Category Archives : Events

Volunteer Day: 27th July Bog Vegetation monitoring at Dalmellington Moss

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As part of our Peatland Monitoring Programme we will be surveying the key indicator plants on the beautiful Dalmellington Moss SSSI, which is managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) as a Wildlife Reserve. Working with SWT and volunteers we will be surveying the fixed quadrats on the reserve and recording the plant species found in each quadrat. This is year four of our long term monitoring programme to determine whether the proposed re-wetting will have the desired effect over time of improving […]

Volunteer Day: 3rd July Large heath butterfly monitoring

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Over the past few years, with the help of CEI volunteers, we have been very excited to record Large Heath butterflies on RSPB Airds Moss and our other bog enhancement sites. Large Heath is a priority species for the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and also a bog specialist. We will continue to monitor this population which will not only help to contribute to a nationwide survey to determine the population and abundance of butterflies in the UK but also as an indicator of the condition of bog habitat […]

Volunteer Day: 14th June Dipwells and Drones at Airds Moss!

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How have our peat bogs been faring during this changeable weather? First a drought and now some fairly heavy rainfall. We hope that through our ditch blocking and bunding work that the bog will have a higher, more stable water table and therefore greater resilience against changes in climate. A water level close to the ground’s surface supports the growth of peat-forming plants such as Sphagnum mosses, trapping and locking away atmospheric carbon as it builds up […]

5th November – 1 Day Wildlife Digital Photography Course

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Learn how to take great wildlife photographs with your own camera then see your results on screen. Advice, encouragement and ideas from experienced conservation photographer David Palmar. For inspiration we will be exploring Catrine Voes, East Ayrshire’s first Local Nature Reserve. The river is home to Otters, Heron, Kingfisher and Dipper, and there will be plenty of plants and fungi too. Due to limited spaces on this course booking is essential so please get in touch with […]

31st January – Water-level Monitoring

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A healthy bog will have a high water table (close to or at the surface) which supports the growth of peat-forming plants such as Sphagnum mosses. We will be recording the water level of Airds Moss using dipwells that were installed 3 years ago. This is part of a long-term peatland monitoring programme to determine whether enhancement works are improving the bog’s condition. No experience is necessary! To register to attend or for more information please get in touch with Jennifer Dunn, CEI […]

31st August – Installing dipwells

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We will be installing new dipwells on an area of peatland that was dammed earlier this year using peat trench bunds as part of re-wetting works on Shiel Farm in collaboration with RSPB Scotland. Dipwells will be constructed out of plastic pipes, tights and plant pots! (of course!) Once in place these dipwells can be monitored year after year to see any changes in water-level after re-wetting works. To register to attend or for more information please get […]

22nd May – Water-level Monitoring

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A healthy bog will have a high water table (close to or at the surface) which supports the growth of peat-forming plants such as Sphagnum mosses. We will be recording the water level of Airds Moss using dipwells that were installed a few years ago. This is part of a long-term peatland monitoring programme to determine whether enhancement works are improving the bog’s condition. No experience is necessary!   To register to attend or for more information please get in touch with […]

24th June – USING YOUR EARS Bat Identification Workshop

This entry was posted in Events and tagged Anne Youngman Bat Conservation Trust bat survey Craigengillan Estate dalmellington east ayrshire coalfield environment initiative survey using your ears workshop on by .

This ‘using your ears’ workshop run by the Bat Conservation Trust involves an evening classroom session followed by a practical field session starting around dusk. Bat sounds aid species identification using a heterodyne bat detector in the field and this workshop will go into detail on how to identify calls using this technique. The outdoor session will be putting skills learnt into practice at Craigengillan Estate in Dalmellington where an amazing 7 species of Bat have been recorded! The workshop […]