Falls of Clyde
Falls of Clyde
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s, Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve (part of the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve) is bursting with wildlife. Famous for its spectacular waterfalls and scenic woodland walks. In spring the woodland floor us abound with colourful wildflowers. Alive with bird song; over 100 species having made this reserve their home. In the summer, daubentons bats are seen hawking across the river and badgers forage amongst the undergrowth. Autumn sees the woodland leaves turn shades of orange, brown and red and fungi appears in abundance. As winter draws in, the roar of the river in spate can be heard across the reserve and our otters are commonly seen. From mini-beasts hunts and pond dipping to learning about peregrine falcons, we urge you to take advantage of the unique experience this reserve can offer. Our award winning Wildlife Reserve and Visitor Centre includes a secure classroom, parking, toilet, hand washing provision and expert teaching staff. We can accommodate group sizes of up to 25 and can work with 1 class per day at a cost of £3 per child. The Falls of Clyde is only 1hr from Glasgow and Edinburgh and is accessible to all schools within the central belt. We also offer outreach, combined visits with New Lanark World Heritage Site, assemblies, self guided trails, eco-schools and evening activities if you would like to extend your stay with a night in the New Lanark Youth Hostel.
Mini-beast Superheroes - Apr–Jun and Sep-Oct (P2-P4)
Exploring examples of food chains through pond dipping and mini-beast hunting
Looking at habitats and how their different environmental features influence the variety of living things
Discovering the types of mini-beasts and sorting them into groups
Seasons and Survival - Sep–Feb (P2-P4)
Developing an awareness of the seasons and the world around us
Exploring examples of food chains in winter and how animals survive with less food.
Looking at habitats in winter and the ways in which animals adapt to their environment
The Peregrine Trail - May–Jun (P5-P7)
Investigating the life-cycle and stages of development of a peregrine falcon
Persecution of peregrines and the impacts of human activity on the environment
Bodily responses to outside conditions and adaptations for survival
Birds in Winter - Sep–Feb (P5-P7)
Actions that birds take in response to cold conditions to reduce heat loss
Interpreting a simple scaled map and using it to explore a local wildlife reserve
Investigations into energy gained and lost in survival
We provide outdoor learning experiences for primary school children (P2-P7) all linked to the New Curriculum for Excellence. All our workshops are cross-curricular but the main focus is on Sciences (biological systems and planet Earth) and Social Studies (people, place and environment). Detailed teacher's notes outlining the Experiences and Outcomes (E and O's) covered are provided upon booking.
This is what teachers have had to say about us over the past year:
“Ranger talked with enthusiasm and knowledge and was able to answer all the children's questions."
“...your liaison prior to the day and communication helped make the visit really useful."
