Come and inspect an insect at Quarrymill
Perth thrillseeker leaps off world’s tallest footbridge
RSPB Scotland is inviting folk to join them at Quarrymill Woodland Park in Scone during National Insect Week 2018.
The wildlife conservation charity is hosting a number of events during the week and is hoping both locals and visitors will take part.
RSPB Scotland’s community learning officer, Miranda Shephard, said: “Quarrymill has a great variety of habitats from the rocks in Annaty Burn to the tops of the tallest beech trees, so I’m looking forward to discovering a fantastic variety of insects during National Insect Week 2018.”
The first event is a bumblebee walk on Wednesday, June 20 from 10am to noon. This guided walk will introduce participants to the world of the bumblebees that make their homes at Quarrymill, focusing on how to tell species apart, their amazing life cycle and how to encourage bumblebees to make use of gardens.
Places are limited for this event and booking is essential. To book call 01577 862355.
Then on Sunday, June 24, from 11am until 3pm, there is a big bug hunt. This drop-in event will involve hunting high and low for all sorts of insects and other mini creatures. RSPB Scotland staff and volunteers will be on the grass next to the barbeque area throughout the event armed with a variety of bug hunting kit to search in the trees, under the water and amongst the grass.
Explorer backpacks — containing binoculars, a bug pot, and wildlife spotter sheet to help budding adventurers explore — are available to borrow without charge from the Macmillan coffee shop during opening hours. Anyone interested can just ask at the coffee shop counter.
This project, which is funded by the Gannochy Trust, aims to engage school children with their local greenspace and inspire them to get to know and care for their natural neighbours in the woodland. For more information call 01577 862355. A Perth daredevil has become one of the first people to bungee jump off the highest footbridge in the world.
Callum Lewis (25) got the chance to dive off the 260-metre-high Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge in China after helping set up the new jump site last month.
Once open, it will officially be the world’s highest public bungee jump.
The bridge’s jump site took four weeks to complete and the first attempts were given the go-ahead on May 26
To commemorate the Callum takes the leap off the footbridge (main) first leaps, the company Go! Bungy China hosted a freestyle bungee jump event that was broadcast live on Chinese TV. It attracted daredevil jumpers from all over the world, including the US, the UK, Australia and Russia.
Callum was one of those involved. He said: “It’s always fun being part of something big and seeing all your hard work pay off when you get to jump off it.
“I managed to jump it three times while I was out there setting it up.”
When asked about the opportunity to take on the challenge of creating the jump, Callum admitted he was keen to dive right in.
He said: “I’m not sure how the jump site came about but I was approached to work there and couldn’t say no to the opportunity.”
Callum moved to Perth at a young age and attended Perth College, where he gained a certificate in outdoor adventure leadership.
Since then, he’s never looked back.
He went on to work for Highlandfling Bungee in Killicrankie, where Callum says “it all started” and is “an amazing place to be.”
Since then, the young Scot has set up bungee jumps for thrillseekers in New Zealand, Japan and now China, where he works for Bungy.
Maybe unsurprisingly for a man who likes to leap from high structures, Callum admits he’d jump at the chance of a similar opportunity elsewhere.
He said: “I’ve been working bungee for around three-and-a-half years now and can’t see me getting out anytime soon.
“I’m not sure where I’d go next. I guess wherever an opportunity presents itself.”
The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge was finished in 2016 and stretches 430 metres between two cliffs in the beautiful Zhangjiajie Park. The glass-bottomed bridge has had 5.9 million visitors since it opened.
Callum believes his jump site will be open to the public “very soon”.