World Wildlife Day celebrations

The free event was packed full of fun activities for all the family to enjoy, including a wildlife treasure hunt, storytelling, a chance for children to learn bushcraft skills, bird flying, arts and crafts and much more.

Romena Huq, Engagement Officer at Forestry Commission Scotland, told The Extra: “It was great to see so many people come along and enjoy the outdoors.

“Our woodlands and wildlife offer great health and wellbeing benefits and rouse the imagination for people of all ages.

“Forestry Commission Scotland work together with our Volunteer Community Champions to host local events like these to encourage people from diverse backgrounds to spend time in their local woodlands and greenspaces.”

Forestry Commission Scotland’s, Volunteer Community Champion programme, is an initiative that provides training to minority groups to deliver events and woodland activities in central Scotland.

World Wildlife Day was organised and delivered by the Volunteer Community Champions.

The voluntary programme which trains people from minority groups to lead events and activities in woodlands and forests is looking for new recruits to join its one year programme.

The programme aims to educate people from diverse backgrounds, providing knowledge and skills on how to access their local woodlands for the benefits of health, work and play.

Delivered in partnership with CEMVO (Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations), the training initiative was set up to promote access to local woodlands no matter a person’s race, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, religion or beliefs.

If you, or someone you know could be interested in such a scheme, the Forestry Commission would love to hear from you.

For more information on the Volunteer Community Champion programme visit Forestry Commission Scotland’s website at: http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/news/1717-community-champions-wanted.