Visitors to Aberdeen’s Duthie Park will have a final opportunity to take part in a series of hugely successful workshops this week.
Today (Monday, July 27) sees the start of the final week of free sessions organised by the University of Aberdeen’s Natural History Centre.
This week it is all-change with the programme as a new theme, Preventing Dodo Disasters, begins.
The sessions are based on the work of the great British scientist Charles Darwin and previous weeks have looked at evolution and how natural extinctions occur.
Attention will now be focused on the human race and the things that we can all do to make a difference to the health of the planet.
Marie Fish, Education Officer at the Natural History Centre, said: “Most people want to do something positive to help the environment but sometimes they need to be encouraged and to be given hints and ideas so that they know they are doing the right thing.
“We find that children in particular are really keen to learn and already know a lot about the subject.
“Part of our work as an eco centre is concerned with helping people to understand some of the environmental issues we are facing and to show that taking steps to help the planet can be fun and enjoyable.”
This week, children will have an opportunity to look at some endangered animals in the education room, find out why they are in decline and how they can be protected.
They can also take a trip around the glasshouse trails to discover why it is important to look after our plants, explore ways to recycle waste products, pot tomatoes and make ‘green fuel’.
On Monday, the University’s Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, will present Changing Man, looking at the evolution of man from the Stone Age to today’s problems with obesity.
They will return on Wednesday with a special session on Diet Dilemmas - focusing on health choices and the impact our changing diet is having on mankind.
On Thursday Waste Aware will bring along their ‘insect hotels’ and demonstrate ways in which recycled materials can be used to create homes for some of the most important members of our eco system, and Friday will see WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) demonstrate the important role played by the humble earth worm.