AD | Family Time in the Great Outdoors!
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Atholl Estates final Family Ranger Session of the summer season takes place this Thursday 13th August at 11am.
Hosted by Ranger, Julia Duncan, and meeting at the Atholl Estates Visitor Information Centre at Bridge of Tilt Car Park in Blair Athol, the family friendly session, suitable for any child aged four upwards, is completely free to attend, although should parents wish to contribute, card or cash donations are sought for The Cairngorms Trust, a local body which uses donations to care for wildlife, along with maintaining car parks and paths.
“Our Family Rangers Sessions are always a lot of fun, covering a variety of educational activities including learning survival skills, identifying animal tracks, taking part in mini Highland Games, and, particularly as relates to this final session, looking for insects on a minibeasts hunt,” said Julia, who has been a Ranger at Atholl Estates for the past eight years.
“This final Family Ranger session is the grand finale of our Rangers summer season,” added Julia. “It’s brilliant to share in the children’s excitement when they are out and about on our estate. Any child, age four upwards, is welcome at our Family Ranger Days with a parent or carer to accompany them. You don't have to book, just turn up on the day.”
“As this event takes place completely outdoors, we recommend wearing warm clothing and sturdy footwear,” added Julia.
“Over the eighteen Family Ranger Sessions we have hosted this year, we have welcomed local families from the area, together with those from all over the UK, and further afield, including Europe, the US and Canada. We’ve also held our weekend red deer feeding sessions, which will continue into the autumn. Children love this experience, as do adults, who also can’t wait to get up close and personal with these beautiful creatures,” finished Julia.
Access to the Weekend Red Deer Feeding sessions, which take place Saturday and Sundays at 1230pm and 230pm, is through purchasing a Grounds & Gardens ticket.
Based in Blair Atholl, the Atholl Estates Ranger Service operates throughout the estate. Assisting visitors in their understanding and enjoyment of the area, the service plays a role in countryside education and conservation, managing nine way-marked trails for walkers and cyclists on the estate.
Open from 9.00am to 4.45pm daily, between Easter and October, and part funded by Cairngorms National Park, the Rangers Service additionally runs the Blair Atholl Information Centre, located in Blair Atholl close to the gates of Blair Castle Caravan Park.
As the calendar turns to autumn, Atholl Estates is also offering two autumn foraging experiences with its resident foraging expert, Tamara Colchester.
Taking place on the 19th and 20th of September, 1030am to 130pm, and priced at £45 per person, (with children free), the courses are an invitation to learn about twenty edible and medicinal plants, trees, and fungi found in the grounds of Blair Castle, and its extensive gardens and gardens.
Each course consists of a 2.5 hour foraging walk in which participants, in small groups, will learn lifelong identification techniques of many edible species, with Tamara on hand to suggest a number of inspiring recipe ideas with foraged ingredients.
The walks, which can also be used as mindful experiences, enjoying the peaceful environment, will finish up with wild tea and home-made cake and biscuits in the estate’s beautiful Hercules Garden, with time to revise the plants learnt and how best to store them for future use.
All participants will also receive a personalised PDF containing information about all the plants met. Tickets for the foraging experience cost £45 per person.
Commenting on the outdoor activities at Atholl Estates, Marketing Manager, Kirsty McConnell said: “We love seeing our many visitors, whatever their age, engage with our fantastic natural environment. Blair Castle and Atholl Estates is fortunate to be set in the most stunning surroundings, with eight acres of grounds and gardens to explore.”
Further details: https://atholl-estates.co.uk/events/summer-ranger-events/
https://atholl-estates.co.uk/activities/estate-activities/foraging/
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