To help safeguard the future of Golden Eagles in the South of Scotland, the Wild Eskdale Festival has partnered with the ground breaking South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project to host their first ever Eagle Weekend on Saturday 31st August 2019 between 10am and 4pm, and Sunday 1 September 2019 between 10am and 2pm.
Through a range of interactive events and activities, the weekend will give festival-goers the opportunity to learn first-hand about the iconic golden eagles and their importance to the natural environment.
Activities taking place on Saturday 31st August at Castleholm include:
- Falconry talks with Ray Lowden from Kielder Water Bird of Prey Centre at 11am and 1pm. Those at this event can get up close and personal with some real raptors to learn more about the birds and ask questions.
- Tree-top climbing, for ages 6 up, with Tim Chamberlain from Wild Tree Adventures begins on the hour every hour from 10am until 12pm, and again from 2pm until 3pm. Booking in advance is recommended.
- In the evening (6pm to 9pm), the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project team will be at the Eskdale Hotel sharing their latest news over a buffet. Registration is required for this event.
On Sunday 1st September, Rick Taylor from the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project will host a Raptor Identification Workshop. This is a free beginner’s level workshop, open to all ages. Participants will learn basic skills in how to identify different raptor species including a Golden Eagle. There is no need to register for this event – those who would like to take part should arrive at Langholm Golf Clubhouse for 10am. Participants are advised to take their own packed lunch and refreshments and to wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear. Binoculars will be provided, but individuals can also take their own. The workshop will finish at 2pm.
The week long Wild Eskdale festival aims to promote ecotourism, celebrating local landscape and wildlife. Speaking about the Wild Eskdale Festival’s Eagle Weekend, Rick said: “Significant community support plays a vital role in our work. We need to keep building on this so that we can ensure that we can see more of these magnificent birds across the south of Scotland’s skies. We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with the Wild Eskdale Festival this year – this will truly help to protect iconic species like Golden Eagles in the south of Scotland for generations to come.”
For more information or to register for events visit: wildeskdale.co.uk/wild-eskdale-festival
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