Migration Exhibition: Wildlife, Journeys, & Plastic
2024-10-18 09:00 - 2024-10-27 15:00 UTC | The Stove Cafe, 100 High Street, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 2BJ, United Kingdom
Solway Firth Partnership

This exhibition will be in place and open to view at The Stove Cafe daily, excluding Sunday’s.

Routes taken by wildlife and plastic to and from the Solway shore often follow close parallels. This exhibition compares and contrasts the often remarkable journeys taken by the migrating wildlife and floating litter that rely on ocean currents and prevailing winds.

Watch wildlife at the Robert Burns Centre
2024-10-18 10:00 - 2024-10-26 17:00 | Robert Burns Centre, Mill Road, Dumfries, Scotland, DG2 7BE, United Kingdom
(Closed Sunday’s & Monday’s)

Have a go at wildlife watching in Dumfries.

One of the best places to watch wildlife in Dumfries is the Robert Burns Centre, situated on the River Nith. Visitors (and staff) regularly see otters, herons, kingfishers and more.

During the Wild Goose Festival, there will be binoculars and wildlife identification guides available for you to use. Drop in during opening hours, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 1pm, 2pm – 5pm and see what wildlife wonders await in the centre of Dumfries.

Free, no need to book.

Halloween and Weird Geese Trail at Mersehead
2024-10-18 10:00 - 2024-10-27 16:00 | RSPB Mersehead, RSPB Mersehead Nature Reserve, Southwick, Dumfries, DG2 8AH, United Kingdom
RSPB Scotland

This activity is available every day from 12th October – 27th October, 10am. 4pm (excluding Tuesday 15th October and Tuesday 22nd October)

Strange sounds and creepy features, explore the trail for spooky creatures!

Follow our Halloween activity trail to create your own spell, discover some mystery and magic about nature and who knows what weird and wonderful things you will experience? With some activities on mysterious facts about our special Barnacle Geese, Mmwhaaaahhh!

Booking not essential, you can drop in any time on dates when this event takes place.

All children must be accompanied by adults. Additional car park charge applies for non-RSPB members.

Event Type: Outdoor

Event: £3 per activity booklet

Accessibility Details: Firm, mostly surfaced path along route and garden. Distance: 1.2km

Event Capacity: n/a

Age Restriction: For all ages from 3 years

Booking Details: Booking not essential

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Hub Programme 2024
2024-10-18 10:00 - 2024-10-26 16:00 | The Loreburne Centre, High St, Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway, DG1 2BD, United Kingdom
Join us at the Wild Goose Festival Hub this October for fun and creative events, science workshops, and activities. Learn all about our feathery friends, the Wild Geese, and discover why they visit us here in Dumfries & Galloway every year. Meet some of the people helping to protect our natural resources and get crafty with our artists.

All our activities are FREE, drop-in, and suitable for all ages.

Open daily from 10am – 4pm, 16th – 26th October (closed Sunday) at the Loreburne Centre.

Programme of Activity

Friday 18th October

Stories Just in Case

11:00am – 3:00pm

Join the master puppeteers from Clyde Built Theatre for a day of storytelling as they take over our hub with shows at the top of each hour.

G(r)oosem Tales: an Illustration Workshop

1:00pm – 4:00pm

Join local illustrator Korey Patterson as he asks “What if Geese grew on trees”? Drawing inspiration from ancient myth and folklore, come conjure up some wild and monstrous geese to perch on our Goose tree.

Saturday 19th October

Barnacle Goose Monitoring

10:00am – 4:00pm

Join the RSPB Mersehead team as they lead an activity on Barnacle Geese grazing, its impacts, and how they are monitored.

Puppet Making

11:30am – 1:00pm

Join the puppet makers from Clyde Built Theatre as they walk participants through how to make their very own goose puppet.

Fun Family Folktales

2:00pm – 3:00pm

Join international storyteller Allison Galbraith as she captivates the whole family with her hilarious Scottish tales.

Monday 21st October

Build a Goose

10:00am – 3:00pm

Join the NatureScot reserve team as they answer your science questions and lead a workshop building cardboard geese planes.

Tuesday 22nd October

Journeys

10:00am – 1:00pm

Join Solway Firth Partnership as they hold a “Where did the duck go?” competition and a “Where did that come from?” beach find session suitable for both children and curious adults.

Mapping Geese: a Print Workshop Exploring the Geese’s story from Svalbard to Dumfries

11:00am – 3:00pm

Using tetra pack relief printing, artist Emily Tough will guide the co-creation of a large-scale map of the Geese’s journey to us.

Goose Call Identification

1:00pm – 4:00pm

Join the WWT team as they lead a sound activity identifying the four most common geese in the region.

Wednesday 23rd October

Salt Marshes & Goose News

10:00am – 1:00pm

Join SCAMP as they bring a miniature interactive Saltmarsh and lead a child-friendly eco-journalism activity.

Flying Geese, Make your own Flapping Mobile

11:00am – 3:00pm

Join artist Emily Tough as she leads a workshop on decorating and assembling your own flapping mobile goose to take home.

Sonic Safari

1:00pm – 4:00pm

Join Species on the Edge as they explore animal sounds! Manipulate field recordings of geese, bats, wading birds, and amphibians to create a real-time safari symphony.

Thursday 24th October

Journeys

10:00am – 1:00pm

Join Solway Firth Partnership as they hold a “Where did the duck go?” competition and a “Where did that come from?” beach find session suitable for both children and curious adults.

Goose Talk

1:00pm – 2:00pm

Join Dr Larry Griffin as he leads a kid-friendly event exploring how different sites celebrate the geese while shining a light on their yearly adventures.

Goose Call Identification

2:00pm – 4:00pm

Join the WWT team as they lead a sound activity identifying the four most common geese in the region.

Friday 25th October

Move!

11:00am – 3:00pm

Join Paragon as they celebrate migration with marvellous music and movement! Come on a journey across the world and explore what migration looks like, how it sounds and how it feels.

Saturday 26th October

Barnacle Goose Monitoring

1:00pm – 4:00pm

Join the RSPB Mersehead team as they lead an activity on Barnacle Geese grazing, its impacts, and how they are monitored.

WG Hub Programme V2 2024 DigitalDownload

Dawn Flight
2024-10-20 07:00 - 09:00 | WWT Caerlaverock, WWT Caerlaverock, Eastpark Farm, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, DG1 4RS, United Kingdom
Greet the dawn with the spectacular flight of the barnacle geese departing the reserve as the sun comes up.

These beautiful birds have spent the night out on the Solway mudflats and fly in to feed on the fields during the day. Join the wardens out on the merse, as we open early to watch the geese flying against the dawn sky.

Bring warm, waterproof clothing and footwear, binoculars and a torch.

Breakfast available.

Event Type: Outdoor

Accessibility Details: Involves a walk but there are seats at the end and we can offer manual wheelchairs. Surface is flat and hard. Can be wet underfoot so warm and waterproof clothing and footwear is required.

Event Capacity: 15

Age Restriction: 10+

Booking Details: Call WWT Caerlaverock to book on 01387 770 200

Birding for Brents - CANCELLED
2024-10-20 11:00 - 14:00 | Bunker Snack Bar Carpark by A77, Stranraer, DG9 8QJ
GSA Biosphere, Scottish Ornithologists Club (SOC), British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Loch Ryan is a fantastic birding spot with a 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 grass during the winter.

Other birds migrating here for the winter include eider ducks, long tailed ducks, common scoters, wigeon, teal, red throated divers and Slavonian grebes. Waders are also in abundance with curlews, golden plover, grey plover, knot and dunlin present.

We will meet at the carpark in Stranraer and use telescopes and binoculars to find and identify the birds.

Experts will be present to help with identification and to provide further information about ecology and migration.

This event is held in partnership with the GSA Biosphere, British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and Scottish Ornithology Club (SOC). Please bring lunch, warm and waterproof clothing, suitable footwear, binoculars and telescopes if you have them.

Event Type: Outdoor

Event: Free

Accessibility Details: The outdoor walk on the beach is not suitable for wheelchairs, however the birds can be observed from the car park.

Event Capacity: 25

Age Restriction: All ages welcome

Goose Roost on Sandflats Walk at Mersehead
2024-10-20 17:30 - 19:30 | RSPB Mersehead, RSPB Mersehead Nature Reserve, Southwick, Dumfries, DG2 8AH, United Kingdom
RSPB Scotland

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. ¾mile/1.3km walk down to the shore, to view geese as they fly over onto the sandflats. There may be some standing around for a while once in position. Please wrap up warmly, come prepared for cold or wet weather and bring a torch for safe return to the car park afterwards. All children must be accompanied by ticketed adults.

Please note, as the reserve location is prone to flooding, we ask that all individuals/groups attending provide a telephone number, so we can notify you in advance if the event is cancelled.

Note that access over the sand-dunes is not suitable for normal wheelchairs. Families welcome (though not suitable for younger children, as may involve some standing around while waiting). All children must be accompanied by ticketed adults. Additional car park charge applies for non-RSPB members.

Event Type: Outdoor

Event: from £5 (child ½ price)

Accessibility Details: Firm, mostly surfaced path along route. Distance: 2+miles/3.4km. Visibility will diminish, with return walk in darkness.

Event Capacity: 15

Age Restriction: Adults and children 12+

Booking Details: BOOKING ESSENTIAL

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE

Storytelling and Games with Carl the Goose
2024-10-21 11:00 - 13:00 | WWT Caerlaverock, WWT Caerlaverock, Eastpark Farm, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, DG1 4RS, United Kingdom
WWT Caerlaverock (with Include Us)

Storytelling and Games with Carl the Goose | Illustration by Julia Stephen

Join Include Us at WWT Caerlaverock for a morning of fun and games! Meet Carl the Goose and Steven C Gull who will tell their story. There will be art activities, games and more fun for all the family!

Event Type: Outdoor (will be moved indoors if the weather is horrible)

Accessibility Details: No walking involved. Manual wheelchairs available for hire. Reserve is wet and so weather proof clothing and footwear is recommended.

Event Capacity: n/a

Age Restriction: Family activity

Booking Details: No booking necessary.

Dr Werner Kissling: Photographer Ethnographer & Migrant
2024-10-21 13:30 - 15:30 | Dumfries and Galloway Council Museums Service, Dumfries Museum, Rotchell Road, Dumfries, DG2 7SW
Learn about the life and works of pioneering German Filmmaker photographer (and Dumfries resident) Dr Werner Kissling in this fully illustrated talk.

Dr Werner Kissling was born into great luxury in Germany before World War One. For over thirty years, he worked closely with Dumfries Museum Curators Alf Truckell and David Lockwood to photograph the lives of the people of Dumfries and Galloway.

Dr Kissling left behind an amazing number of images which this talk will share as well as exploring his life and times.

Free to attend, no need to book.

High Tide Birding
2024-10-21 14:00 - 15:30 | WWT Caerlaverock, WWT Caerlaverock, Eastpark Farm, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, DG1 4RS, United Kingdom
High Tide Birding | Photo by Graham Edwards

Watch a spectacle of hundreds of ducks, waders and geese flocking on the merse, brought in by the high tide.

Join a warden who will be on hand to identify and explain more about the variety of wildlife encountered and the importance of this special saltmarsh habitat.

Possible sightings include golden plover, dunlin, pintail, shelduck, barnacle geese and even raptors: there is also a good chance of spotting birds of prey such as hen harrier and peregrine falcon.

Event Type: Outdoor

Accessibility Details: involves walking. Site will likely be wet so waterproof clothing and footwear required. Manual wheelchairs available. Site is flat.

Event Capacity: 15

Age Restriction: 10+

Booking Details: Call WWT Caerlaverock to book on 01387 770 200

Event included with admission

Nature Faces with NatureScot
2024-10-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Castle Corner Carpark, for Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve, Dumfries, DG1 4RU
An interactive morning with our reserve officers to get into the woods, collect natural materials and talk about the animals that live on the reserve.

There will be a large gazebo so that the artworks can be completed even in if there is wet weather.

Parking will be at Castle Corner car park a few minutes from the event site.

Event Type: Outdoor

Event: The event is free, but booking is essential.

Accessibility Details: Wheelchair accessibility

Event Capacity: 20

Age Restriction: 5+

BOOK HERE

A Time Travelling Walk Through Saltmarsh
2024-10-22 11:00 - 13:00 | Annan Museum, Bank Street, Annan, DG12 6AA
Dumfries and Galloway Council Environment Team & SCAMP

Saltmarshes (or merse) is a very popular habitat for Geese as they return for the winter. This unique environment provides a home and a rich sources of food for many other breeds of birds, including lapwing, redshank and skylark.

Human also have a relationship through time with the merse and its inhabitants. Saltmarsh is also our friend, helping prevent flooding, taking the energy out of storm waves and helping to purify water.

Meeting at Annan Museum we will investigate the artefacts and historical stories linked to the merse (Saltmarsh). From there we will embark on a walking adventure with Solway Coast and Marine Project’s (SCAMP) ecologist, Nick Chisholm, to explore the human relationship, ecology and condition of the Annan merse. Finishing off with a brain storm about the challenges and opportunities there may be for the merse in the future.

We will be walking across undulating landscape with ditches. This means the ground is uneven and rough in places. We will be hoping for a lovely sunny Autumn day but just in case, please come dressed for the weather and the terrain.

Event Type: Outdoor

Event: Free

Accessibility Details: We will be walking across undulating landscape with ditches. This means the ground is uneven and rough in places

Event Capacity:15

Age Restriction: 8 +

Booking Details: BOOKING ESSENTIAL

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE

Sketching the Magic of the Merse
2024-10-22 14:00 - 16:00
Dumfries and Galloway Council Environment Team & SCAMP

Saltmarshes (or merse) is a very popular habitat for Geese as they return for the winter.

This unique environment provides a home and rich sources of food for many other breeds of birds, including lapwing, redshank and skylark. The grasses, mudflats are bursting with life in the grasses, the mud, and the water.

Sketching is a brilliant way to explore merse. While sketching we are still and observing the magic of merse, what is happening on, in and around the merse on a landscape scale and while focusing on the microscopic detail.

So, join us for a few hours out on the merse, no experience of art required, and we will teach you how to look at merse slightly differently.

Event Type: Outdoor

Event: Free

Accessibility Details: We will be walking across undulating landscape with ditches. This means the ground is uneven and rough in places

Event Capacity: 15

Age Restriction: 8+

Booking Details: BOOKING ESSENTIAL

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE

Film Screening: My Neighbour Totoro
2024-10-22 14:00 - 16:00 | Robert Burns Centre, Mill Road, Dumfries, Scotland, DG2 7BE, United Kingdom
When two sisters relocate to the Japanese countryside, they quickly realise they have unusual neighbours including Totoro.

This film is being screened as part of the Wild Goose Festival – its themes are Nature, Creativity and Place

BOOK TICKETS HERE

Greenland to Galloway
2024-10-22 14:00 - 16:00 | The Crannog, Lochside Park, Castle Douglas, DG7 1EZ
Loch Ken is home to one of the few colonies of Greenland White Fronted Geese in the UK.

Come hear a talk from the RSPB about the amazing journey of this endangered species to winter in Galloway and the work being done to help support and restore the species.

Film Screening: Baraka with an Introduction & Short Film by the GSA Biosphere
2024-10-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Robert Burns Centre, Mill Road, Dumfries, Scotland, DG2 7BE, United Kingdom
Heart of the Biosphere: A Year in the Life of Merric-Kells and Silver FloweFilmed over twelve months among some of Southwest Scotland’s most dramatic mountain and wetland landscapes. This cinematic short invites its audience to experience wildlife, habitats, and a sense of place. Journey through four seasons to discover why the UNESCO Biosphere’s remote core area is so important for conservation and sustainable land use and how forging connections between people and nature creates a better future for all.

Baraka is a documentary like no other. It was shot in 24 countries and features incredible images of the world in all its variety, a cinematic spectacle with an incredible soundtrack – not to be missed

Roger Ebert included the film in his “Great Movies” list, writing: ‘If man sends another Voyager to the distant stars and it can carry only one film on board, that film might be “Baraka.” It uses no language, so needs no translation. It speaks in magnificent images, natural sounds, and music both composed and discovered. It regards our planet and the life upon it. It stands outside of historical time. To another race, it would communicate: This is what you would see if you came here.’

BOOK TICKETS HERE

Geese of the Past, Geese of the Present, Geese of the Future.
2024-10-23 10:00 - 13:00 | WWT Caerlaverock, WWT Caerlaverock, Eastpark Farm, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, DG1 4RS, United Kingdom
WWT Caerlaverock (with Dave Borthwick of the University of Glasgow)

Geese of the Past, Geese of the Present, Geese of the Future | Photo by David Pickett

This creative writing session will encourage writers to reflect on how migratory geese might have been perceived in the past – in day-to-day encounters, and through folklore- how they are seen by us in the present – and how we may come to understand them in the future. We might also consider how geese perceive their own world and our place in it as we travel across the WWT reserve at Caerlaverock! Bring a notepad and pencil and join us to take imaginative flights into a world of geese.

Event Type: Outdoor

Event: Included with admission

Accessibility Details: Will involve walking. Reserve will be wet so wet weather clothes and shoes required. Manual wheelchairs available for use. Site is flat.

Event Capacity: 10

Age Restriction: 12+

Booking Details: Call WWT Caerlaverock on 0387 770 200 to book

Caerlaverock Cycle Ride
2024-10-23 10:00 - 13:00 | Dock Park, Dockhead, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 2RY, United Kingdom
WWT Caerlaverock, Cycling Dumfries, Nith Life and NatureScot jointly host this fun cycling event.

Cycle Ride | Photo by Marianne Nicholson

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 in the sights and sounds of the Nith and the estuary.

Each group will be accompanied by a wildlife expert as well as a ride leader and we’ll stay in small groups. The ride involves an opportunity for refreshments at WWT Caerlaverock.

Please bring your own binoculars and snacks/drinks for the ride.

Families welcome, although given the length of the ride overall, we recommend this ride is only suitable for those aged 10 or over.

Event Type: Outdoor

Accessibility Details: The route is suitable for anyone able to cycle 20 miles on a bike, ebike, hand cycle, trike etc.

Event Capacity: 20

Age Restriction: 10+

Booking Details: Call WWT Caerlaverock to book on 01387 770 200.

Nana’s Garden – Children Activity with Lift D&G
2024-10-23 13:00 - 15:00
Join LIFT D&G and local artists for engaging, nature-themed workshops for children at the Cabin on Dunlop Road. Let your imagination soar, get creative, and forge a deeper connection with the local environment. Artist to be announced.

Green Tease: Land Use
2024-10-23 13:30 - 17:30 | Gracefield Arts Centre, 28 Edinburgh Road,, Dumfries, DG1 1JQ
Join this interactive Green Tease to explore how we use and manage urban and rural land in Scotland to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises.

The event is a collaboration between Creative Carbon Scotland and photographer Ted Leeming, who will share his recent exploration of extractive and regenerative ways of land use in Scotland from his bike journeys.

Ted Leeming is working with a range of partners in developing the workshop & a toolkit including the GSA Biosphere, D&G Council Environment Team, DG Woodlands, GCAT, WWT Caerlaverock & Nature Scot. Key speakers will introduce the themes of the day.

The workshop invites you to imagine ways that combine considerations for biodiversity, climate, community and society. The workshop will also be the beginning of collaboratively building a creative toolkit on land use that can be shared with a wide range of organisations and interest groups for educational, collaborative, place -based and strategic planning purposes.

This Green Tease is aimed for creatives, environmental & community organisations, landowners, scientists, academics & people from industries working with land use, but it is open to any individuals who are interested in the topic as well.

All Green Tease events are open to the public and free to attend, booking is essential:

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE

Family Fun at the Wig
2024-10-23 14:00 - 16:00 | Kirkcolm Community Hub, Church Road, Kirkcolm, Stranraer, DG9 0NN
GSA Biosphere & Kirkcolm Community Trust

In winter Loch Ryan attracts wintering birds such as geese, ducks, swans and waders.

Join the GSA Biosphere Community and Education team at Kirkcolm Community Hub, for an afternoon walk to the Wig to see the wintering birds, do scavenger hunts and play games on the beach.

We will meet at Kirkcolm Community Hub, go out for a walk to the Wig then return to warm up with hot chocolate and take part in fun marine-based activities.

Please wear warm and waterproof clothing, and footwear suitable for the beach. Free event.

Event Type: Outdoor and Indoor

Event: Free

Accessibility Details: The outdoor walk on the beach is not suitable for wheelchairs.

Event Capacity: 25

Age Restriction: All ages welcome

Booking Details: Please add link to booking page

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE

CANCELLED: Lifeblood: Stories of Cholera, Calamity and Hope with Mostly Ghostly
2024-10-23 19:00 - 21:00 | St Michael’s Church, 87 St Michael Street, Dumfries, DG1 2LA
This event has been cancelled – we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Join Mostly Ghostly as we celebrate the beautifully restored Dumfries Fountain, with a tour exploring the impact of two major Cholera epidemics on our town.

Discover fascinating real-life accounts, intriguing folklore and a sense of the dark gloom that overshadowed Dumfries, ultimately leading to healthier, happier times with the piping in of fresh water – lifeblood – and a profound connection with Dumfries Fountain.

Age guide: 8 +Mobility restricted – please contact the team for more info. Please wear practical footwear

Autumn Discovery Walk at Mersehead
2024-10-24 11:00 - 13:00 | RSPB Mersehead, RSPB Mersehead Nature Reserve, Southwick, Dumfries, DG2 8AH, United Kingdom
RSPB Scotland

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 geese, ducks and wading birds arriving in massive numbers. These walks will give you a chance to see it all close-up and learn how we manage this important place for nature in our fields and on the wetlands.

Please wrap up warmly, come prepared for cold or wet weather and bring binoculars/cameras if you have some.

All children must be accompanied by ticketed adults. Families welcome (though not suitable for early years). This walk will take place along our wheelchair accessible trail.

Please note, as the reserve location is prone to flooding, we ask that all individuals/groups attending provide a telephone number, so we can notify you in advance if the event is cancelled.

Event Type: Outdoor

Event: from £5 (child ½ price)

Accessibility Details: Mostly wheelchair accessible. Distance: 2+miles/3.4km

Event Capacity: 15

Age Restriction: Adults and children 7+

Booking Details: BOOKING ESSENTIAL

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE

Larry Griffin Goose Talk
2024-10-24 13:00 - 14:00 | The Wild Goose Festival Hub, Carers Centre, Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway, DG1 2PW, United Kingdom
A kid-friendly event exploring connections between different sites celebrating the geese, such as Lindisfarne and D&G, which are celebrated as both host our internationally important barnacle goose and pink-footed goose. Both sites also cater for brent geese from different parts of the Arctic through their provision of safe, high-quality, undisturbed foraging and roosting habitats.

All three species have similar coastal habitat needs for saltmarsh and wet pastures. These migratory goose needs can be contrasted with the year-round needs of our own resident greylag geese, which are often overlooked, misunderstood, and unappreciated by comparison. Yet, they are a rich source of intrigue once we start to shine a light on their yearly exploits and struggles for survival…

Nature Crafts with The Unexpected Garden
2024-10-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Harbour Street, Stranraer, Scotland, Harbour Street, Stranraer, United Kingdom
Join us at the Unexpected Garden in Stranraer, where we will start off with a wee walk to collect natural materials for an afternoon of arts and crafts. We’ll be talking about some of the winter birds we’re so lucky to see at our shorefront garden and learning about the migration routes that are right above our heads. Bring binoculars if you have some, but just bringing yourself is more than enough. As we are outdoors, remember to bring a waterproof jacket and wellies if you prefer. We’ll have some tea, coffee, and hot chocolate to keep us toasty.

History of The River Nith
2024-10-24 14:30 - 16:30 | Dumfries and Galloway Council Museums Service, Dumfries Museum, Rotchell Road, Dumfries, DG2 7SW
Explore the history of the River Nith through objects in the museum collection.

The oldest logboat in Scotland, a Roman anchor and more will feature in this wide ranging talk that focuses on the history of the river and the material culture left behind.

Fully illustrated with photographs and paintings. You will also be able to explore the museum and see the objects in real life.

Free to attend, no need to book.

Spanning The Centuries: Old Bridge Tales with Mostly Ghostly
2024-10-24 17:00 - 21:00 | Old Bridge House Museum, Mill Road,, Dumfries, DG2 7BE
This is a partnership event between Dumfries and Galloway Council Arts and Museums and Mostly Ghostly

Enter the atmospheric environs of the Old Bridge House; Dumfries’s oldest abode and one that resonates with history and character. Meet members of the Mostly Ghostly team as you weave your way around its historic rooms, immersing yourself in a collection of dark and curious tales spanning the centuries of our remarkable town.

Age guide: 8 +Accessibility: Mobility restricted – fully accessible ground floor, other floors accessed by stairs. Please wear practical footwear

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

Larry Griffin Goose Talk at the Riverside Tap
2024-10-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Riverside Tap, 5 Friars Vennel, Dumfries, DG1 2RQ
An event for adults at The Riverside Tap.

Join Larry as he discusses the connections between different sites celebrating the geese, such as Lindisfarne and D&G, which are celebrated as both host our internationally important barnacle geese and pink-footed geese. Both sites also cater for brent geese from different parts of the Arctic through their provision of safe, high-quality, undisturbed foraging and roosting habitats.

All three species have similar coastal habitat needs for saltmarsh and wet pastures. These migratory goose needs can be contrasted with the year-round needs of our own resident greylag geese, which are often overlooked, misunderstood, and unappreciated by comparison. Yet, they are a rich source of intrigue once we start to shine a light on their yearly exploits and struggles for survival…

BOOK HERE

Bird Ringing Demo
2024-10-25 08:00 - 10:00 | WWT Caerlaverock, WWT Caerlaverock, Eastpark Farm, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, DG1 4RS, United Kingdom
Join licensed bird ringer Gary Clewley and the North Solway Ringing Group as they ring a range of small birds. See the birds up close and learn why bird ringing is important for research.

Please note, this event may be postponed if the weather conditions are not suitable.

Event Type: Outdoor

The cost of this event is included with admission

Accessibility Details: This event is outdoors but does not involve walking so suitable for all. There are also wheelchairs available for hire.

Event Capacity: n/a

Age Restriction: n/a

Booking Details: No need to book.

Goose Gander
2024-10-25 11:00 - 12:30 | WWT Caerlaverock, WWT Caerlaverock, Eastpark Farm, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, DG1 4RS, United Kingdom
Goose Gander | Photo by Alex Hillier

Join us for a walk with a knowledgeable warden to learn how we manage the reserve for the thousands of barnacle 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.

Event Type: Outdoor

Accessibility Details: Involves walking across a flat site. Likely to be wet so waterproof clothing and footwear required. Manual wheelchairs available.

Event Capacity: 15

Age Restriction: n/a

Booking Details: Call WWT Caerlaverock on 01387 770 200 to book.

The Price of this event is Included with admission
