BORDERERS will have the chance to get up close and personal with one of Scotland’s most iconic bird species this month.

Held at St Ronan’s Wells Visitor Centre in Innerleithen, locals will be able to meet Kashia the golden eagle.

The event is being run to promote the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project – which aims to protect and grow the small, vulnerable population over the next five years.

Five custom-built aviaries have been sited at a confidential location in the Southern Uplands where a number of introduced eagles will spend two months before being released into the Moffat Hills. As well as learning more about the scheme, the event at St Ronan’s Wells will offer a number of activities for children.

Rick Taylor, community outreach officer for the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, told us: “We’re really excited to work with Live Borders and share our work at this fantastic event.

“We’ll be telling people all about this summer’s release and bringing them up to date with how Edward, Emily and Beaky are settling in to their new home in the Southern Uplands.”

The initiative, which is funded by the Heritage Lottery and LEADER, has the support of cabinet secretary for environment, climate change and land reform, Roseanna Cunningham.

She added: “The Golden Eagle is a truly magnificent bird and is one of Scotland’s most iconic species.

“This project aims to boost the population of eagles in the south of Scotland and I heartily welcome the Heritage Lottery Fund support to help achieve this. We know that the area could potentially support more than a dozen pairs of eagles, which offers tremendous opportunities for wildlife tourism and biodiversity.

“I’m especially pleased to see such strong partnership work to hopefully make golden eagles a regular sight in the skies above the South of Scotland once again.”

The event, on Sunday, September 30, will take place from 1pm until 4pm.

St Ronan’s Wells Visitor Centre is part of the Live Borders Charitable Trust. For more information on the day, visit: www.liveborders.org.uk