Moth Kota - Presence

We invite you to witness the first installation of the Moth Kota, an experimental shelter-sculpture created by visual artist Hannah Imlach in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds at their Loch Lomond nature reserve. The artwork invites visitors to consider how we engage with forms of life less apparent, often-overlooked or little-known. It is a space designed around the behavioural cycles and sensory world of Loch Lomond’s Lepidoptera, and a space where humans can gather; it is a space for multispecies encounter. During July 2021, public audiences will be invited into the Moth Kota through a series of guided events, to witness Illumination, Presence and Release. These events offer various kinds of encounter, each experience will be unique.

Presence occupies the daylight hours after the Moth Kota illumination when visitors are invited to observe Lepidoptera within the artwork. Moths will be present within the sculpture, nestled in undergrowth and resting on surfaces. They may be difficult to spot!

Visitors will have access to the artwork from 6am, and early-risers will have the best chance of encountering moths in and around the structure. This is a free event, open 6am – 4pm. We encourage visitors to be respectful of others and maintain social distancing around the artwork.

Hannah Imlach is a visual artist and researcher who creates sculptural and photographic artworks exploring specific ecologies and environmental perception. Her previous works have investigated community-initiated renewable energy transition, deep-sea coral reefs, and peatland restoration, resulting in site-specific sculpture, film and photographic artworks, alongside public events, and publications. The Moth Kota is her most ambitious work to date and a central element of ‘Close Encounters’, her current practice-led PhD research project at University of Edinburgh, conducted in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and funded by the Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities. Close Encounters has Imlach undertaking fieldwork alongside conservation practitioners at the Loch Lomond nature reserve and developing a series of site-specific artworks.

1. The Moth Kota is part of the wider research project ‘Close Encounters’ on site-specific artwork and environmental perception. After the event you will be invited share your thoughts and experiences in response to a short series of questions. This is an essential part of research process, crucial for the project partners and funders. Thank you in advance for your participation.

RSPB - Welcoming you back to our events!

We’re excited to invite you to events on our nature reserves Nature has a remarkable way of lifting our spirits, with many of us finding joy in the natural world during lockdown. So, we’re delighted to once more offer events on our nature reserves. These provide a fantastic opportunity to see nature from a different perspective or get behind the scenes at your favourite reserves.

Keeping everyone safe

We’ve put a lot of time and thought into how we can offer our events and experiences in the safest ways possible. Following government guidelines, some of our reserves are able to offer events from 1 October. However, before booking, please read the following information about what to expect and the changes we’ve made to keep everyone safe. Be aware the government guidelines may be different in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and in areas with local lockdown restrictions. Please check the relevant guidance when travelling between UK countries and when booking places on events.

What you need to know

Our priority is to keep you and our teams safe during the current Covid-19 situation. Read on to find out what to expect, what to do before attending an event and our new guidelines to help keep everyone safe. We can’t wait to welcome you, but please do not attend an event if you are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19. If you become unwell, are self-isolating, local lockdown restrictions affect your attendance at an event, or you are affected by other coronavirus related restrictions, please contact us at loch.lomond@rspb.org.uk or 01389830670 at the earliest opportunity.

Government guidance

Please observe all current country-specific guidance on social/physical distancing and hygiene when visiting our sites. Be aware the guidance may be different in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Please check the relevant government guidance when travelling between UK countries. Where government guidance limits group sizes, we will restrict the number of tickets that can be bought by an individual.

What to expect

Preparing for the event

Please make sure that you dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear. Due to limits on the number of people in some of our buildings it is unlikely that the event group will be able to shelter indoors during inclement weather.

Equipment

We are currently not offering binoculars for hire or sharing binoculars and telescopes as part of our events. Please bring your own binoculars and telescopes if you’d like to use them at the event, and your own torch for evening events too. Please do not share your equipment with other event attendees on the day.

Meeting points

To ensure the safety of everyone, this event will be meeting at the Nature Hub at RSPB Loch Lomond, Gartocharn.

Test and Trace

We are helping the NHS Test and Trace programmes in each of the UK countries. At the time of booking, we will ask for a name and contact details of all event attendees. All personal data will be held securely and confidentially by us. We will only release the data to the NHS if absolutely necessary and will securely destroy it after 21 days as required. For further government information see England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.

On the day

Social/physical distancing

Your event leader will regularly remind you of the social/physical distancing guidelines throughout the event. Please be respectful of our team and your fellow event attendees.

Hand sanitiser

Hand sanitiser will be available during the event, but we advise you to bring your own too.

Face coverings

We ask that all visitors, except those who are exempt from doing so, please bring a face covering with you to each event. Some events will pass through our visitor centres and hides, and you may want to visit our shops and cafes when you’re there too. Thank you for following this requirement. Be aware the government guidance on face coverings may be different in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Toilets

We have been able to open many of our toilets and have implemented enhanced cleaning regimes in line with government guidance. Please make sure that you arrive at your event with plenty of time as there may be longer queues for the facilities than usual.

Hides

Some of our events will include time in our hides and viewing places. Please use the hand sanitiser provided, observe social/physical distancing and follow the guidance given by your event leader.

Local lockdown

In the unfortunate situation where there are local lockdown restrictions that impact on the delivery of events, we will contact those with bookings to reschedule or refund, depending on the circumstances. We will always endeavour to ensure that our events can go ahead as planned. However, in some circumstances we may have to cancel or change the event at short notice.

Thank you

We are incredibly grateful for your continued support and patience at this challenging time.  It really means a great deal to us. Our work on reserves and across the RSPB is only possible thanks to the generosity of our members and supporters like you. Stay safe, and we look forward to sharing amazing nature experiences with you. 

Full terms and conditions

Terms and conditions, including our full cancellation policy, for all events are attached with this document and available on our website https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/events-dates-and-inspiration/events/events-and-covid-19/