A fun festival designed to showcase Highland Perthshire’s potential as a wildlife tourism destination began in Dunkeld and Birnam at the weekend.
Wild Connections, which runs until October 17, offers outdoor and animal enthusiasts the chance to take part in 30 different events including raptor and red squirrel walks, wild food rambles and photography masterclasses.
On Saturday visitors were treated to an open-air market with wild herbs, organic food and a range of handmade arts and crafts. As darkness fell a brave group also took part in a bat walk.
Later in the week award-winning photographer Peter Cairns will share some of his skills and adventures behind the lens in a talk entitled New Frontiers.
The festival is supported by a whole host of wildlife enthusiasts including WWF Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Wild Scotland, Wild Outdoors, Perthshire Big Tree Country, Forestry Commission Scotland, Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust and Perth and Kinross Council.
Organiser Adrian Davis said, “We are very excited about launching the festival. We have a rich tapestry of wildlife in Highland Perthshire, which is especially prevalent at this time of year, and with the market for wildlife tourism clearly growing we have a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate to people the wild beauty of visiting.
“We want to ensure Wild Connections becomes a destination event in every wildlife lover’s calendar.”
For full details visit www.wildconnections.org.uk