Your invitation to NNR 60th celebrations

The family-friendly event will mark Caerlaverock’s 60^th year as an NNR with a wide range of free activities on offer to suit all ages. To join the celebrations, and find out more about the work taking place on the reserve, head down to Barbour Hall, Glencaple, between 11am and 4pm on Saturday 15 July.

Roddy Fairley, SNH’s Southern Scotland Manager, said: “On Saturday, and through other events planned on the reserve this year, we are celebrating 60 years of successful partnership working at Caerlaverock NNR.

“This special reserve was born out of the landowner’s vision to create a place where conservation, farming, fishing and wildfowling could co-exist in harmony, so that future generations could also enjoy this unique landscape. Since then we’ve worked closely with the Caerlaverock Estate, the local community and a range of partners to uphold this vision and make the NNR a success.”

Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve is one of about 50 NNRs in Scotland, 36 of which are managed by Scottish Natural Heritage. As well as mingling with visitors, the SNH team will be manning a display about the reserve’s history and the current work taking place with the local community.

There will be kids’ craft activities at the SNH and Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust stands and an opportunity to check out the recent award-winning wildlife webcam footage recorded by pupils at Caerlaverock School. The Solway Firth Partnership will be seeking your help with their Coastwise name project, which aims to record people’s unofficial names for local places on the coast.

The Scotland’s’ Natural Larder team will be in their mobile kitchen cooking up some wild and tasty local food for visitors to try; and Mark Williams will be leading his popular wild food foraging walks (you’ll need to book a place online at www.caerlaverockforaging.eventbrite.co.uk ).

The Nith Haaf Netters Association will be demonstrating how these traditional fishing nets are made and used. Haaf net fishing was brought to the area by Vikings around 1,000 years ago and today this unique type of fishing only takes place in a few local rivers. You will also be able to talk to local wildfowlers who will show you the punt guns and boats that have changed very little since the Victorian age.

Kenny Bean will be showing visitors their natural surroundings in a new light through his funky Caravan Camera Obscura and fellow artist Keith Brown will be exhibiting his superb wildlife paintings. David Gilbert will be providing a fly tying demo and between 12-3pm the Nith Inshore Rescue Lifeboat station will open their doors to show visitors around.

Ends

Notes to editors

NNRs are special places that look after some of the best of Scotland’s nature on behalf of everyone who lives in or visits Scotland – and they provide unique opportunities to visit, enjoy and learn more about Scotland’s nature. Helping more people experience and enjoy nature in this way is one of the priorities of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy. For more information, see www.nnr-scotland.org.uk.