Discovering Nature in Fife: first week-long event, and how to get involved

Running from August 17-23, the Fife Council initiative aims to raise awareness of how local people can help protect nature across the region through a series of free events.

You can build your nature knowledge and learn how to record the nature you see to help keep track of our amazing local biodiversity using the free iRecord app.

Fife Council is looking for help recording all kinds of plants and wildlife you find here, so all records are welcome.

Kicking off the week are two online events on Tuesday 18th and Thursday 20th from 7:00-8:00pm about biodiversity and nature recording. Details are at www.fife.gov.uk/environment/discovering-nature

People are also invited to Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy, on Sunday,August 23 from 10:00am to 3:00pm where they can meet nature professionals, enjoy nature activities and games, discover the wildlife on their doorstep and learn simple ways to help support and record biodiversity in their communities.

The day will included free guided nature walks to explore local nature in the park, free guidance on how to record nature on the iRecord app and submit your records to Fife Nature Records Centre, and stalls from local specialist groups that will include butterflies, red squirrels and games

You can also get to know Fife Coast and Countryside Trust and the work it does, and meet Transforming Fife’s Greenspace Team and discover how green spaces support wellbeing, biodiversity and climate resilience.

Councillor Jan Wincott, spokesperson for the environment and climate change, said: "I am very pleased to support Fife’s first Discover Nature Week and the events that are taking place. Nature and biodiversity play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of people across Fife, while also helping us respond to the challenges of climate change.

“However, there is an urgent need for us all to do what we can to protect and restore local wildlife and habitats. To do this, we need to monitor and measure nature in Fife, both where it is doing well and where it is struggling. Discovering Nature in Fife week will help everyone engage with and identify nature around them using iRecord.

“Being in nature is amazing for health and wellbeing, and I love recording the birds I find in my own garden. It helps our Fife Nature Records Centre improve our understanding of and support for local biodiversity and conservation.

“I look forward to seeing lots of folks at Beveridge Park at our Discovering Nature in Fife event for a fun day outdoors in nature.”

The free Merlin Bird ID app can also be downloaded and used to easily identify birdsong to help you know which birds to record while you are in your garden or out and about, especially if you cannot see them.

> Fife Nature Records Centre collates, manages and shares records of nature in Fife that help build a picture of species distributions across Fife. Recording wildlife sightings through the free iRecord app will help increase knowledge of local wildlife and improve understanding of where species occur. This information can help inform planning and decision making, supporting the conservation of Fife's nature.

For more information, please visit https://www.fife.gov.uk/environment/discovering-nature