Posts for September, 2024

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.

Discover more with our brand new guided whisky tour.

Join us for an exclusive experience led by our knowledgeable guides as you explore the castle and uncover the rich history of Blair Castle’s whisky. Learn about the fascinating discovery of our whisky, illicit distilling, and the heritage of whisky on Atholl Estates.

This unique tour is perfect for anyone eager to delve into the story of whisky in Perthshire, Scotland.

Each participant will receive a take-home whisky flight and a special gift. The whisky flight includes three sample-sized whiskies:

Tullibardine 15 Year Old Single Malt The Glenturret Triple Wood Single Malt Blair Castle Speyside Single Malt (Limited Edition)Full-sized bottles of these exceptional whiskies are available for purchase in our gift shop.

Tour Details:

Duration: 1 hour Cost: £60 per person
Schedule: Wednesdays & Saturdays, 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM
Group Size: 2 to 10 people per tour
Bonus: Entry to the Castle & Grounds is included in your ticket

Don’t miss this chance to enhance your whisky knowledge and enjoy a truly memorable experience at Blair Castle. Over 18’s only.

Join us for a talk by Wildlife Photographer Andy Skillen on his adventures of walking with polar bears in Arctic Canada!

From crossing frozen oceans on snowmobiles, to camping on the sea ice in pursuit of these iconic animals, Andy’s career has seen him come face to face with these giants of the Arctic on multiple occasions. Hear all about the challenges presented on his photographic pursuits, along with footage from his expeditions and images for his new project “Bears of the Americas” and a few others that live in the same region! As the largest land carnivores on Earth, Andy will provide a first-hand account of the plight polar bears face in their rapidly changing environment, along with tales of other endeavours of the animal kingdom.

Andy Skillen has been a wildlife photographer, photojournalist and film footage provider for 30 years working for the industry’s major media. Whilst continuing to focus much of his time on suppling media organisations with material, he also provides several publishing houses for specially commissioned book titles. Andy also has sets of fine art limited editions which have been sold through galleries in the UK and overseas and continues to undertake private commissions for collectors both corporate and individual.

Andy’s work is used globally and sees him supply stills, articles and video stings as well as consult for a number of major wildlife projects and for photographic tour companies on the planning and execution of specialised safaris.

To attend this talk, we ask for a small donation to cover our charity’s costs to host the evening. This ticket option is for both RZSS members and non-members. Please contact events@rzss.org.uk should you be unable to donate.

Please note, this donation does not include entry into the Highland Wildlife Park during the daytime.

Popular local artist Angus Grant is among 300 crafters and artists taking part in this year’s North East Open Studios. The event, which is in its 21st year, offers the public the chance to visit studios and workshops across the region and see firsthand the processes and equipment used to make beautiful artwork.

This is the first time Angus has taken part and he is offering the chance to see his pottery at the Spey Bank Studio in Grantown-on-Spey. He’ll be available to talk about making ceramics and maybe even demonstrate some of his making techniques.