YOUNG people last week had the chance to get creative and tell a charity what local heritage and wildlife means to the Wee County.

A map tapestry, or mapestry, event was brought to the Speirs Centre in Alloa by national wildlife charity Froglife last Wednesday, February 19, and it was the perfect activity for the school break.

James Stead, project manager at Forglife’s Come Forth for Wildlife initiative, welcomed young people as well as parents and guardians to the event along with his creative colleagues.

To give a bit of inspiration, he showcased some amphibians and reptiles from around Scotland in a presentation along with handy tips on how to identify the various species.

He also encouraged people to help the charity’s work by reporting sightings on a dedicated smartphone application and explained how the Come Forth for Wildlife project is working throughout the Forth Valley.

The aim is to develop connections and to conserve and enhance the unique wildlife heritage of the wider local area.

Creating a mapestry, which will eventually consist of 12 panels and will go on tour to some 17 locations from 2021, is one part of that effort in a bid to help the community develop connections with the natural heritage in Clackmannanshire.

However, this year will offer more than that with outdoors activities like workshops planned for the warmer months.

After James highlighted some of the issues that threaten amphibians and reptiles in Scotland, the arts and crafts session began, offering a variety of media to work with.

Children and adults were encouraged to draw, colour, paint and there was even a chance to work with textiles with support on hand.

The pieces created on the day are contributing to the final panels, which will be finished off by a textile artist towards the end of the year.

There were two sessions on the day with hardly a seat free when the arts and crafts session went ahead in the morning.

James said the mapestry was just one part of the project; indeed, there are wildlife gardening workshops, training courses, practical conservation events and even novel virtual reality exhibitions being planned.

Busy events in the area will also see a Froglife Pond Doctor stall as past feedback indicated people are seeking knowledge on pond creation and maintenance.

Froglife is also sharing advice on how people can create wildlife-friendly gardens, which can provide vital links to habitats.

For more info and handy tips, visit froglife.org and look for the Go Forth for Wildlife project.

Thanks go to funders the National Lottery Heritage Fund as well as a range of other co-funders.