Bushcraft and worm-charming... take a walk on the wild side

THE Glasgow Wildlife Garden Festival is now under way offering a colourful celebration of the city’s wild spaces (and no, we don’t mean Sauchiehall Street on a Saturday night).

RSPB Scotland has teamed with more than 40 different organisations and community groups to put on a range of activities including guided walks, talks, art workshops, barbecues, picnics and hands-on fun throughout July.

Among the events taking place this week is an Evening Summer Stroll at Castlemilk Park later today and the Tweeting Toddlers – Teddy Bears Picnic which meets at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum tomorrow morning.

Wild in the City at Richmond Park, Milton Community Garden Open Day and Minibeast Mania around the duck pond in Kelvingrove Park all take place on Wednesday.

There will be bushcraft lessons at Kelvingrove Park on Thursday, where budding outdoor enthusiasts can learn tips on how to survive in the wild and try their hand at den-building, followed by the intriguingsounding Worm Charming Championships on Sunday.

Other highlights of the programme include a Medicinal Walk with Woodland Herbs (location confirmed upon booking) this Saturday while Glasgow’s Countryside Rangers will be hosting the Big Butterfly count at Robroyston Park on Sunday.

The Glasgow Wildlife Garden Festival continues throughout July. Look out for a City-wide Bioblitz on July 26. The main event will take place in Kelvingrove Park beginning with a dawn chorus meander followed by survey activities throughout the day. At dusk there will be a bat and moth walk.

Tap into that thrifty side with Rags to Riches: upcycling art and garden workshops at Govanhill baths on July 24, go den building at Ruchill Park on July 20 and get your guerilla gardening on track by taking part in a seed bomb-making class at Siempre Cafe on July 29.

The month-long festival draws to a close with a Community Picnic in Kelvingrove Park a fortnight on Friday.

Week Ahead

The Glasgow Wildlife Garden Festival runs until July 31. See rspb.org.uk