Everyone is welcome to join Fife Council’s first Discovering Nature in Fife Week from 17-23 August, which aims to raise awareness of how local people can help protect nature across Fife through a series of free events.

Build your nature knowledge and learn how to record the nature you see to help keep track of our amazing local biodiversity using the free iRecord app.

Fife Council is looking for help recording all kinds of plants and wildlife you find in Fife, so all records are welcome.

Kicking off the week are two online events on Tuesday 18 and Thursday 20 August from 7pm-8pm about biodiversity and nature recording.  Get the link here: Discovering Nature in Fife Week | Fife Council

Discovering Nature in Fife event

People across Fife are invited to enjoy a free day of outdoor fun at Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy, on Sunday 23 August from 10am to 3pm. Fifers of all ages can meet nature professionals, enjoy nature activities and games, discover the wildlife on their doorstep and learn simple ways to help support and record biodiversity in their communities. The day will include:

1. Free guided nature walks for people to explore local nature in the park.
2. Free guidance on how to record nature on the iRecord app and submit your records to Fife Nature Records Centre.
3. Stalls from local specialist groups that will include butterflies, red squirrels and games
4. Get to know Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, the work they do and how you can support nature near you.
5. Meet Transforming Fife’s Greenspace Team and discover how green spaces support wellbeing, biodiversity and climate resilience.

Cllr Jan Wincott, Fife Council’s Spokesperson - Environment & Climate Change, says: "I am very pleased to support Fife’s first Discover Nature Week and the events that are taking place. Nature and biodiversity play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of people across Fife, while also helping us respond to the challenges of climate change. However, there is an urgent need for us all to do what we can to protect and restore local wildlife and habitats.  To do this, we need to monitor and measure nature in Fife, both where it is doing well and where it is struggling. Discovering Nature in Fife Week will help everyone engage with and identify nature around them using iRecord.

“Being in nature is amazing for health and wellbeing, and I love recording the birds I find in my own garden. It helps our Fife Nature Records Centre improve our understanding of and support for local biodiversity and conservation.

“I look forward to seeing lots of folks at Beveridge Park on Sunday (August 23) at our Discovering Nature in Fife event for a fun day outdoors in nature.”

The free Merlin Bird ID app can also be downloaded and used to easily identify birdsong to help you know which birds to record while you are in your garden or out and about, especially if you cannot see them.

About Fife Nature Records Centre

Fife Nature Records Centre collates, manages and shares records of nature in Fife that help build a picture of species distributions across Fife. Recording wildlife sightings through the free iRecord app will help increase knowledge of local wildlife and improve understanding of where species occur.  This information can help inform planning and decision making, supporting the conservation of Fife's nature.

Find video guides and information on how to get started with iRecord online:   iRecord video guides | iRecord, Get started with iRecord... | iRecord).

Learn more about the Fife Nature Records Centre and how to get involved recording local nature at Fife Nature Records Centre | Fife Council

Get full details about Discovering Nature in Fife Week, including links to our online sessions and details of our family fun day, biodiversity, and recording at Discovering Nature in Fife Week | Fife Council

Discovering Nature in Fife week is being delivered by Fife Council, supported by NatureScot and partners and is linked to the newly launched Fife Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP).