Wildlife Focus Session

In partnership with The Conservation Volunteers, we are offering weekly sessions to support patients, staff and visitors connected to St John’s Hospital in Livingston. These sessions have a wildlife focus exploring nature ID, surveys and citizen science.

Date & Time: Thursdays 10:00 am – 12:00 midday
Meeting place: St John’s Hospital Livingston – Howden Walled Garden

These sessions will:

Support you to understand your place in nature and how interacting with it can help you to live happier, healthier lives.
Provide an overview of nature identification techniques used by scientists.
Understand the importance of accurate species identification.
Introduction to how citizens can contribute to species identification.
Understanding the role of surveys in monitoring ecosystems.
Define Citizen Science and its various applications.

Who is it for?

There are weekly sessions are open to all to build contact with nature and the benefits that this can bring.

Sessions are structured around the internationally recognised ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ and we are keen that sessions are participant-led wherever possible, responding to the interests of the people who come along.

Example activities include learning about wildlife, how to identify plants and animals, and the traditional stories associated with them. Take part in sensory experiences such as listening to bird songs or smelling and touching plants we have grown in our raised beds. Express yourself creatively by taking photographs or using natural materials like clay and stone to make art. Take practical action for conservation, planting and looking after trees and wildflowers, and conducting Citizen Science projects such as monitoring butterfly and bumblebee populations.

Every session includes time to socialise, chat and share stories and experiences with a hot drink in a safe, supported way.