Posts in Events & Outreach

HWDT’s Floating Classroom to visit Barra and South Uist schools for the first time in 10 years

This September we will be setting sail to Barra and South Uist to welcome schools aboard our research vessel, Silurian. HWDT’s education team are also inviting local communities to join them aboard during our drop-in open boat events.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett13 September 2024Silurian, sightings, open boat, research vessel, research, talk, citizenscience, science talk, Hebrides, Scotland, get involved, education, floating classroom, schoolsComment

Hundreds of people join ferry watching event in Scotland and contribute to marine conservation

The ferry routes operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) off Scotland’s west coast are fantastic platforms for spotting wildlife, journeying through stretches of water rich in marine life.

Events & Outreach, SightingsMorven Summers13 September 2024Wild Discovery, Mammal, Mammal Society, events, CalMac, Ferry, Scotland, ferry watching, Things to do Scotland, whale watching, whale watching in Scotland, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Wildlife, wildlife watching

Whale Track: NTS Culzean Castle Community Event

This July, join HWDT and The National Trust for Scotland at Culzean Castle and Country Park to find out what whales and dolphins can be spotted in your area and how you can get involved in helping us deepen our understanding about these animals by conducting a ‘watch from land’ using whale Track.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett4 July 2024Silurian, sightings, open boat, research vessel, research, talk, citizenscience, science talk, Hebrides, Scotland, get involved, education, floating classroom, schoolsComment

Stinky Minkes

Nicknamed stinky minkes , mInke whales are the most frequently seen whale in Scottish waters. We delve into why we love these stinky but special whales.

Kids Blogs, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett7 June 2024Kids, children, fun facts, Kids blogs, minke whales

“Sighting!…No…Exciting!”

This September we set sail to Shieldaig and Gairloch to invite 4 schools, never before visited, aboard our research vessel and floating classroom, Silurian. Our Education and Sightings Officer, Sadie, shares the fun had by pupils, teachers and crew.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett10 May 2024Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, Scotland, education, outdoor education, outdoor learning, floating classroom, Siluiran

Whale Track: Clyde Community Watch Events

This May, HWDT are visiting the Clyde to run a series of Whale Track watch events. Join us to find out what whales and dolphins can be spotted in the Clyde and get involved in helping us deepen our understanding about these animals by conducting a ‘watch from land’ using Whale Track.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett29 April 2024Silurian, sightings, open boat, research vessel, research, talk, citizenscience, science talk, Hebrides, Scotland, get involved, education, floating classroom, schoolsComment

HWDT’s Floating Classroom to visit Mull schools for the first time in 10 years

This April, thanks to support from The Waterfall Fund and Baillie Gifford, we will be setting sail around Mull to welcome schools aboard our research vessel, Silurian. HWDT’s education team are also inviting local communities to join them aboard during our drop-in open boat events.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett10 April 2024Silurian, sightings, open boat, research vessel, research, talk, citizenscience, science talk, Hebrides, Scotland, get involved, education, floating classroom, schoolsComment

Celebrating industry contributions to marine science

We welcomed a number of wildlife tour providers and boat operators to our first ever Whale Track Boat Operator Event, sharing good practice and celebrating the contributions these companies make to marine science.

"Best experience ever!"

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett10 October 2023Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, Scotland, education, outdoor education, outdoor learning, floating classroom, Siluiran

On the trail of On Sonorous Seas

From Tobermory to Iona, and now Lochmaddy, the immersive On Sonorous Seas has been exhibited at a number of Hebridean Whale Trail sites. The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust was thrilled to be a partner in On Sonorous Seas and that other communities on the west coast will experience its impact.

Our 2023 Volunteer Team

Each year HWDT’s core team is joined by a group of volunteers who help out with all things whale and dolphin over the summer. They are integral to the charity and are an invaluable part of the team. This year, our volunteers have come from a diverse range of backgrounds, all bringing different skills and aspirations to the charity, but what have been their highlights so far?

Guest Articles, Events & Outreach, The Hebridean Whale TrailMorven Summers22 August 2023volunteering, volunteer, scotland, tobermory, things to do Mull, Things to do Tobermory, wildlife

Songs of the Sea: Wild Wet World and Whale Song Sound Bath

Casting your eye over a calm sea, you’d be forgiven for thinking life beneath the waves is peaceful and serene…it’s anything but! HWDT provide acoustic data to artists and musicians who raise awareness of the soundscape beneath the waves and the importance of noise to marine life. Here we share two recent collaborations with artists who have utilised the sounds we’ve recorded during monitoring expeditions to create beautiful songs of the sea.

The Mighty Ocean Wolf

Killer whales, also known as orcas, are one of the most easily recognised species in Scottish waters. We dive into why this apex predator is so many people’s favourite dolphin.

Kids Blogs, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett16 May 2023Kids, children, fun facts, Kids blogs, killer whales

“I found my job… working on this boat!

From 24 - 28 April, our education team jumped aboard Silurian, our research vessel, to transform her into our popular floating classroom. Our Education and Sightings Officer, Sadie, shares the fun everyone had - not least the pupils visiting but the HWDT team on board Silurian.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett10 May 2023Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, Scotland, education, outdoor education, outdoor learning, floating classroom, Siluiran

All Aboard! Local communities invited to come aboard and explore our research vessel, Silurian

HWDT’s education team are inviting local communities to join them aboard our research vessel, Silurian.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett19 April 2023Silurian, sightings, open boat, research vessel, research, talk, citizenscience, science talk, Hebrides, Scotland, get involvedComment

Puffing Pigs of the Sea

Ever said ‘it’s just porpoise’?

We dive into why the harbour porpoise, although small in size, deserves to be one of our favourite cetaceans in Scotland

Kids Blogs, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett18 January 2023Kids, children, fun facts, Kids blogs, harbour porpoise

Finding Gory

From gigantic mega poos to robots catching snot...I hope you're not squeamish, it's time to dive deep into a world of gross!

Kids Blogs, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett29 October 2022Kids, children, gory, halloween, fun facts, Kids blogs, whale poo

'Whale Song' by Rachel Horsburgh

In October 2018, Rachel Horsburgh joined a research expedition, this inspired her to write ‘Whale Song’. ‘Whale Song’ has recently been showcased as part of The Nature Library exhibition of writings at the Ullapool Ferry Terminal last weekend, curated by Christina Riley, as part of the Climate Fringe Festival.

Guest Articles, Events & Outreach, Climate ChangeMorven Summers5 October 2022Rachel Horsburgh, poetry, science comms, ullapool, expedition, research expedition, whale song, art, art science

“I didn’t know what a stinky minke was but now it’s my favourite whale”

For the first time since pre-pandemic, we welcomed aboard five schools in and around Tobermory, Salen and Strontian to learn first-hand about the amazing whales, dolphins and porpoises that can be seen locally.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett28 September 2022Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, Scotland, Gaelic, education, outdoor education, outdoor learning, floating classroom, Gaelic-medium education, Siluiran

On Sonorous Seas...exposing the noise beneath the waves

When art and science join forces interesting things can happen; disseminating science through the arts can raise awareness of issues, reach new audiences and create a space for compelling, thought provoking discussion. When local artist Mhairi Killin approached us and shared her idea for a project, we were excited to be part of her vision.

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