Ecofusion is a new event taking place at Holyrood Park aimed at getting more people, particularly from minority groups, to experience Scotland's outdoors.
The family, free event takes place inside and around four colourful Indian marquees adjacent to the Holyrood Park Education Centre while around the park itself, visitors will be able to try various outdoor activities including scaling a climbing tower, a cycling obstacle course, and demonstrations with the world’s fastest bird of prey, the peregrine falcon.
They’ll also be invited to explore the park’s archaeology and take a walk through time to meet Iron Age Holyrood characters who’ll teach them about the challenges of life some 5,000 years ago.
Activities in The Education Centre include a chance to learn ancient natural crafts – such as willow weaving, bow drilling and pot making.
They can also find out about the wildlife which flourishes within Holyrood Park and have a go at recording some of the many species which are to be found in it. Special activities children can take part in and enjoy include creating seed bombs and planting their own wildflower seeds in pots.
Within the marquees, environmental, cultural heritage and multi-cultural organisations will be offering the chance to take part in a wide range of nature-related craft activities from around the world, such as Nepalese plate making, Chinese knotting, Japanese origami and henna painting.
A multi-cultural fusion of entertainment will also be offered in the marquees, with music by Sambasene and Diwan, dancing by the Nepalese Scotland Association and storytelling and puppet shows. The Mosque Kitchen will be tempting visitors with some delicious dishes from India and Pakistan.
Ecofusion is being coordinated by the Forum for Environmental Volunteering Activity (FEVA) and the environmental volunteering charity, BTCV Scotland with financial support from the Scottish Government, Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland.
Supporting and participating in the event is a wide range of environmental sector, and community-based multi-cultural organisations which, for the past year, have been working together in a partnership project called ‘Working with Difference’ (WWD) to generate public interest, particularly amongst minority groups, in the outdoors.
Representing FEVA and BTCV Scotland, Julia Duncan says: “Ecofusion is all about encouraging more people - particularly from minority groups - to access the outdoors and to engage with their environment and enjoy nature. This event celebrates the work of the WWD partnership to date and is designed to entice many more people to find out about the huge range of opportunities there are to explore Scotland's outdoor spaces.