Wild Spring Festival 2014

Dumfries and Galloway’s Wild Spring Festival runs from the 5th April to 5th May and features almost 100 wildlife events; many free and most hosted by local wildlife guides. Set amidst beautiful unspoilt countryside, our festival is perfect for families and wildlife fans alike to discover the most surprising and naturally inspiring part of Scotland.

From Red Deer to Red Kites and Otters to Oyster Catchers and from Badgers to Black Grouse, Barnacle Geese, Bats and the charismatic Red Squirrel, Dumfries and Galloway is teeming with wildlife this Spring. Find out more about our wildlife.

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Bluebells at Wood of Cree - Andy Hay RSPB images

Bluebells at Wood of Cree - © Andy Hay RSPB images


Wild Spring Festival, kids activitiesKids go wild

Kids are fascinated by wildlife and, with a wide range of child-friendly events, our Wild Spring Festival is perfect for inquisitive little minds…. From building a bird box and bird feeders to discovering small mammals on the ‘Hedgerow Safari’ to wriggly fun on the ‘Wellies and Worms’ trail. We even have nocturnal goings on to surprise and delight, from ‘Stars and Stripes’ badger watching at dusk, a Bat adventure in Wigtown and star gazing in the remarkable Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park; great fun, and educational, for kids and grown-ups!

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Walkers at Wood of Cree Waterfall - © Copyright Keith Kirk

© Keith Kirk http://www.dumfriesandgallowaywildlife.co.uk


A ‘Naturally Inspiring’ break

Dumfries and Galloway offers a range of quality hotel, B&B and self-catering accommodation that is second to none. Whether you plan an overnight stay, a long weekend break or an extended holiday during the school holidays, our local accommodation providers have great value deals and packages to coincide with the 2014 Wild Spring Festival. We will shortly list deals on this website.  Register for an email alert

You can also go search and book accommodation in Dumfries and Galloway right now at  www.visitsouthwestscotland.com

Knowetop Lochs, Balmaclellan - © Copyright Iain Wilson, Southern Uplands Partnership

Knowetop Lochs, Balmaclellan - © Iain Wilson, Southern Uplands Partnership


Homecoming Scotland 2014

In recognition of Scotland’s Homecoming theme in 2014, this year’s festival will celebrate homecoming bird species which migrate to and from Dumfries & Galloway. From the colourful Goosander, a diving duck, to the majestic Peregrine Falcon and from the Barnacle Geese, whose epic 3000km annual migration takes them from the Arctic Circle to the Solway Coast, to the graceful Whooper Swan and the Bar-tailed Godwit.  

Barnacle Geese in Flight - © Copyright Keith Kirk

© Keith Kirk http://www.dumfriesandgallowaywildlife.co.uk


Caerlaverock Castle

Lots to do in Dumfries and Galloway

If you’re visiting Dumfries and Galloway for our Wild Spring Festival, you’ll be amazed at the variety of things to in the region. There’s foodie heaven at Castle Douglas, an official food town with over 50 businesses making and selling local produce, the world renowned 7Stanes mountain bike trail and castles galore, including the moated Caerlaverock Castle and the majestic Drumlanrig Castle.

And there’s golf – 26 courses of tremendous variety, including the ‘little gems trail’ - plus spectacular gardens such as Broughton House with its Japanese garden and the Logan Botanic Garden, famed for its exotic southern hemisphere species. Find out more about the variety of things to do at www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk/see-do/.


Drumlanrig Castle - © Copyright Iain Wilson, Southern Uplands Partnership

Drumlanrig Castle - © Iain Wilson, Southern Uplands Partnership


Destination Dumfries & Galloway and its Wild Seasons

The Dumfries & Galloway Wild Spring Festival is delivered by Destination Dumfries & Galloway and its principal partners the Southern Uplands Partnership, Dumfries & Galloway Council and Scottish Natural Heritage. The Wild Spring Festival is part of the region’s year-round Wild Seasons initiative. Find out more about Wild Seasons and Destination Dumfries & Galloway.

At the heart of the Wild Spring Festival is the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere.

Put simply, our Biosphere is a UNESCO recognised area of significant landscapes and wildlife covering 5,200 square miles of the beautiful, unspoilt Galloway and Southern Ayrshire countryside. 

From walking trails to sites of Special Scientific Interest and from local nature reserves to the Dark Skies Park and mountain bike trails like the acclaimed 7Stanes, there are abundant opportunities to explore the biosphere. It's teeming with the best of Scotland's wildlife and it's the perfect location for a great many exciting Wildlife events taking place during the 2013 Wild Autumn Festival.

You can find more about the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere at; www.gallowayandsouthernayrshirebiosphere.org.uk/.


Nunholm riverside path


 

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