"There are many ideas I have taken away from my exchange to Latvia. I admired the way locally available resources and skills were utilised. There is a strong use of wood in the new buildings and even in the interpretation panels. The skills of the local wood carvers could be found in the high quality results of the projects." Amy Dale, St Andrews Museum    more »

" I believe that the knowledge and experience that I have gained during the exchange to Latvia will reap benefits in my occupation well into the future. It has afforded me the opportunity to compare the type of recreation facilities, leisure tourism and nature tourism that is on offer to visitors in another country..." Anne Gilchrist, Forestry Commission Scotland.    more »

" I came away from my time in Latvia with a very positive view of how the teaching of natural history and respect for the environment is an important part of the national psyche. In a country so closely tied to its forests and lakes and very aware of the cyclical nature of the world this is to be expected," Mike Rutherford, Kelvingrove Museum    more »

"Two things really stood out for me at Tervete: one was the interpretation boards on the nature trail which were beautifully hand-painted in a bright, fun and engaging way for families and children but also accurate representations of the trees, fungi, flowers and animals of the forest. The second thing that really stood out was the “King of the Forest Rules” this is a document which the children sign out in the forest in front of a wooden sculpture of the king, the rules include not picking wildflowers and other ways to respect nature but also include some fun elements such as references to fairies and gnomes. " Lyndsey Clark,  National Museums Scotland

Tervete nature Park

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Outline for The National Natural History Museum and the Environmental Guides programme in Latvia 6th - 13th June 2009    more »