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 […]
WWT Caerlaverock wardens are joining NatureScot reserve staff to lead a walk up Wardlaw Hill to see the dusk flight of the pink-footed geese and barnacle geese as they head out to roost on the Solway mudflats. The walk will start at Caerlaverock Castle, it is a free ticketed event – please email: [email protected] if […]
This Easter weekend, join us at WWT Caerlaverock as we say farewell for now to our overwintering geese. Come and meet a warden to learn more about barnacle geese, their migration, this important wetland habitat and how we manage the reserve for geese and other species.
This Easter weekend, join us at WWT Caerlaverock as we say farewell for now to our overwintering geese. On our dusk flight walk, you can witness the stunning spectacle of barnacle geese gathering on the Solway mudflats in their thousands as they prepare to make their 2,000-mile migration to Spitsbergen in the Norwegian Arctic. Join […]
Connections between different sites celebrating the geese such as Lindisfarne and D&G are celebrated as both host our internationally important barnacle and pink-footed, and both sites cater for brent geese from different parts of the Arctic too through their provision of safe, high quality undisturbed foraging and roosting habitats. All three species have similar coastal habitat […]
Speaker Larry Griffin: Larry works on wildfowl in Scotland and, in particular, over the past 25 years on Barnacle Geese, Pink-footed Geese, and Whooper Swans in Dumfries and Galloway, and more recently on the resident Greylag Geese. In the recent past, the Greylag Goose was a rare protected species restricted to the north-western isles. It […]
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 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.
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 […]
(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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. Meeting at the RSPB Reserve at Crook of […]
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. If you look a little closer the saltmarsh […]
The Stove & Fair Scotland Join us for the dynamic launch of Hear Here, a collaborative project by the Stove Network and Fair Scotland. Celebrate the heritage, culture, and contemporary lives of the Showpeople and their significant contributions to the town. The event features guest speakers, presentations, and a film.
Enjoy a breakfast at the Boathouse in Glencaple and learn about the geese of the Solway Firth with experts from WWT Caerlaverock and NatureScot. Watch as the geese use the river to navigate to their feeding grounds to start the day. Event Type: Indoor (possibly outdoor on patio if weather allows) Event cost: No booking […]
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 […]