SWT: Scottish Wildlife Trust

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Welcome to the SWT Lothians Member Centre site

Formed in 1964, the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a membership-based registered charity with the objective to "advance the conservation of Scotland's biodiversity for the benefit of present and future generations."

Lothians Members Centre, helps support the wildlife of Edinburgh, the countryside and gardens of East, West and Mid Lothian and the many reserves therein. LMC is concerned with the local woods, sea, estuary, rivers, reservoirs, road verges, paths and ponds. And the wild bits in between. LMC monitors planning and development, raises funds and awareness, advises local government, promotes education, holds talks, discussions and lectures. LMC supports and advises allied organisations and funds activities. Come and join in.

Events

There are six lectures between October till April, and outdoor events with visits to local reserves and other places of interest organised throughout the year.  Both indoor and outdoor events are free and open to non-members; sometimes pre-booking is required.  Donations to help with running costs such as hall bookings and refreshments are appreciated.  The sub-committee welcomes suggestions for future events.

Open Day at Red Moss during Biodiversity week

The Red Moss of Balerno SWT Nature Reserve open day is on Sunday 20th May (only) 12 noon to 5pm – pond dipping, guided walks and kids quiz will be among the day’s activities.  All welcome!

Talk Cancelled: 08 Dec 2011

Due to the extremely high winds forecast and the Red Weather Warning issued by the Met Office for this evening, tonight's talk on the Water of Leith has been postponed. We hope to reschedule this talk at some later date.

Lothian Members Centre - Cards and Calendars on sale at next LMC lectures

At the next indoor lectures at 33 Melville Street, Edinburgh EH3 on Thursday 10 November and again on 8 December, there will be a limited supply of SWT Christmas cards and calendars available for members to buy. You could save yourself postage by purchasing at the lecture. PLEASE please let Averil Stewart know by Saturday 5 November how many of each you might want so that no one need be disappointed if Lothian members Centre runs out. Email gaveril.stewart@virgin.net
Cards and calendars are also available direct from SWT here.

Ceilidh 29 October!

A date for your diaries - the annual LCV Ceilidh takes place on Saturday 29th October at the Southside Community Centre, 117 Nicholson Street,Edinburgh between 8pm and 12 midnight, with music from Nine Points of Roguery. Tickets cost £8 (£6 unwaged). Anyone who was at our AGM in April and heard the presentation by Matt McCabe on '40 Years of Lothian Conservation Volunteers' will know what splendid work they do and how much they contribute to the maintenance of SWT reserves, so why not support them at this enjoyable fundraising event. Further details here. l

Free Book event, 27th October - All Welcome

Following the popularity of our tour 'Hidden Gardens of the Royal Mile', Greenyonder will publish our first book on 27 October 2011: Book author Jean Bareham will be talking about the book at the Edinburgh Independent Radical Book Fair. Also speaking: Jane Garven, Cowgate Under-Fives Centre, who will talk about how the Cowgate Centre uses Johnston Terrace Wildlife Garden to introduce very young children to nature.
When Thursday 27 October, 7.30 - 8.30pm
Where 'Out of the Blue' Drill Hall, 30-38 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, EH6 8RG, Scotland, UK

Lothian Talk Autumn 2011!

The Autumn 2011 Lothian Talk is available now!

Lothian Talk Spring 2011!

The Spring 2011 Lothian Talk is finally available on the website (apologies for delay).  This edition is as great as ever and is packed with fun, interesting and exciting articles; along with the regular planning news and other updates.

Bird Migration Lecture

A lecture by Professor Ian Newton FRS in aid of the Isle of May Bird Observatory Development Appeal on Friday 10th December 2010 at 6 pm at The James Clerk Maxwell Science Centre, The Edinburgh Academy, Henderson Row, Edinburgh. The lecture will be chaired by Lord Hope of Craighead. More details here

Lothian Talk Autumn 2010!

Members will shortly receive their copies of the Autumn (November) Lothian Talk. As always it is packed with fun, interesting and exciting articles; along with the regular planning news and other updates.

Fungi-Tastic Foray

We had a perfect morning for our fungi foray on 30 October at SWT Bawsinch wildlife reserve, noting 24 different species. Read the full story and view the list of species here.

Lothians Conservation Volunteers' Ceilidh

It's that time of year again. LCV's ceilidh is on the 13th of November. All the details are here http://www.lcv.org.uk/social/ceilidh2010.shtml and in a new and exciting innovation you can now buy a ticket online!


Red Kite Reintroduction - 20 years On

Having become extinct as a breeding bird in Scotland as a result of human persecution, the red kite has, in a programme begun in 1989, now been reintroduced in four Scottish locations, breeding successfully in the wild with a sustainable and increasing population. It is hoped that eventually the species will recolonise all areas of suitable habitat. The reintroduction project also supports a number of facilities which allow the public to view red kites without fear of disturbance to the birds and provide rural communities with diversification and tourism development opportunities. Red kite reintroduction in the UK is seen as one of the most successful projects of its type anywhere in the world, and the approach is now imitated elsewhere.

Duncan Orr-Ewing is Head of Species and Land Management for RSPB
Scotland

Changes to SWT Publication policy

Readers of Lothian Talk will note that there is no annual Lothians Events Card with the current edition of Scottish Wildlife. This is due to a change in publications policy at SWT. Local events are now included in the Events & Activities Calendar which now accompanies each edition of Scottish Wildlife and which gives national coverage to local events including outings and lectures.