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Video: From Kelvingrove to Barlornock … green spaces to host Glasgow Wildfest

Bug hunters and nature lovers can enjoy a programme of fun and interesting events as part of Glasgow Wildest 2016.

Amonth of bug-hunting and pond-dipping has been lined-up for nature lovers young and old across the West End and wider Glasgow.

RSPB Scotland has teamed up with organisations and groups from across the city to showcase Glasgow’s greener side this September.

Glasgow Wildfest 2016 will take place at various locations from September 1 through to the 30th.

Watch: Paul Gunn explains what is in store at Glasgow Wildfest 2016.

In all, around 40 events have been organised from Kelvingrove Park to Barlornock, and Maryhill to the southside.

Learn about the creatures on your doorstep and how they fit into our city and architecture by visiting a community garden or green space near you.

Paul Gunn, RSPB Scotland's community greenspace officer for Glasgow, said there was something for people of all ages in the programme.

"The festival is a collection of community-based events where we will be doing bio-blitzes, putting up nest boxes, making wildlife areas in community gardens, and just generally trying to enthuse the population of Glasgow about the wildlife on their doorstep.

"That will be city-wide and we have about forty events.

"We go locale-based each week, so in the first week we are in the east of Glasgow, then we are in the south, then we're north, and then we finish in the west.

"So we'll try and get through as many different gardens as is humanly possible."

This year the theme of the festival is 'nature’s architects' in honour of the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016.

There are a number of events that specifically focus on this topic, such as at the Botanics, RSPB Scotland Baron’s Haugh (a new venue for the festival this year) and Maryhill Park.

Pacitti Community Garden is another new venue, as is Hogganfield Park, which has a whole day of family activities planned.

But the old favourites are also back with regular events at parks and gardens right across the city, from Pollok to Castlemilk, Bellahousten to Rosshall and many more.

Richard Weddle, from Butterly Conservation and the Glasgow Natural History Society, was one of those taking part in pre-festival session with local schoolchildren at the North Kelvin Meadow off Clouston Street this week.

He's one of the local wildlife experts who will be taking part in the festival.

He said: "Every green space is important and this place is a particularly nice green space which is used a lot by the local community.

"It's really good habitat for moths and insects here, and we have been finding some interesting things today. We would need to come back through the year to find the full range of things that the site is capable of."

The first Saturday of the festival kicks off with a special day of activities at Kelvingrove Museum and Park.

The event includes an exhibition in the museum by artist Luca Nasciuti, who’ll also be running sound walks in the park.

You can join him, or take part in the medicinal and wildlife walks, as well as lots of other fun things to try during the day.

For more information and a full downloadable programme visit @RSPBGlasgow's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RSPBGlasgow/?fref=ts

Follow the events on Twitter using hashtags #Glasgowwildfest #Followthebees

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