Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere is to mark World Wildlife Day 2023 on March 3 with a special free event at Glentrool.
And the public is invited to join the organisation’s celebration of the international awareness day by signing up for a session of its nature-based initiative, The Biosphere’s Most Wanted.
The long-term project, aims to improve understanding of six key native species lacking local records or in need of monitoring.
The red squirrel, wych elm, grayling butterfly, swift, adder, and nursehound shark all stand to benefit from the research.
GSA Biosphere project support officer Malcolm Haddow will host the session at Glentrool Hive.
It will begin indoors with an interactive introduction to nature recording via the iNaturalist app.
Participants will then head out for a wildlife walk around Glentrool to discover what’s living and growing unseen on rocks, trees and in the undergrowth.
Mr Haddow said: “The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere is working hard to raise awareness of the biodiversity crisis.
“Many of our local species are under increasing threat from climate change and human activities.
“Collecting data is an essential part of conservation and this vital work is no longer an activity just for scientists and researchers.
“We can all help enormously, anytime we’re outdoors and have a mobile phone to hand.
“Please do join us in Glentrool on March 3 to help celebrate and protect our amazing wildlife – it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The interactive session in the Hive between 10.30am to 12pm will be followed by a light lunch, a social and outdoor activities.
The get together aims to give people the chance to share stories about creatures great and small while out and about in the biosphere.
It will also provide an overview of the six species and where they might be found – and explain how sightings recorded via a simple mobile app can contribute to national scientific research.
The Biosphere’s Most Wanted is free to book via Eventbrite – visit the Biosphere’s Eventbrite page, or search ‘Most Wanted’.
Alternatively, contact malcolm@gsabiosphere.org.uk to reserve your place.
For more information about the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere visit www.gsabiosphere.org.uk
