most valued landscapes and habitats in Britain – spectacular wildflower meadows, heathlands and pasture woodlands. Conservation organisations and private landowners often struggle to maintain these special sites in good condition.The Scottish Wildlife Trust ‘Flying Flock’ travels around SWT reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest, grazing to maintain biodiversity. Using the flock as an example, this event will combine talks, workshops and site visits to look at conservation grazing. We will examine breed selection, practicalities of running a flock, marketing and finance, and how to assess whether your grazing regimes are successful. This event will appeal to anyone with an interest in conservation grazing. |
| Saturday 6 Sep 2008 |
Scottish Nature Photography Fair 2 Day Event - 6 and 7 September 2008 |
| Saturday 6 Sep 2008 |
Join expert mycologist Liz Holden for a guided walk to explore the fascinating fungi found at St Cyrus National Nature Reserve. Discover some weird & wonderful facts about the wealth of fungi that makes St Cyrus its home |
| Sunday 7 Sep 2008 |
Join expert mycologist Marysia Stamm for a guided walk to explore the fascinating fungi found at Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve. Discover some weird and wonderful facts about the wealth of fungi that makes Dinnet its home. |
| Tuesday 9 Sep 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: assessing the impacts of wind farm developments on birds Good quality, clear ornithological chapters in Environmental Statements greatly assist decision making, both for those within the renewables industry and for those who have a role in assessing applications where impacts on birds may be an issue. This event will cover the entire process from designing effective surveys through to the structure and design of Environmental Statement chapters. Issues that will also be discussed include when to consider ‘likely significant effect’ on notified features of Special Protection Areas, how to determine the magnitude and significance of impacts (including potential cumulative effects arising from other proposals), and how to assess the impacts on favourable conservation status of birds in the wider countryside. |
| Thursday 18 Sep 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Managing inspiring school visits on your site This event is aimed at managers of National and Local Nature Reserves and other natural heritage sites who wish to work more effectively with schools. Using case studies, we will consider what A Curriculum for Excellence might mean for your work, and look at ways of working with teachers to develop programmes, resources and Continuing Professional Development sessions. We will explore ways of supporting and encouraging teachers to use sites independently, and discuss the issues this can raise and how they might be overcome. |
| Thursday 18 Sep 2008 |
Drop-in session to discuss the proposal to extend the Cairngorms National Park into Perth and Kinross. |
| Tuesday 23 Sep 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Aquaculture and the landscape This event will examine the landscape and visual issues concerned with the development of fishfarming on Scotland's coasts. Starting at the strategic scale, we will look at new guidance on how to assess the capacity of different landscapes to accommodate aquaculture developments. We will then explore in detail how to assess the landscape and visual impacts of individual developments and how to locate and design them appropriately, working through examples and sharing experience. The day is primarily aimed at planners, developers and landscape architects. |
| Thursday 25 Sep 2008 |
Drop-in session to discuss the proposal to extend the Cairngorms National Park into Perth and Kinross. |
| Thursday 2 Oct 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Working with rivers This workshop will introduce physical processes that naturally occur in rivers, how they are linked to river habitats, the impacts upon river habitat that may result from channel modifications, and will explore sustainable and sympathetic river management practices. Through seminar sessions, case studies and a site visit, we will look at a range of river management issues and the success or failure of different forms of intervention. The workshop is aimed at local authorities, conservation bodies, fisheries boards and trusts, land managers and engineers. |
| Tuesday 7 Oct 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Planning for public access with land management It’s not easy to find time to work out how best to plan for and integrate recreation and access with land management operations. A planned approach can assist land managers to continue earning their living from the countryside whilst supporting recreational users in exercising their right of responsible access. These practical half-day workshops delivered by Vyv Wood-Gee are for land managers including farmers, crofters, estate managers and their advisers. They aim to help land managers decide how best to manage public access on their land using available guidance and apply this to a range of situations. Responsibilities regarding liability and health and safety will also be discussed. |
| Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 |
Drop-in session to discuss the proposal to extend the Cairngorms National Park into Perth and Kinross. |
| Thursday 9 Oct 2008 |
view the event summary |
| Tuesday 21 Oct 2008 |
Species Management:Challenges &Solutions for the 21st Century |
| Wednesday 22 Oct 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Biodiversity at the chalkface (primary level) Become an inspirational teacher and bring Science and Planet Earth to life! These events, aimed at student teachers, bring together practising teachers, pupils and other experienced education professionals to demonstrate techniques to fire you and your pupils with enthusiasm for the environment. Come along and see how Health-Promoting Schools, Eco Schools and Education for Sustainable Development are all related to your teaching within A Curriculum for Excellence. Overcome some of the challenges – make the most of cross-curricular opportunities and take your learning outdoors. We anticipate a heavy demand for these events, therefore early booking through universities is essential. |
| Thursday 23 Oct 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Biodiversity at the chalkface (secondary level) Become an inspirational teacher and bring Science and Planet Earth to life! These events, aimed at student teachers, bring together practising teachers, pupils and other experienced education professionals to demonstrate techniques to fire you and your pupils with enthusiasm for the environment. Come along and see how Health-Promoting Schools, Eco Schools and Education for Sustainable Development are all related to your teaching within A Curriculum for Excellence. Overcome some of the challenges – make the most of cross-curricular opportunities and take your learning outdoors. We anticipate a heavy demand for these events, therefore early booking through universities is essential. |
| Saturday 25 Oct 2008 |
It’s getting darker at nights ….its almost Halloween, when the ghosties and ghoulies come out to play. Join us for some spine-tingling, spooky stories of Dinnet and Deeside long ago….and listen out for things that go bump in the night! |
| Tuesday 28 Oct 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Planning for public access with land management It’s not easy to find time to work out how best to plan for and integrate recreation and access with land management operations. A planned approach can assist land managers to continue earning their living from the countryside whilst supporting recreational users in exercising their right of responsible access. These practical half-day workshops delivered by Vyv Wood-Gee are for land managers including farmers, crofters, estate managers and their advisers. They aim to help land managers decide how best to manage public access on their land using available guidance and apply this to a range of situations. Responsibilities regarding liability and health and safety will also be discussed. |
| Wednesday 29 Oct 2008 |
Species Framework Conference ....... further details The long-term aim for all species management is for thriving and where possible self-sustaining and self-regulating populations of native species distributed throughout their natural range. The conference will explore, through a series of invited presentations, key issues. |
| Tuesday 11 Nov 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Controlling invasive non-native species in freshwaters and wetlands Non-native species pose an increasing threat to our freshwaters, wetlands and adjacent land. This event is an opportunity for those who manage these habitats to discuss successful control methods and strategies for dealing with invasive plants and animals. Through presentations and case studies we will consider the spread of non-native species and their impacts on biodiversity, the efficacy of control methods and examples of successful control strategies. Workshop topics will include identifying species likely to spread to Scotland in the future, developing rapid responses to newly arrived species and the legislative framework for control. |
| Thursday 20 Nov 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: Written in stone - interpreting special geological places This practical workshop is designed for enthusiasts involved inpromoting Scotland’s landscapes and locally important sites. With interpretation expert James Carter, we will explore what makes good practice in deciding who we want to write for, what we want to say, and look at different media for getting our message across. Participants are encouraged to bring along their own geological text on which to work with the support of others and with guidance from experienced interpreters and geologists. |
| Tuesday 25 Nov 2008 |
Sharing Good Practice: A place for life - environment, health and well-being Sustainable places support the physical and mental health and well-being of people. This event will examine links between natural heritage and well-being, and show how communities, planners, land managers and health professionals can work together to create places which improve health and well-being and reduce health inequalities. |
| Saturday 29 Nov 2008 |
Scottish Badger Distribution Survey Booking essential. To book a place, or for more information, please contact
the Survey Coordinator on elaine@scottishbadgers.org.uk or on 0789 677 1867. |
| Tuesday 2 Dec 2008 |
The quality and diversity of our landscapes contributes to the well-being and identity of communities and the attractiveness of sustainable places. This event looks at how landscapes of all scales - from the expanse of our fine scenery to the micro detail of the design of our parks and streetscapes - can be managed and designed to create sustainable places where people can find enjoyment, security and inspiration |
