Every season brings changes to the Seven Lochs, so there's always something new to see. And we're working with community groups, schools and volunteers to discover more about the park's wildlife and history.
Autumn is a time of change, especially for the birdlife in the park. As summer visitors like swallows, sand martins and willow warblers, head south for the winter we welcome visitors from the north. Look out for whooper swans, with their distinctive yellow beak and 'honking' call, at Hogganfield Loch, as well as goldeneye, wigeon and pochard duck at other lochs around the park.
This month we also launch Outdoor Learning @ Seven Lochs - a new project that aims to get more children exploring the wild side of life, supported by a fantastic Outdoor Learning at Seven Lochs Wetland Park [2Mb] education pack produced by RSPB Scotland.
Schoolkids to go wild at Seven Lochs!
The Seven Lochs Wetland Park has launched a new project that aims to get more children to explore the wild side of life.
Working with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) Scotland and RSPB Scotland the Outdoor Learning @ Seven Lochs project will involve pupils from five primary and one secondary school within walking distance of the Seven Lochs Wetland Park in regular outdoor learning activities - discovering the nature on their doorstep, and taking action to help improve local greenspaces for people and nature.
As well as getting pupils active outdoors the Outdoor Learning @ Seven Lochs project will deliver training sessions to teachers and school staff to help them lead more outdoor learning activities. To support this RSPB Scotland has produced an Outdoor Learning at Seven Lochs Wetland Park [2Mb] education pack, with step-by-step guides to fun, interactive activities across a range of subjects and curriculum stages. This free guide can be downloaded here.
Research shows that learning outdoors has multiple benefits. Pupil attainment increases, physical health improves, children learn practical skills, teamwork and risk taking, and their emotional wellbeing also improves. Spending time in nature in childhood can help embed a life-long commitment to its care. The initiative is supported by Scottish Natural Heritage through their Outdoor Learning in Nature Fund. This national fund aims to support more young people to have regular, frequent, structured and progressive outdoor learning experiences - something that is at the heart of the Seven Lochs Project.