Falkirk residents with a passion for wildlife and conservation are invited to the 35th anniversary conference of a Scottish environmental charity.

The Wildlife Information Centre (TWIC) was created in 1991 as the Wildlife Insite, with a focus on the changing face of wildlife recording and conservation in south-east and central Scotland.

Now managing more than 4.6 million wildlife records, the charity supports organisations and people involved in environmental decision-making, education, conservation and research.

Before planning, land use or conservation decisions are made, authorities, managers and ecologists refer to TWIC records for confirmation on what wildlife already lives there.

In the last 12 months, almost 250,000 new records were added to the archive, the majority sent in by volunteers. TWIC’s reach now extends into areas including the Scottish Borders, Forth Valley, and sections of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

The 35th anniversary also marks ten years since the service expanded into Stirling, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and the National Park. This year’s event will feature talks on new species, restoration projects, as well as special guests and the annual Bob Saville Award.

TWIC Chair, Paul Codd said, “It has never been more important that decisions taken by government, councils, land managers and local communities are informed by high-quality, up-to-date biodiversity information.

“For 35 years TWIC has gathered that information across a large part of Scotland, and it depends on people learning to identify their local plants and animals and telling us what they find.”

The conference is scheduled for Saturday, November 14 from 10am to 4pm at the Stirling Court Hotel, University of Stirling.

Tickets cost £30, or £15 for students and can be bought here.