The Trust is holding an open weekend to celebrate its 50th Anniversary where visitors will get free entry to the Montrose Basin, Falls of Clyde and Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centres on 12 and 13 April.
All three Visitor Centres will host various activities across the weekend that will provide a fun wildlife experience for guests.
Montrose Basin, Angus
Montrose Basin Visitor Centre in Angus will be open from 10.30am to 5pm both days and will host a variety of activities for both adults and children. On Saturday (12 April), there will be a birthday party for the Trust, with visitors being asked to make their own 50th birthday cards which will then be made into a collage representing the Trust’s 50 years. There will also be a wildlife trail for children open all day.
On the Sunday (13 April), there will be an Easter craft activities day which will include biscuit decorating, making bunny ears, and pin the tail on the rabbit. At 2.30pm on both days there is a special guided walk that will leave from the Tayock car park.
Manager of Montrose Basin Visitor Centre, Caroline Hendry, said: “The Scottish Wildlife Trust wanted to give everyone the chance to celebrate our 50th Anniversary.
“It is surprising how many people from the local area haven’t visited the Centre – this is the perfect opportunity to come and find out more about the wildlife that exists right here in Montrose.
“There will be giveaways, a raffle and prizes as well as all the best wildlife activities for the whole family. It is a great chance to visit and have a fun day out.”
Loch of the Lowes, Dunkeld
Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre in Dunkeld, Perthshire will be open from 10.00am-5.00pm and will be providing a free minibus that will depart from Craigvinean Surgery every 20 minutes during the weekend to accommodate the potential increase in visitors.
There will be a free guided walk at 11am on both days, starting at the tourist information centre in Dunkeld, and over the course of the weekend staff at Loch of the Lowes will be helping visitors build a giant osprey nest.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Perthshire Ranger, Emma Rawling, said: “If you've only seen the wildlife at Loch of the Lowes through our webcams, this is a perfect opportunity for you to see ospreys, red squirrels and woodland birds up close. It will be a really informative and fun experience for everyone that comes along.”
Falls of Clyde, New Lanark
Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre in New Lanark, South Lanarkshire will be open from 10.00am-4.00pm both days and offering the chance to meet Snufflebrock the Badger, who will be hosting festivities in the Clyde Room (located right next to the Visitor Centre).
Join in the birthday fun with lots of children’s activities, arts and crafts, minibeast hunts, bird feeder making and seed planting.
Visitors can also take the brand new Peregrine Trail on their way to see what is thought to be Scotland’s oldest breeding male peregrine. After completing the trail, visitors will be entered into a prize draw for a family badger watch.
Manager of Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre, Lyndsay Mark, said: “The Falls of Clyde is one of the best places in the UK to see peregrine falcons, so visitors are almost guaranteed to see peregrines when they visit. There will be prizes as well as all the best wildlife activities for the whole family.”
This weekend offers a great chance for everyone to come along to the Trust's Visitor Centres for free, have a great day out and experience Scotland’s wildlife. So go on – why not join us for a weekend of wildlife watching?