Family fun as Seashore Festival comes to Inverness

 2014 has seen communities and coastal regions across the Highlands have the chance to celebrate the history and unique environment of their shorelines and it’s now the turn of Inverness with a special Seashore Festival taking place at Merkinch Local Nature Reserve on Saturday 13 September.

This free family event will explore the arts, culture and natural heritage of our rich coastlines through lots of fun and interactive activities.  Running from 11am to 2pm, the Festival includes face painting, seashore themed games and challenges, sea life talks, conservation activities, music making, story- telling and lots more. Refreshments and a food stall will be available.

Taking part will be the environmental education charity Wild Things!, The Highland Council’s countryside rangers, people from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation team, Marine Biologist Mike Kendall, Trash The Orchestra and local coastal rowing clubs.

The Highland Seashore Project was launched in February, 2013 and is a three year project aimed at encouraging understanding and appreciation of our delicate seashores, the life that depends on them and the impact the sea has had on Highland culture, heritage and the arts. It is run by The Highland Biodiversity Partnership and has been funded by The Highland Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Crown Estate Marine Stewardship Fund and Scottish Natural Heritage.

Part of the Highland Seashore Project is to encourage local people to get involved in all things seashore whether it is natural history, the heritage of the coast or the impact of the seashore in local communities today. Over the year Regional festivals have already taken place in Caithness, Sutherland, Easter Ross, Wester Ross, Skye & Lochalsh and Nairn.

ENDS