Moorland Education Project – The Langholm Initiative

Year 1 Report

Dr Cat Barlow Moorland Education Officer Langholm Initiative Buccleuch Mill Glenesk Road Langholm Dumfries & Galloway DG13 0ES @langholminitiative.co.uk .langholmmoorland.co.uk 0138730 80914 07912 511760

Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 4

Visits .............................................................................................................................................................. 4

Education Activities ....................................................................................................................................... 5

Langholm Academy ....................................................................................................................................... 5

Primary Schools ......................................................................................................................................... 7

Newcastleton Primary School ............................................................................................................... 7

Langholm Primary School ..................................................................................................................... 7

Canonbie Primary School ...................................................................................................................... 8

Playcare ................................................................................................................................................... 11

Excel Project ............................................................................................................................................ 13

Higher Education Facilities ...................................................................................................................... 13

Glasgow University (Dumfries) ........................................................................................................... 13

St Boswells College .............................................................................................................................. 13

Bicton College (Devon) ........................................................................................................................ 14

Langholm Explorer Scouts ....................................................................................................................... 14

Langholm Beavers & Cubs ...................................................................................................................... 15

Canonbie Brownies and Guides .............................................................................................................. 16

Other Events ............................................................................................................................................... 17

Moorland Education Website ................................................................................................................. 17

Moorland Food Forage Event ................................................................................................................. 17

Moorland Dawn Chorus Walk ................................................................................................................. 18

Guided Walks .......................................................................................................................................... 18

Langholm Wildlife Group ........................................................................................................................ 18

Dumfries & Galloway Environment Fair 2010 ........................................................................................ 19

D&G Countryside Events 2010 Booklet .................................................................................................. 19

Moorland Fungi Walk .............................................................................................................................. 19

Moorland Project Volunteers ................................................................................................................. 19

Reptile refuges ........................................................................................................................................ 20

Moorland Pond ....................................................................................................................................... 20

Funding successes ................................................................................................................................... 20

Moorland Signage ................................................................................................................................... 20

HMIe Learning and Community Inspection (CLD) ................................................................................... 21

John Muir Award Training ....................................................................................................................... 21

Events Planned for Year 2 ........................................................................................................................... 22

Press ............................................................................................................................................................ 23

Participation Targets ................................................................................................................................... 24

Looking ahead to year three of the Project ................................................................................................ 25

Thank you ................................................................................................................................................ 25

Appendix 1 Record of Moorland Activities in Year 1 2009/2010 ................................................................ 26

Introduction

Historically, the Langholm community has had negative and ill informed opinions about

the management of the Moor, going back to the joint raptor study 1992 –97 which

investigated the relationships between hen harriers, peregrines and red grouse. In 2007

partners Buccleuch, Estates, the Game Conservancy Trust, RSPB and Natural England

launched The Langholm Moor 10 Year Demonstration Project, with the aim of

establishing Langholm Moor as a driven grouse moor which meets the nature

conservation objectives for the SPA and SSSI. The eyes of Europe are on this high

profile project, which was launched by Environment Minister Michael Russell, but the

local community is largely unaware of the significance of the Demonstration Project or

the importance of the Moorland habitat and wildlife. Before the creation of the Moorland

Education project there was no mechanism to inform or involve the community and this

project offers the opportunity for open and informed discussion and for the community to

become actively and positively involved

The Moorland Education project aims to enhance the understanding within the

community of man’s role in the management of the Moor and to encourage positive

involvement with practical conservation activities on the Moor. This report covers the

progress in year one of the Moorland Education Project and plans for year two. Only

Activities within Dumfries & Galloway are funded using the LEADER funding.

Visits

Early in the project several visits were made to Moorland Projects and visitor centres to

research how others go about raising awareness of Moorland. Visits were made to the

Moorland Centre at Edale, Peak District and the Bowland Visitor Centre to meet with

education staff and learn more about the activities they offer and the facilities available

to visitors. A longer term goal of this project is to investigate the feasibility of a Moorland

Visitors Centre in Langholm.

Education Activities

Langholm Academy

Langholm Academy students

from the technology department

fabricated 36 bird boxes with

wood was kindly donated by

Buccleuch Estates in June 2009.

The boxes designed for a variety

of species including Blue and

Great Tits, Pied Flycatcher and

Redstart have been erected in

the woodland surrounding the

Moorland with the help of

Explorer Scouts.

Technology students have also

built a hedgehog house from

reclaimed timber and roofing felt

for students at Newcastleton

School students for use in their

school grounds (which boarders

the Moorland).

Billy Wilson and his technology students have converted unwanted coconuts into bird

feeders and nest boxes. The coconuts have been used in school sessions with local

primary schools to create feeders for wintering birds on and around the moorland. The

local bird life of Langholm has never been so well catered for!

I have been asked to organise a practical science day based on the Moorland for

Langholm Academy Biology Students. Approximately forty students will visit the

moorland to carry out small mammal trapping, vegetation surveying and sampling of

freshwater invertebrates.

I have been asked by Willie McKenzie to organise some moorland activities in

conjunction with a new course at the school – Rural Skills over the next year.

Pupils from the Duke of Edinburgh group at the academy have been involved with

questionnaire distribution for the Moorland Project and assisting with moorland activities

for an afterschool group at Playcare.

It is hoped that students from the Langholm Academy and other local schools will visit

the Buccleuch Centre in coming weeks to view the Hen Harrier nest footage and learn

more about the Moorland Project.

Primary Schools

Newcastleton Primary School

Newcastleton School was the first to take up my offer of activities when the project

began and in June 2009 36 pupils took part in a trio of events, including moorland

games, a field trip to the Tarras to dip for freshwater invertebrates and a moorland

based art activity.

I visited Newcastleton School in October 2009 to run an activity based on the bird and

minibeast life of the moorland and surrounding habitats. Another visit in November 2009

looked at the wildlife which

inhabits the Newcastleton

School (which boarders

the Moorland) and

included setting up a

wildlife refuge and

hedgehog house. The

hedgehog house was built

by students at Langholm

Academy students and

presented to Newcastleton

Primary School – providing

a link between the schools on either side of the moorland.

Langholm Primary School

I led a morning of activities with Langholm Primary One class on March 25th 2010. The

session – which involved Moorland games and making bird feeders was a great

success.

Langholm Primary P5 visited the moorland to undertake some stream dipping on May

11th and learn about the role of the rivers and streams that cross the moorland.

Langholm Afterschool Eco-

Group are due to visit the

moorland at the beginning of

June 2010 to learn about peat

and how it is formed. A

minibeast session is planned for

Langholm Primary P6 this term.

Canonbie Primary School

Students from the

Canonbie Afterschool Eco

Group have participated in

two moorland sessions

making bird feeders and

visiting the Moorland Bird

feeding Station to view the

birds and fill the feeders.

The sessions were enjoyed

by all and more session

with this group are

planned.

Seventeen Students from

Canonbie school (P6&7) took

part in a day looking at the

community aspect of the

moorland.

Simon Lester (Head Keeper on

the Moorland Demonstration

Project) met the group and

demonstrated some of the techniques used by his team in their moorland management.

The group also visited Ian Cuthbert at Coombs farm to watch the sheep dipping and

learn about life as a farmer on the moor.

A second group from Canonbie School students (P1, 2 and 3) visited the moor on

September 30th and learned about the small mammal and freshwater life of the

moorland.

Playcare

Two successful art activities took place to produce some Moorland art for the exhibition

of children’s art work at Langholm Town Hall gallery on June 1st 2009. The pre-school

group made animal masks of Moorland wildlife from natural materials. The afterschool

group made clay

models of Moorland

mini-beasts and models of cased caddis fly larvae

from natural materials.

On December 1st 2009 youngsters from Langholm Playcare made bird feeders to hang

at the moorland bird feeding station. A creative art session over the Easter Break (April

8th) making moorland animals from woven willow was a great success.

A mini-beast activity

was well received by

the afterschool group

in June last year.

The Moorland Education

Project is now working

with Playcare after-school

group to offer regular

moorland activities

(hopefully fortnightly).

The group will make

regular visits to the

moorland to explore

every aspect of the

habitat and learn about the wildlife and management. The first visit took place on April

22nd – the group visited the Moorland bird feeding station and took a nature walk to find

frog spawn. Subsequent activities have included dissection of Barn Owl Pellets, nature

walks and stream dipping.

Excel Project

I organised several mini-beast

and small mammal activities

over the summer of 2009 – as

part of the Excel Project

summer booklet. The activities

were very successful and more

activities have been organised

for the 2010 summer break.

Higher Education Facilities

Glasgow University (Dumfries)

I spoke to students at Glasgow University (Dumfries campus) on November 30th 2009

about the Moorland Demonstration Project and the multi land-use issues facing

moorland. The group was very pleased by the talk and hope to follow it up with a visit to

the moorland. repeat the lecture next year. There is also the possibility of a student

placement over the summer, to help with the Moorland Education Project in 2010.

St Boswells College

I contacted Borders College (Hawick) to offer my services to its students and a lecturer

at on of its campuses – St Boswells College has asked for a lecture and field trip to visit

the moorland. It is hoped to make this an annual event for each new intake of students.

The moorland visit will be run in conjunction with Game Keeping and Scientific Staff on

the Demonstration Project.

Bicton College (Devon)

I spoke to students at Bicton College in Devon on May 17th. The request to speak at

Higher Education Facilities across the UK is excellent indication that news of the

Demonstration Project and Moorland Education project is spreading. The group of

approximately 45 were very interested to hear about the project and discussed the

feasibility of using a similar diversionary feeding method in a lowland setting.

Langholm Explorer Scouts

Members of Langholm Explorer Scout Group have been involved in several activities

over the first year of the project. The group has assisted in creating a Moorland bird

feeding station which is a great success and attracting large numbers of moorland birds.

The feeding station has been the focal point of several visits by primary students to view

the birdlife at close quarters.

The scouts helped to

erect over 30 bird boxes

(made by Langholm

Academy students last

year). The boxes are on

the periphery of the

Moorland and hope to

attract species such as

Pied Flycatcher,

Spotted Flycatcher,

Redstart as well as the

more common species. Volunteers have been recruited to help monitor and ring the

young birds this spring.

The Explorer Scouts braved the early morning on the moorland to attend a Dawn

Chorus Walk and provide the group with bacon and egg sandwiches and hot cups of

tea.

Langholm Beavers & Cubs

The Langholm Beavers and Cubs took part in a moorland evening on Friday 19th March

to learn about the wildlife of the moorland and discover the delights of an owl pellet

dissection. Our first moorland visit is planned for 29th May. The Langholm Beavers and

Cubs will be joined by the Gretna cubs.

Canonbie Brownies and Guides

The Canonbie Brownies and Guides took part in a moorland evening on May 12th

involving a presentation about the Moorland Demonstration project. The group also took

part in a barn owl pellet dissection

activity. There are more activities

planned with these groups for the

summer.

Other Events

Moorland Education Website Visit .langholmmoorland.co.uk to see the new Moorland Education Project Website.

This is a recent creation – with great thanks to volunteer Tom Hutton, who has put in lot

of time on this project to create the website. The website is updated regularly with

photos and information. It is hoped that footage form the Hen Harrier nest cameras can

be added to the website when it becomes available. Duke of Edinburgh students have

been advising on the creation of Moorland Facebook and Twitter pages – to attract a

younger and more web savvy generation.

Moorland Food Forage Event

The moorland wild food forage

event (October 16th) involving

John Crouch was a great

success. The group collected

several ingredients including

Sorrel, Plantain and Wild

Cranberrires which were

transformed into Sorrel Soup,

Apple and Cranberry trifle, Plantain Sag Aloo and

Cajun Rabbit by Chef John crouch. The Rabbit was

supplied fresh from the Moor by head keeper Simon

Lester. A second wild food event is planned for

summer 2010.

Moorland Dawn Chorus Walk

On April 17th a group of local Langholm locals braved the early mornings cold to

experience a Dawn Chorus walk with a difference – on Langholm Moorland. The group

experienced the beautiful song of Skylark, Meadow

Pipit, Red Grouse, Curlew amongst others. We had

fantastic views of Short Eared Owl, Merlin, Raven,

Roe Deer, Red Grouse and Hen Harrier.

Guided Walks

I took part in Ranger led walk run by Gavin Graham (Langholm Walks Group) on May

17th 2009, which passed through the Langholm Moor. I provided information on the

Moorland, the Demonstration Project and the local wildlife. More guided walks are

arranged for 2010.

Langholm Wildlife Group

A presentation on October 15th 2009 to the Langholm Wildlife Group about the

Langholm Moorland and the Demonstration Project was well received. The Moorland

project has recruited a couple of volunteers form the wildlife group to help monitor the

Moorland bird boxes this spring.

Dumfries & Galloway Environment Fair 2010

The Moorland Education Project took a stall at the Dumfries & Galloway Environment

Fair 2010 (Saturday March 6th) showing nest footage from the 2009 Hen harrier nest

and an array of moorland items. It was a very successful day with over 1200 people

came through the doors and just over 600 people were recorded taking part in an

activity at the Moorland stand. It was an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of the

project more widely in Dumfries & Galloway.

D&G Countryside Events 2010 Booklet

I submitted some events to the D&G Countryside Events Booklet in an attempt to

advertise Langholm events on a wider scale. I have recently been informed that an error

on the part of the leaflet organiser has lead to my activities not being including the

leaflet. This is very disappointing, but unfortunately can not be changed now. The

activities will, however, be advertised on the website, in the local paper and and locally

in Langholm.

Moorland Fungi Walk

A Moorland and woodland Fungi walk is taking place on September 22nd in collaboration

with local D&G Ranger Ross Gemmell. Wild food chef John Crouch has agreed to

attend and cook up a delicious fungi related snack to end the session.

Moorland Project Volunteers

The project now has several regular volunteers the Moorland Project – assisting with

events and activities.

Reptile refuges

In education sessions so far, children have expressed a keen interest in viewing

moorland reptiles such as the Adder and Common Lizard. In order to facilitate the safe

viewing of these creatures I would like to set up a series of reptile refuges. Sheets of

corrugated iron and roofing felt have been secured from Buccleuch Estates and

advice/permission will be sought from Simon Lester, Mac Hotson and Buccleuch

Estates before placement on the moor.

Moorland Pond

An excellent site has been found for a Moorland Pond, unfortunately funding for this

project did not come through, it is hoped to secure funding to complete this project next

winter.

Funding successes

£3000 has been successfully secured from local trusts (the Robertson Trust, the David

Stevenson Trust and the Arthur Bell Trust) towards the cost of equipment for Hen

Harrier nest cameras.

£250 has also been secured form Action Earth 2010 towards a bird box building days

on July 6th and 7th.

£805 has been secured from the O2 – It’s your community fund for hand tools for

practical conservation – which can then be used for tasks such as pond creation, tree

planting etc.

Moorland Signage

I have worked with head Keeper (Simon Lester) to design and order some signage for

the moorland to encourage countryside users to respect breeding birds and keep dogs

on leads during the breeding season.

HMIe Learning and Community Inspection (CLD)

For the HMIe Inspection I was asked to provide evidence and meet the inspectors to

discuss of all the ways the Moorland Education Project interacts with the local

community and offers opportunities for learning within the community. The Inspectors

were very impressed with all that the Moorland Education Project has achieved so far

and the project was put forward as an example of how the Langholm Initiative best

achieves its goals of providing learning opportunities within the community by the Gavin

Graham (Chairman) and Judith Johnson (General Manager).

John Muir Award Training

During the HMIe Learning and Community inspection in April 2010, it was commented

that offering an accredited award for involvement in moorland activities would be of

benefit to young people. So I have enrolled in a John Muir Leader Training weekend in

October 2010, which will allow me to offer the award to any young people who take part

in Moorland activities. The John Muir Award encourages people to discover, explore,

conserve and share wild places. The award is suitable for children as young as primary

age – providing recognition for their involvement and effort.

Events Planned for Year 2

The following are events planned for year 2 of the project:

Regular attendance in the Buccleuch Centre to promote the Hen Harrier nest footage.

• May 29th Langholm Beavers / cubs & Gretna Cubs Moorland Stream dipping Activity

• June 3rd Langholm Primary Afterschool Group Moorland Visit

• June 5th Moorland Walk Langholm Walking Festival

• July 3rd Badger Workshop – Training by Bager Expert Andy Riches

• July 6th / 7th Bird box making activity and trip on to moorland to erect boxes

• July 13th Moorland Mayhem with Langholm Playcare (Minibeasts and small mammals)

• July 17th Moorland Minibeasts and moths day

• July 20th – Moorland Mayhem – Langholm Playcare

• August 10th Moorland Minibeasts and moths day

• August 17th - Moorland Mayhem – Langholm Playcare

• August 28th Moorland Wild food Foray and cook up

• September 22nd Moorland Fungi Foray and ‘ Mushrooms on toast by Cumbrian Chef John Crouch

• September 30th Presentation to Langholm Rotary Club

• October 19th presentation to Solway RSPB Group

Press

There have been various articles in the Eskdale & Liddlesdale Advertiser. An article about the

Moorland Education Project activities appeared in D&G September Rural Partnership

September Newsletter. The article below appeared in the Buccleuch Bulletin Winter 09 Edition.

An article about the Moorland education project appeared in SNH’s in house 2010 Spring

magazine.

24

Participation Targets The Moorland Education Project’s LEADER Application suggested participation target of

500 people (100 men, 100 women, 150 young men <25, 150 young women <25 and 3

farming ‘communities’). I am using these targets as a guide for the overall targets for the

project (Table 1.1). The project has already surpassed these targets comfortably; a total

of 1542 people have been involved in a Moorland event since the beginning of the

project.

The numbers stated in this report include every person who has been involved in a

moorland activity in any way – presentations, activities and open events. Some

individuals may have attended more than one event (thus reinforcing the moorland

message) and at some events (e.g. D& G Environment Fair) it is not possible to secure

a name and postcode for each individual - for this reason our over all total is

significantly higher than the total that can be included in LEADER. The participation

totals for LEADER are still well on their way to meeting the targets. Only moorland

activities within Dumfries & Galloway have been funded using the LEADER funding.

Table 1.1 Moorland Education Project Participation Targets *(Numbers stated represent individuals, some of whom have been involved in multiple events)

Participants

Participation Target

LEADER Totals

D & G Outside D&G Total

(<25) Boys 150 198 428* 134 442

(<25) Girls 150 218 464 100 564

Men 100 26 112 41 153

Women 100 52 210 50 260

Farmers 3 3 3 0 3

Total 500 497 1217 325 1542

25

Looking ahead to year three of the Project

One year in to the project, it is time already to look for funding to maintain the

momentum of this project. This project is partly funded by Scottish Natural Heritage

(SNH) and partly by Dumfries & Galloway LEADER programme for an initial two year

period. SNH have already agreed to part fund a third year and I am in the process of

looking for match funding for that year and funding beyond this.

Thank you

I would like to thank all the members of the Langholm Moorland Demonstration Team,

Damian Bubb, Ali Mc Cluskie, Paula, Graeme Dalby, Simon Lester and his team of

keepers for their help in the last year. Thank you to Mac Hotson for all his help and

advice with events. Many thanks to Barry Dunne at SNH and Simone Tyrie, LEADER,

for all their assistance with funding questions and advice. Thank you to Judith Johnson,

Gavin Graham, Fiona Reeves for welcoming me to the Initiative and giving me a home

for the last year. Also a huge thank you to Tom Hutton for designing the Moorland

Education Project Website and training me in how to update it. Thank you to all the

volunteers for their time and efforts in the last year. Thank you to everyone involved in

the first year of project, I hope to make the second year of the project even more

successful. If you would like any more information on the work I am doing or can offer

any ideas or help please contact me (details on front page).

26

Appendix 1 Record of Moorland Activities in Year 1 2009/2010

Date Group Activity Participants 05.05.09 Buccleuch Patrons Assisted in Presentation 18 17.05.09 Carluke Church walking group Assisted with guided walk (Gavin Graham) 37 21.05.09 Playcare 3-5 yr olds Moorland art activity 18 22.05.09 Playcare afterschool group Moorland art activity 11 June Langholm Academy Bird box making 13 09.06.09 Newcastleton school presentation / introduction event 36 11.06.09 Newcastleton school Visit to moor, stream dipping 31 12.06.09 Satoko, visiting academic Tour of the Demonstration Project 1 16.06.09 Newcastleton school Plenary event, artwork, masks 31 18.06.09 Langholm Academy Presentation 1 13.07.09 Summer excel programme Meet the moorland mammals 1 15.07.09 Summer excel programme Meet the moorland mammals 6 15.07.09 Summer excel programme Hands on Nature 10

30.07.09 Tourist Information Centre Drop in session – HH footage 29

06.08.09 TIC Kiln Green Drop in session – HH footage 57

13.08.09 TIC Kiln Green Drop in session – HH footage 30 07.09.09 Newcastleton school Hedgehog activity 25 17.09.09 Newcastleton school Bird watching, camera activity 46 10.09.09 Canonbie School Moorland and community P 6,7 23 30.09.09 Canonbie School Moorland and community P 3,4,5 24 05.10.09 Newcastleton school Hedgehog activity 27 15.10.09 Wildlife Group Moorland presentation 12 16.10.09 Taste the Wild Wild food forage and cooking demonstration 16 06.11.09 Scouts explorer group Presentation/meeting volunteering opportunities 8 17.11.09 DoE Meeting/presentation 18 30.11.09 Glasgow University Presentation 36 01.12.09 Playcare Bird feeder making 14 05.12.09 Scouts explorer group Scouts day - Create Bird feeding Station 7 10.12.09 Langholm Academy Making bird tables for feeding station 23 12.01.10 Canonbie Primary School Wildlife Eco-group making bird feeders 9 23.02.10 Canonbie Primary School Wildlife Group visit to moorland 10 27.02.10 Scouts Bird boxes 7 06.03.10 D&G Environment fair Stall and interactive children’s display 612 19.03.10 Beavers and Cubs Presentation and Owl Pellet Activity 29 25.03.10 Langholm Primary Moorland Games and bird feeder making 25 08.04.10 Langholm Playcare Willow weaving activity 12 13.04.10 Community feedback Session Presentation 18 17.04.10 Open Event Dawn Chorus Walk 10 2010 Duke of Edinburgh Volunteering on Moorland Project 7 22.04.10 Playcare afterschool Moorland trip, bird feeding station 10

27

Date Group Activity Participants

06.05.10 Playcare after school stream dipping 9

10.05.10 Langholm Primary P5 stream dipping 28

11.05.10 Brownies Moorland intro and barn owl pellets 28

11.05.10 Guides Moorland intro and barn owl pellets 20

17.05.10 Bicton College Devon Moorland Demonstration project presentation 49

27.05.10 Playcare willow weaving 10

29.05.10 Beavers / Cubs stream dipping 43

30.05.10 Open event stream dipping 6

1542