Posts for September, 2024

Sam reached the summit of Everest at 4.45am on Thursday 18th May 2023, but this was only possible due to extensive and rigorous physical and mental preparations over the previous 2 years. As a Team GB biathlete, an ultra marathon runner and founder of “Fitnessat58” Sam was already in good physical shape, but the rigour of high altitude climbing requires particular preparation – and only those with absolute determination and mental resilience will finally get to stand “on top of the world.”
Sam Cairns stays in Kingussie and leads a hectic life as director of “Fitnessat58” plus also being a co-founder of the successful “The Lunchbox Boys.”
This Talk will take us through the highs and lows of the preparation along with the experience of climb itself – a dramatic and very personal story.

It’s easier than ever to find green toiletries and beauty products, but which ones should you choose? Come along and hear some local experts, from Oriflame and Weleda, talk about the options out there, then please share your own green beauty tips. What products have you tried? And which would you recommend?
Open to all.

This October, 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 eight – 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 16+ for the duration. The accompanying adult entry is complimentary.

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

Join us for a talk with RZSS Conservation Associate Dr. Arnaud Desbiez, an award-winning scientist working to save the Giant Armadillo and Giant Anteater in south America. RZSS has worked with Dr Arnaud Desbiez and his team at the Wildlife Conservation Institute (ICAS) in Brazil for over a decade to safeguard threatened giant armadillos, giant anteaters and their rapidly disappearing habitat. Join Arnaud as he explains his journey and to learn more about how you can help to save these two incredible giants.

Tickets must be booked in advance with a ‘pay what you can’ donation towards the project.

The talk will take place in the Learning Hive at 6:00pm, with access from 5:30.

For further information please contact events@rzss.org.uk.

In this workshop we will be making the Pathfinder Vest from Twig & Tale – which is a great starting point for learning to sew outerwear. It can be made with or without hood, with different fastenings and pockets. There are also the options to include Animal Add Ons – a range of fun ears, tails & pockets to create Animal themed vests

This course is designed for those with basic machine skills – knowing how to set up, thread and sew straight seams.

During the workshop we will learn:
– How to read the pattern and cut our pieces
– Constructing the vest
– Adding ears, tails etc (optional)

What’s Included
– Pathfinder Vest pattern – Adult or Child
– Animal Add on pattern (optional)
– All equipment, threads etc

What you will need
– Outer Fabric – Wool, Wool blends, corduroy, denim, fleece or softshell (upcycled blankets work really well)
– Lining Fabric – cotton, linen, flannel, thin fleece
– You may wish to get a thread which matches or co-ordinates with your fabric (many fabric retailers offer a thread matching service)

Once booked we will contact you to discuss measurements & which size you wish to make & inform you how much fabric you will need.

For this course we will be using the Polychromatic pattern from Elizabeth Hartman – which contains instructions for the rainbow block pattern which you can then use to create a pillow case & small or large quilt. We’ll be making the pillow case in this workshop but you will go away with the skills for all the options.

This course is designed for those with basic machine skills – knowing how to set up, thread and sew straight seams.

During the workshop we will learn:
– How to read the pattern and cut our pieces
– Sewing together the rainbow block
– Construction the pillow case back pieces
– Attaching the batting with quilting stitches
– Constructing the pillowcase

What you will need
– Rainbow: 4 Fat Quarters (precise measurements below if you want to use scraps)
– Background Fabric: 0.5m
– Backing Fabric: 1m
– Muslin/Lightweight cotton: 1m
– You may wish to get a thread which matches or co-ordinates with your fabric for quilting.

For more details on fabric please see our website

Socks are a hugely popular knitted item. We will be using the free pattern from Tin Can Knits – the Rye socks. This is a great beginners sock pattern, with simple techniques & a nice garter pattern feature. The pattern has 7 different sizes and can be worked in 4ply, DK or Aran yarn.

We know everyone knits at different speeds so we will be knitting a baby size pair of socks, using Aran yarn – giving everyone the opportunity to finish at least one sock

During the workshop we will learn:
– Casting on & working the rib
– Creating a flap & turning the Heel
– Working the Foot
– Decreasing for Toe


What you will need
– Aran Yarn (80m, roughly 1x 100g ball max)
– 3.25mm & 3.75mm needles, either a set of 4-5 double pointed needles or circular needs (we recommend 40-60cm cable length)*

*Needles – these are the sizes specified for the pattern, but if you are knitting these socks only for the purpose of this workshop then 3.5/4mm needles will work just as well

This knitting skill opens up a whole collection of new patterns & techniques!

We will learn to cast on in the round & working both stoking & garter stitch to create a cowl

Then we will create a toddler size pair of mittens to learn increasing & decreasing in the round.

We will be working with free patterns from Tin Can Knits

You will need to bring
– Aran Yarn (92-165m for cowl, 65m for mittens, roughly 2 balls max)
– 4mm & 5mm needles, either a set of 4-5 double pointed needles or circular needs (we recommend 40-60cm cable length

Whether you’re already a fungi fanatic or the only mushrooms you’ve ever encountered come from the grocery store, this low-key class will aim help you to feel more confident in your ability to see and identify different varieties of edible and medicinal mushrooms out in the wild. The emphasis will be on fungi, but we will also cover similarly helpful plants and tree species that are out and about during the Autumn. Location details will be sent out before the event but we will be based in one of the forests close to Grantown-on-Spey.

This course welcomes people with all levels of experience (including none at all!) with foraging and/or mushrooms.

Your instructor will be local forager Victoria Beall, who has spent years fascinated by fungi and preparing them into fun and creative meals, pickles, tinctures, and even candy. In addition to foraging, Victoria serves as a board member for Rhyze Mushrooms, an urban mushroom farm based in Edinburgh.

Hamish Brown, the author, photographer, broadcaster and mountaineer, celebrated his 90th birthday this year, and also the 50th anniversary of his “mountain walk”, the first continuous round of Scotland’s Munros.

As well as walking and climbing in Scotland and as far afield as the Andes and the Himalayas, Hamish has spent many years walking and climbing in Morocco. In 2006 he made the first continuous traverse of Morocco’s Atlas mountains, and on the evening of Friday September 27th he’ll be giving an illustrated talk about this first traverse in Dalwhinnie Village Hall.

The talk will begin at 7.30, tickets are £8 with no charge for children under 14, and all proceeds are in aid of Dalwhinnie village hall funds.

Tea and coffee will be available, and Hamish will be happy to answer any questions and chat informally after his presentation. He’ll also be bringing a selection of his books for those who might want to buy a copy or two!

If you would like to book a ticket please contact Bill Carr, the Dalwhinnie village hall secretary, at carr_bill@hotmail.com or on 07770 733980

Teas and coffee will be available at a small charge and all proceeds in aid of Dalwhinnie Village Hall Funds.