[Fleecewife]

Is that for the central smallholders group?  That would be excellent if you can find support there too  . I shall ask the Biggar area group as well.  As Karen has pointed out, there's something for eveyone to do.  You don't need any special skills, just a smiley face  and it will be a great chance for TASers to meet for a gossip 

   

So that's Palacerigg Country Park Easter Event April 22-25 - come along and join the Friends of Palacerigg Rare Breeds to support this re-launch of the animal collection.

We made it happen 

[ballingall]

We might be able to come along too- it's not far from here at all. Could probably bring some leaflet stuff and display boards regarding goats if you think they would be welcomed? I don't have much related to purely rare breed info though.


Beth

[doganjo]

We are thinking along those lines too, and a few of us will definitely be along at some point over the weekend, we are also going to publicise it on our website

[HappyHippy]

Beth - yes please ! Anything you can bring to boost our profile/display would be much welcomed (and it gives us the chance to meet face to face too  ) 

Annie, thanks so much 

We'll be in touch, once we've got a plan 
Karen x

[doganjo]

I think on of our committee members is going to take a run over in the next few days to suss it out as few of us have been there.  HOWEVER!  We discovered tonight that our Chairman's Dad was a ranger there 40 years ago or so, and he was born and brought up at Palacerigg!  How's that for a coincidence!

[Fleecewife]

Hi Annie - that is amazing 

When your committee member goes for the sussing out expedition, remind her/him to do the long walk and see the main flocks/herds of animals (take binoculars  ).  There are a few of each type close to the visitor centre, but most are further away.  I think the tups are still in with the ewes, at least for the Soays - big disruption when they thought they were to be closed so everything is now out of sync.  Looking forward to comments and ideas after the visit. Oh and no chickening out at the aerial walkway - I did it   

[HappyHippy]

Just a wee bump up for this 

Does anyone have any ideas of activities that would appeal to kids, not take too long (or cost too much) to organise and is 'Easter AND animal' themed, the obvious one is an egg hunt, but I suspect this is probably happening already.
Get your thinking caps on please (my brain is frazzled !) 

[doganjo]

An Easter Egg shy instead of a coconut one.  With mini eggs for prizes

[robert waddell]

photograph parts of animals and get the children to identifythe parts/animals concerned
name the piglet/lamb/chicken or calf etc  100 names on a sheet £1 per go winner gets £15  or £10 first and £5 for second

[HappyHippy]

Great ideas Lillian - many thanks 

Anyone else got any more ideas ( or offers of help  )
Thanks in advance folks
Karen 

[doganjo]

A lucky dip always goes down well.  Just small gifts/prizes- you can wrap them or not just as you please, shake them up in a Hessian bag of sawdust.  50p a go

[HappyHippy]

That's a good one Annie (as was the egg shy too, sorry I missed it  ) except we might mix it up a bit and have some dirt and leaves - and the possibility of worms ) just so it really appeals to all the little boys   

[ellied]

Just by being there you'd be a massive help  And don't worry that it would only be 1 day, even half a day is better than nothing at all 
You could explain why rare breeds are different to commercial breeds, how important they are or just be a smiling face to encourage people to sign up for the friends of Palacerigg group - your help would be very greatly appreciated 
If you can pm your email address to either myslef or Fleecewife we'll add you to the emails and send you details.
Many thanks,
Karen x

Oops, sorry just pm'd you now if  not too late - can come over the Friday if you're still needing bodies rather than actual knowledge/skills

[Fleecewife]

Hi ellied - that will be wonderful - thank you  .  We definitely need bodies as not many have signed up yet, but there are still six weeks to get organised and I'm hoping to get lots more volunteers by then.
I will go up next week to find out more details of how it will all be organised, and am still waiting to hear how many from RBST Caledonian have signed up.   I will email you the more detailed info I sent out earlier.
Thank you 

[Fleecewife]

Hi All  .  It's getting near to the date for the Palacerigg Easter Event April 22-25 now so we need to firm up numbers of those who can come along to help.

So far we have RBST Caledonian bringing a stall plus posters etc and a person to man it for one day (sorry, I don't know who is coming).  I will do my best to do two days on the stall. There is a possibility of another person coming for the 4th day on the stall - it really needs at least one person each day who can enthuse about rare breeds, but more would be wonderful  .  Then we have cmorrell and his camera, hopefully, HH, doganjo, Fergie, ellied (Fri), ballingall, and two members of the Biggar Area SmallHolderrs (BASH) - all of these to help in the general areas and only some confirmed.

Have I missed anyone out or does anyone want to be added in - it's not your last opportunity but it would help to know just who is coming when. Is there anyone from CSSH?

I am going up shortly so will hopefully see where it's all to happen and I will pass on any info.