Education

FHT offers a range of nature based workshops to help individuals and groups deepen their connection with the land and themselves.

In addition, the Hinterland is increasingly used and valued as an educational resource by local schools, conservation and youth groups and Eco-village training courses. Students from Scottish colleges and universities and international institutes also visit the site. In 2009 Hinterland hosted a ‘Creative Sustainability’ camp for a group of 30 young people from 5 European countries. Forest School programmes delivered by Wild Things, a local environmental educational charity, have been particularly popular with older pupils from Kinloss Primary School who can access the area by bike.

There are regular nature walks, open to all, about birds, trees, butterflies, edible plants, lichens, botany and red squirrels. The Hinterland Shelter is a place to rest and gather during your time on the land.

A small demonstration Woodland Garden was established in 2014 by the Findhorn Hinterland Group on the SW corner of Wilkies Wood near the Whisky Barrel houses. This long-term project, which creates a productive space for both people and wildlife and with much potential as an innovative educational resource, is being further developed by the trust. Regular gatherings and happenings taking place here. The trust also has a small apiary attached to this project and practical sessions with bees are offered – further information can be found under Bees and the Findhorn Hinterland Trust and National Honey Monitoring Scheme.

Monthly work parties give the local community the chance for a ‘hands-on’ learning experience about conservation and management of woodland and other environments. For the more technical work in the forest involving timber felling and the production of firewood a team of local people have been trained in chainsaw skills and first aid practice.