The importance of outdoor learning and how it can be used to promote enjoyment of the countryside was the focus of a Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT) presentation at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s first Outdoor Education webinar recently.

PKCT’s Discovery, Learning and Engagement officer, Catherine Leatherland, was one of three guest speakers at the online event, which was organised for the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s new educators’ network and was attended by nearly 30 people.

Catherine talked about PKCT’s discovery, learning and engagement work and in particular the role outdoor learning has to play in that, detailing examples of how it is incorporated into the Trust’s programme of outreach projects. 

Other speakers at the session were Alison O’Hara from the Scottish Wildlife Trust who talked about pond dipping, and Maxine Rushford, a Wildlife Watch leader, who shared how Wildlife Watch works at her nursery. 

Catherine said:

“We were delighted to take part in the first of these outdoor education webinars, and are looking forward to hearing from other speakers at future sessions. 

The new educators’ network is a great way for practitioners to get together and share examples of best practice, and it was wonderful to be part of what was a very enthusiastic Q&A session!  

PKCT works across the whole of Perth and Kinross to promote enjoyment of the countryside, encourage people to learn about it and the natural, historical and cultural heritage it contains, and find ways to protect and care for it, and outdoor learning is a very effective tool to help us do that.

Thank you to the Scottish Wildlife Trust for inviting us to part of both the network and this webinar!”

The outdoor education webinar was organised by the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Engagement Officer, Rachel Faichnie. 

PKCT also works with the Scottish Wildlife Trust to run the Perth Wildlife Watch group for eight to 12-year-olds which meets every month to explore the natural world around Perth.

Find out more here - https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/watch-group/perth-wildlife-watch-group/