MORE than 1800 Wee County children have learned about endangered species as part of a conservation campaign.

The Wild about Scotland bus has travelled the length and breadth of Scotland, visiting schools in all 32 local authorities.

Along the way, it called in at Menstrie, Muckhart, Redwell and Park primaries, with the bespoke double-decker providing a mobile classroom for youngsters to learn about protecting wildlife and the environment.

The award-winning campaign is part of a partnership between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and Clydesdale Bank to nurture the next generation of conservationists, while bringing the society’s expertise to communities all over the country.

Teaching up to 26 children at a time, the on-board specialist education team give interactive lessons on native Scottish species and last week brought the 450th school visit for the bus.

Barbara Smith, chief executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: “We are very excited that the Wild about Scotland project has achieved the great milestone of reaching 450 schools.

“The project has helped engage children in every corner of Scotland, bringing them closer to nature and teaching them about the incredible local biodiversity that’s available on their door steps.

“We hope the project continues to create a lifelong appreciation of wildlife within all the schools we visited.”

Helen Page, group innovation and marketing director at Clydesdale Bank, added: “RZSS plays an important role in educating children about the conservation needs of their immediate environment and the wildlife it hosts.

“Their sessions across the country are engaging, entertaining and have made a great contribution to raising awareness of Scottish wildlife.”

Children also took part in The Bonnie Beasts of Scotland – an assembly at their school hall to learn about the country’s amazing biodiversity.

Including drop-in sessions, a total of more than 55,000 have en gaged with the Wild about Scotland programme.

Typical lessons include searching for wildlife species, mini-beast hunts and building beaver dams in addition to learning about endangered Scottish species such as the Scottish wildcat.

As part of the legacy of the campaign, almost 1000 tree saplings have been planted in school grounds across Scotland to help offset carbon emissions from the Wild about Scotland bus.