Ullapool Nature Club's 'hands-on learning' approach gets wildlife-loving youngsters to flourish
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A vibrant club for young nature lovers in Wester Ross allows the kids to flourish whilst learning about the environment in a supportive and fun-filled setting.
The Ullapool Nature Club, held in Ullapool Library, is led by Wester Ross High Life Highland ranger Jenny Grant – Who is always finding ways for the club to have fun whilst getting hands-on with nature and learning.
A wide range of activities have been on offer for the club in 2023, such as crafting bird feeders and creating animal garlands. However, the club's standout series of sessions this year was all about hedgehogs. There was said to be an outpour of enthusiasm from both adult and children in the group, where they delved straight in to learning all about the spiny creatures.
The session was more than just educational; it was also about taking action to help the garden creates facing drastic decline. Ullapool Nature Club got to work crafting hedgehog homes, informative signs, designing hedeghog-friendly fence gaps and gathering leaves to make the homes snug and comfortable. This hands-on approach aids the local hedgehog population, as well as teaching the group principles of conservation and the best ways to care for the natural world.
Annual festive event, the Ullapool Christmas Tree Festival has also been lucky enough to see the club's work, with their innovative entry of a Hedgehogs and Treehogs Christmas Tree. Handcrafted decorations coupled with hedgehog facts are said to have turned to Christmas Tree Festival, held in the Ullapool Church of Scotland with over 40 unique trees, into a conservation awareness event too.
While the club has finished all their meetings for 2023, they will soon be back in 2024 with more fun and educational environmental activities. Children of all ages are welcome, with kids under five needing parental supervision. Parents are also very welcome to become more involved in the club as volunteer helpers. More details about the club are available at the Ullapool Library.
