Posts for November, 2023

Peaking on December 13th, the Geminids are set to be the most impressive meteor shower of 2023. Join Cairngorms Astronomy Club and TGDT to experience this special celestial phenomena.

The meteors of the Geminid meteor shower are very bright, moderately fast, and are unusual in being multi-coloured – mainly white, some yellow and a few green, red and blue. These colours are partly caused by the presence of traces of metals like sodium and calcium, the same effect that is used to make fireworks colourful.

Please meet at the Tomintoul & Glenlivet Discovery Centre at 18:30 and come dressed for outdoor weather. We’ll have a briefing in the Discovery Centre before taking a short walk down to the Field of Hope or over to the school field dependent on conditions. Parking is available in the square. If the weather isn’t suitable on the night a presentation will take place indoors at the Discovery Centre and the Dark Skies Exhibition will be accessible.

Suggested donation of £5 will contribute to our local lighting improvement plan in the Cairngorms Dark Sky Park.

Funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Join us for a screening of the new film The Oil Machine on 15 November at 7.30pm in The Grant Arms, Grantown-on-Spey for an inspiring screening and conversation on our energy future.

The Oil Machine explores our economic, historical and emotional entanglement with fossil fuels by looking at the conflicting imperatives around North Sea oil & gas. This invisible machine at the core of our economy and society now faces an uncertain future as activists and investors demand change. Is this the end of oil?

The film brings together a wide range of voices from oil company executives, economists, young activists, oil workers, pension fund managers, and considers how this machine can be tamed, dismantled or repurposed.

Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon with Maria the florist, you’ll learn how to design and make a unique arrangement, that’ll take pride of place on your Christmas Dinner table.

No prior experience is necessary. All materials and tuition are included. £35.00 per person.

Insh Marshes is the largest and best example of a naturally-acting floodplain in the UK. Numerous designations, both national and international, attest to its importance for wildlife. Although best known for its birds, particularly breeding waders and wintering whooper swans, it is also important for a range of other wildlife including insects and plants. Pete Moore, who worked as the Warden of the site for 21 years will explain the importance of the site, look at some of its key wildlife and give an insight into how the site is managed.

Wildlife Artist Chris Rose explores the marine environment beneath the waves, with sketchbook and pencils, for the Wildlife Trusts’ Undersea Art Award.

Diving in the proposed new Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) off the Northumbrian coast Chris discovered an unexpected wealth of marine life.

Hear how he coped with drawing underwater and learn about some of the marine life he encountered and the problems affecting this largely unseen environment.

Author T S Westbrook will be will be talking about his new novel at this free event at Grantown Library.
His new novel S6 – An RB McGehee Scoop ‘A slow-burning missing-person mystery with a topical political angle and great insight into investigative journalism’

Refreshments will be available

Gary Hodgson is a wildlife and landscape photographer based in Aviemore. Migrating from Liverpool in his early twenties, he has lived, walked and climbed in the Scottish mountains for almost thirty years. During that time, he has worked as a mountain leader (in summer, winter and internationally) and so has had the opportunity to discover the remarkable wildlife that thrive in hostile mountain environments. In this talk, he will be discussing his approach to capturing images of Mountain Hare, Ptarmigan and Snow Bunting in Britain’s highest, snowiest, coldest and windiest terrain i.e. the Cairngorms. He will also be sharing some of the tips he gives to his clients in his outdoor wildlife photography workshops

A past Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, Marcus Humphrey, will explain the origins and development of Scottish Freemasonry worldwide, dispel some of the myths surrounding Freemasonry, and how the organization is adapting itself to being a relevant force in modern society. He will point out some famous names amongst Scottish Freemasons and have a look at the local Lodges.

Nana Tomova was born by the Black Sea and the Old Mountain and carries in her bones old Bulgarian stories of Golden Suns and Silver Moons, of dragon breath and maids made gold. Nana is an acclaimed Traditional Oral Storyteller and a nature connection guide. She loves stories of the wild, and her favourite place to tell them is out on the land. She is the creator of the Story Apothecary Podcast, where she dispenses stories as medicine. Nana has performed in the Brighton Fringe, the Scottish Storytelling Festival and her story walks have been featured in the Guardian, Coast magazine and Country Homes magazine.

Nana will enchant us with seasonal and celestial stories around a campfire from 5:30pm and again at 6:30 pm. Nana is an acclaimed Traditional Oral Storyteller and a nature connection guide. She loves stories of the wild, and her favourite place to tell them is out on the land. She is the creator of the Story Apothecary Podcast, where she dispenses stories as medicine. If you would like to attend the storytelling, please arrive a few minutes before each session.

“Stories belong to the wild, in ceremonies, to gatherings around the fire, to communities coming together to witness each other. They belong to sorrow and grief; to happiness and ecstasy; to birth and loss; to the land. To mystery. ” – Nana Tomova

“An Enchantress…Her mesmerising voice is transporting me to some faraway places” – The Guardian

It wasn’t so long ago that vibrant, wild forest stretched across much of Scotland. Beavers and cranes were at home in extensive wetlands. Salmon and trout filled the rivers. Lynx, wolf and wild boar stalked wooded glades. Today, although it’s easy to be seduced by the raw beauty of the landscape, Scotland has become one of the most ecologically depleted nations on Earth.
It doesn’t have to be this way. A bold vision for the future is slowly emerging where nature works, where wildlife flourishes and crucially, where people thrive. It’s called rewilding.
Using stunning imagery created by the SCOTLAND: The Big Picture photography team, this presentation showcases the country’s beauty and drama, but also poses an intriguing question: What should Scotland look like?