Two woodland events held in Aldouran Wetland Garden near Stranraer received great feedback from attendees, with activities varying from pond dipping and bug hunts through to shelter building and campfire cooking!
The events on 24th and 25th of October were fully booked, with 32 young people attending across both days. The sessions were delivered by Ranger Toni lamont, supported by Ranger Pauline and the Aldouran Wetland Garden Team. The events were funded by Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, using a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
After the events, Toni said:
“The sessions at Aldouran Wetland Garden illuminated the rich biodiversity of our freshwater habitats, where we got to look at the amazing creatures up close and personal. Witnessing the wonder in the children’s eyes as they discovered hidden lives within the pond was truly heartwarming. Cooking our Scottish vegetable soup over the fire, children were amazed at how tasty it was, and how they were the ones to make it. It is my hope that these experiences inspire families to embrace and cherish our wild spaces, creating lasting connections with nature and each other.”
McNabb Laurie from Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands said:
“The aim was to show that woodlands are not just for summer, and that suitable clothing and activities mean young people can get the benefit of being outdoors even in Autumnal months.
Giving young people the confidence and skills to enjoy being outdoors is an important part of a young person developing a connection for and love for Dumfries & Galloway, and its not outrageous to suggest that events like this can play a part in the decision-making process about whether the next generation want to end up living and working here.
Thanks so much to everyone involved – to attendees of all ages, to Aldouran Wetland Garden for hosting, Toni & Pauline for delivering, and to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the grant that made it happen.”
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is working with a range of partners including Woodland Trust Scotland, Dumfries & Galloway Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. For more information about Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, follow the facebook or twitter pages, visit the website www.dgwoodlands.org.uk or sign up for the newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iAlL6k.
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is registered in Scotland as a SCIO, number 052525.
