THE Friends of Kailzie Wildlife have launched an exciting spring programme of activities and training courses.
The events, held at the famous Osprey and Nature Centre, two miles south of Peebles on the B7062, offer a fascinating prelude to the re-opening at the end of next month of the fully refurbished facility from where ospreys and other nesting birds can be viewed.
On Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10, Kailzie will host its first wildlife festival.
“This will be a unique festival showcasing the many aspects of wildlife, the natural environment and rural activities,” Kailzie’s project officer Eddie Sharp said.
It will be opened by naturalist and broadcaster Roy Dennis, of Springwatch and Autumnwatch fame, and will feature displays, entertainments, retail stands, food and drink.
“It promises to be a fantastic day out for all the family,” said Eddie.
Before that, the spring programme at Kailzie kicks off this Saturday with an introduction to wildlife photography. This event, from 12.30 till 4.30pm, will offer tips on where, how and when to photograph wildlife and is suitable for adults and children aged 12 and above. The charge is £10 (£8 concessions) and booking is essential. Contact Eddie on 0785 825 3917.
A progressive five-session course of wildlife filming and editing begins at the centre on Sunday, February 26 and continues on March 11, March 24, March 31 (repeated on April 7) and April 14. Completed films will form part of Kailzie’s Spring Wildlife Film Showcase.
The charge for each session is £15 (£12 concessions).
On Saturday, March 3, the theme will return to stills photography with a special course for “improvers” on how to make better use of your camera and how to edit your images. Again, suitable for adults and children aged 12 and over, it runs from 12.30 till 4.30pm.
The Spring Wildlife Film Showcase will take place from 7 till 9pm at the centre on Friday, April 27. Admission is £6 (£5 concessions).
The spring programme will conclude on Saturday and Sunday, May 5 and 6, with an overnight wild camp in the grounds of the Kailzie estate. Run in partnership with Earthwiseways, the event will include shelter building, map reading, willow sculpture, bat detection and a widlife for safari.
Further details of all wildlife events at Kailzie are on www.kailziewildlife.org