Moorland March 2016

Moorland March 2016

Next week marks the start of Moorland March 2016, and we’re very excited about it. 

Moorland March is a new festival hosted by the Making the Most of Moorlands Project, which will celebrate all things moorland through a series of events, workshops and exhibitions. The team have been planning this since autumn last year, contacting activity organisers, liaising with local accommodation providers, involving the local arts community and pulling together an amazing month of events. 

The festival will begin on Tuesday the 1^st, with the festival and exhibitions launch, beginning at 6.30pm at the Tourism & Community Hub and visiting the Old Post Office. Cut the Mustard Gallery, who are also putting on a Moorland Themed Exhibition will be open for the evening, as will Blue Moon – where the crafters have been busy making a moorland banner to display in their window. The Community Café at Canonbie church will also be displaying moorland art work during its normal March Opening Hours.

If arts and crafts are your thing, you are spoilt for choice during Moorland March. Alongside the 4 exhibitions, there are a number of different workshops being run by local makers. Leather bracelet making, wool felting and willow weaving are all available during the month of march.

Ann Smith

Ann Smith

If you’re out on the moor on Saturday the 5^th , you may be surprised to hear singing and chatter. It’s our “Guided Walk with a difference”, with highlights including music, local history and a wild food cooking demonstration from local celebrity chef John Crouch. For only £10 this is an event not to be missed.

Scotland’s most celebrated nature photographer, Laurie Campbell, will be running full day photography masterclasses on the 12^th and 13^th, which there are only a few spaces left on. Local photographer, Barry Young, is offering shorter guided photography walks, lasting 2 hours on the 19^th and the 26^th. The 19^th is now SOLD OUT, so be sure to snap up a place quickly for the 26^th. 

Grey Heron, Laurie Campbell.

If something a bit different tickles your fancy, Keith Kirk and the team from Nocturnal Wildlife Tours will have their LandRover, complete with various night vision and thermal imaging devices, at the Laverock Birdhide, 3-5pm, Saturday 19^th. For a small fee you can also book a tour out with them onto the moor after darkness falls. 

Saturday 19^th will be a busy day at the Laverock Birdhide, with North Solway Ringing Group giving a bird ringing demo in the morning. Drop in to see how birds are caught and ringed, and a view of your favourite garden species up close.

A blog post hardly seems long enough to summarise all the wonderful events going on, later in the month there are guided watches, ponk treks, and an Easter Sunday gathering at the monument. Blue Moon are hosting two children’s moorland craft workshops and the project are running a range of kids Easter holiday activities.

To see a full list of events, including booking information, please visit the Making the Most of Moorlands website. 

We look forward to seeing you over the coming month!

- Beckie Davies, Education Assistant

Langholm Moor 2016

Apologies for the lack of posts, to say it has been a busy time would be an understatement. The last few months have seen a few changes but the project is going from strength to strength; part time Education Assistant Beckie Davies, who joined us back in October, has been working hard all autumn and is currently busy with some after school art groups at Langholm And Hottsbridge Primary schools (see below). Beckie has successfully secured the full time seasonal position that begins mid-February and we are really excited to welcome Rick Taylor to the team in the part time education role, within the next few weeks. Judith Johnson has also come on board part time to help organise Moorland March - a month long series of events celebrating all things moorland (see below) so the team is growing!

Red Grouse (MMM volunteer)

It has been a wet and windy winter at Langholm, like most of the country we have been visited by storm after storm making the conditions incredibly hard for wildlife up on the moor. Several colder periods with heavy snow have created some beautiful wintry scenes but added to the challenge for the resident species.

Harriers

The 'Langholm three'  (Hattie, Grainne and Cyan) are doing well. Despite the challenging weather conditions Hattie and Grainne have not had reason to leave the moor and seem to finding enough food to sustain themselves. Cyan  has adopted the area to the west of Langholm and moves between Eskdalemuir  and Moffat. 

'Langholm three' winter 2015/2016

Art work

Pupils at Hottsbridge and Langholm primary schools have been working with education assistant Beckie Davies to create some superb moorland inspired artwork.

 

Moorland March

Over the last six months we have been working with the local community, businesses and artists to create a month long series of events based on and around Langholm moor and celebrating all things moorland.  Keep an eye out for our leaflets or check online for a full listing of events. Why not join us for a guided walk, moorland massage, horse trek, wool felt workshop, photography masterclass or nocturnal wildlife tour? There is lots to do throughout the month.

www.langholmmoorland.co.uk

Scottish Rural Award Nomination.. how exciting!

www.scottishruralawards.org

 The Making the Most of Moorlands Project has been nominated for a Scottish Rural Award 2016! To be  nominated for such a prestigious national award is very exciting for our little community/education project and we'll be heading along to Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on March 31st to attend the awards ceremony, wish us luck!