Deer day at Beecraigs for Linlithgow children
Linlithgow Primary School children enjoyed learning all about deer and seeing them up close and personal at Beecraigs Country Park at a school event held 9th March.
The 65 children had a fun-filled day at Beecraigs Country Park on Tuesday, learning about deer and venison from Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) and Beecraigs staff.
The pupils learned about Scotland’s wild deer, deer tracks and signs of deer, and deer impacts on the environment. They were also shown around the deer farm at Beecraigs, learning how venison is produced, and even got to try some at lunch-time.
Linlithgow Primary School teacher, Kirsti Orskov, said: “The pupils were amazed at how close they got to the deer and thoroughly enjoyed their day out – they will be talking about their experiences for a long time. I think it is a fantastic initiative to educate and entertain young pupils about these important animals.”
Countryside manager, Eirwen Hopwood, added: “Deer are one of the most beautiful animals in Scotland and we are incredibly proud to provide a home for them at Beecraigs Country Park. The red deer are easily accessible for the public to see from dawn to dusk and hopefully the pupils will return again and again with their friends and family to visit us.”
Jamie Hammond, DCS deer officer, said:
"The children really enjoyed getting a chance to see farmed deer in the park, and learning how to recognise the signs of wild deer. We discussed everything from the deer’s natural predators to their impact on crops and trees to identifying the different deer species. And the venison sausages seem to be very popular!”
The day aimed to increase the pupils’ understanding about deer and the environment and promote the importance of local, healthy produce in the form of venison.
Day out at Glen Tanar a deer experience for Aboyne pupils
Aboyne Primary School pupils enjoyed learning all about deer at Glen Tanar Estate on 12th March, including stalking an ‘iron deer’ and eating some tasty venison burgers.
The 72 children had a fun-filled day at Glen Tanar on Friday, finding out more about deer, deer management, stalking and venison from Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS), Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) and Glen Tanar staff.
The pupils had the chance to stalk an ‘iron stag’, visit a larder, and enjoy a tasty venison burger for lunch. They also learned about Scotland’s wild deer, including deer tracks and signs, deer impacts on the environment, deer survival, deer management, and the health benefits of venison.
The day aimed to increase the pupils’ understanding of deer management and promote the importance of local, healthy produce in the form of venison.
Colin McClean, Wildlife Manager for Glen Tanar Estate, said:
“Glen Tanar and the surrounding area is habitat for abundance of species. By hosting events such as these, we hope to educate the future generation about the importance of their local wildlife and gain appreciation of how the likes of deer need to be managed and why. Wild deer are superb animals and one of the finest assets we have in rural Scotland. They are an integral part of the countryside and, at the right density, they maintain the natural heritage value of many habitats.”
Linzi Seivwright, DCS officer, said:
“It was great to see how enthusiastic the children were to learn all about deer. We talked about everything from how deer live and survive, how to recognize the different species, how and why we manage deer, and how much deer mean to us in Scotland culturally and economically. And the venison burgers were very popular!”
Will Boyd-Wallis of CNPA said:
“We’re very grateful to Glen Tanar Estate for holding this event and I was delighted to take part. It’s always a real pleasure to see the children’s enthusiasm about wildlife and the management of the land. It’s important for us all that children grow up understanding where their food comes from and that healthy deer depend upon healthy habitats.”