Aileen Meek at the Wildlife Explorer Lucky Pond-dip!!!

After another rather wet start to the show, the sun eventually shone through the gloom to allow folk attending the County Show to have a great time!   Soon, ice-cream cones, sun glasses & happy children holding their prizes were all around us!   Families came in and had a go at trying to identify what was lurking in the depths of our fantastic feelie boxes, guessing how many periwinkles in the jar and having a go at the Lucky Pond Dip game.   The singing birds worked their charm again and loads of folk tried their hand at winning one of these cut cuddly tweeters!  Face-painting was bravely carried out by our resident Corncrake Officer, Mara.  She is shown below painting a lovely Mini Mouse on the cheek of this wee girl!

The displays took visitors on a journey through Guided Walks at Brodgar and Marwick spotting wildlife on the way.  The Field Teacher also showed photos of the Firth School's involvement with our Cottascarth Hide and subsequent Family Day with a visit from the local MSP.  The Local Group showed photos of some of their outings during 2011 and a couple of our volunteers put together an interesting story of their week helping on the RSPB Onziebust Reserve.    Volunteering, fundraising, creating Homes for Wildlife in your own garden were ideas promoted on the day as part of a new campaign called Stepping Up For Nature

 Brodgar & Marwick & Cottascarth displays on show.

We had a quiet area in our tent where our Field Teacher, Sue spent time reading 'Freddie the Fulmar' and helping the children make fulmar 'flappers', etc.   The Orkney Library kindly lent us their waterproof mat & cushions for this event.

 Sue Whitworth, RSPB Field Teacher in the 'Story Corner'