Biodiversity Blair hosts children’s craft workshops
Date: Monday 13 January
News Release
January 2025
Biodiversity Blair hosts children’s craft workshops Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust’s (BRDT) Biodiversity Blair project is hosting a number of nature-themed craft workshops for children this winter as part of Perth and Kinross Council’s Warm Spaces initiative.
The sessions, which take place from 10am to 11.30am on January 19, February 9 and March 16, are part of ongoing efforts to work towards increasing the biodiversity of different areas in the town, enhancing the local environment and being more nature friendly in a way that fits with local preferences.
Previous workshops have seen those taking part create mini hibernacula and wooden decorations, enjoy painting with foraged items such as leaves, pine cones and twigs, and other seasonal activities including making fat balls for feeding birds.
Participants on Sunday’s session will be able to design a greenspace area or park and include what species and infrastructure (such as bird boxes, flower meadows and ponds for example) they think should be there for both humans and wildlife to enjoy.
And as well as the crafts, attendees are also offered a warm drink and snack during the sessions.
The workshops have been designed to appeal to children aged between two and 10 years old, making them as inclusive as possible for early years and primary school aged children that may come from the same household.
Biodiversity project officer Jenna Muir is behind the workshops. She explained: “Our aim at Biodiversity Blair is to improve the environment locally for all species – including humans – through nurturing and protecting habitats and working with others,
“We’re keen to encourage more children to think and learn about nature in a fun and accessible way and these workshops aim to do just that, while also providing somewhere warm that parents can take their children to at the same time.
“By incorporating foraged items into the workshops, the children get to use more of their senses - rather than just seeing an object they are feeling and smelling it too. When we use more than just our eyes, we create a deeper connection to the environment around us, helping us to understand our surroundings, which in turn encourages us to respect and protect it.”
Jenna said that the first workshops in the winter series have been very popular, commenting: “We had a fantastic turnout at the sessions last year, with some families even booking spaces for the whole series!
“The children have been really engaged with the activities and showed good understanding of what they were doing, which has been fantastic to see.
“It’s been good to encourage conversations and interactions between children of varying ages as it can help with their social and emotional skills, builds friendships and allows them to learn from one another, and it has been nice to see families who have recently moved to the area come along and make new connections with other people in the community.
“We’re very grateful to Perth and Kinross Council for supporting the workshops through the Warm Spaces initiative, and, due to the popularity of the sessions we’re looking at hosting outdoor group activities in our local greenspaces during the spring and summer months.”
To book a place on the workshops, email info@biodiversityblair.scot
For further information on biodiversity in Blairgowrie and Rattray, visit the website www.biodiversityblair.scot or follow ‘BiodiversityBlair’ on Facebook and Instagram for up-to- date information.
For further information or media enquiries, please contact Clare McMicking on telephone 07514 343 042 or email media@brdt.org.uk
