Posts for March, 2024

Can this isolated, relict population of this beautiful and once common migrant be saved? The NYTDP is giving them a fighting chance! Find out more in Mark’s talk….

Iolo is a Welsh Naturalist and TV presenter, conservationist, writer, inspiring public speaker and tour guide. In this talk he will take us on a journey detailing his wildlife career from the early years, through 15 years in the RSPB, 26 years on TV and 10 years of guiding.

Dawn Balmer, Head of Surveys at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) will share her thoughts on some of the most significant changes in the British avifauna over the last 40 years. The talk will highlight some of these changes using the latest information from long-term surveys, projects and atlases.

Dawn Balmer, Chair of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel will talk about the work of the Panel and about the changing fortunes of some of our rare breeding birds

This talk will feature stories of the Chillingham Wild Cattle and the reversal of fortunes for other almost extinct creatures. The Chillingham cattle have lived in isolation for 800 years and through natural selection are still producing strong and viable offspring. Other references are to various almost extinct birds and animals recovered by conservationists e.g. nè nè of Hawaii, Prère David deer of China and the Arabian ox.

This talk by conservationist Tony Blackler is about sea turtles, their life cycle, habitat and conservation status and their trials and tribulations.

Tanyalee Davis is a 3 foot 6 inch standup comedian who inspires, enlightens, and entertains her audiences while headlining at comedy clubs, colleges, and comedy festivals throughout North America, the UK, and other parts of the world with her own unique perspective and somewhat racy brand of comedy.

January 2011, Tanyalee is performed her ONE WOMAN SHOW, 4 nights a week for 6 months, just off the Las Vegas strip.
At 3’6″, Tanyalee is the Ferrari of comedy – low to the ground and kind of racy.

Canadian born, Tanyalee currently is making the stage her home by touring all over the world bringing the funny! Tanyalee is part of Abnormally Funny People, an ensemble show, performing throughout the United Kingdom. In 2007 Tanyalee premiered her first one woman show called “Little Do They Know” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where she received 4 star reviews.

Award-winning comedian Jo Caulfield hits the road with her first UK tour in five years.

Fresh from a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Jo is bringing her new tour show, Here Comes Trouble to a host of venues across the UK.

Here Comes Trouble is a solid 90 minutes of stand-up comedy where Jo gets her claws into everyone (and everything) that annoys her. From stories about the pitfalls of buying a new mattress, what happens when you gate-crash your husband’s “boys’ night out” and trying to recapture the magic in a long-term relationship, this is pure stand-up, delivered with nothing more than a microphone and a bad attitude.

“My tour show is made up of some of my favourite jokes from my last few Fringe shows and some brand-new material about what I’ve been up to since my last tour, so I think it’s going to be a lot of fun to get out there and tell these stories, and generally talk about everything that’s happened – and annoyed me – since I was last out on the road like this.”

f you’re wondering how you can develop your business or tourism offering within the Dark Sky Park this event is for you! Join us for an evening of networking and discussions on leveraging our dark sky status for business growth.

Join us for a welcome drink in our Dark Skies exhibition and browse the museum displays. After an introduction we’ll share some news and success stories before heading down to Tomintoul’s Dark Sky Discovery Site for a dark sky experience. Please wear outdoor clothing, waterproof shoes or boots.

We’ll return to the Discovery Centre where there will be food, refreshments, and a Q&A session with members of the Dark Skies working group on how we can support the local community and local businesses going forward. What do you need to succeed?

Members of the Dark Skies working group from Glenlivet Estate, the Cairngorms Astronomy Group, the Cairngorms Business Partnership, and Tomintoul & Glenlivet Development Trust will be available to chat informally and answer any questions you may have before the event wraps up at 8pm. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from our passionate advocates who can support you to develop your own astrotourism offering.

The Tomintoul & Glenlivet Discovery Centre is located at 43 The Square, Tomintoul and is your one stop gateway for residents and visitors to find information and inspiration.

Join Curlew LIFE and RSPB Scotland for an evening of fascinating talks, nature-inspired arts and crafts, musical tunes and poetry readings to celebrate waders as they return to Strathspey and Badenoch to breed.

Local artists and musicians will focus on the inspiration and joy waders bring to our creative minds, and everybody is welcome to join in!

Strathspey and Badenoch is currently a hotspot for these ground nesting birds, but even here their future is not secured. This evening will also be the perfect opportunity to learn more about the threats these birds face in our area and what Curlew LIFE is doing to secure the future of Curlews.

6pm – 7pm:
Complementary welcome drink and appetisers with wader arts and crafts. (Boathouse restaurant)
7pm – 7.30pm:
Welcome by Curlew LIFE (Ptarmigan Dome)
7.30pm – 8.15pm:
Music and poetry readings (Ptarmigan Dome)
8.15pm – 9pm:
Arts and crafts Gallery (Boathouse Restaurant)
9pm -10pm:
Music and poetry readings (Ptarmigan Dome)

A licensed bar is available throughout the evening.

Free, but booking is essential and limited placed are available – please email thijs.claes@rspb.org.uk to secure your place.

(Guests are also welcome to order a curry buffet at £19.95 at the Boathouse Restaurant’s curry night before the event, from 4.45pm. Please contact them directly and well in advance to reserve a table.)