Glasgow Wildlife Garden Festival
Groups come together to offer three weeks of wild fun in Glasgow with long-term ambition of creating more urban homes for nature. The Children’s Wood are excited to be involved.
The Glasgow Wildlife Garden Festival launched on the 9th of September with a flower bike ride which Tam Dean Burn was involved with. They came to the wood and planted seeds. The three weeks of events are designed to encourage people in the city to get closer to wildlife.
Over 20 organisations and six schools are involved in the festival, which offers a wide-range of activities, from storytelling to canoe trips. There will be an outdoor screening of the film Project Wild Thing, foraging walks, art events, open days, and even jam making.
The festival is part of Giving Nature a Home in Glasgow, an RSPB Scotland flagship initiative that aims to bring people together to create more space for the wildlife that shares our city.
RSPB Scotland’s Fiona Weir, said: “Glasgow is a city that’s bursting with exciting wildlife, but it’s easily overlooked. We’re hoping this festival will help to re-connect people in Glasgow with the city’s hidden green spaces, as well as inspiring them to get outside and do something for nature!
“We’ve tried to include as many opportunities and events as possible at sites across the city, to give everyone and anyone the chance to get involved. Many of the events are free, most are suitable for families and children, and you certainly don’t need to know anything about wildlife to come along and take part.”
Sites and organisations involved include Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Tramway, Grow Wild Scotland, Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council. Several community gardens are also taking part, including Cranhill Park, North Kelvin Meadow, Woodlands Community Garden, Govanhill Baths and Shettleston Community Growing Project.
Emily Cutts from Children’s Wood at North Kelvin Meadow, said: “Glasgow has great parks and green spaces, however many are underused and undervalued. As a consequence both nature and people have been suffering. The Wildlife Garden Festival is a great opportunity to celebrate nature and to encourage people outside more.
“Wildlife plays an important role in the health and well-being within any city and it’s great to see it becoming the central focus across Glasgow in September. Hopefully people can build on these events to create a more sustainable and flourishing city. We’re proud to be playing a part in this process.”
Artwork for the festival showing a stylized map in the shape of a swift, has been created by Glasgow artist Libby Walker. The map shows some of the key species that specially chosen ‘ambassador’ schools will be helping to champion during the festival and in the longer term, including bumblebees, house sparrows, hedgehogs and water voles.
The Children’s Wood will have activities running for 14 local schools over the festival, a weekly Saturday Outdoor Learning Club for all ages of children 10-12pm and a Wednesday outdoor playgroup 10-12pm.
More information about the Glasgow Wildlife Garden Festival can be found at www.rspb.org.uk/thingstodo/glasgow and www.glasgowwildlifefestival.org.