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The three buildings or ‘centres’ which form part of the new visitor experience have been built with wood and other materials which have been designed to fit in with the park’s surrounding landscape. The Scottish Gaelic names were first created based on nature to share how they will be used.
A’ Chaonnag, The Learning Hive, is named after the hope for the space to be a buzz of learning, activity and collaboration. It will enable groups and communities to explore the world of wildlife, removing barriers and accessible programs to connect people with nature and conservation through fun and flexible sessions, STEM, outdoor learning and citizen science.
An Doras, the Gate, draws on the idea of openings in nature, such as a forest clearing. It is designed as a colorful space without a linear path, so visitors will need to explore, just as if they were in a forest.
READ MORE: Highland Wildlife Park’s snow leopards celebrate first birthday
The Saobhaidh, the Conservation Den, is a safe place where visitors can learn about the challenges facing the natural world. The space offers 360 degree views of the landscape, looking into the park area where captive feral cats are bred for release into the wild and then out into the unique habitats of the Cairngorms.
The Scottish Wildlife Discovery Center Project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund led by NatureScot, and many other funders.
Ben Supple, deputy chief executive of the wildlife conservation charity, said: “With one in nine species at risk of extinction in Scotland and one million worldwide, it is more important than ever to engage and inspire people to create a world where nature. protected, valued and loved.
“We are extremely proud to open the doors to the Scottish Wildlife Discovery Center project, which includes an interactive exhibition, a hilltop den where we will tell stories about how we work with partners to restore species, and new classrooms for support STEM learning and provide a space to engage local communities with the natural world.
“A great example is how we will place visitors at the heart of conservation as they enjoy 360-degree views of the wildcat breeding center at the Highland Wildlife Park and into the Cairngorms, where wildcats are released as part of from the Saving Wildcats partnership led by RZSS.”
Funding for the project will provide new education and community jobs to expand inclusion and access to nature. It will also help protect native species found in the Highland Wildlife Park.
“Access to nature can bring incredibly powerful mental and physical health and wellbeing benefits and this project will help more people and communities experience the joys of being close to wildlife,” said Supple.
“We are very grateful for the funding we have received, which has enabled us to significantly increase the size of our education and community team. Our aim will be to reach out to diverse, diverse communities who experience barriers to accessing the natural world, including poverty, loneliness and disabilities.
“The project has also helped to fund a biodiversity action plan to discover and protect native species in the Highland Wildlife Park such as the little mining bee.”
Eileen Stuart, Deputy Director of Nature and Climate Change, NatureScot, added: “We are delighted to see the Scottish Wildlife Discovery Center open its doors, with our support provided through European Regional Development Funding.
“These buildings allow more visitors to experience meaningful connections with the wildlife around them, inspiring them to care more deeply for the nature on their doorstep as well as understanding the effects on animals of a cold environment from all over the world.”
Located in Kincraig, seven miles south of Aviemore, Highland Wildlife Park is home to rare animals from the world’s mountain and tundra regions, such as Amur tigers, snow monkeys, red pandas, Bactrian camels and polar bears.
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