Trust nurturing next generation of nature lovers

Children from the East Edinburgh and Musselburgh area can get to grips with nature, learn about Scottish wildflowers and wildlife and conservation too, thanks to an exciting group run by the National Trust for Scotland at its Newhailes estate in Musselburgh.

Children from the East Edinburgh and Musselburgh area can get to grips with nature, learn about Scottish wildflowers and wildlife and conservation too, thanks to an exciting group run by the National Trust for Scotland at its Newhailes estate in Musselburgh.

The group – Newhailes Detectives – is for children aged 8 to 12, who love nature and the outdoors and meets monthly at Newhailes Visitor Centre. Each month, exciting activities and trips are organised. Events get underway on Saturday 24 January, with the Big Garden Birdwatch. The observant youngsters will play their important part in the RSPB’s national survey, by spotting the chaffinches, magpies and wrens who call Newhailes home.

All the activities are supervised by Newhailes Ranger Hannah Levene. She said:

“I’m sure many of us were horrified by the National Trust’s survey last year that found that some children in England and Wales could not identify a magpie. Nature is a rich playground for children and we need to encourage them to get out and learn about it. It is fun and educational too. By nurturing these interests and ideas in children, we hope to inspire children to love, respect and care for Scotland’s natural and cultural treasures – now and in the future too.”

Other highlights of the 2009 programme include:

21 March: Conservation in Action - Children get the chance to get hands on with some practical conservation work, including clearing invasive species and planting wildflowers.

16 May: Birds at breakfast 2 – An early start for birdwatchers at Levenhall Links and a chance to see some waterbirds at their breakfast.

19 September - National Moth Night – Set traps to catch moths and record the species found, as part of a UK-wide survey.

Newhailes Detectives is a club open to children aged 8 – 12. It costs £8 to join for the entire year. For more information, contact Hannah Levene on 0844 493 2124.