The 2023 Wild Goose Festival concluded on the 29th of October, but don’t worry! Events celebrating the migration of our feathery friends will return in Autumn 2024. For updates on all things Wild Goose, make sure you are following our social media channels.
Peter Scott was a remarkable man who led an extraordinary life. Writer, artist, broadcaster, conservationist, sportsman; in any one of his chosen fields he would have been remembered as someone who made a difference. That he excelled in all of these is perhaps the main reason why his life remains an inspiration to others more […]
In Dumfries and Galloway we have a small wintering population of light bellied brent geese. These fascinating birds migrate 5,000km from Canada each year to spend the winter on our coastline. Most of the population winter in Ireland, but we have a small population on the coasts of West Galloway where they feed on eel […]
Build your confidence in wetland bird identification at our reserve and learn how to get involved in recording the birds you see. Join a friendly warden who will help show where and what species to look out for when birding, as well as sharing more information about wetland habitats and wildlife. This is a great […]
Some of the greatest spectacles of nature take place at dusk. Join our guide to enjoy Svalbard barnacle geese descending on the sandflat and reserve to roost. This will involve a ¾mile/1.2km walk down to the shore, to view incoming geese. There may be some standing around for a while once in position. Please wrap […]
Take this unique opportunity to watch thousands of barnacle geese flighting in to the reserve against the dawn sky. We will walk out to the merse at dawn to watch this spectacular wildlife event. Please bring weatherproof clothes, suitable footwear, binoculars, and a torch. BOOKING ESSENTIAL Accessibility Details: Please bear in mind, this requires a […]
Interested in a new pair of binoculars, or a telescope? Optics greatly enhance your experience of watching geese, helping you see the stunning plumage of these beautiful birds and watch their fascinating behaviour. Experts from Swarovski and Viking are visiting WWT Caerlaverock to demonstrate and sell a range of optics. Take this opportunity to try […]
Postponed from October 16th | Closed Sunday’s As part of this year’s Wild Goose Festival, the Stove’s Conversing Building project has been engaging with Fife College learners based at HMP Dumfries. Sharing inspirations and prompts from the festivals theme of Keep Looking Up, the learners have worked through a variety of creative mediums to respond […]
Come and make a willow bird feeder with experienced weaver Fiona Moir. You will learn how to work with willow to make a feeder that takes fat balls. Hang it in your garden and then watch the variety of birds that will use it. Fiona practices various crafts and has taught many craft classes to […]
Judith Hewitt managed the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Cornwall for five years and she will draw on her work at this museum for this talk. This included a display dedicated to The Goddess – a Pagan deity who takes many forms. Many Goddess archetypes connect with birds in some way and, arguably, some […]
Join us for a walk with a knowledgeable warden to learn how we manage the reserve for the thousands of barnacle geese and pink footed geese that migrate here in winter. Learn how to identify different species and experience the sights and sounds of these wonderful wildfowl. BOOKING ESSENTIAL Accessibility Details: The trails are all […]
Feast your eyes on badgers, as they snuffle around for a snack in our garden. So, they’re not goosey but are just as black, white and grey as our barnacle geese! These creatures are living on the reserve and often leave tracks and signs along our trails but close views can be a challenge. Watch […]
Join our RSPB Warden at Ken Dee Marshes by the car park to look for and hear about the geese and other wildlife that winter around Loch Ken and surrounding area, including the Greenland White-fronted Geese which we be arriving after their epic migration from Greenland via Iceland. Drop by to chat and ask questions […]
Cycling Dumfries are delighted to join WWT, Nith Life and NatureScot, to host this guided wildlife ride to WWT Caerlaverock, taking in Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve and the river Nith along the way. The ride is around 20 miles – but with plenty of stops on the way to look out for wildlife and take […]
Geese like stars, they help them to migrate. Nigh-ttime is a great time for stories, star stories in particular. Elizabeth Tindal, Biosphere Dark Sky Ranger, will be there to tell you stories about constellations, the importance of the North star to both people and birds, moon geese and the moon rabbit all while standing under […]
We’ll be hosting 2 sessions throughout the day: 10am-12noon & 2pm-4pm. Taking inspiration from nature, these drop in sessions are for all ages and abilities. We will select some natural materials gathered from around our reserve. Where creativity is encouraged for the simple pleasure of it, in a fun, supportive and positive atmosphere coupled with […]
Discover some of the amazing wildlife looked after on this farm. As the season changes, so too do the habitats and special creatures found here – with lush greens turning to golds, reds and browns and flocks of ducks, geese and wading birds arriving in massive numbers. These walks will give you a chance to […]
Join Adam Murphy of Nith Life and award-winning nature writer Stephen Rutt for a guided sunset walk, looking with readings along the River Nith. Discover Dumfries’s urban wildlife, learn more about rivers and hopefully a skein or two of geese passing over. About Stephen Rutt Stephen Rutt is an award-winning author of three books about […]
In the main hall of Dumfries Museum, the award-winning nature writer Stephen Rutt will deliver a talk about the birds of the River Nith. Using the museum’s recently refreshed taxidermy displays as a starting point, he will explore what they can tell us about the River Nith and what the river can tell us about […]
Sami storyteller Stina Fagertun and Sami musician Øistein Hanssen travel to Dumfries for a cosy and unique evening of stories, music and songs from the far north. About Øistein Hanssen Øistein Hanssen has roots from Sami, Kven and Norse ancestry and has studied the different cultures’ musical background. To gain a deeper understanding, he has spent decades tracing humanity’s musical […]
The dark days of the witch trials left a powerful mark on the town of Dumfries… At the height of the persecutions, at least 78 people were accused of witchcraft, with many more affected in the wider region. Join award-winning storytellers, Mostly Ghostly, as they reawaken a collection of historical, thought-provoking accounts, through layers of […]
Take this unique opportunity to watch thousands of Barnacle geese flighting in to the reserve against the dawn sky. We will walk out to the merse at dawn to watch this spectacular wildlife event. Please bring weatherproof clothes, suitable footwear, binoculars, and a torch. Please bear in mind, this requires a walk of approximately half […]
Some writers manage to capture the thrill of being among and of the natural world in words which resonate and serve as portals to our understanding and memory. This is the motivation for a special collaboration between Spiracle Audiobooks, WWT Caerlaverock and David Borthwick. Passionate about writing which expresses love of and connection with the […]
The RSPB Crook of Baldoon Reserve covers 194 hectares (479 acres) along the Baldoon Sands adjacent to Wigtown. The site lies adjacent to the Cree Estuary Site of Scientific Natural Interest (SSSI) and the River Bladnoch Special Area of Conservation (SAC). There is a designated Scheduled Monument (SM), which is a target range from the […]
Goose Quest at National Trust for Scotland Threave Nature Reserve drop-in activities throughout the day – NTS Rangers and Volunteers will be on hand to help you get the most out of your visit, and to help you spot wildlife at our hides. Picnic areas are available, or enjoy lunch or cakes at our café […]
Join us for another one of our popular Forest School events, this workshop will be all things goose to coincide with the #WildGooseFestival2023. Limited places are available for primary aged school children. Each workshop costs £5 per child. Parents and guardians are required to stay. Suitable clothing and footwear for outside play are essential. Please […]
From the renowned art and social justice group Platform, Three Sisters – A Story from the Climate Future, is a drama made specifically for Nithsdale and premiering at the Wild Goose Festival. Created in New Abbey, just to the south of Dumfries, this immersive audio drama uses the structure and sensibility of Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters to explore a […]
Part of the #WildGooseFestival2023. Some of the greatest spectacles of nature take place at dusk. Join our guide to enjoy Svalbard barnacle geese descending on the sandflat and reserve to roost. This will involve a ¾mile/1.2km walk down to the shore, to view incoming geese. There may be some standing around for a while once […]
BOOKING ESSENTIAL Stephen Rutt’s book Wintering: A Journey with Geese was chosen as Times Nature Book of the Year 2019, and described as “a poignant testament to how we can find peace in the rhythms of the natural world”. Stephen is partnering with National Trust for Scotland to deliver a relaxed, creative evening workshop at […]
Join us at Ellisland for a ghostly day of Halloween fun for all the family. We are hosting a celebration in the spirit of the Bard himself wi’ merry sangs and unco tales! The history of Halloween is steeped in Scottish traditions, Burns himself had an affiliation with the supernatural and references to this can […]
From the renowned art and social justice group Platform, Three Sisters – A Story from the Climate Future, is a drama made specifically for Nithsdale and premiering at the Wild Goose Festival. Created in New Abbey, just to the south of Dumfries, this immersive audio drama uses the structure and sensibility of Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters to explore a […]