You’re invited to come along to events for Climate Change Week North East

12 March 2018

Events ranging from a chance to look at the new mixed recycling plant to guided walks are taking place around Aberdeen as part of Climate Change Week North East and Earth Hour.

The programme takes place from 16 March to 25 March, and includes activities offered by Aberdeen City Council staff, and it culminates in Earth Hour, when the lights on Marischal College will be turned off at 8.30pm on 24 March.

The Week is packed full of fun, inspiring and interesting events being organised by several organisations in the area, designed to raise awareness of climate change and show what people can all do to make a difference and reduce their carbon footprint.

Aberdeen City Council vice convener of operational delivery committee Councillor Philip Bell said: “Climate Change Week North East is a fantastic chance for people to find out what they can do to make a difference to reduce climate change, and they can also go to some interesting parts of the city they might not have been to.

“Come along to the events, have some fun, and find out more about climate change.”

The ACC events include Squirrel Woodland Management where people can help the Rangers get rid of spruce saplings and increase the chance of seeing red squirrels in Hazlehead Woods on Saturday 17 March, from 10.30am to 3pm, and booking is required.

There is also Soggy Seaton and More, where people can go for a walk and talk around Seaton Park, finding out more about the new wetlands, the core paths network and biodiversity on Monday 19 March, and booking is required.

There is also an opportunity to watch your recycling get sorted at the city’s new £27million recycling and resource facility, where mixed recyclables collected from homes and businesses are sorted before being sold as high-quality materials for re-processing. The facility is capable of processing 20 tonnes of mixed recycling an hour, including glass, cardboard, paper, plastics, and metals, and is part of Aberdeen City Council’s Zero Waste project aimed at increasing recycling rates and reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill. This event is being held from 1pm to 3pm every day from Tuesday 20 March to Thursday 22 March, and booking is required.

Another ACC event is a guided walk covering cover amphibians’ habitat, environmental threats to amphibians, types of amphibians, and how to do your bit, which is being held at the pond just beside Garthdee Medical Centre on Thursday 22 March, and booking is required.

ACC countryside rangers are also doing two guided walks along the River Don to the Donside Hydro along with Aberdeen Community Energy and RSPB Scotland officers, on Thursday 22 March and Sunday 25 March, from 1pm to 4pm, and booking is essential.

Finally, a Green Family Fun Day is being held at Hazlehead Park on Saturday 24 March, which is a day of family fun green style. There’s something for everyone range from free entry into Pets Corner, to brilliant stalls with loads of hands on-activities to trying out all sorts of bikes – including a unicycle - on a fun bike track, playing with Aberdeen Play Forum, experience electric and hybrid cars firsthand and chat to the dealers, join a car club or find out more about energy saving and grants for your home.

More information including the full programme and how to book events is available from https://www.climateweekaberdeen.org/ and www.wwf.org.uk/earthhour.