The saltmarsh at Wigtown attracts thousands of wintering pink footed geese, barnacle geese, ducks and waders. In spring and summer a host of special plants cover the merse, and the sound of skylarks fill the air. It is a beautiful and rare habitat which is inspiring to write about. Local author Stephen Rutt will guide […]
Scottish International Storytelling Festival Author and storyteller Allison Galbraith will captivate the whole family with her hilarious Scottish stories. Meet the Woolly Pet and sing along with a gang of escaped farm animals, including a GOOSE! Join an interactive quest through prehistoric Scotland and discover why dogs are our best friends.
Scottish Storytelling Festival Folklorist Allison Galbraith and storyteller Beverley Casebow will enthral you with stories from the Otherworld. Our ancestors’ belief in a world of spirits and ethereal beings has bestowed a wealth of supernatural stories on Scotland. Join us for an entertaining evening with vexed fairies, nature wisdom and much humour. Children (12+) must […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
WWT Caerlaverock (with Include Us) 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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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
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 […]
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.
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 […]
WWT Caerlaverock, Cycling Dumfries, Nith Life and NatureScot jointly host this fun cycling event. 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 […]
WWT Caerlaverock (with Dave Borthwick of the University of Glasgow) 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 […]
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.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]