Grampian Events

Wednesday 28 Jan 2009	Sharing Good Practice: The Participant - sustainable communities and sustainable places People make successful, sustainable places. Enabling participation in decision making and governance, promoting equity and justice, and communities acting together are all integral to the creation of successful, sustainable places. This event will investigate how these principles can be put into practice in new, regenerating and existing communities and will be of interest to anyone working to involve people in improving places. Time –to be advised Meet – Battleby, Perth Organiser: SNH with Greenspace Scotland and Scottish Community Development Centre. Lunch and refreshments provided. For reservations and bookings for all Sharing Good Practice events email sgp@snh.gov.uk or call Karen Smith on 01738 458556. For access events call Caroline Reid on 01738 4585557

Friday 6 Feb 2009	WINTER FUN IN GLEN AFFRIC Widen your horizon's this winter by taking part in the inaugural Glen Affric WinterFest in February, run in partnership with Tiso's Outdoor Experience, Inverness and Forestry Commission Scotland. What better way to shed those winter blues (not to mention those extra post-Christmas pounds), than by learning a new skill; bagging your first winter Munro or simply having a great day out in the snow. The aim of the WinterFest is to get people out into the Scottish hills, enjoying the exhilarating experience of a winter hill-walking day. During the high level walks, you have the opportunity to learn or refresh those skills required when walking over snow and ice. If you want to progress from summer mountain walking; maybe you have always wanted to try using crampons and ice axes or if you simply just want to join a group for a day out, then this is the Winter Festival for you. With prices starting from as little as £30 or by joining with a 2 or 3 day WinterFest Pass, you can pick and mix your very own WinterFest experience. Families with young children will love the free enchancted Night Walk around Dog Falls, following the twinkling glo-sticks around on a nocturnal voyage of discovery (self-guided). A free evening talk - 'An Eagle's Eye View of Scotland' - is presented by Gary Williamson - from stunning aerial photos taken above the Scottish Highlands from his para-motor. With kit hire and your very own personal shopper at Tiso's, Inverness to guide you in your kit choices, followed by welcome drinks and kit checks, the WinterFest is sure to kick off with a cheery start. Glen Affric provides a stunning backdrop for the WinterFest, boasting the highest mountains north of the Great Glen; ancient Caledonian Forest; a National Nature Reserve and some of the most breathtaking winter scenery in the world. Being landlocked and surrounded by high mountains on 3 sides, the unique location of Glen Affric offers superb winter walking for several months of the year. All high and medium level walks are guided by professional qualified mountain guides with Winter Mountain Leader (WML) certificates. They all share a love of the outdoors and an indepth knowldege of the winter mountain environment - it's wildlife, history and geology. Low level walks are guided by rangers with particular knowledge of the local environment, wildlife and flora. If you choose to stay on in the area and want to discover more, then remember that you are not far from the mountains of Kintail, Torridon, Cairngorms or Lochaber. Guides will be available both before and after the WinterFest to hire on a private basis. Time – Meet – For a full programme of events visit the Affric WinterFest webpage

Wednesday 11 Mar 2009	Sharing Good Practice: Deer management and stalking with public outdoor access Do walkers always heed advice about where stalking is taking place? Do stalkers always provide good on-the-day information on stalking and alternative routes? Deer management takes place during many months of the year with the stag stalking season between July to October being the most sensitive time. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code asks land managers to use signage and information boards to give on-the-day information on stalking, whilst walkers are asked to minimise disturbance by taking reasonable steps to find out where stalking is going on. This workshop will explore options for improving communications on stalking activities between land managers and walkers. Time –to be advised Meet – to be advised Organiser: SNH with the Deer Commission for Scotland. Lunch and refreshments provided. For reservations and bookings for all Sharing Good Practice events email sgp@snh.gov.uk or call Karen Smith on 01738 458556. For access events call Caroline Reid on 01738 4585557

Wednesday 18 Mar 2009	Sharing Good Practice: Art in the environment Commissioning environmental art throws up a variety of questions and challenges for site managers and their advisors. Is the artwork to be a response to the environment itself, a form of interpretation or a means of drawing attention to a particular feature? Will it be permanent or ephemeral? What is the balance to be struck between artistic freedom and the requirements to convey a certain message? Is the work appropriate for the site in terms of, for example, visual impact, maintenance, health and safety? How will visitors respond? This workshop will bring together land managers, interpreters and artists to debate these issues and hear from those with experience of environmental art about the successes and pitfalls of their projects. Time –to be advised Meet – to be advised Organiser: SNH with forestry Commission Scotland. Lunch and refreshments provided. For reservations and bookings for all Sharing Good Practice events email sgp@snh.gov.uk or call Karen Smith on 01738 458556. For access events call Caroline Reid on 01738 4585557

Wednesday 16 Sep 2009	SNH Conference Changing land, water and seas: Why Scotland’s natural environment matters How do changes in our land, water and seas affect us, our businesses and our health? Why should changes in our natural environment matter to us? Time –TBC Meet – Perth Concert Hall Purpose: The conference will take stock of changes to our natural environment. Together, with you and our partners within the rural and environment agencies, we will probe the reasons for change, what needs to be done to make things better and why this matters to Scotland and its people. Content: Keynote talks will place Scotland’s nature and the wider environment in an international context and review drivers of change - notably climate, land use, social issues and the economy. Presentations by specialists and end-users of research will inspire lively discussions in our break-out sessions. Organisers:: SNH will host the conference in partnership with: Animal Health; Cairngorm National Park Authority; Crofters Commission; Deer Commission Scotland; Forestry Commission Scotland; Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Authority; Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID); Scottish Government; and Scottish Environment and Protection Agency (SEPA). Further details on our conference, the venue, accommodation and how to register online will be available in January 2009.

Thursday 17 Sep 2009	SNH Conference Changing land, water and seas: Why Scotland’s natural environment matters How do changes in our land, water and seas affect us, our businesses and our health? Why should changes in our natural environment matter to us? Time –TBC Meet – Perth Concert Hall Purpose: The conference will take stock of changes to our natural environment. Together, with you and our partners within the rural and environment agencies, we will probe the reasons for change, what needs to be done to make things better and why this matters to Scotland and its people. Content: Keynote talks will place Scotland’s nature and the wider environment in an international context and review drivers of change - notably climate, land use, social issues and the economy. Presentations by specialists and end-users of research will inspire lively discussions in our break-out sessions. Organisers:: SNH will host the conference in partnership with: Animal Health; Cairngorm National Park Authority; Crofters Commission; Deer Commission Scotland; Forestry Commission Scotland; Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Authority; Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID); Scottish Government; and Scottish Environment and Protection Agency (SEPA). Further details on our conference, the venue, accommodation and how to register online will be available in January 2009.

Friday 18 Sep 2009	SNH Conference Changing land, water and seas: Why Scotland’s natural environment matters How do changes in our land, water and seas affect us, our businesses and our health? Why should changes in our natural environment matter to us? Time –TBC Meet – Perth Concert Hall Purpose: The conference will take stock of changes to our natural environment. Together, with you and our partners within the rural and environment agencies, we will probe the reasons for change, what needs to be done to make things better and why this matters to Scotland and its people. Content: Keynote talks will place Scotland’s nature and the wider environment in an international context and review drivers of change - notably climate, land use, social issues and the economy. Presentations by specialists and end-users of research will inspire lively discussions in our break-out sessions. Organisers:: SNH will host the conference in partnership with: Animal Health; Cairngorm National Park Authority; Crofters Commission; Deer Commission Scotland; Forestry Commission Scotland; Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Authority; Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID); Scottish Government; and Scottish Environment and Protection Agency (SEPA). Further details on our conference, the venue, accommodation and how to register online will be available in January 2009.

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