Posts for June, 2026

Back by popular demand, we’re offering the chance for children to get a taste of what it’s like to be a zookeeper with our exciting two hour Junior Highland Keeper experience!

For children aged 8-15, our Junior Highland Keepers will get hands-on opportunities to care for the animals, learn about their habitats and understand the importance of wildlife conservation. Children will assist with feeding, cleaning enclosures and preparing special treats for the animals such as Mishmi Takin, Bactrian Camel and Japanese Macaques.

Each slot has space for four children to participate. Children must be accompanied by one adult aged 18+ for the duration. The accompanying adult entry is complimentary.

Please email events@rzss.org.uk for more information.

Please make sure to read our Junior Highland Keeper terms and conditions on the Highland Wildlife Park website.

New to Highland Wildlife Park, we’re offering the chance for children to get a taste of what it’s like to be a zookeeper with our exciting 1.5 hour Mini Highland Keeper experience!

For children aged 5-7, our Mini Highland Keepers will get opportunities to care for the animals, prepare feeds, learn about their habitats and understand the importance of wildlife conservation. Children will assist with feeding, cleaning enclosures and preparing special treats for the animals such as Mishmi Takin, European Forest Reindeer and Wolverine.

Each slot has space for four children to participate. Children must be accompanied by one adult aged 18+ for the duration. The accompanying adult entry is complimentary.

Please email events@rzss.org.uk for more information.

Please make sure to read the Mini Keeper Experience terms and conditions on the Highland Wildlife Park website.

The Half Day Family Course offers a fun, hands‑on introduction to essential outdoor skills, with activities tailored to the group and the time available. Families may explore emergency shelter building, knot tying, fire lighting, and an introduction to water sourcing, filtration and purification. There’s also an introduction to foraging and plant identification, alongside safe tool use such as whittling and knife handling. Depending on instructor availability, sessions may also include archery or axe and knife throwing. Throughout the course, youngsters and adults alike will enjoy engaging, confidence‑building activities designed to help them discover and explore the great outdoors together.

Under 18s must be accompanied by an over 18.

The 3‑Day Intermediate Bushcraft Course at Alvie builds on core outdoor skills through practical, hands‑on learning, covering safe shelter construction, responsible tool use and UK knife law, and advanced firecraft including bow drill, fire‑steel, flint and steel and other traditional methods, all delivered with a strong emphasis on leaving no trace. Participants develop their ability to source, filter and purify water, identify trees and understand their uses, navigate naturally using environmental cues and create cordage from natural materials. Across three immersive days, attendees strengthen their capability, confidence and environmental awareness while refining the essential skills needed for more advanced bushcraft practice. This course meets the training requirements for the IOL 3 Day Bushcraft Competency Certificate.

The 2‑Day Introductory Bushcraft Course at Alvie gives participants a solid foundation in safe, competent bushcraft practice, covering edged‑tool use under UK knife law, safe handling of knives and saws and core firecraft skills including multiple ignition methods, natural and man‑made tinders and building and maintaining a fire long enough to boil water with full environmental awareness. Attendees learn to identify water sources, use indicators, create a ground well and filter and purify water effectively. Shelter building includes safe tarp‑siting, different tarp setups, natural cordage and essential knots and lashings. The course includes campfire cooking, exploring firewood properties, ember and flame suitability and a range of practical cooking methods over an open fire.

Our 5‑Day Survival Challenge throws participants into an immersive, scenario‑driven experience that builds real capability from day one, starting with a refresher on Survival Priorities before spending the first night outdoors to put those fundamentals into action. Across the remaining days, the challenge intensifies as you work through the Principles and Priorities of Survival, the Survival Pyramid, PLAN‑M and smart equipment choices for wild or unfamiliar environments. You’ll master protection skills through improvised and man‑made shelter building, explore the role of fire in survival (adapting to restrictions when required), and learn how to attract, hold and direct rescuers while developing the mental resilience needed for setbacks. Practical acquisition skills take centre stage as you locate, treat and manage water, identify wild edibles, and make use of every available resource. Navigation training builds confidence in moving through remote terrain, selecting safe routes, and crossing obstacles effectively. Over five demanding days, this challenge transforms foundational knowledge into genuine, hard‑earned survival ability -boosting confidence, sharpening decision‑making and proving what you’re truly capable of in the wild.

Step into the world of outdoor skills with our 2‑Day Introductory Survival Course – the perfect starting point for anyone wanting to build confidence, capability and a solid foundation in real‑world survival techniques. This course focuses on essential skills, simple planning principles, and hands‑on learning that prepares you for safe, enjoyable adventures in the wild.

Across two immersive days, you’ll explore core survival theory, learn how to make effective decisions under pressure and get to grips with the basics of shelter, fire, water, navigation and personal safety. Through guided tasks and practical demonstrations, you’ll develop the fundamental skills needed to stay comfortable, calm and in control outdoors.

From building your first emergency shelter to lighting a fire with confidence, sourcing and filtering water, understanding simple navigation and learning how to signal for help, this course gives you the essential toolkit every beginner should have. Supportive instruction, realistic scenarios and plenty of hands‑on practice ensure you leave with genuine, usable skills and the confidence to take your next steps into the world of survival.

Step up your skills with our Intermediate Survival Course – designed for those ready to go beyond the basics and take on real‑world challenges. This course puts prevention, planning and practical application at the heart of every activity, pushing participants to think sharper, move smarter and operate confidently in the wild.

You’ll dive deeper into essential survival theory while building robust tools like route cards and risk‑aware preparation methods. Across two immersive nights, you’ll construct and refine your own shelters, work as a team on natural shelter builds and apply your learning through hands‑on tasks, scenario‑based challenges and dynamic problem solving.

This is where your foundational skills become genuine capability – tested, strengthened and ready for the real world.

Backcountry Survival delivers a one‑day, hands‑on foraging course designed to introduce participants to the safe and responsible gathering of wild foods in both woodland and field environments. The day covers essential plant and mushroom identification, key laws and permissions, ethical harvesting and how to recognise poisonous or easily‑mistaken species.

Participants take part in a guided walk focused on reading the landscape, understanding where to look, and building a deeper connection to the natural environment. The course also explores storing, preparing, and cooking wild foods, along with practical additions for a forager’s survival tin.

Fully adaptable to the season and the landscape, the programme ensures every course reflects what nature is offering at that time.

Give yourself permission to step away from the busyness of everyday life and into the slower rhythm of nature.

Through a series of guided invitations, you’ll be encouraged to slow down, engage your senses, and reconnect with yourself and the natural world.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or simply in need of some time to slow down, I would love to welcome you along and share this gentle practice with you.

Forest Therapy requires no previous experience of mindfulness. The invitations are open and flexible; there is no wrong way to participate, no special skills, physical exertion, or mental effort required.

The forest is the therapist; I am your guide.

£30 per person. Booking essential.

To book your place, please email foresttherapy@yahoo.com

A drink and light snack are provided towards the end of the session.

Limited to 10 participants to allow for a more personal experience.

Research has shown that Forest Therapy can support both physical and mental wellbeing. Forest Therapy quietens the overthinking mind and participants often report feeling relaxed, grounded, more connected to nature, and better able to manage stress. Studies have also shown improvements in immune function, blood pressure, pain management, memory, concentration, and emotional resilience.

I am a qualified Forest Therapy Practitioner and first aider, with public liability insurance. With over 25 years’ experience as a countryside ranger, I have extensive experience of leading groups of all ages and abilities outdoors.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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