Citizen Science Initiative comes to St Fillans naturalists
Villagers have been learning how to spot squirrel dreys, identify bees and nesting birds, count bats and survey amphibians to help with the project.
The activity is part of the Volunteering Matters Action Earth campaign, which is supported by Scottish Natural Heritage. Volunteering Matters Action Earth is supporting around 170 projects in Scotland in 2017 with grant awards of up to £500. The grants are aimed at groups who support and encourage volunteer activity through practical environmental projects.
Andrea Hudspeth, who is coordinating the St Fillans Citizen Science project, wants to see as many people as possible get involved in recording the wildlife of the area.
She said:“Everybody can get involved in their local outdoor spaces. They are a shared resource and a shared responsibility. From the smallest individual action to a national campaign, every contribution helps!
“The Volunteering Matters Action Earth grants are designed to help groups of volunteers take practical action to improve and create places for wildlife.”
The St Fillans group will also be making some bat and bird boxes to put up in and around the latest section of the Loch Earn Railway Path.
If you are keen to learn new skills, improve your local environment and have fun at the same time, call 01764 685459 for more information.
If you think you might have your own great idea for a project, call the Volunteering Matters Action Earth team on 0131 622 7766 or register at www.volunteeringmatters.org. uk/actionearth