Festival to save family time from extinction
A Scottish wildlife festival is hoping to save family time from extinction and encourage future generations to protect the natural environment. With over 100 family-friendly wildlife events - many free and most hosted by local wildlife guides and experts - the Dumfries & Galloway Wild Spring Festival (5 April to 5 May) is addressing recent findings published by news agency 72 Point which show that the average family in the UK manages just 36 minutes of quality time together a day.
Researchers also found that a typical family will find time for just 15 days out together every year, and nearly a third admitted they had missed key moments in their child’s development because of their hectic routine keeping them away. In an earlier survey by the same agency, over half of people admitted the only real family time they get to spend together is when they go on holiday away from the distractions at home.
Wilma Finlay, Chair of Destination Dumfries & Galloway said: “We know that quality family time is key to encouraging future generations to protect and celebrate the natural world.
“Weekends and Easter holidays provide the perfect time for families to get together. And discovering wildlife on your own doorstep is something that can create and stir magical memories for every family member. We would like to encourage more families to take part in one of the Wild Spring Festival’s many fun and unique festival events that will get them up close to the wide array of animals, mammals, birds, fish and fauna.
“From sharks, frogs and fishtails to badgers, red kites, barnacle geese and buzzards and from red deer, reptiles and red squirrels to bats, moths and bugs - there is a wide array of wildlife for families to discover together throughout Dumfries & Galloway.”
Jill Cook, manager of the national family helpline ParentLine Scotland run by CHILDREN 1ST, added: “We receive many calls from parents and carers who find it difficult communicating with their children. Spending time together as a family away from the distractions of every day life is vital in building good family relationships and making it easier for children and young people to talk to you about things that are worrying them. Finding a common interest, such as discovering wildlife, is a fantastic way of doing this and forming special memories for all the family. We are delighted to hear that the Dumfries & Galloway Wild Spring Festival is encouraging families to do this.”
Festival events take place across Dumfries & Galloway and the recently designated Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, which recognizes the outstanding natural environment and the way in which the local community works to conserve it. In 2014, the festival will also celebrate Homecoming Scotland 2014 with a series of events focused on the many species coming home to the region this Spring.
It is hoped that, by encouraging more families, the festival will continue to address concerns by many wildlife experts to ensure there are naturalists for many years to come. Speaking in an interview in the Radio Times last year, BBC SpringWatch presenter Chris Packham said: “Young people in particular are so disconnected from the natural world. It's a shame to think that there aren't kids out there… I'm out there all the time and I just don't see the boy that I was and you were. That's a disaster in waiting.”
For further information about the festival visit wildspringfestival.com
Famous facts and quotes on family holidays and wildlife experiences:
Chris Packham’s father turned their back garden into a caged enclosure for wild animals rescued by the RSPCA.
One of Sir David Attenborough’s adoptive sisters gave him a piece of amber filled with prehistoric creatures; around 50 years later, it was the focus of his programme The Amber Time Machine.
David’s son Dr Robert Attenborough is a senior lecturer in Bioanthropology for the School of Archaeology and Anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra.
Speaking about her childhood memories, Sharleen Spiteri from the Scottish rock band Texas, said: “My greatest memories are collecting frog spawn at the tadpole pond (that’s the name we gave it)… and watching them become tadpoles, then frogs.”
In the book A Sense of Belonging to Scotland by Andy Hall, actor Gregor Fisher spoke of his childhood years in Langholm, Dumfries & Galloway saying: “Langholm – a place that made a huge impact on an adolescent boy and taught him the value of friendship and humour! A place that not only stirs the heart with its beauty but welcomes you back after many years from her, as though you had been gone for only a moment.”
Moat House in Dumfries & Galloway is said to have inspired JM Barrie to write Peter Pan.
Wildlife discovered on holidays with her parents inspired Beatrix Potter to write Peter Rabbit.
Here are just some of the Wild Spring Festival Events that could help to bring families together:
Stars ‘n’ Stripes Badger Watching at Caerlaverock WWT. Witness these fascinating nocturnal creatures from a cosy vantage point with a mug of hot chocolate in hand. (5 – 13 April, nightly)
Explore a Wild Shore at Powillimount Beach. Join the Solway Firth Partnership for a ranger led walk looking out for shells and fossils. (6 April)
Mull of Galloway Guided Walk Join the RSPB Ranger to explore Scotland’s most southerly tip - spring is a great time to spot seabirds on the cliffs and if you’re lucky perhaps a porpoise or basking shark. (Numerous dates throughout the festival)
Wee Woodland Beasties at Eskrigg Reserve, Lockerbie. Hunt and identify mini-beasts in the woodland. (11 April)
Mocha and Moths at Mersehead. Not all moths are brown, dull and boring – view some recent finds as they are released and find out more about the various species found in the area, with a morning coffee to enjoy. (17 April and 1 May)
Easter Eggstravaganza at RSPB Mersehead. An Easter egg hunt around the reserve. Find the clues and complete the challenges to find your way to the giant nest where eggs are hidden. (20 April)
Easter Egg Eggstravagansa at Logan Botanic Garden. A fun day out with a range of activities for children including face painting, painting your own egg and a magical Easter Egg hunt. (20 April)
Galloway Kite Trail Open Day at Bellymack Farm, Lauriston. Meet the RSPB officers for a visit to the feeding station to see these mighty birds up close and find out more about their reintroduction to the area. (26 April)
Family Forest Foraging and Wild Cook-In at Cally Woods, Gatehouse of Fleet.
Join expert forager Mark Williams of Galloway Wild Foods for a guided foray exploring the delicious, healthy and surprising array of edible spring plants and fungi. Enjoy a wild cook-in of our finds in the forest afterwards. (12 April)
Forest Fun for Dads and Kids. Meet for tea and toast in the cafe at the Forestry Commission’s newly opened Kirroughtree Visitor Centre, then burn off some energy having a go at den building and searching for the natural homes for wildlife that live in the Galloway Forest Park. (5 April, 26 April, 3 May)
Make a Wind Chime in Logan Botanic Garden. Create your very own wind chime using the shells from locally caught scallops to hang in the garden or window in this drop-in-event. (5 May)
Mersehead Mystery Tour. A mystery tour around the RSPB Mersehead reserve - solve puzzles and complete challenges to find the treasure. (5 May)
Booking is essential for some of the events – please see the website for further information on dates, times, costs and kit required.
