Free family fun being laid on at Strathspey nature reserve
RSPB Scotland is laying on some free family fun at one of its Strathspey nature reserves now that the October school break is nearly here.
Activities have been lined up on a popular trail at Loch Garten by Boat of Garten and staff will be on hand there and at Abernethy Reserve by Nethy Bridge to give tips on wildlife sightings.
Jess Tomes, Loch Garten visitor operations manager, said: "We thought we would encourage families to get out and about and enjoy the nature around them this October holiday, so our community ranger has painted and put a number of activity blackboards in place along our Two Lochs Trail.
"This can be accessed from the Loch Mallachie car park half a mile along the road from the Loch Garten Nature Centre car park.
"The Two Lochs Trail is free to walk – as are our other trails – and the blackboards are designed to get children and their families interacting with nature and having fun together.
"There’ll also be RSPB staff and volunteers on hand at the Loch Garten Nature Centre carpark for a chat about the latest sightings and RSPB Scotland’s Abernethy Nature Reserve.
"While folk are there, they can also hand-feed the coal tits at the car park – just bring a handful of bird seed along with you, hold out your hand, and you’ll have coal tits flocking to land and take away a tasty treat.
"It’s wonderful experience to have wild birds trusting you enough to land on your hand and is a perfect activity for families, as long as the kids don’t get too excited!
"If we can help relieve the boredom and give even one family a wonderful experience in the Caledonian pine forest of RSPB Abernethy reserve over the holidays, then that’s a job well done as far as we’re concerned.
"We look forward to seeing local people on the trails and in the nature centre car park for a blether."