News – Wild Goose Festival

Journey with the Wild Geese: A Region-Wide Movement Challenge

Journey with the Wild Geese invites communities across Dumfries and Galloway to come together through movement. Help match the geese’s epic migration to Svalbard and discover how every mile can strengthen connection, wellbeing and community.

March 16, 2026
As the Geese Return, So Does the Wild Goose Festival

Wild Goose Festival returns this October with over 70 events celebrating wildlife, creativity and community. Explore Dumfries and Galloway’s landscapes, share new experiences, and be inspired by the remarkable journey of the barnacle geese.

September 26, 2025
Following the Geese: From the Solway to Svalbard

From Solway to Svalbard, filmmaker Patrick Rooney reflects on five years with the Wild Goose Festival, discovering a passion for barnacle geese and experiencing their remarkable Arctic homeland firsthand.

September 1, 2025
Wild Goose Festival Receives Sustainable Event Charter Recognition

The Wild Goose Festival has earned UNESCO Biosphere Sustainable Event Charter status, recognising its commitment to sustainability, community engagement and celebrating the natural and cultural heritage of Dumfries and Galloway.

June 16, 2025
A Fond Farewell to the Geese

As winter gives way to spring at WWT Caerlaverock, David Pickett reflects on the changing seasons, the arrival of summer migrants, and the annual farewell to the barnacle geese as they begin their journey north.

March 26, 2025
How Many Geese?

Standing on the chilly Solway mudflats at dawn to count grey geese, David Pickett reflects on the wild magic of estuary life—and why braving the 5 am alarm is always worth it. Discover the rhythm of the roost.

March 26, 2025
Nature, Creativity, and Community: Wild Goose Festival 2024

In 2024, the Wild Goose Festival (WGF) returned for its fifth year of activity celebrating nature, creativity and place across Dumfries & Galloway. Running from the 18th – 27th of October, our feathery festival had a programme of over 70 events from Stranraer across to Annan. The Stove Network produces WGF, uniting key partners from…

March 26, 2025
Autumn Sounds Like Geese

Words by Marianne Nicholson, WWT Caerlaverock The first week of October. No doubting it is definitely autumn now. Nights are drawing in, mornings are chill and misty. Nearly time to crack out the thermals (I said nearly!). Here at WWT Caerlaverock, autumn looks like trees losing their leaves. It looks like muddy paths that never…

October 9, 2024
Wild Goose Festival 2024 Takes Flight

Dumfries & Galloway’s annual Wild Goose Festival is back and celebrates its fifth birthday with its biggest programme yet. Autumn 2024 marks the fifth birthday of the Dumfries & Galloway’s local Wild Goose Festival. This year key partners from across the region have designed a packed programme of family-friendly activity that combines creativity and interactive…

August 14, 2024
Artist Commission Opportunity – Open Call

This is a partnership commission with WWT Caerlaverock, and Glengoyne WWT Caerlaverock, with the support of The Stove Network, wishes to commission an artist(s) to lead a public art project at their site in Dumfries. Funded through a partnership with Glengoyne Distillery, the aim of this commission is to bring the partnership to life through…

April 12, 2024