The more we know about the forest, the better we are able to protect it for future generations. Together, we can.
The Kilsture 1000 project is an exciting citizen science project based at Kilsture Forest. From March to August 2025, we're aiming to reach one thousand species recorded on site. From plants to birds, lichens, fungi, mammals and everything in between - we need your help to record the vibrant living diversity of Kilsture Forest!
You can join in by logging your records in the Kilsture Forest Community Group Project on INaturalist, or by joining one of our training or recording events below. All of our nature observations will be used to create a map of Kilsture’s ecosystem that will inform how best to support the biodiversity of the forest for the future.
Our Events
We are offering a range of free events open to all. For more information or to sign up, email our Project Manager Elaine Rainey. Download the full Events Programme here.
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April
Thurs 3rd Dawn Chorus, 7am-9am with Crystal Maw. Meet main car park. Booking via kilsture1000@kilstureforest.org
Join bird expert Crystal Maw for an early morning walk at Kilsture Forest. Enjoy the sounds of the dawn chorus and learn how to identify a range of birds from their songs and calls.
Mon 7th Monitoring Monday Moths and Lichens, Iain Leach & Elaine Rainey, 10am-1pm
Join moth expert Iain Leach to identify the different species collected in the moth trap set up at Kilsture. This will be followed by an introduction to lichen identification with Elaine Rainey and a walk in the Forest to look for lichens. Meet Main Car Park. Booking via kilsture1000@kilstureforest.org
Sat 26th Galloway Fisheries Event – Exploring the watercourses & wetlands of Kilsture Forest, 10am – 2.30pm. Meet at main car park on Garlieston Road. Booking via kilsture1000@kilstureforest.org
Come along and join Jamie and Luke from Galloway Fisheries Trust while they explore and consider how the watercourses and wetlands in Kilsture Forest could be managed or restored to increase their biodiversity and resilience to climate change. The biologists will explain their thinking as they start to consider how to improve the habitats. Jamie and Luke don't always agree on the best way forward so there should be some interesting and possibly heated discussions! Place limited to 15. Booking required.
Sunday 27th Badger Sett Survey Day, from 11am
Join Scottish Badgers Galloway branch for a badger sett survey day at Kilsture Forest. Please note due to uneven terrain this work requires a reasonable level of fitness and good mobility. If you are planning on coming please email tim@scottishbadgers.org.uk so they know about numbers and meet them in the main Kilsture Forest car park at 11am. Wear suitable footwear/clothing and bring a packed lunch if you want to continue surveying into the afternoon.
May
Saturday 3rd May – Bryophyte Survey Day, 10am-4pm
Join local expert Elizabeth Kungu for a session learning about, and recording, bryophytes at Kilsture Forest. Meet at main car park on Garlieston Road. Booking via kilsture1000@kilstureforest.org
Sunday 4th PSYV Galloway bat box building workshop with Species on the Edge, 1-4.30pm (private event)
Mon 5th Monday Monitoring - GCN eDNA sampling, 10am-12 noon, meet at main car park on Garlieston Road. Booking via kilsture1000@kilstureforest.org
We will be taking water samples from two ponds within Kilsture Forest to check for the presence of Great Crested Newts.
Saturday 10th May – Reptile and Amphibian Training with SWSEIC, 10am-4pm.
Join Mark Pollitt from South West Scotland Environmental Information Centre for a free session learning all about amphibians. We’ll start at Kirkinner Halls for a morning theory session, followed by an afternoon in Kilsture Forest looking at reptile and amphibian habitat. Places limited. Booking required via kilsture1000@kilstureforest.org
Sat 17th/ Sun 18th Woodland Condition Assessment Training with Petra Guy and Julija Fediajevaite, 10am – 4pm on each day. Meet at Kirkinner Hall on Day one and the main car park on Day Two. Booking via kilsture1000@kilstureforest.org
Spend a weekend with the experts learning how to carry out a woodland condition assessment. This is a standardised technique using specific criteria to enable us to assess the condition of the woodland at Kilsture Forest. We will learn how to assess woodland structure, light levels, regeneration, ancient woodland indicators and create canopy maps, amongst other things! You will leave with the skills required to ‘adopt’ your own patch of Kilsture Forest to carry out a woodland condition assessment during the Summer.
There will be a range of patches up for adoption, varying in size and proximity to the car parks, so there will be something for everyone!
Thurs 22nd The Bats of Kilsture Forest, with Species on the Edge, 8pm – 10.30pm. Kirkinner Community Hall & Kilsture Forest. Booking via Jack.Barton@rspb.org.uk.
Join Species on the Edge for a talk about Scottish bats in Kirkinner Community Hall, and learn how to recognise bats based on their fascinating echolocation calls. This will be followed by a multi-sensory walk through Kilsture Forest to look and listen for bats with hand-held bat detectors. You will also learn more about bat monitoring and opportunities to take part in surveys.
Tuesday 27th LiSS Lichen Survey (private)
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June
Monday 2nd Monday Monitoring – Plant identification and survey session with David Hawker, 10am – 1pm. Meet at the main car park. Booking via kilsture1000@kilstureforest.org
Join local plant expert David Hawker for a session learning about plant indicators of semi-ancient woodland and identifying other plants present at Kilsture Forest.
Friday 6th LiSS Lichen Survey (private)
Sat 14th Glow worm survey, late night event for two hours. Meet at the main car park. Booking via kilsture1000@kilstureforest.org
Join us for a nighttime walk to look for glow worms! We’ll be walking the paths, verges and woodland edges of Kilsture Forest in search of this elusive species! This walk needs to start in complete darkness, so meeting time will be confirmed nearer the time.
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July
Monday 7th Monday Monitoring – Woodland Condition Assessment Support Session, 10am – 1pm. Meet at main car park. Booking via kilsture1000@kilstureforest.org
Join us at Kilsture Forest as we undertake a Woodand Condition Assessment in a patch of woodland on site. Suitable for those who have undertaken the training and who want to build confidence, or for those who couldn’t make the training but would like to help out.
Sat 12th Bee Positive DG8 Moth Day, 10am-12 noon. Meet at main car park. Booking via kilsture1000@kilstureforest.org
Join Bee Positive DG8 and local moth expert Iain Leach for a session all about moths! Learn how to identify the moths of Kilsture Forest and find out about the important role that moths play in pollination. Family-friendly event.
Sat 26th Glow worm survey, late night event for two hours. Meet at the main car park. Booking via kilsture1000@kilstureforest.org
Join us for a nighttime walk to look for glow worms! We’ll be walking the paths, verges and woodland edges of Kilsture Forest in search of this elusive species! This walk needs to start in complete darkness, so meeting time will be confirmed nearer the time.
August
Monday 4th Monitoring Monday - Woodland Condition Assessment Support Session, 10am – 1pm. Meet at main car park. Booking via kilsture1000@kilstureforest.org
Join us at Kilsture Forest as we undertake a Woodand Condition Assessment in a patch of woodland on site. Suitable for those who have undertaken the training and who want to build confidence, or for those who couldn’t make the training but would like to help out.
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The Kilsture 1000 project is supported by Inspiring Scotland's Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund.