Heather Anderson, owner of Whitmuir Farm, said: “We are so delighted to have the zoo with us for the day. The zoo staff will be running mini-beast safaris throughout the day and we will be encouraging every one to walk on the wild side of the farm.” Everyone is welcome to visit the bus from 10am through to 4pm and zoo staff will be running their mini-beast safaris at 11am, 12 noon, 2pm and 3pm. Children will be discovering bugs and beasties on the farm and bringing them back to the bus microscopes for analysis and investigation. Children and parents can also learn about Scottish wildcats and beavers and ask the experts questions about wildlife on the farm.

The farm will also be hosting three workshops with Brian Poole, beekeeper in residence with the Royal Zoological Society for Scotland. Brian is a third generation beekeeper and he currently manages 70 hives at the zoo and the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. The workshops are free and will last an hour and will run at 10am, 12 noon and 2pm. They will include a talk and his demonstration hive will allow people to see the bees in action. These activities form part of an Open Weekend on the Farm, with a new Dancing Light Gallery Exhibition opening at 6pm, an evening jazz band and supper in the licensed restaurant and 10 per cent discounts on all plant purchasees from the newly opened Quercus Garden Plants. To book a place on one of the mini beast tours or one of the three beekeeping sessions please email contact@whitmuircommunityfarm.org.

telephone Whitmuir Farm on 01968 661 908 or 01968 661 147