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8 March 2007
Membership
The Critters Club membership is currently open as some of the older
members have moved on.
For more details contact the Ranger Service at Wick.
Contact
Lindsey Duncan the countryside ranger at -
East Caithness Countryside Ranger
Bruce Buildings, Sinclair Terrace, Wick, KW1 5AB
Tel/Fax: 01955 607758
[email protected]
 The Caithness Critters is a local
children's nature group run by the Highland Council Ranger Service.
The club is open to children aged 8 to 14 with an interest in wildlife &
the environment. The club meets on a regular basis & aims to
encourage greater appreciation for the environment and wildlife by raising
awareness at an early age.
2007 Events
Saturday 17th February
TRACKS & SIGNS
Be a nature detective and discover who’s been around before you! A mixture
of outdoor and indoor activities.
Wrap up warm. Meet at Dunnet Visitor Centre at 11am.
Saturday 10th March
LATHERONWHEEL WOODLAND
Hunt for signs of spring in this pretty woodland.
A walk and games. Wrap up warm.
Meet at Latheronwheel Harbour at 11am
Saturday 31st March
FAMILY EASTER TREASURE HUNT
Painted egg competition. Bring your own decorated egg! Prize for the best
painted egg!
Meet at Dunnet Forest Car Park at 11am. Wrap up warm. All children must be
accompanied by a responsible adult.
Saturday 12th May
COASTAL WALK
Take a walk to see the seabirds and hunt for shells. Meet at Duncansby
Head carpark at 11am. Wrap up well!
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2007
17 December 07
Best Caithness Critter Of 2007
 At
the last Caithness Critters event of the year, Thomas Simpson, aged 10
from Mey received the annual prize for Best Attendance. Organised by
Countryside Ranger with The Highland Council's Planning and Development
Service, Caithness Critters is a local children's nature group aimed
specifically at children aged 8 to 14 with an interest in wildlife and the
environment. The group meets on a regular basis and aims to encourage
greater appreciation for the environment and wildlife by raising awareness
at an early age. At the event held in the Seadrift Centre at Dunnet, the
children learned about garden birds and feeding tips before they made
their own bird table While presenting Thomas with prizes of bird
identification, sticker book and certificate of achievement, Marina
Swanson, East Caithness Ranger and watch group leader said: Thomas has
done very well and is very enthusiastic about taking part in all our
events. His bird table turned out brilliantly especially with the
beautiful designs of blue tit and robin.
2006
21 February 06
DUNNET FOREST TREE PLANTING
 Almost
30 volunteers turned out to help plant trees
at Dunnet forest last Saturday. The planting
was organised by Highland Council's Planning
and Development Service countryside rangers
and Dunnet Forest community forester, Jon
Hollingdale as part of the
Caithness Countryside Volunteer
and
Caithness Critter programme of
events. A mix of approximately 400 broadleaf
trees were planted, staked and guarded in a
recent felled area. The event was part of
the Community Service Volunteers Action
Earth supported by Scottish Natural
Heritage. After the tree planting, all the
volunteers rested at the Northern Sands
Hotel where a sandwich lunch and
refreshments were provided.
19 January 06
OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE CAITHNESS CRITTERS
The first meeting of
the year for the Caithness Critters took place last Sunday. The wildlife
loving youngsters turned out to brave the harsh winds and cold
temperatures to take part in a bird watch at the Loch of Mey. The
children spotted and recorded a range of bird species and practiced their
identification skills with pictures and bird sounds in the hide.
The annual prize of Best Attendance was also
presented during the event. This year, two members tied for first place.
Alex Calder, from Scarfskerry, and Alexander Bonham from Corseback, Dunnet
both attended 7 events throughout 2005. They were presented with
certificates and bird identification books.
Marina Swanson, East
Caithness ranger and watch group leader said: “The weather did not seem to
dampen the spirits of the children as they were very keen to take part in
the afternoon’s activities. Alex and Alexander have done very well in
keeping such a high attendance all year round. It is encouraging to see
the support for the group and the keenness of the children to learn about
nature.”
The next Critter event
will take place next month where tree planting will be undertaken at
Dunnet Forest. The Highland Council Planning and Development’s
Countryside Rangers are supported by Scottish Natural Heritage.
2005
Photos
Beach Clean At Keiss
2004
21 September 04
Volunteers Flock To Keiss Beach Cleanup
 Almost
30 volunteers turned out last Saturday to take part in a local beach clean
and monitor at Keiss beach. The clean-up was organised by the rangers in
The Highland Council's Planning and Development Service as part of the
national Beachwatch event, the most extensive monitoring programme in
Europe for coastal and marine litter. The volunteers cleared large amounts of
unwanted debris and litter along the rocky section of the shore between
the harbour and Stain. Members of the Caithness Critters and the Caithness
Countryside Volunteers turned out in force and with help from local
residents, created a strong hit squad. The types and quantities of litter
were recorded and removed to ensure that the surveyed stretch of beach was
rubbish free.
9 July 04
Critters At Achvarasdal Woodland Turn Detective
 Achvarasdal
Woodland was the place for exploration and discovery recently when members
of the Caithness Critters, local
children's nature group, found evidence of all kinds of wildlife.
The Caithness Critters is an environmental group for children run by
Rangers with The Highland Council's Planning and Development Service.
The group meets every month to learn about nature and wildlife around the
county. The team of nature detectives enjoyed the sounds and smells
of the beautiful woodland while hunting for track marks and droppings.
Last month the Critters were 'Puffin' watching at Duncansby Stacks and
will be exploring the 'Broch, Bogs, Burials' of the Yarrows
Archaeological Trail next month. Marina Finlayson, 'Caithness Critter'
leader and The Highland Council's East Caithness Ranger said: "Through
hands-on experience the children learn a great deal about nature and their
environment without even realising. We are lucky to have some great
places to use for our events such as Achvarasdal Woodland where there is
always interesting wildlife."
9 March 04
'CAITHNESS CRITTERS' TAKE FIRST PLACE
IN SCOTTISH WATCH GROUP OF THE YEAR COMPETITION
 A Caithness based children's nature
group, organised by The Highland Council’s Planning and Development
Service Rangers are the winners of the Scottish Wildlife Watch Group of
the Year Competition for 2003. The group, 'Caithness Critters', won the
Scottish Wildlife Trust competition which celebrates the achievements of
Watch Groups around the UK and encourages the groups to keep a
diary or yearbook of their activities through out the year. The 'Caithness Critters', organised through
Highland Council’s Rangers is a club for children aged 8 - 14 with an
interest in wildlife. The group meets every month to explore the great
outdoors and learn about the wonders of nature. Events take many
different forms and over the past year have included forest treasure
hunts, rock pool rummages, bat walks, gold panning, bird cake making and
mini beast safaris.
2003
23 September 03
Gold Panning and Fossil Hunting Keeps Caithness Critters
Busy
Caithness Critters the local children's
natural history group set out for a combined day of gold panning and
searching for semi precious stones in the Strath of Kildodnan as part of
Geology Week and then on to a fossil hunt at Loss Beach.
16 August 03
Critters Treasure Hunt At Dunnet Forest
 Caithness
Critters the young nature group run by the Rangers recently has treasure
hunt at Dunnet Forest. The highly popular group often has a waiting
list for membership but it may well be worth putting a name on the list as
youngsters grow up and move on. Contact the
Ranger Service for further details.
May 2003
Duncansby Stacks To See Birds
Pictures of Events From 2002
24 November 2002
Noss Head Tree Planting
9 May 2002
Critters and Others At Spring Clean-up
Critters Easter
Treasure Hunt
Earlier Cycle
Outing
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