Clyde and Avon Valley Wildlife Campaign 2017
Enter the Wildlife Challenge and 500 Words Competition
Pull on your wellies and grab a pencil - it's time to get involved in the Clyde and Avon Valley Wildlife Challenge and 500 Words Competition!
The Clyde and Avon Valley is home to a fascinating array of wildlife. The area is home to the Clyde Valley National Nature Reserve (NNR) which is one of the ecologically richest areas of Scotland, as well as other spectacular woodlands. The woodlands are often hidden in dramatic river gorges, creating ribbons of wild land that lace the local landscape where nature thrives.
The campaign, including wildlife spotting events and two competitions, focusses on 12 species that can be found throughout the year in local woodlands such as Chatelherault Country Park, RSPB Scotland Baron’s Haugh, Dalzell Estate and Scottish Wildlife Trust Falls of Clyde. The species are goosander, otter, great spotted woodpecker, kingfisher, badger, blue tailed damselfly, bats, candlesnuff fungus, comma butterfly, nuthatch, roe deer and salmon.
Get involved to find out more about local wildlife, visit local nature reserves, take part in wildlife spotting events and help contribute to the iRecord wildlife database.
There are two competitions you can enter as part of the campaign.
1. The Clyde and Avon Valley Wildlife Challenge #CAVWChallenge
Complete the 12 species checklist (download and print using the link on the right), to be awarded with a certificate and be entered into a special prize draw.
Join in with wildlife spotting events (see below), download your own spotting guides and enter your findings to iRecord, to tick off the 12 species that you are challenged to find on the checklist - links and downloads available on the right.
2. The Clyde and Avon Valley 500 Words Competition (open to children ages 5 - 9 and 10 - 12)
Pick one of the 12 species (goosander, otter, great spotted woodpecker, kingfisher, badger, blue tailed damselfly, bats, candlesnuff fungus, comma butterfly, nuthatch, roe deer and salmon) to write a fictional story or poem about, in under 500 words. Be creative! The more imaginative the better - perhaps it could be a day in the life of, or a funny story. Each entrant will win a certificate and be entered into a special prize draw.
Entries will be judged on originality, plot, characterisation, language and enjoyment by a panel of expert judges: C A Hope (author of the New Lanark trilogy), the Lanark Writers Group and South Lanarkshire Countryside Rangers.
Download and print the 500 Words Competition full guidelines and submission form by clicking the link on the right. The Scottish Badgers and Scottish Poetry Library 'Badgers Poetry Pack', also available on the right, is a great resource for any wildlife writing too.
The Clyde and Avon Valley Wildlife Challenge and 500 Words Competition must be entered by Sunday 31 December 2017.
The campaign is a partnership project between Heritage Lottery Fund supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership, North Lanarkshire Council, RSPB Baron's Haugh, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Wildlife Trust Falls of Clyde and South Lanarkshire Countryside Rangers. Find out more about these organisations by clicking on the links to the right.