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DISCOVERING ‘Our Nature’ |
21 May 2004 |
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Bees, barnacles, otters and eagles are just a flavour of what’s on offer at events throughout the Western Isles between 22nd and 30th May 2004. The Comhairle has organised a programme of events and activities for Scottish Biodiversity Week, to raise the profile of ‘Our Nature’. ‘Our Nature’ is how a young pupil from Castlebay Primary School described biodiversity. Councillor Angus Nicolson, chairman of the Western Isles Local Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group, said “The different events will allow you to explore and learn more about ‘our nature’ - the variety of wildlife and habitats in the Western Isles from the machairs of the Uists to the hills and coast of Harris and woodland in Lewis.” Scottish Biodiversity Week is nine days of events and activities for children, grown ups, schools, families, businesses, in fact everyone. Over 200 events are planned across the country, ranging from Nature Reserve open days and guided walks, scrub clearance and moth walks, exhibitions and talks, making bird boxes and animal tracking. The myriad of activities run during the week, across the whole of Scotland, are designed to help the public understand what biodiversity is, to encourage them to get involved, and to reinforce the message that what they are doing locally does have a national international, and global impact. In essence, our future is in your hands. Scottish Biodiversity Week also sees the launch of the Western Isles Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) in Benbecula by Nancy Nicolson. Nancy will be familiar to many as a presenter on the BBC’s Rural Affairs programme Landward and the Radio Scotland programme Grass Roots. The Comhairle in conjunction with the Western Isles Biodiversity Partnership and Scottish Natural Heritage has produced the Western Isles LBAP. The LBAP comprises a framework for biodiversity action in the Western Isles entitled Our Nature and individual habitat and species action plans for Saline Lagoons, Native Woodlands and the Great yellow bumblebee. To find out more about what is being done for biodiversity in the Western Isles and for a full programme of events, visit the Western Isles Biodiversity website at www.cne-siar.gov.uk/biodiversity or contact Anne MacLellan on 01870 602425, email amaclellan@cne-sair.gov.uk. Nigel Scott Tel: 01851 709389 (Work) |
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