Leaders of Scotland’s foremost nature groups for children were brushing up on their skills in Perth on Saturday as volunteers from Perthshire and beyond attended their annual training day.

The Training Day, organised by PKCT and the Scottish Wildlife Trust at the Gannochy Doo’cot Pavillion in Perth, gave volunteer leaders and assistants from Wildlife Watch groups across Scotland the chance to learn about nature’s role in health and wellbeing as well as activities from PKCT’s Wild Journey outdoor learning programme. Attendees also heard from Perth Wildlife Watch volunteers on their favourite nature activities, and from the Scottish Wildlife Trust on how maths can be included in Wildlife Watch activities.

Wildlife Watch Leaders take part in a training day workshop (c) PKCT

Wildlife Watch, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s nature club for children, currently has 26 groups across the country and gives children of varying ages the chance to learn about the great outdoors with hands-on activities in their communities. Each group is led by local volunteers who plan and deliver sessions once a month on activities as varied as bird watching and pond dipping, to nature crafts and outdoor games. Perth Wildlife Watch is run jointly by PKCT and Scottish Wildlife Trust volunteers and regularly hosts 15-20 children for its monthly outdoor sessions.

Speaking at the event on Saturday, Catherine Leatherland (Discovery, Learning and Engagement Officer at Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust said:

“We had a great day together in Perth, learning and improving out skills, networking with others, and enjoying the great outdoors! 

Wildlife Watch thrives thanks to the time, energy, and enthusiasm of its volunteers and training days like this make sure that we all feel supported, learn skills, have fun, and can deliver the best sessions possible to our groups. 

We’d like to thank the Scottish Wildlife Trust for working with us to make this all happen. It is great to be able to provide so many children in Perth and Kinross with the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and to share our skills with other leaders.” 

Nature crafts on display (c) PKCT

Rachel Faichnie (Scottish Wildlife Trust) added:

“We’re grateful to Catherine and PKCT for helping us to organise and deliver our training day, and we really appreciate all of our enthusiastic volunteers who give their time to make sure that children across Scotland can experience and learn about nature. 

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about Wildlife Watch groups for children in their area should visit the Scottish Wildlife Trust website. If you would like to volunteer or become a leader to help pass on your own enthusiasm for the outdoors to younger generations then we would love to hear from you. As training days like this show, you don’t have to be an outdoor expert, as there is expertise and support available at every step.

More information about Wildlife Watch Groups and how to get involved can be found on the Scottish Wildlife Trust website at https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-watch/

SWT leading a wild maths workshop (c) PKCT