We have received the following email from the RSPB and are passing it on:

I am contacting you on behalf of RSBP Scotland. We are one of the UK’s leading conservation organisations and our work ranges from practical conservation work on our 200 plus UK nature reserves through to policy, advisory and campaign work at a local, national and international level and engagement with the public to educate and inspire about our amazing wildlife. 

For the past two years RSPB Scotland has run Sparrowhawks in the City Date with Nature, a project at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh which aims to showcase to members of the public breeding sparrowhawks which nest in the gardens. Using innovative live cameras we are able to show a unique insight into sparrowhawk behaviour as we watch our birds incubating, brooding, feeding and finally see our chicks fledge. Each year RSPB Scotland has worked in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, the Scottish Seabird Centre and the Lothian and Boarders Rapture Study Group to staff an information area in the John Hope Gateway in the Botanics and to hold family and evening events throughout the spring and summer season.

As part of our Community Outreach Programme we are offering community talks to local interested groups. These talks will be given by a number of our experienced Community Talks Volunteers, many of whom have also volunteered for Sparrowhawks in the City. The talks aim to give an introduction to a raptor which is present in many urban green spaces, to dispel any myths about sparrowhawks and to talk about the findings and drama of the project so far, as well as highlighting the importance of Edinburgh’s green spaces for urban wildlife.

We aim to begin our talks programme in March of 2013 ahead of the start of the Sparrowhawk date with Nature Project in mid May. We aim to be as flexible as possible with our talks and are offering presentations ranging from 20 minutes to an hour including time for questions, depending on what groups would prefer. 

If you are interested in having a speaker at your group/event or wish for any more information on the community talks please do not hesitate to contact myself. In order to cover our materials and volunteer expenses we are asking for a small donation of £1 per person for this activity.

For further information please contact:

Abby Forrest
Sparrowhawk Community Outreach Co-ordinator
RSPB Scotland
Ground Floor
2 Lochside View
Edinburgh Park,
Edinburgh
EH12 9DH.
Tel: 0131 317 4100
Email: Abby.Forrest@rspb.org.uk