Forth nature really does count!

Forth Nature Counts is a new IFLI project that gives local people the chance to turn their everyday enjoyment of wildlife into something that can really make a difference for nature.

Through the project IFLI is inviting local people with an interest in wildlife to record what they see through an online recording scheme called iRecord. These records will help to build a clearer picture of the wildlife that can be found in the Inner Forth area, and will be used by conservation scientists to study how well – or badly – our plants and animals are doing. To find out how to get started you can visit the IFLI website at www.innerforthlandscape.co.uk/projects/recording-celebrating/forth-nature-counts.

It doesn’t matter if you’re not a wildlife expert, as IFLI has been working with a number of friendly and knowledgeable volunteers and partner organisations to develop a programme of FREE nature identification and survey skills workshops for 2015.

Kate Fuller, IFLI’s Community Engagement Officer commented, "Winter is a great time to get outside and see what wildlife you can find in your garden, local greenspace or by the riverside. Through the IFLI Forth Nature Counts project we want to encourage people to discover the nature of the Inner Forth at all times of year. We hope our expert-led workshops will give people the confidence and enthusiasm to identify species and share their records of local wildlife with us on the IFLI iRecord form."

The programme features trees, moths, birds, bugs and bioblitzs! No prior knowledge or specialist equipment is needed to attend the workshops. Sessions are open to all and free of charge thanks to the way that IFLI is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund. Spaces are still available for the 11th February Winter Tree ID at Gartmorn Dam led by Emilie Wadsworth of the Central Scotland Green Network Trust (CSGNT). Bookings for other workshops will open at the end of January. To see what is on offer, you can visit the IFLI Events Calendar or the Forth Nature Counts webpage where you can find all the listings in one place.