Scottish National Heritage - The Nature of Scotland Summer 2010 Issue - 8

Scottish Natural Heritage
Summer 2010
The Nature of Scotland
Gentle giants
Discover where
basking sharks like to
spend their summers
Nature for all

Introducing our wildlife
and landscapes to new
audiences
Paddle up
Canoe through the
Great Glen in 2012
Contents
Features
8

19
The great big paddle

Scotlands first canoe
trail takes shape
10 Celebrating 100,000 awards

Awards scheme reaches

100,000 milestone
38
14 Simple and easy campaign

New campaign promotes

nature close to home
41
22 Fun in the sun

Celebrating the variety of life
21
26 Public speaking
What the public think

about estates
53
Regulars
23
28 Welcome to Scotlands nature

Revealing the environment

to ethnic groups
Where we are
SNH contact details
Welcome
34 We two are one

SNH and DCS join forces
Wild calendar
Where to go and what to see
this summer
50 Scotlands sea monster

New research identifies

basking shark hotspots
16 News
20 Common heritage

Linking language and environment
36 Reserve focus

Discover Insh Marshes NNR
56 Green prescriptions

Get outdoors if you want

to feel better
60 Sound judgement
Testing the water for marine

renewables and wildlife
42 Area news

Reports from around the country
46 Events diary

Guide to whats on
49 Inspired by nature

Show and tell

whats inspired you?
58 Kids only!

Activities for younger readers
64 Mailing list

Join our mailing list
www.snh.gov.uk
Credits
The Magazine of Scottish Natural Heritage
Issue Number 8 Summer 2010
Published quarterly
SNH 2010
ISSN 1350 309X
Where we are
Area offices
You can contact SNH by

letter, telephone or email.
The following details
should enable you to find
your nearest main office,
but bear in mind that we
also have a number of
smaller offices than those
listed.
Argyll and Stirling

The Beta Centre,
Innovation Park,
University of Stirling,
Stirling FK9 4NF
Tel. 01786 450 362
Editor: John Walters

Tel. 01463 725 222
A full list of our offices

appears on the SNH
website: www.snh.gov.uk
Cover photo: Red, green and brown seaweeds in shallow water off the
coast of Coll. Photographer: Sue Scott
Inside cover: Sugar kelp Saccharina latissima in sheltered conditions off
the west coast. Photographer: Paul Kay
Welcome page: Highland darter dragonfly. Photographer: Lorne Gill/SNH
Corporate
headquarters
Photography all images by Lorne Gill/SNH other than: Mark Hamblin 6;

FLPA 7t; Sam Baumber/Rory Syme/JMT 11; Miranda Morgan/JMT 12;
David Pyper/George Watsons College 13t; Stephen Bly 13b;
Laurie Campbell 16; www.toothandclaw.org.uk 19; Andrea Cringean/SNH
22; Lloyd Smith 25t; Dougie Barnett 28, 29, 30; www.angusbremner.com
31, 32, 33; Neil McIntyre 34; Alan Ross 40t; Ewen Cameron 42m, 42r;
Juan Brown 44l; Shetland Amenity Trust 44m; Tim Dean 44r; David Bell 45l;
Naturepl.com 50, 53, 54; Prof Callum Roberts 52; Kat Jones 61;
Paul Kay 62.
Map 37: Ashworth Maps and Interpretation Ltd 2010. Based on
Ordnance Survey mapping. Crown copyright and database right 2010.
All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number SNH 100017908.
Weve set up the following Flickr page www.flickr.com/snh-iyb2010 with
a selection of SNH images to celebrate the International Year of
Biodiversity. You can download the images to use as screensavers or to
share with friends.
To share your views about The Nature of Scotland or suggest articles for
future issues please contact the editor:
SNH Magazine
Great Glen House, Leachkin Road,
Inverness IV3 8NW
Email: editor@snh.gov.uk
The views expressed in this magazine do not
necessarily reflect those of SNH.
Printed by: J Thomson Colour Printers
JTCP35K0610
When you have finished with this magazine, please recycle it. Pass it to
another reader or dispose of it at your local waste-collection point.
Great Glen House,

Leachkin Road,
Inverness IV3 8NW
Tel. 01463 725 000
Email: enquiries@snh.gov.uk
Other main offices

Battleby, Redgorton,
Perth PH1 3EW
Tel. 01738 444 177
Silvan House,
3rd Floor East,
231 Corstorphine Road,
Edinburgh EH12 7AT
Tel. 0131 316 2600
Caspian House,
Mariner Court,
Clydebank Business Park,
Clydebank G81 2NR
Tel. 0141 951 4488
Dumfries and Galloway

Carmont House,
The Crichton,
Bankend Road,
Dumfries DG1 4ZF
Tel. 01387 247 010
Northern Isles
Ground Floor,
Stewart Building,
Alexandra Wharf,
Lerwick,
Shetland ZE1 0LL
Tel. 01595 693 345
East Highland
Fodderty Way,
Dingwall Business Park,
Dingwall IV15 9XB
Tel. 01349 865 333
North Highland
The Links,
Golspie Business Park,
Golspie,
Sutherland KW10 6UB
Tel. 01408 634 063
West Highland
The Governors House,
The Parade, Fort William,
Inverness-shire PH33 6BA
Tel. 01397 704 716
Strathclyde and Ayrshire
Caspian House,
Mariner Court,
Clydebank Business Park,
Clydebank G81 2NR
Tel. 0141 951 4488
Tayside and
Clackmannanshire
Battleby, Redgorton,
Perth PH1 3EW
Tel. 01738 444 177
Western Isles
32 Francis Street,
Stornoway,
Isle of Lewis HS1 2ND
Tel. 01851 705 258
Forth and Borders
Silvan House,
3rd Floor East,
231 Corstorphine Road,
Edinburgh EH12 7AT
Tel. 0131 316 2600
Grampian
Inverdee House,
Baxter Street,
Torry,
Aberdeen AB11 9QA
Tel. 01224 266 500
Welcome
Simon Pepper
Board Member
Scottish Natural Heritage
Welcome to this summer issue of The Nature of Scotland. After one of the
hardest winters on record, theres the hope of a glorious summer ahead
enough to gladden the heart of anyone heading for the great outdoors. And
what a country we have to attract us outdoors! Few places in Europe can match
Scotland for the variety and wild quality of our landscapes our mountains
and coasts, woodlands and forests, islands, lochs and rivers. Scotlands towns
and cities also have plenty of natural areas nearby which are open to the public
and where wildlife is abundant. In this issue youll find articles celebrating the
wonderful opportunities that Scotland offers to get out and enjoy these places.
If youve ever been inspired by an experience of nature, you wont be surprised
to read about research that shows these experiences are good for our mental, as
well as physical, health and well-being. And it will come as little surprise either to
find that exploring our relationship with the Earth as promoted by the John Muir
Trust is good for our growth as individuals.
The natural environment is, of course, the foundation for much of our economy,
especially in rural areas. Providing for visits to the countryside and coast for all
kinds of nature-based activities is a valuable part of the rural economy. Those who
own the land have an important role here and theyre keen to play their part in
raising awareness and understanding among the general public.
Climate change is an ever-present issue these days, influencing all kinds of
thinking about the future management of our natural environment. It underlines the
importance of the pioneering work to harvest Scotlands outstanding resources
of clean renewable energy at sea. Wave, tide and wind energy could well allow
us to replace the climate-damaging combustion of coal, oil and gas, the so-called
fossil fuels. You can read about the research thats under way to ensure that we
benefit from these new energy resources without harming our marine wildlife.
This year SNH takes over responsibility for Scotlands wild deer. These iconic
animals are a valuable and much-loved part of our natural heritage. However,
they can damage crops and wildlife habitats when their numbers get out of hand.
Getting the balance right is a matter of careful judgement.
Youll find all of these topics discussed in this issue of The Nature of Scotland.
I hope you enjoy reading the articles and that at least one of them inspires you to
get out and enjoy Scotlands wonderful natural environment.
Summer
Wild
calendar
Kenny Taylor gives
some seasonal
tips for savouring
Scottish wildlife and
landscapes
Take a long summer day. Add a pinch of wildlife.
It could be the call of a lone falcon over a moor
where nothing else moves. It might be 10,000
daisies, studded like stars on the turf of a field.
Stir in some water, whether thats the river, sea,
cascade or a sunny shower. Now blend in a
Scottish backdrop to your taste. Drink deep of
this glorious season.
1
Purple milk vetch was
so-named from a belief
that it could boost milk
production in cattle
that ate it.
2
The six-spot burnet is a
day-flying moth that
often lives near the
coast. Its colours warn
predators that its
poisonous.
1
The big B at St C
Sea, sand, flowers, brightly coloured butterflies and other
insects make a potent summer combination. At St Cyrus
National Nature Reserve, near Montrose, you can see all
these things by the beach-, cliff- and grassland-load.
Part of its wildlife power comes from the sheer number of
plants here (about 350 higher plant species, and counting).
Some of these have names to quicken the pulse of those
with a liking for fine flowers. Meadow saxifrage, purple milk
vetch and bloody cranesbill are part of this exciting bunch.
Part comes from the variety of insects here, including all
five Scottish-dwelling species of grasshopper and cricket,
more than a dozen different butterflies and more than 200
species of moth. Perhaps the most striking of these moths is
the day-flying six-spot burnet, resplendent in shiny black and
scarlet.
So, in this International Year of Biodiversity, St Cyrus is a
great Scottish example of variety of life in a much-cherished
place. Give it a visit to discover what the B word really
means.
Web tips:
www.nnr-scotland.org and click Find an NNR
www.snh.gov.uk/pdfs/education/burnetmoth.pdf
www.snh.gov.uk
A bunny runs through it

Mammal watching is usually a challenge, but summer gives
opportunities to see a wider range of species than during
other seasons. On the west coast and around the Hebrides
and Northern Isles, these could include dolphins, porpoises,
seals or otters at any time of day. Inland on the Scottish
mainland, early morning and evening can be the best times
for mammal viewing.
Try sitting at dusk by the edge of broadleaved woods to
catch sight of pipistrelles or other bats. Rabbit warrens are
also fun to watch when the younger bunnies are on the hop.
They may be common, but you need patience to observe
rabbits at close range.
For good ranger-led badger viewing, go to the Scottish
Wildlife Trusts Falls of Clyde reserve, near New Lanark.
Here, you can look at Glasgows home river in a different
light, as it tumbles through steep and wooded gorges
and over large waterfalls, then arrange to see some of the
woodlands most distinctively hairy inhabitants.
3
Originally native to
Spain and Portugal,
then kept in guarded
warrens, rabbits have
only become common
across Scotland in the
last two centuries.
4
The pied flycatcher is
scarce in Scotland, so
hearing one in a
summer oakwood is
always an enjoyable
surprise.
5
Every part of the Isle of
Eiggs coast is
interesting. But the
Singing Sands, where
dry grains can squeak
underfoot, is both
beautiful and
remarkable.
Web tip:
www.swt.org.uk/visit/reserves and click Visit then
Reserves
Catch a flying pie

If youre fine tuning an ear for birdsong, early summer in a Scottish oakwood
can be a great time to practise. Thats because some of the louder, resident
songsters, such as chaffinch, are joined by more subtle-voiced, migrant singers.
Pied flycatcher and redstart are two such migrants. Give them a listen online
to get an idea of their phrasing. Oakwoods where you might hear them include
some of those in Argyll, Lochaber and flanking Loch Lomond. Visit the woods and
wetlands of the River Dee, in Dumfries and Galloway, and you could also combine
song appreciation with views of part of Scotlands expanding red kite population.
The Galloway Kite Trail is a circular route that runs near the Dee from north
of Castle Douglas to New Galloway and back. Theres a feeding station at
Laurieston that can be popular with the bird once known as the gled in Scots
dialect. But theres also a chance of seeing some of these elegant scavengers
along other parts of the valley.
Web tip:
Online birdsong clips: www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide
Galloway Kite Trail: www.gallowaykitetrail.com
4
Say it again, sand

Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna: thats a world-class quartet
of names for anyone with a liking for characterful islands.
Each could reward a summer visit, with Eigg an excellent
introduction to the group.
One thing I relish about Eigg is how its community
has thrived since the island was bought by a partnership
between local people, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the
Highland Council in 1997. Its also a place where, almost
literally, the landscape can speak to you.
Take a short walk from Cleadale, in the heart of the
community, to a coast where ancient rock features are to
the fore. At Laig Bay, you could stand on beautiful Jurassic

sandstones from the times of the dinosaurs and look out to
see an otter searching the inshore kelp beds for crabs.
But its the Singing Sands here that can steal the
show. Catch them in dry conditions, and the quartzite grains
will squeak underfoot: weird but pleasing music from the
remains of mountains long vanished.
Web tip:
www.isleofeigg.net and click Nature on Eigg
www.snh.gov.uk
The great big paddle
Work has begun on creating Scotlands first formal

canoe trail, which will stretch along the Great Glen
between Fort William and Inverness
1
The waters of
world-famous Loch
Ness will be a big draw
for paddlers.
2
Project officer for the
Great Glen Canoe Trail
is Donald Macpherson.
One of Scotlands most popular

tourist locations is set to play
host to the countrys first official
canoe trail.
The new Great Glen Canoe Trail will
offer international and national paddlers
the opportunity to journey from coast
to coast across the country. Theyll
be able to travel the 100 km stretch
between Fort William and Inverness,
passing through the historic Caledonian
Canal and four lochs, including the
challenging waters of world-famous
Loch Ness.
Project officer for the new trail
is Donald Macpherson, who will be
overseeing the development through to
its opening in spring 2012. Its great to
be playing a role in the delivery of such
a fantastic project, commented Donald.
The trail is well placed to attract a
whole range of outdoor enthusiasts
from both a paddling and non-paddling
background, because its such an
iconic location with spectacular scenery
and wildlife.
And one of the big advantages of
the Great Glen is that there are various
locations where you can launch or
finish, unlike other paddling locations
where the only way out is to complete
the distance. Not everyone will come
here to paddle the full distance, which
www.snh.gov.uk
will take four or five days to complete.

Some may opt for just a one or two day
route instead.
Over 600,000 is being invested in
the Great Glen Canoe Trail, which aims
to take advantage of the increasing
paddler market thats estimated to be
growing by a staggering 25% each
year. Funding has come from the
European Regional Development Fund,
British Waterways Scotland, Highland
Council, Forestry Commission Scotland
and Scottish Natural Heritage.
Low-level pontoons are being
installed at locks and bridges to
improve access on and off the water.
And there will be trailblazer rests,
consisting of specially identified
informal campsite areas and secure
long-stay car parking areas at each end
of the glen.
Full details on safety, travel
arrangements, accommodation and the
facilities along the waymarked route
will be available on the forthcoming
Great Glen Canoe Trail website, and
in the proposed trail guide leaflet and
guide book. These aim to ensure that
paddlers get as much satisfaction from
their trip as possible.
Added to that, an orientation panel
outlining trail directions and safety
advice will be located at the access/exit
points. These panels will complement
the existing Great Glen Ways
interpretation signage, which promotes

the three sustainable ways to visit the
area by boat, by boot or by bike and
features information about local culture,
heritage and wildlife.
Some groups who have canoeing
experience of open water will prefer to
plan their own expedition. But others
may prefer a guided trip with a local
outdoor activity provider, who can take
care of all the travel arrangements,
equipment, food and drink, as well as
offering local camping knowledge and
safety resources.
Whether you conquer the trail
independently or with a local outdoor
activity provider, the Great Glen Canoe
Trail will be both an adventure and an
education into the joys of the great
outdoors, Donald continued.
And although the Caledonian Canal
is mainly paddled in open Canadian
canoes, there are growing numbers of
paddlers also taking to the waterway in
sea kayaks, which cut through the water
and travel faster. But whatever canoe
or kayak you choose, and whatever
your skill level, the new Great Glen
Canoe Trail is set to be an unbeatable
experience.
If youre interested in finding out
more, you can contact the project
officer on 01463 725 563 or email
donald.macpherson@britishwaterways.
co.uk
9
Celebrating
100,000 awards
There have been repeated warnings recently about
people becoming detached from nature. But a
successful awards scheme run by the John Muir
Trust points to hope for the future
1
Some of the scenes
and people from the
special event held
to mark 100,000
John Muir Awards.
The John Muir Trust, the UKs leading wild land

charity, reached a pretty special milestone recently
when it presented the 100,000th award under its
environmental award scheme.
those who take part. They have to show enthusiasm and

commitment for discovering a wild place, actively exploring
it, doing something to conserve it and sharing their
experiences.
The recipient of the 100,000th award was 13-year-old
Cumbrian school pupil Jake Atkinson, and the activities he
To mark the occasion, a special event was held at the Royal undertook to achieve the first two levels of the award show
Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, with representatives of the first, the sort of commitment that can be involved.
10,000th, 20,000th, 50,000th and 100,000th John Muir
Jake was part of a group from Ullswater Community
Awards attending.
College, Penrith, who completed a wildlife garden project.
The success of this flourishing environmental award
It involved hedge laying, dry stone walling, tree planting
scheme has seen it quickly grow from its Scottish origins
and pond construction, as well as creating water features,
to become widely established across the UK. The award
sculptures and homes for wildlife.
is focused on wild places, encouraging awareness and
He and his friends also volunteered for a variety of
responsibility for the natural environment, in a spirit of fun,
outdoor activities in the Lake District National Park, working
adventure and exploration.
with the Field Study Council and the Forestry Commission.
Following the example of Scottish conservation hero John And over the past couple of years Jake has been helping a
Muir, tens of thousands of participants have now enjoyed
range of students with ASDs (autistic spectrum disorders)
their own adventures in wild places, and taken responsibility towards their own John Muir Awards.
for looking after the environment.
What I enjoyed most was helping some of the younger
The award is open to all, explained Rob Bushby,
pupils to achieve the tasks they were given in the garden,
manager for the John Muir Award. It was set up to
said Jake. I also liked working with my friends in the ecoencourage people of all ages and backgrounds to connect,
garden and learning new skills to take home and use on the
enjoy and care for wild places.
farm. I enjoyed meeting and getting to know new people, but
Its not competitive but it is meant to challenge
most of all having fun!
10
www.snh.gov.uk
11
Journey of discovery
The John Muir Trust set up the award in 1997 to get more
people active in the conservation movement. It operates
largely through a varied range of organisations, including
schools and outdoor centres, as well as youth and
community groups over 700 made use of it last year. But
many individuals, families and small independent groups also
take part.
Theyre invited to follow in the footsteps of John Muir
(18381914), with his life-long journey of discovery and
exploration to help conserve the special qualities of wild
places. Muir was born in Dunbar, East Lothian, and went on
to become the founder of the US national parks. He is widely
regarded as the father of modern conservation. Throughout
his life, Muir shared his experiences, feelings and vision for
wild places with a wider audience, so the award participants
are encouraged to do likewise.
John Hutchison is chairman of the John Muir Trust and
believes the award is great at character forming for young
people. The experience it provides is very important for the
self-discovery that leads to self-confidence.
100,000 awards is a huge milestone to celebrate in
such a short time. The John Muir Award is firmly part of the
core work of the trusts new vision for wild land. I believe
that, through the award, were finding and nurturing the next
generation of environmental community activists.
The John Muir Award

puts a different slant
on everything. It
brings out the wonder
and beauty of being in
nature. Its a beautiful
way of working with
kids and encourages
them to look at the
bigger picture.
Sarah Robertshaw,
Forestry Commission
project leader
2
Recipient of the
100,000th award was
Jake Atkinson (far left).
12
Bridges Project
HM Prison Craiginches
Aberdeen
Autumn 2009
Rangers from Aberdeen City Council

delivered a John Muir Award for
prisoners from Craiginches Prison. It was
proposed as a bridging project between
participants lives within the prison and life
in their home communities upon release.
George Watsons College
Edinburgh
Annual involvement
Theres a 30-year tradition of outdoor

residential experiences for pupils in their
third year at George Watsons College.
Their adventures take place in all corners
of Scotland, with a dozen different trips
taking students from Knoydart and Skye to
Dumfriesshire and Harris.
They used bushcraft and survival

techniques to improve teamwork and
communication skills. Map work and
research allowed them to learn more
about their local wild places, while also
contributing to local communities by
building planters for primary schools.
A lot of the guys have nothing to get out
for. With this we have something to get out
for something to look forward to. Award
participant
Even though we have our differences of

Since 2003, the third year projects
opinion, weve bonded over the John Muir
programme has included the John Muir
Award. Award participant
Award. It aims to reflect and develop the
longstanding care for the environment
thats been an important aspect of these
trips, and to heighten appreciation of these
special locations.
The John Muir Award made me think
carefully about the world around me and
how precious these wild places are. Pupil
Now Ive experienced such a wild area,
I can see the beauty and importance of
maintaining these places throughout the
world. Pupil
www.snh.gov.uk
13
14
1
Poster advertising the
new campaign.
Simple and
easy campaign
A new campaign launches
in July aimed at encouraging
all of us to make better use
of the outdoors and nature
close to home.
with information specific to their local

area. In Glasgow, for instance, the
information will include routes along the
Kelvin Walkway, Glasgow Green and
the River Clyde, as well as the Forth
and Clyde Canal.
The approach taken for some of the
The campaign has the strapline Simple communications will be to show people
pleasures, easily found and celebrates having fun in all weathers, rather than
the usual tendency to present images
the simple pleasures offered by our
of hot, sunny days. Its hoped this may
natural environment. The focus is on
highlighting what can be achieved from help influence people to change their
behaviour at those times of the year
our own doorsteps in terms of local
when spending time outside is less
walks, parks and green spaces.
attractive.
The campaign promotes simple
This campaign supports SNHs
outdoor activities that can be enjoyed
Enjoying the Outdoors policy, which
anywhere in Scotland, explained
aims to persuade more people to take
Eleanor MacDonald, SNH campaign
manager. The simple pleasures include part in outdoor visits, and encourage
everyone to get outside more often.
activities like skimming stones, looking
This approach recognises how
for a four-leafed clover or watching a
important enjoying the outdoors is for
sunset, so theyre all fun and do-able
peoples quality of life.
things.
The campaign will include a toolkit
We also want to reduce the time
of top tips for how to get active
needed to plan an outing by providing
outdoors. Partners such as ranger
useful information about routes close
services, community groups, walk
to where people live. The information
leaders or clubs and associations will
will also tell them how long each route
be able to use the visual identity of the
is likely to take, making it easier to fit
campaign by downloading materials
outdoor enjoyment into busy everyday
from the internet, which they can then
lives.
change to suit their own circumstances.
This will be a national campaign,
Any partner will have access to
but the focus will be largely urban.
this, and it will be useable for any
Research shows that many people
location. It will include poster templates,
living in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and
particularly Glasgow visit the outdoors leaflet templates and news releases.
Meanwhile, SNH will take a lead on
less than once a week. The aim is to
targeting the campaign in Glasgow and
inspire them to make more time for
other urban centres.
outdoor enjoyment instead of other
We hope this campaign will give
leisure activities.
National posters, newspaper adverts people lots of ideas for places to go
outdoors and things to do, added
and leaflets will all form part of the
Eleanor. We want to create a sense of
campaign. These will provide top tips
buzz about the simple pleasures to be
and ideas for things to do, as well as
directing the public to an online source gained from outdoor enjoyment.
www.snh.gov.uk
15
NEWS
Positive and negative
Beaver activity can have both positive and negative effects on freshwater fish.
Thats the conclusion of the most thorough review ever undertaken of the effects
of beavers on freshwater fish.
The review was carried out for SNH by the University of Southampton. Its
based on studying the scientific literature and surveying 45 fishery managers and
scientists, along with beaver ecology experts, mainly in North America where most
of the research has been carried out. The report discusses the implications of this
work for the European beaver in Scotland.
Among the negative effects are beaver dams, which can sometimes stop
fish moving up or down in narrower rivers and streams. There were also reports
of some spawning areas being lost immediately upstream of dams due to more
silt being present. These effects can change over time and the influence on fish
populations remains unclear.
Beavers can also have positive effects on fish. These include an increase in the
variety of habitats in streams and a greater area for the rearing and overwintering
of fish. There are also reports of an increase in invertebrates, such as insects, on
which fish feed. Beaver activity may also help to provide refuge during periods of
high or low water flows.
Overall, the positive effects were mentioned more frequently (157 times)
than the negative effects (102 times). In the survey of independent experts, the
responses to more than half (58%) of the questions suggested that the impact of
beavers on fish was positive, with 21% negative and the remainder neutral.
The report concludes that the negative impact of beavers on the movement
of fish and the availability of suitable spawning habitat can be at least offset by
the benefits. These include an increase in the variety of habitats and the resulting
increase in the abundance and productivity of fish, including salmon.
16
Prominent Scottish landowners have united to condemn any person who illegally
poisons birds of prey or other protected species.
Over 200 signed a letter to environment minister Roseanna Cunningham,
calling for the full weight of the law to be brought to bear on those who illegally
kill raptors.
The move comes after the remains of three golden eagles, a buzzard and a
sparrowhawk were found during the first week of May on or near the grounds of
Skibo Castle, near Dornoch, Sutherland. Police are investigating if poisoning was
involved.
The letter states: It is widely recognised that wildlife management is a
complex business that continually throws up new challenges, but nothing can
justify illegal activity. It is, for us, a straightforward decision to underline our view
of illegal poisoning. Frankly, we condemn it out of hand and it has to stop.
Those of us who live and work in the Scottish countryside are appalled by
such behaviour. The only thing that is achieved by such acts is the undermining
of the excellent work that is done day in, day out on Scottish estates by owners,
land managers and gamekeepers in terms of animal welfare and conservation of
Scotlands natural heritage.
The message must go out to the people who indulge in such criminal
behaviour that what they do is totally unacceptable to the overwhelming majority
who have the true interests of the countryside at heart.
We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that message is
conveyed across the land management sector. We do not presume guilt nor refer
to any particular incident, but the apparent deliberate poisoning of protected
species in recent years has left us utterly dismayed.
We also support the full weight of the law being brought to bear on those
who are involved in illegal poisoning and endorse the efforts of the Partnership for
Action against Wildlife Crime, in which our representative organisations are active
and enthusiastic participants.
www.snh.gov.uk
NEWS
United front
17
NEWS
18
Operation Caesar launched

Significant and lasting
criminal damage has
been found at 75% of
internationally important
freshwater pearl mussel
sites surveyed across
Scotland.
Criminal acts included
both illegal pearl fishing and
unauthorised river works
that led to the destruction
of whole pearl mussel
populations.
In a bid to crack down
after the unexpectedly
severe damage, police
and SNH have launched
Operation Caesar, which
seeks the publics help in
identifying and reporting to
the police any suspicious
activity.
The mussels are a protected species, and crimes against them carry the
possibility of prison sentences. Scotland has a total of 21 designated protected
sites for pearl mussels, with Scottish rivers holding around half of the worlds
population of the species.
The wildlife crime findings came to light after the latest round of SNHs routine
monitoring during 2008/2009. It covered areas specially designated to conserve
these amazing and extremely vulnerable animals. Out of nine sites surveyed,
damage was found at seven. Three showed such significant damage that recovery
will be extremely challenging.
In one river system in the west Highlands, one of the largest pearl mussel
beds of at least 600 animals was found to have disappeared since the previous
monitoring visit five years earlier, with no explanation other than destructive pearl
fishing.
Weve been shocked at the findings, stated Iain Sime of SNH, and its clear
that we must undertake urgent work to save this species from almost certain
extinction in some areas. Unauthorised engineering in one river seems to have
destroyed the most significant pearl mussel bed of around 900 animals in the
lower reaches of the river.
Another site has seen the killing, in less than a day, of 50% of the mussels in
the burn, making any recovery for the remaining animals extremely difficult. Weve
launched Operation Caesar to enlist the help of people in trying to stop these
crimes.
Northern Constabularys chief inspector Matthew Reiss said they would
be appealing to the angling and walking communities, as well as others who
enjoy the countryside, to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity at or near
water, especially as the warmer summer weather approaches. This can extend
to suspicious activity in and around rivers from people searching in rivers and
shells on banks to vehicles parked early in the day, he added.
Operation Caeser is so called because the freshwater pearl mussels have
an ancient cultural history in Scotland. Its said that Caesar invaded Britain to get
his hands on the pearls sometimes yielded by the mussels, which also adorn the
Scottish crown jewels.
White-tailed sea eagles have a minimal impact on the deaths of lambs according
to the results of a scientific study.
The study, undertaken by the Food and Environment Research Agency for
SNH, recorded the fortunes of lambs on the Gairloch peninsula in Wester Ross,
from April to mid-August last year.
The research found that sea birds, such as fulmar, were the main source of
food for the sea eagles. There was little evidence of deaths among the lambs that
could be linked to the raptors.
This is a very timely and valuable piece of research, commented environment
minister Roseanna Cunningham. The sea eagles are a wonderful part of our
natural heritage and their reintroduction has been an outstanding success.
But we also recognise that farmers and crofters are rightly concerned about
their livestock and its important we develop our knowledge and understanding of
this issue.
Where there are problems with sea eagles predating on livestock we will look
at maintaining and improving schemes to find ways to help farmers manage their
stock to co-exist with these magnificent birds.
NEWS
Sea eagle research
Wildcat population appears stable

Two new reports suggest that the Scottish wildcat is surviving as a distinct
species.
The first report looked at the genetic make-up of the species and confirmed
that Scottish wildcats can be distinguished from feral cats by coat markings.
Doubt was cast over the identity of the Scottish wildcat during a court case in
1990, and there has been ongoing work since to confirm its uniqueness.
The second report presents the results of a Scottish wildcat survey conducted
between 2006 and 2008. This concluded that wildcats appear to be stable
in their historical locations in the north and east of Scotland, with localised
populations surviving around Ardnamurchan and Morvern. However, their fate
elsewhere is less clear.
The Scottish wildcat is one of our most endangered mammals, with crossbreeding with domestic cats posing the greatest risk. The reports will help to
deliver effective conservation action and the management necessary to sustain
the species. In particular, the clear guidance on how to identify the species will
help to target control of domestic cats in areas where they pose most risk to the
survival of the wildcat.
www.snh.gov.uk
19
Dualchas coitcheann
Common heritage
The marsh marigold is a vivid reminder
of the close links between Gaelic culture
and the Scottish seasons, as Ruairidh
MacIlleathain explains
Lus buidhe Bealltainn

Tha na Gidheil fhathast a comharrachadh na Bealltainn, co-dhi le bhith ag
ainmeachadh a chiad latha dhen Chitean mar Latha Buidhe Bealltainn. Tha
buidhe an d chuid na chomharra de dhath agus de dheagh fhortan (canaidh
sinn nach buidhe dhut gu cumanta fhathast). Bha Bealltainn bh ths na
fill phganach a bha na inntrigeadh don t-samhradh. Bha e aig ceann eile na
bliadhna bho Shamhain, fill phganach eile a bha a comharrachadh toiseach
a gheamhraidh. Chanadh na seann daoine bho Shamhain gu Bealltainn nuair a
bha iad a ciallachadh an leth fuar dhen bhliadhna.
Tha Bealltainn air a comharrachadh ann an lus dthchasach air an nochd
dtheannan buidhe mun m sin dhen bhliadhna. S e sin Caltha palustris, lus ris an
canar marsh marigold ann am Beurla. Ann an Gidhlig, s e lus buidhe Bealltainn
an t-ainm a th air. Bhiodh daoine a cur dtheannan an luis seo os cionn an dorsan
airson droch gheasan a sheachnadh; uaireannan bhite gan ceangal ri earbaill
cruidh air an dearbh adhbhar. Is cinnteach gu bheil dath an luis co-cheangailte ris
mar a bha daoine ga thomhas mar fhortanach.
Tha e mar as trice blth gu ler aig a Bhealltainn ach corra uair cuirear an
sneachd mu dheireadh dhen gheamhradh aig an m sin. Thathar a gabhail
sneachd mu bheul na Bealltainn air a leithid. Agus bhiodh na balaich ag
isteachd airson na cuthaig air latha na Bealltainn. Nan cluinneadh iad i,
dhigheadh iad Gug-g! ars a chuthag Latha Buidhe Bealltainn. Agus
mhothaich na seann daoine gum biodh an t-eun beag ris an canar a whimbrel ann
am Beurla a nochdadh aig an m sin a h-uile bliadhna (coltach ris a chuthaig,
bidh e a cur seachad a gheamhraidh ann an Afraga). Mar sin thug iad eun
Bealltainn air mar ainm.
B e an seann chleachdadh a bhith a togail d theine air Latha na Bealltainn
tron chirte spridh is iomadh rud eile airson an rachadh is don an aghaidh
droch bhuidseachd. Thathar a smaoineachadh gu bheil Tullybelton/Tulach
Bealltainn ann an Siorrachd Pheairt am measg nan iteachan anns an tachradh
a leithid. Ged nach eil an t-seann fhill Cheilteach seo air a comharrachadh gu
mr ann an Alba an-diugh, tha i air beatha r fhaighinn anns na bliadhnaichean a
chaidh air an oidhche mu dheireadh dhen Ghiblean air Cnoc na Calltainn ann an
Dn ideann. Ged a tha dreach rudeigin r-nsach oirre, tha teine aig meadhan a
ghnothaich fhathast.
20
Yellow plant of Beltane

The marsh marigold is perhaps the most vivid plant reminder of the close links
between traditional Gaelic culture and the Scottish seasons. The day that
starts the summer, now the first of May, is still known in Gaelic as latha buidhe
Bealltainn the yellow day of Beltane.
Buidhe, however, doesnt just mean yellow. It also has suggestions of
good fortune. This plant, which bears yellow flowers at the time of Beltane
(the English word came from Gaelic), is lucky its blooms would often be tied
above doorways or to the tails of horses or cattle to bring good fortune. The
Gaelic name for the species is lus buidhe Bealltainn (sounds like looss boo-yuh
BYOWL-tin) or the yellow plant of Beltane.
Another species named for this season is the whimbrel eun Bealltainn (eeun BYOWL-tin), actually meaning bird of Beltane. And Tullybelton in Perthshire
would have experienced the fires through which cattle and other goods were
passed as part of the purification rites of this pre-Christian festival. Its name
comes from the Gaelic Tulach Bealltainn or Beltane hill. The two greatest
festivals in the old Gaelic calendar were Bealltainn and, six months later, Samhain
the start of winter. The first day of Samhain is still widely celebrated in Gaelic
Scotland, as it is in the English-speaking world, where its called Halloween.
www.snh.gov.uk
Buidhe aig a
Bhealltainn. Bha, agus
tha, lus buidhe
Bealltainn a
comharrachadh
toiseach an
t-samhraidh ann an
inntinn nan Gidheal.
The yellow Beltane
plant. To Scotlands
Gaels, the marsh
marigold in bloom
is a traditional symbol
of the start of summer.
21
Fun in
the sun
Almost 200 events celebrating

Scotlands wildlife and
environment took place
across Scotland during
Scottish Biodiversity Week
in May
1
Exploring the
rockpools of
Coldingham Bay in
Berwickshire at a
seashore safari event.
22
www.snh.gov.uk
23
Organised by SNH and partners, the week offered

something for every taste, including enjoying a guided
badger walk on Corstorphine Hill in Edinburgh, mini-beast
hunting at Vogrie Country Park in Midlothian, a bluebell walk
in the Ballathie Woods in Perthshire, learning about bats
and swifts in Pitlochry, pond-dipping at Vane Farm at Loch
Leven, seeing puffins near Dunbeath in Caithness, hearing
the dawn chorus at Threave Gardens in Dumfries and
Galloway, watching sea eagles on the Isle of Mull and going
for a guided walk at the Allt Mhuic butterfly reserve near Fort
William, to name just a few.
Children at St Leonards Nursery in Edinburgh launched
the week when SNH board member, Professor Keith
Nicholson, joined the pupils to explore the nurserys
spectacular wildlife garden. Scottish Biodiversity Week
gives people all over Scotland a chance to get out in the
countryside and enjoy some wonderful events, commented
Professor Nicholson. We live in a special place. Everyone
knows about the natural beauty in areas like the Highlands
and Islands, but theres a surprising amount of wildlife even
in our city parks. So I hope people enjoyed getting out and
enjoying some of these fun events.
But the occasion isn't quite over yet. Our nature
photography competition is ongoing until 31 July. You
can find out more about it from www.snh.org.uk/
biodiversityweek. The theme is 'emotions' we want to
know how nature affects you. There are great prizes to
be won, including a one-to-one tutorial with SNHs own
photographer, Lorne Gill, and a fantastic digital camera. The
top 30 images will be used to develop an exhibition that will
feature in the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival. Send
your best images to bit@snh.gov.uk and dont forget to tell
us how the images you took affected you.
2
Artist Fraser
MacDonald and his
assistant Neil planting
herbs in a recycled
planter at his
Garbology site at
Perth and Kinross
recycling centre.
3
Professor Keith
Nicholson helps a
couple of pupils from
St Leonards Nursery
in Edinburgh explore
the wildlife in their
pond.
4
Dennis McCullough
shows how to handle a
great tit thats been
caught at a bird ringing
workshop at Westmuir
Community Woodland,
near Kirriemuir in
Angus.
5
Perth Youth Theatre
Collective performing
the environmental play
The Tree at Larghan
Park, Coupar Angus.
24
www.snh.gov.uk
25
A recent research study looked at

public attitudes towards estates
and landowners in Scotland.
David Greer, deputy chairman of
the Scottish Estates Business
Group, reflects on the results
1
Farmland, birch
woodland and conifer
plantations in Upper
Deeside, Grampian.
Public
speaking
The reputation of estates and land ownership is a

subject that will generate a wide range of opinions
in Scotland. And the views expressed will, of
course, depend on who you ask.
Until now, it was difficult to assess accurately what people
made of estates, if anything at all. On the one hand, estates
could be seen making a significant contribution to rural
Scotland, but their reputation was still burdened with various
issues.
So the Scottish Estates Business Group and the
Scottish Rural Property and Business Association two
organisations with significant involvement in land use across
Scotland decided to ask the public what they really
thought. They felt the results would be useful in considering
the way ahead for land management.
The two organisations commissioned George Street
Research, an independent market research agency, to
undertake the wide-ranging study. It involved focus groups
across Scotland, followed up with a survey of over 1,000
adults. The results of the research can be viewed at
www.sebg.org/news
26
Its fair to say that both organisations were a bit anxious

about being on the receiving end of a warts and all
assessment by the public. As it turned out, the results were
both surprising and informative for the land management
sector.
Predictably, the research revealed that the public
appreciate the rural Scottish landscape and value highly
the well-cared-for natural resources that they can enjoy.
They also believe the countryside plays an important part in
tourism and leisure.
However, those interviewed had very little awareness of
estates, and the role that they play was virtually unknown.
Some 65% said they knew very little or nothing about
estates and only 1% said they knew a great deal. The
participants also said they didnt regard land ownership on
its own as a top of mind issue.
The public tended to relate to the stereotypical Monarch
of the Glen image when prompted to think about estates,
but they didnt regard that image negatively. They did,

however, form a negative view if they were aware of a
particular issue, such as an access problem, but didnt
display general hostility.
The public made it clear that, once they were aware of
the role of estates, they felt it would be helpful for estates to
communicate more positively on what they do.
The study showed that the management and
maintenance of the countryside were somewhat taken for
granted and people assumed them to be largely a function
of nature, commented Jo Fawcett, managing director of
George Street Research.
There was a lack of awareness about estates rather than
antagonism, and its clear the public enjoy the facilities and
going into the countryside. They just dont think much about
how that happens or whos involved in making it happen.
These were key findings as far as estates are concerned.
There are many and varying views on estates, and of course
www.snh.gov.uk
we recognise that we can be viewed in a negative light. It

would be absurd to suggest otherwise. But it was also clear
that the publics opinions about estates and landowners
were not as strong as we thought they might be.
The message coming back from the public is that, when
they experience estates, they like what they see. They do not,
however, make strong connections between that experience
and the contribution of estates. The big lesson for us to learn
is that we need to make very clear what role we play.
Many rural estates in Scotland contribute a great deal in
terms of tourism, leisure and business. And the work thats
done on estates across Scotland in terms of conservation,
wildlife and habitat management is something in which we
should take pride.
The public seems open to finding out more about the
contribution we make to rural Scotland. Providing them with
better information is a challenge that estates and landowners
must meet successfully.
27
Welcome to
Scotlands nature
1
1
The group visited
Cleghorn Glen
woodland, where the
steep slopes have
protected the rich mix
of trees from felling
and development.
2
Martin Twiss (right)
talked about the
woodland plants that
carpet the ground
during spring and early
summer.
28
You probably know plenty of outdoor places that

you can visit, having gathered the information from
family, friends and experience over the years. But
what if youre new to this country? Scott Ferguson
and Elaine Macintosh of SNH outline a couple of
projects aimed at making that knowledge more
widely available
Fantastic day
because I relax
and forget about
everything... my
worries... thinking
about many things.
Quiet, peaceful...
had time to listen
to everyone and
have an opinion.
Akhmed
Many of us are surrounded by information about special places

to visit and things to do in the outdoors, so its easy to forget that
knowing where to go and what to do isnt as simple for everyone in
Scotland.
I got a chance to experience this first hand when I joined a group from the Bridges
Programme in Glasgow earlier this year. The group was visiting Cleghorn Glen
Woods which forms part of the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature
Reserve as part of a Community Introductions project. This is a programme of
visits to special places for nature for black and minority ethnic community groups.
The group visiting Cleghorn Glen was just starting on a 14-week personal
development programme with Bridges. The programmes aim to help refugees and
asylum seekers living in Glasgow gain meaningful work experience. They offer
training, official recognition and schemes to upgrade their skills aimed at helping
refugee professionals get into long-term jobs at the appropriate level.
It was clear from the start that the visit was a successful introduction. Martin
Twiss, who works out of the SNH Lanark office, led the group on a walk through
the gorge, and Pammy Johal from Backbone (who has set up and will lead all
the Community Introductions visits) then had us all exploring the woods while
blindfolded.
For some, it was their first opportunity to explore the Scottish countryside
after two or three years living in Glasgow. As we walked back through the ancient
www.snh.gov.uk
29
oakwoods, there was a lot of chat about childhood experiences in the outdoors,
and many questions about other places to visit and how to get there. The group
left with a commitment to plan and run another visit with the Bridges programme
staff.
Community Introductions is a partnership between SNH, Backbone and
the Forum for Environmental Volunteering Activity. Backbone is a training and
personal development organisation that promotes celebrating diversity through
adventure, primarily for women and black and minority ethnic communities.
By bringing together Backbones contacts in black and minority ethnic
communities around Scotland with our knowledge of Scotlands outdoors, the
Community Introductions project has organised a series of 12 visits to some
of Scotlands special places for nature between March and July this year. The
response from both the natural heritage sector and community groups has been
fantastic. No site manager has turned down the opportunity to take part and
offer a welcome to visiting groups, and more community groups want to visit the
outdoors than weve been able to accommodate.
The programme of visits has taken in national nature reserves at Tentsmuir,
Loch Leven and the Isle of May, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and Cairngorms
National Parks, as well as Clyde Muirshiel and Pentland Hills Regional Parks.
For each visit, Backbone and the host organisation work together to plan
activities tailored to the visiting group, aimed at giving participants a taste of what
Scotlands outdoors has to offer whether its fun, amazing wildlife, or just a
chance to relax in beautiful surroundings. SNH are now working with Backbone
to secure further funding to extend the programme.
After each visit we ask both participating groups and the host organisation to
tell us what the visit meant to them. And the feedback shows just how important
an organised introduction can be for groups with limited access to knowledge
that many Scots take for granted.
3
The group all had a go
at exploring the woods
while blindfolded,
including Scott
Ferguson from SNH.
4
Ecofusion was a lively
and colourful day out.
30
Fusion for all

A sunny Sunday in April saw 4,000 people in Edinburghs
Holyrood Park attend Ecofusion, a unique multicultural celebration
encouraging more people to enjoy the outdoors.
Ecofusion merged outdoor and environmental activities with arts and crafts from
around the world, combining guided nature and heritage walks, a climbing wall
and a bike skills course with Nepalese dance, Thai fruit carving and Japanese
knotwork.
Arthurs Seat provided an inspiring backdrop as people browsed information
stalls on opportunities to enjoy Scotlands outdoors and took part in activities
around brightly coloured Indian marquees. Over 40 environmental and
community organisations were involved, with the aim of encouraging more
people of all cultural backgrounds to make the most of Scotlands outdoors
and the nature on their doorsteps.
www.snh.gov.uk
31
Ecofusion was inspired by the

Working with Difference programme,
set up by the Forum for Environmental
Volunteering Activity and Backbone.
This involves a partnership of
environmental organisations and
minority ethnic community groups who
have been working together over the
past year to encourage greater diversity
in Scotlands outdoors.
Black and minority ethnic
communities are often underrepresented in environmental and
outdoor activities, and the Working with
Difference programme aims to address
the barriers by supporting partnerships
working between environmental and
black and minority ethnic organisations.
Monthly getting to know you
meetings and a learning by doing
approach led to visits to the outdoors
for 200 people from black and minority
ethnic communities and a number of
ongoing projects. For instance, a visit
to Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, hosted
by Forestry Commission Scotland, was
enjoyed by a group from the project for
minority ethnic carers of older people
and the Nepal Scotland Association.
This trail reminded us all as if we were
walking in the Himalayas, remarked
one of the group. You dont feel lonely
when nature is with you.
Recently, seven community groups
received funding from the Paths for All
organisation to set up local health walk
programmes, and a number of groups
are planning the John Muir Award with
Historic Scotlands ranger service.
Pammy Johal of Backbone was
delighted by the partnerships and
projects that quickly grew out of the
programme. In setting up Working
with Difference, we discovered that
environmental organisations and black
and minority ethnic community groups
found it difficult to make connections.
A year later, the Ecofusion celebration
event brought together everything that
this programme set out to achieve!
Many people felt ownership of
the event because they were involved
in the planning process, commented
Adil Ibrahim of the Community
Organisation for Race Equality, who
organised a football tournament at the
event. Ecofusion was an excellent
32
5
The climbing wall was
a big hit with the
children.
6
There were
opportunities to get up
close to wildlife.
We all enjoyed the

outdoor space at
Holyrood Park. We
have never felt so
relaxed and cheerful
in Edinburgh before.
Adil Ibrahim,
Community Organisation
for Race Equality
way of bringing communities together, offering them the

opportunity to try new outdoor activities, meet environmental
organisations and simply appreciate the outdoor spaces. We
all enjoyed the outdoor space at Holyrood Park. We have
never felt so relaxed and cheerful in Edinburgh before.
Tasnim Rafiq of the Beyond the Veil organisation had
a stall at the event and was equally enthusiastic about the
introductions made on the day. We met up with so many
people connected to Ecofusion, she remarked, and we
exchanged numbers, so well hopefully be able to work
together.
For SNH, Ecofusion was an opportunity to promote
Scotlands natural heritage to a new audience. We were
able to highlight the special qualities of national nature
reserves, as well as encouraging people to enjoy nature and
landscapes closer to home.
A key aim for SNH is to get more people to access the
outdoors more often, and to ensure that the health and
wellbeing benefits of the natural heritage are shared more
widely. So, whether you prefer your dose of nature on a quiet
walk in the park, hitting adrenaline highs in adventurous
outdoor pursuits, visiting one of Scotlands special places
for nature, or helping manage your local greenspace, the
outdoors has something to make everyone smile.
www.snh.gov.uk
33
We two are one
34
Two of the government organisations

involved with wildlife management in
Scotland are set to merge this summer
Reform of the public sector will see the merger in August of the
Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) with Scottish Natural
Heritage (SNH).
The merging of SNH

and DCS creates an
organisation that will
be more effective and
efficient
www.snh.gov.uk
The organisations have been working towards the merger since the Scottish
Government announced in 2008 that they planned to bring together a number of
public bodies in Scotland.
The union of SNH and the DCS will create a stronger organisation. It will
combine the skills and experience of staff in order to provide a better service
for customers, particularly those with an interest in deer and deer management.
It means also that deer management in Scotland can be taken forward in the
context of broader nature and landscape issues, rather than as a separate activity.
In addition, the new merged organisation will be more cost-efficient through
having only one business to run rather than two separate bodies. And SNH and
DCS already share the same headquarters building in Inverness, so the upheaval
for staff has been kept to a minimum.
The merging of SNH and DCS creates an organisation that will be more
effective and efficient at looking after all of nature for all of Scotland, commented
Ian Jardine, chief executive of SNH.
Well be taking forward the full range of actions previously dealt with by the
DCS, which means that SNH will now have a bigger role in wildlife management.
We want to ensure that Scotlands wildlife is managed in a sustainable way so
that our rich natural resources remain for future generations to enjoy.
The term wildlife management is an important one. As a result of the merger,
SNH have set up a new wildlife management team, which will focus on the broad
range of issues involved in the management of certain wild species found across
Scotland from our more remote, rural areas through to the heart of our towns
and cities.
Wildlife management can be a sensitive area of work as it often involves
catching, relocating or culling animals. This necessity has to be balanced
with SNHs commitment to look after and promote our rich, varied nature and
landscapes, and also with the need for the highest standards of animal welfare.
There are a number of wild animals and plants in Scotland that are actively
managed for food, sport, conservation and profit. Some species are managed to
reduce the impact they have through damaging crops or other wildlife, such as
mink.
Other species are managed to help their population and conservation, as we
have seen with the reintroduction of birds such as sea eagles and red kites. Some
wild animals are also managed for commercial and recreational purposes and
for profit, such as the management of grouse and deer populations for country
sports.
Our wildlife, including deer, is a major asset that we need to manage and look
after for conservation as well as economic purposes. Indeed, country sports in
Scotland are the second largest primary land use (some 20%) after farming.
After August, SNH will have a broader role in terms of wildlife management,
and this will contribute significantly to the organisations overall responsibility for
helping people to understand, appreciate, value and enjoy all aspects of nature in
Scotland.
35
Reserve focus
Wetland wonder
1
The national nature
reserve includes a
large section of the
River Spey floodplain.
The sprawling Insh Marshes in

Badenoch form one of the most
important wetlands in Europe. The
marshes create a patchwork of open
water, wetland, meadow and woodland,
providing a sanctuary for a wealth of
wildlife
36
Reserve boundary
Parking
Viewpoint
Information board
Hide
A9(T
)
To Aviemore and
Inverness
B9152
B road
Minor road
Track
Kingussie
iv
pey
er S
Railway / Station
Reserve paths
Ri
ve
To
Newtonmore
A road
To
Aviemore
r
rT
A86
om
ie
70
B9
Ruthven
Barracks
Gordonhall
Hide
Invertromie
Tromie
Mills
Torcroy
)
T
9(
To
Insh
Invertromie
Hide
Ruthven
B970
Tromie
Bridge
To
Perth
0
0
kilometre
mile
1
1
Look out over the vast watery expanse of the Insh Marshes and
its easy to forget that youre many miles from the sea. However,
the brooding backdrop of the Monadhliath mountains and the
Cairngorms is a constant reminder of the inland location.
The marshes occupy some 10 sq km between Kingussie and
Kincraig, where the River Spey spills out onto the floodplain several
times a year. Both snow and heavy rain result in flood waters filling
up the marshland.
To reach the reserve, follow the B970 south from Kingussie,
towards and then beyond Ruthven Barracks. The reserve entrance
is just over a kilometre east of the barracks.
This walk begins at the car park and takes in both the Invertromie
(1.5 km) and Tromie Meadow (4.5 km) trails. The Invertromie Trail
takes you to hides, from where you have superb views over the
marshes. The Tromie Meadow Trail leads you to the meadows, with
their remarkable show of plants and butterflies in summer. Both
trails are unsurfaced and have steep slopes. Use the numbered map
and directions in the text to guide you around.
www.snh.gov.uk
37
The floodplain naturally floods several times a year, which

helps to keep it fertile. The marshes provide secure nesting
and feeding sites for large numbers of wading birds and
wildfowl. Over 500 pairs of wading birds (such as lapwing,
snipe, curlew and redshank), plus hundreds of pairs of
waterfowl (including rare species such as goldeneye, wigeon
and spotted crake) nest here from April to June.
Flooded ground provides the essential conditions for
these birds to survive. Listen out for the mournful echo of a
curlew or the persistent pee-wit call of a lapwing. Its also
an ideal environment for a range of specialist animals, from
otters to minute water life.
2
The reserve has one of the most important stands of aspen
trees in the country. Although aspen occurs throughout
Britain, its most common in the north and west of Scotland,
and is also found in Shetland and the Hebrides. Aspen
is notable for the distinctive way its leaves tremble in the
slightest breeze. The leaves of the tree were believed in
folklore to tremble continually, so it was also known as the
shivering tree.
Aspen can reach a height of 20m, but in most locations
in the Highlands it will only grow to about 10m tall. The tree
is important for rare insects, mosses, lichens and fungi. Dead
aspen also provides a home for the very rare aspen hoverfly,
whose larvae live under the bark.
3
This area overlooks Invertromie Farm, and you can see along
the length of the floodplain. Cattle, ponies and sheep graze
the marsh from spring to autumn to keep the area free from
trees and to prevent the marsh from becoming overgrown.
The marshes also provide a little grass for hay and other
forage cutting in drier areas. The floods return in late summer
and force cattle and sheep to higher ground. During the
summer months, you might see osprey hunting for fish along
the river and over open areas of water.
2
Goldeneye have been
attracted to nest at
Insh Marshes in
specially designed
boxes put up on trees
close to water.
3
Redshank like wet
grassland. Drainage on
farmland has reduced
their numbers
nationally.
4
Aspen wood was once
a popular choice for
making oars and
paddles because its
light and buoyant.
38
www.snh.gov.uk
39
Watch out for redstarts and tree pipits here in summer.

These summer visitors are typical species in this kind of
open woodland. Redstarts are mainly found in the north
and west of the UK, and are immediately identifiable by
their bright orange-red tails, which they often quiver. They
bob in a very robin-like manner, but they spend very little
time at ground level. You might also see a range of other
small woodland species such as tits and warblers, as well
as sparrowhawks and buzzards, which might be spotted
hunting overhead.
5
Weve identified over 500 types of plant on the site, with
150 on Invertromie Meadow alone. The reserve is well
known for a wide variety of orchids. A careful search of the
meadow areas in early summer should reward you with the
beautiful purple flowers of the heath-spotted orchid or the
sweet scent of the fragrant orchid. Just like the birds, the
plants here rely on damp conditions to provide the essential
conditions for them to survive.
In summer, you may see many varieties of butterfly,
including Scotch argus and dark green fritillary. The former
is found mainly in Scotland where it flies in tall, damp
grassland, whereas the dark green fritillary occurs in a range
of flower-rich grasslands, often with patches of scrub. You
can often see dragonflies as well, including the black darter,
close to the trail.
5
Redstarts are summer
visitors to Britain,
arriving in April and
leaving in early
September.
6
The heath-spotted
orchid flourishes
particularly in the west
and northwest of
Britain. It likes
moorland, acidic soil or
damp pasture, and
flowers in late May to
early August.
Insh Marshes is one of over 50 national nature reserves in

Scotland. Find out more at www.nnr-scotland.org.uk
40
7
Visitors enjoying the
view over Insh Marshes
from the new
information viewpoint,
part-funded by SNH.
Essential information
The reserve covers some 8 kilometres of floodplain between
Kingussie and Loch Insh. The nearest bus stop and train
station are in Kingussie, a 1.5 kilometre walk from the
reserve. Insh Marshes are connected to the Badenoch Way
cycle and walking route.
make sure you pick up after your dog and dispose of waste
carefully.
Further information
Explorer 402 (Badenoch & Upper Strathspey)

Explorer 403 (Cairn Gorm & Aviemore)
The reserve is open all year. If youd like to join a guided

walk, arrange a group visit or simply find out more about
the work at Insh Marshes, you can contact the warden at
Ivy Cottage, Insh, Kingussie, tel: 01540 661 518,
email: nsro@rspb.org.uk
Trail length
Nearby natural attractions
Invertromie Trail 1.5 kilometres

Tromie Meadow Trail 4.5 kilometres
At Kincraig theres the Highland Wildlife Park, where you

can discover a wide variety of Scottish wildlife, as well as
endangered animals of the worlds mountains and tundra.
The park is open every day of the year, apart from 25
December. From April to October, the opening times are
10am to 5pm, and from July to August it is 10am to 6pm.

If youd like to visit another national nature reserve in
the area, then there are plenty to choose from. Inshriach
and Invereshie is just a couple of miles away, Craigellachie
sits alongside Aviemore, Glenmore is close by, and theres
Creag Meagaidh to the west and Abernethy to the north.
Visit www.nnr-scotland.org.uk for details.
OS maps
Terrain
The paths are unevenly surfaced and wide, with some steep
slopes, steps and rough sections.
Dogs
If you have a dog with you, please make sure you keep it on
a short lead or under close control at all times. Please also
www.snh.gov.uk
41
SNH Area News

Grampian
Correspondent: Ewen Cameron
Return of the natives
Moving on
Helping hands
Stories of wildlife in decline may seem

commonplace, but its still possible
to find nuggets of good news. For
instance, major projects have allowed
red squirrels to make a comeback in
and around Aberdeen, and water voles
are re-appearing in Formartine, near
Ellon. Both animals were previously
losing out to invasive non-native
species grey squirrels were replacing
reds and American mink were killing off
water voles.
The water vole project used longterm research to find an efficient way
of trapping mink. Small rafts in rivers
were checked for footprints, and the
areas with lots of activity determined
where to place the mink traps. We cant
eliminate mink, but theyre sufficiently
under control for voles to be seen again
in the Tarty and Foveran Burns for the
first time in over 10 years.
The Saving Scotlands Red
Squirrels project in the northeast
involves stopping any further spread
of grey squirrels across Aberdeen City
and Aberdeenshire. It requires targeted
control to protect the remaining red
squirrels that are still hanging on.
Thanks to a dedicated project team
and public support, were now seeing
reds returning to some of their original
haunts in the city.
You can find further details at
www.watervolescotland.org and
www.scottishsquirrels.org.uk
In mid-April we locked up our Aberdeen

office in Rubislaw Terrace for the last
time and moved into the purpose-built
Inverdee House in Torry. We share the
building with the Scottish Environment
Protection Agency (SEPA) and the
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
(JNCC).
Although it was a bit of a wrench to
leave our home of over 30 years, the
modern Inverdee House will help us
to continue saving energy and lower
our carbon footprint. This modern
building also gives a better working
environment and makes it much easier
for colleagues to visit.
SEPA and JNCC are key partners
for SNH, and our joint working will
become even more efficient now that
all three organisations share the same
building. Projects that we all work
on include development planning;
the water framework directive;
river catchment management, such
as the River Dee Special Area of
Conservation; river basin management
planning; marine renewables and
much more.
Having all three organisations in the
same building also gives us a further
opportunity to share more back office
support. As a result, SNH Aberdeen
have been able to make another small
reduction in staffing. Click on
www.inverdeehouse.org.uk/default.
aspx for further information.
The last time Grampian featured in

these pages, we wrote about projects
helped through the Grampian LEADER
programme. The good news is that,
even with budget cuts, were still
managing to support some great
community projects.
Recently, we gave 8,000 to the
Whale & Dolphin Society to kit out their
Spey Bay classroom; 15,000 to the
Strichen Community Park to buy a new
tractor to maintain paths and cut
grass; and 1,000 to help a newly
formed group of volunteers purchase
bat detection equipment.
In addition, 2010 is the International
Year of Biodiversity and we wanted
to help publicise the fact that its
not just tigers and polar bears that
are important. So, weve helped the
Scottish Ornithologists Club print their
NE Bird Atlas. Eventually, a free copy
of the book will be placed in all schools
and libraries in Grampian.
Most groups to which we grant
aid have one thing in common
they realise that Scotlands natural
world supports our economy and
quality of life, and we all have to take
responsibility for it. They know that
SNH cant do everything, so they roll up
their sleeves and muck in. And for our
part, were delighted to be able to give
them a helping hand.
42
SNH Area News

North Highland
Correspondents: Ian Mitchell, Sue Agnew/Alex Scott
Room with a view
Knockan face-lift
Willows gain ground
An exciting new project is under way

to build a timber wildlife watching hide
on the shores of Loch Fleet in East
Sutherland. With a backdrop of Balblair
Woods, the hide will provide a new
viewing facility overlooking Balblair Bay,
and will demonstrate the use of homegrown Scots pine.
The project is being co-ordinated
by Highland Birchwoods through a
scheme aimed at encouraging greater
use of Scots pine for building projects.
Highland Birchwoods are working
closely with SNH (who are co-funding
the project), Sutherland Estates and
Scottish Wildlife Trust. Neil Sutherland
Architects and MAKAR Ltd will be
developing and building it.
Loch Fleet is a national nature
reserve and its already a popular
area for walkers and wildlife
enthusiasts. The hide should be open in
the autumn, and the new facility should
attract not only wildlife watchers, but
also folk interested in seeing what can
be achieved using home-grown timber.
Knockan Crag lies some 20 km north

of Ullapool and holds the key to an
amazing story of colliding continents
and scientific intrigue. This is a place
of global importance, both to
geologists and to people who simply
want to wonder at the forces that shape
our planet.
The crag at Knockan exposes rocks
that lit up the scientific world in the
19th century, with the discovery that a
slice of old rocks sits on top of much
younger ones. The Moine Thrust, as
its known, was created by the force of
two continents crashing together many
millions of years ago.
Today, Knockan is a national
nature reserve and a popular tourist
destination. In 2001, SNH carried out
a major upgrade of the sites visitor
facilities and its now in need of a
substantial face-lift. So SNH, with
the support of the Highland LEADER
Programme, have set out to create a
new visitor welcome area, refresh the
interpretation and re-fit the novel Rock
Room. The new visitor facilities at
Knockan as well as a renewed Rock
Route geological trail around the area
will be installed and opened in time
for Easter 2011.
The Inchnadamph area in west

Sutherland is famous for its limestone
pavement landscapes and associated
plantlife. In the late 1980s, the estate
removed their sheep from the area. This
brought about an increase in the red
deer population, which then led to more
deer grazing and trampling the ground.
By 2000, the animals were causing
serious damage.
The owners therefore reduced
deer numbers over a five-year period
as part of an agreement with the Deer
Commission for Scotland and SNH.
The good news is that the landscapes
and plants which are important on
a European scale have improved
greatly. In particular, the rare whortleleaved willow (pictured above), which
seems especially attractive to deer
browsing, has responded really well.
More bushes now produce flowers
and seeds, and theyre growing taller
each year. So the deer browsing
doesnt seem to be limiting their
survival. Meanwhile, the estate is
maintaining deer numbers at the lower
level, which is still enough for them to
maintain their sporting interests.
www.snh.gov.uk
43
SNH Area News

Northern Isles
Correspondents: Juan Brown, Denise Woodford, Tim Dean
Studying sick fairies
Festival time
Heavenly rain
The famous colony of storm petrels

on the uninhabited island of Mousa
in Shetland will be studied this year
by Glasgow University PhD student
Hannah Watson. Shell be looking at
the effects of environmental stress on
this tiny mysterious seabird, which looks
for food far offshore and only returns to
the colony in darkness.
Mousa has the largest storm petrel
colony in Britain and supports perhaps
2% of the world population. The RSPB
manage the island reserve, and there
are night-time boat trips during the
summer months. Visitors head for the
Iron Age broch, which is an iconic
Shetland landmark that provides
nesting sites for many of the petrels.
This dramatic setting comes alive with
purring and hiccuping calls (likened to
the sound of a fairy being sick!), as batlike shapes flutter around the mighty
stone walls.
A recent census suggested that
the storm petrel population on Mousa
is thriving, in contrast to many seabird
species that have suffered in recent
years because of a shortage of
sandeels. The petrels feed on surface
plankton and can perhaps cope better
with food shortages because their
chicks remain inactive while the adults
search far and wide for food.
Shetland Nature Festival will be taking

place from 3 to 11 July. Now in its third
year, the festival celebrates the wildlife
and wide open spaces of Shetland,
with events and activities to suit all
ages and interests.
Holding the festival in July
allows everyone to make the most of
Shetlands nature, when daylight lasts
until late evening, cliffs are teeming with
thousands of seabirds, wildflowers are
blooming and theres a good chance of
spotting sea mammals.
This years family-friendly events
start with an open day on Noss National
Nature Reserve, which is a highlight
in the diary for many local people and
always popular with visitors.
Throughout the week there will be
workshops such as butterfly feeders
and creepy crawlies, along with family
fun days including Shetland Rocks!
and Go wild with your child. Local
organisations will also be giving guided
walks (pictured above), taking in some
of Shetlands most spectacular scenery
and highlighting the varied wildlife of
the islands. Other events include boat
trips and talks.
The festival is a joint venture
between the main partners Shetland
Amenity Trust, RSPB Scotland and
SNH. Check out the website
www.shetlandnaturefestival.co.uk
for further details.
Weary and blackened fire fighters

were spread along the slopes of Grut
Fea on the island of Hoy in April.
Armed only with fire beaters, they
represented the thin line of defence
between the onrushing tongues of
flames crackling through the tinder-dry
heather and the ancient woodland in
the Berriedale valley.
The valley is home to the most
northerly natural woodland in Britain,
holding Orkneys largest stretch of
native ancient forest. Its thought
to date back thousands of years to
before the arrival of people on the
Northern Isles. Its sheltered slopes
give refuge to a special range of island
plantlife, including downy birch, rowan,
willow, aspen, two of Orkneys three
hazel trees, tree lungwort and other
woodland plants. For many, its a place
of pilgrimage.
And then, with hungry flames
barely 30 paces from the wood and
with the fire fighters in retreat, the
wind swung round 180 degrees. As it
did, the rain began to fall. The fatigued
cheered and the local councillor
described it as divine intervention.
Who knows, maybe it was.
44
SNH Area News

Forth and Borders
Correspondents: Neville Makan, Heather Kinnin, Andrew Panter
Caring developers
Gigantic scorpion
Restoring the land
Great crested newts are a highly

protected species and are known
to favour the landscapes of central
Scotland as a place to live. They can
therefore frustrate some developers in
this busy part of the country.
I&H Brown are a company that
specialise in reclaiming brownfield land.
So you might have expected them to
be a bit vexed when they discovered a
population of these special creatures
using part of a site earmarked for
regeneration near the community
of Banknock, Falkirk. However, they
instead grasped the challenge with
both hands literally!
They installed over 1.5 kilometres
of fencing to manage newt movements
during construction; designed the
landscape plan to consider future newt
travels and habitat needs; set aside over
10% of the area as a wildlife reserve;
and involved local school children in
creating suitable homes for newts.
They even allowed their development
manager, Tommy Devlin, to be trained
and licensed to handle and relocate
trapped newts within the site.
Tommy (pictured) is delighted to
get hands on with the great crested
newts, despite a certain amount
of ribbing from colleagues. He
regularly checks the traps for newts,
demonstrating that not all developers
are afraid to show they care about our
exceptional wildlife.
Evidence of a giant six-legged water

scorpion has been found on the Fife
coast. Theres no need for alarm,
however, as its not been there for
some 330 million years before the
dinosaurs. Known as Hibbertopterus,
this ancient animal would have been
about two metres long and about
a metre broad, and was related to
modern-day scorpions and horseshoe
crabs.
We know it was there because it
left behind a unique fossil trackway
(shown above) as it crawled over damp
sand. The trackway, which is preserved
in sandstone, consists of three rows
of crescent shaped footprints on each
side of a central groove. The groove
was made by the tail of the animal as it
dragged itself over the sand.
This find is unique and internationally
important because the creature was
gigantic. Sadly, the coastal site where
the fossil was found is vulnerable to
the forces of nature. To preserve this
important evidence, Geoheritage
Fife (with funding from SNH and the
Geologists Association) have paid for
the trackway to be moulded in silicone
rubber. Its hoped that replicas made
from the moulding can be displayed in
museums and universities.
A recent conference in Peebles

brought together land managers,
environmentalists, academics and
others to consider how to put restoring
the environment at the heart of the
Scottish Governments emerging land
use strategy.
James Aronson from the Centre for
Functional and Evolutionary Ecology in
France gave the opening presentation,
describing his experience of projects
in other countries and the factors
that decide whether or not they are
successful. Other speakers covered the
scope for restoring areas for wildlife in
Scotland upland, woodlands, bogs,
rivers and flood plains, as well as farm
land and highlighted examples of
good practice.
By the end, there was broad
agreement that we need to do more
to promote restoring natural areas in
Scotland. This will correct the damage
caused by past human activity and also
help to meet the future challenges and
opportunities presented by climate
change.
Willie McGhee, director of the
Borders Forest Trust, summed up the
day: We must ensure that restoring
the environment is at the forefront of
any policy decisions. Getting it right is
critical for both the land itself and for
the people who work and live on it.
www.snh.gov.uk
45
Events diary 2010

July
Thursday 1 Guided Walks

Sunday 4 Knockan Crag NNR
Tuesday 6 Sutherland
Wednesday 14
Thursday 15
Monday 19
Friday 23
Tuesday 27
Saturday 31
Thursday 8
A Bloomin Great
Day Out
Tentsmuir NNR
Fife
Tel: 01571 844 000
Come and join the reserve manager for a day of

fun for all the family on the beach at Tentsmuir,
followed by the Puppet Lab show.
Booking essential.
Tel: 01382 553 704
Sunday 11 Reptile Walk

Flanders Moss NNR
Stirling
Join reserve staff in the cool of the morning from

9am to 11am when the reptiles arent quite so
fast. Spend some time looking for lizards and
adders on and near the boardwalk. Booking
essential.
Sunday 11 Alpine Secrets

Corrie Fee NNR
Angus
Meet at the Glen Doll ranger base and spend the

day (11am to 4pm) on the reserve discovering the
importance of its wildlife.
Tel: 01575 550 233
Sunday 11 Fun Day

Muir of Dinnet NNR
Grampian Highlands
Meet at the visitor centre for games, crafts and

activities for all the family from 12 noon to 6pm.
A storyteller and a face painter will be on hand
to entertain.
Tel: 07733 303 175
Come for a splash about and adventure with

Mandy Tulloch of Mud Pies fame. Suitable for
2- to 5-year olds. Meet at the visitor centre for
sessions from 11am to 12 noon and from
1pm to 2pm. Booking essential.
Tel: 07733 303 175
Meet at the visitor centre for games, activities,

a treasure hunt and storytelling for all the family
from 12 noon to 4pm.
Tel: 01674 830 736
Long before supermarkets and pharmacies,

people had to feed and doctor themselves with
the plants around them. Meet at the visitor centre
and find out which plants they used from
2pm to 4pm. Booking essential.
Tel: 07733 303 175
Sunday 25 Run, Jump and

Explore
St Cyrus NNR
Aberdeenshire
Come for an adventure and discover some

wonderful wildlife with Mandy Tulloch of Mud
Pies fame. Suitable for 2- to 5-year olds. Meet
at the visitor centre for a session from 10am to
11.30am. Booking essential.
Tel: 01674 830 736
Sunday 25 International
Travellers
Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
Meet reserve staff at Findatie car park and join

a guided walk from 2pm to 4pm. Discover the
secrets of Loch Levens long-distance travellers,
including swallows, sand martins and house
martins. Booking essential.
Tel: 01577 864 439
Wednesday 14 Row, Row, Row

Your Boats!
Muir of Dinnet NNR
Grampian Highlands
Sunday 18 Family Fun Day

St Cyrus NNR
Aberdeenshire
Saturday 24 Edibles and
Medicinals
Muir of Dinnet NNR
Grampian Highlands
46
Join our geologist guide and explore one of

Scotlands top Earth science sites. Discover
how forces deep within the Earth can cause
great masses of rock to slide up and over much
younger rock.
Tel: 01786 450 362
August
Monday 2
Tuesday 3
Saturday 7
Thursday 12
Tuesday 17
Friday 20
Monday 30
Guided Walks
Knockan Crag NNR
Sutherland

younger rock.
Tel: 01571 844 000
Osprey Walk
Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
Meet reserve staff at Burleigh Sands car park

and join a guided walk looking for ospreys from
6pm to 8pm. Discover more about these amazing
birds of prey before they head south for winter.
Booking essential.
Tel: 01577 864 439
Join reserve staff and a council dog warden for a

doggies day of fun! Discover how to get the best
out of the reserve with your dog and test his or
her skills at agility. Booking essential.
Tel: 01674 830 736
Tuesday 10 Osprey Walk

Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
Meet reserve staff at Burleigh Sands car park

and join a guided walk looking for ospreys from
6pm to 8pm. Discover more about these amazing
birds of prey before they head south for winter.
Booking essential.
Tel: 01577 864 439
Saturday 14 Bats in the Glen

Corrie Fee NNR
Angus
Meet at Glen Doll ranger base at 9.30pm to look

and listen for bats. Bring a torch!
Tel: 01575 550 233
Tuesday 3
Sunday 8 Doggies Day Out

St Cyrus NNR
Aberdeenshire
September
Sunday 15 Meet the Wardens

Flanders Moss NNR
Stirling
Come along from 1pm to 4pm and meet reserve

staff on top of the viewing tower. Chat to the
wardens about wildlife on the reserve, including
hen harriers and geese.
Sunday 22 Bog Crafts

Flanders Moss NNR
Stirling
Meet at the boardwalk and take a walk round to

collect materials for creating some craft items.
Booking essential.
Tel: 01786 450 362
Sunday 29 Fungi Foray

Muir of Dinnet NNR
Grampian Highlands
Join the expert for a guided walk to explore

the reserves fascinating fungi. Meet at the
visitor centre and discover some weird and
wonderful facts about fungi from 2pm to 4pm.
Booking essential.
Tel: 07733 303 175
Thursday 2
Thursday 9

younger rock.
Tel: 01571 844 000
Bring your dog and join the ranger from 2pm to

4pm to discover more about your responsibilities
as a dog owner as part of the Scottish Outdoor
Access Code. Meet at Glen Doll ranger base.
Tel: 01575 550 233
Guided Walks
Knockan Crag NNR
Sutherland
Sunday 12 Paws for Thought

Corrie Fee NNR
Angus
www.snh.gov.uk
Tel: 01786 450 362
47
Events diary 2010

September
Wednesday 15 Area Evening

Reception
Montrose
Angus
Saturday 18 Fungal Foray
St Cyrus NNR
Aberdeenshire
48
All welcome (please check SNH website or with

local Area office to confirm venue and timings).
Join the expert for a guided walk to explore the

reserves fascinating fungi. Meet at the visitor
centre and discover some weird and wonderful
fungal facts from 2pm to 4pm.
Tel: 01674 830 736
Sunday 26 Meet the Wardens

Flanders Moss NNR
Stirling
Come along and meet reserve staff on top of the

viewing tower. Chat to the wardens about wildlife
on the reserve, including hen harriers and geese.
Tel: 01786 450 362
Sunday 26 Fungi Forays

Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
Join the experts on walks around Loch Leven in

search of fungi. Meet at Findatie car park and
discover some weird and wonderful fungal facts
from 2pm to 5pm. Booking essential.
Tel: 01577 864 439
Inspired by nature
Do you have a cracking image of the

wonderful wildlife and landscapes of
Scotland or a great story or poem about
a wild encounter? If the answer is yes,
then we want to hear from you, as we plan
to print some of the best entries in future
issues of The Nature of Scotland.
This is your chance to have one of your images, stories or
poems published for all to see, so search out your best
efforts and send them in. You can email your words or
photos to editor@snh.gov.uk
Remember to include your name, where you live and brief
details of any pictures submitted. If youre sending in photos
that have children in them, then we need written permission
from a parent or guardian of each child in the picture.
By way of inspiration, here are a few images. The first
(above) was the winner of last years Scottish Biodiversity
Week photography competition, and came in from Gordon
Rae of Lockerbie under the title Between day and night.
The other two images, of a ptarmigan and a mountain
hare in the Monadhliath mountains, were sent in by
Colin Richards, whos one of our readers in Bridgend,
South Wales.
www.snh.gov.uk
49
Scotlands
sea monster
50
1
Basking sharks are
seasonal visitors to
Scottish coastal
waters. Theyre mainly
seen on the west coast
in summer, and
sightings peak around
August.
www.snh.gov.uk
51
7
Basking sharks were once

hunted widely around
Scotland, but since 1998
theyve been a protected
species. Now, researchers have
found two hotspots off Scotlands
west coast that are highly important
for the sharks, as Colin Speedie
reports
2
Hunting basking shark
around Arran, 1770.
3
Basking sharks are
active all year round. In
winter, they move to
depths of up to 900m
to feed on deep water
plankton.
The waters of the west coast of Scotland have

long been home to the basking shark, the worlds
second largest fish. Shoals of them usually arrive
early in the summer, when they can often be seen
swimming at the surface, feeding on the rich
supply of tiny plankton that bloom then. This habit
of basking at the surface not only makes the
sharks highly visible, but was also responsible
over the centuries for making them vulnerable
to hunting.
The first written accounts of the basking shark in Scottish
waters come from the 1760s, when the countrys first
recorded shark fishery operated from the island of Canna
in the Inner Hebrides. Locals hunted the sharks from small
boats using hand-held harpoons. Although this fishery
proved unprofitable, it was soon followed by others, all the
way from Shetland to Arran in the Firth of Clyde. The hunters
were after oil from the sharks liver, which can form up to a
quarter of its body weight. This was highly valued at the time,
being used mainly as lamp oil, but also serving as a balm for
aching limbs.
Shark hunting continued on and off over the following
two centuries, before increasing greatly in the period
between the 1930s and 1950s. Large numbers of shark
were present, and hunters from the Firth of Clyde and the
Sea of the Hebrides set sail in pursuit of the liver oil. It was
now much in demand as an oil for fine-grade machines and
aircrafts, being sold for high prices on the world market.
However, this hunting bonanza ultimately ended in
failure. The scarcity of sharks, the changeable weather
and falling oil prices all played a part, although some fairly
terrible business decisions also contributed. Many of the
hunters most notably the celebrated nature writer Gavin
Maxwell left highly readable accounts of their adventures,
including valuable information on the key hunting grounds
that they revisited many times.
52
www.snh.gov.uk
53
Survey work
Fifty years later, and with the shark by now a highly protected
species in Scotlands waters, the countrys wildlife trusts set
up a basking shark project to survey the same waters that
the hunters had found so productive. Would the sharks be
found in significant numbers, and would there still be key
sites focused on the areas where the hunters pursued the
big shoals? Statistics for the northeast Atlantic recorded that
81,639 sharks had been taken throughout the area between
1952 and 2004 a severe onslaught on a scarce creature.
Five years of surveys along set routes, totalling some 956
hours of actual survey time, yielded a variety of results. In the
historically important area of the Clyde Sea, we saw very few
sharks at the surface. It was disappointing to find that only
one small area, around Ardlamont Point, produced anything
more than random sightings. But the Sea of the Hebrides
was a different matter entirely. We saw sharks throughout
the area, and at two sites we recorded remarkably high
numbers of sharks on a regular basis.
Interestingly, the first of these sites was around Canna,
where the hunting story began. Between Canna and the
Hyskeir lighthouse to the south, we recorded nearly three
sharks per hour of survey, which was a remarkably high
success rate. At the second site, around the island of Coll,

we recorded nearly two sharks per hour. At both sites,
the sharks were consistently engaged in whats believed
to be courtship behaviour, where groups of animals swim
closely together, often touching each other. They were
also breaching leaping clear of the water which is
also thought to be connected to courtship. Moreover, we
recorded big shoals at both sites 50 at Hyskeir and a
shoal of 73 at Coll. As a result, we classed both of these
sites as basking shark hotspots.
Now that the shark is protected, the days of hunting are
over. But that doesnt mean that these gentle giants are out
of harms way, as incidents from other sites around the UK
have shown. This is especially true when the sharks are at
their most vulnerable to human impact swimming at or
near the surface. Sharks can become tangled up in fishing
nets or creel ropes, for example, or run the risk of being hit
or disturbed by boats. Fortunately, there was little evidence
of the former during the survey, but a number of sharks did
show fresh evidence of colliding with boats, all of them close
to the Coll hotspot.
54
Visitor favourite
Happily, hunters of a different kind now
seek out the sharks. Theyve become
a key element in Scotlands vibrant
ecotourism industry, highly popular with
visitors and film crews from around
the world. Therefore, commercial
ecotourism operators are now
encouraged to attend WiSe training
courses (www.wisescheme.org),
which recommend safe and sustainable
methods of shark watching.
The courses promote use of the
Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching
Code (see www.marinecode.org/
scottish-marine-code-g.asp), with
specific advice on being aware of
shark activity around the hotspot
sites. SNH have developed leaflets
and water-resistant maps aimed at
pleasure craft that might visit these
highly important sites. They have simple
recommendations on keeping a careful
look-out and safe speed, for the safety
of not only the shark but also the boats
and people on board.
So, history has now turned
full circle. We can still enjoy the
remarkable sight of a huge shoal of
these leviathans off the west coast of
Scotland, and close to the site where
they were first exploited. And thanks
to the conservation measures that are
in place, we can have some assurance
that this will always be the case, with
future generations still being able
to enjoy the basking shark where it
rightfully belongs.
Canna
Coll
4
If you see a basking
shark, you can report
your sighting at www.
mcsuk.org/sightings/
baskingshark.php
www.snh.gov.uk
Rough guide to
basking sharks
The basking shark is the second largest fish in
the world, after the whale shark. It can reach up
to 12m in length and 7 tonnes in weight, so its
as big as a bus!
Its found in all the worlds temperate oceans.
This is the biggest wild animal to visit Britain
regularly, but its slow moving and harmless to
humans.
Recent satellite tracking research has shown
that the shark generally moves in to deeper
water during winter, although tagged basking
sharks have also made long-distance migrations
into unexpected areas.
In one case, a shark tagged near the Isle of
Man crossed the North Atlantic, surfacing off
Newfoundland. And in another study, a shark
tagged off Florida in the United States moved to
the south, crossing the equator off Brazil.
Basking sharks feed mainly on millions of tiny
shrimp called plankton. As the shark swims
along, seawater passes through its huge mouth
and leaves through five gill arches, where the
energy-rich prey is filtered out. Theyre thought
to be capable of filtering over 1,800 tonnes
enough to fill a swimming pool of water per
hour!
They can travel on their own, but theyre social
animals and form groups, usually in small
numbers (three or four) but sometimes having
up to 50 or even 100 individuals.
Basking sharks are slow to reproduce, with
males maturing at around 15 years of age
(5.57 metres) and females at around 18 to 20
years (89 metres). After a gestation period of
up to 18 months, five or six live pups of around
1.41.6 metres are born. They may live for up to
50 years.
55
Visit your doctor nowadays and you might

be prescribed some outdoor activity to
improve your health. Ruth Jepson, from
the department of nursing and midwifery
at the University of Stirling, has been
researching the subject
1
The path to good
health will for some
patients involve
outdoors exercise.
2
Green exercise can
take many forms.
Green
prescriptions
1
56
Its now widely agreed that nature is good for

you, so it makes sense for doctors to prescribe
activities that take place outdoors.
The target population is most commonly deskbound

people and the general population, although a quarter of
the schemes target people with mental health problems.
For example, Branching Out (a conservation scheme) and
Pedal Forth (a cycling scheme) are both referral schemes
GPs, nurses and physiotherapists in many parts of Scotland run for this group.
already prescribe physical activity for a range of health
There are two main ways that the schemes link up with
conditions. These exercise referral schemes usually focus
health professionals. Firstly, some green exercise projects
on indoor activities, such as swimming or going to the gym.
are directly involved with established exercise referral
Green prescription schemes take it a step further, with
schemes. For example, West Lothian on the Move is an
health professionals able to prescribe or refer patients to
exercise referral scheme that includes the option for people
exercise outdoors. There are lots of existing outdoor green
to walk with a group.
exercise schemes in Scotland that could be suitable for
The other link-up between schemes and health
green prescription.
professionals comes through directly communicating and
Many of these are group based (for instance walking
working with them. Walk Deeside works with doctors
groups, green gyms, gardening projects) and take place in
and others to provide walks to support a range of health
the local community. Theyre supported through a range of
conditions, including diabetes and dementia. And Galloway
organisations such as Paths to Health, Trellis and the British Strollers is another example of a scheme that has a referral
Trust for Conservation Volunteers. People get the chance to method in place.
take part in enjoyable outdoor physical activity, and at the
Although there are many success stories, some of the
same time they can learn more about their local area and
schemes had difficulties convincing health professionals that
meet new people. This can also help to reduce feelings of
outdoor activities were safe and really would benefit patients.
being socially isolated and not knowing anyone.
And health professionals are busy people, who may forget
NHS Health Scotland and SNH funded research earlier
to refer patients on to the activities. Indeed, theres lots of
this year to find out more about the green prescription
scope for health professionals to increase the numbers of
schemes that already exist in Scotland. The researchers
patients that they refer, and the scheme organisers are keen
looked at the number of green exercise schemes that aim
for this to happen.
to improve health, where they are and how they link in with
The full report is available from www.healthscotland.
health professionals. The study came up with over 170 green com/documents/4225.aspx and SNH has also published
exercise schemes in Scotland, and 94 of them completed an a series of health and natural heritage case studies at
online survey about their work.
www.snh.gov.uk/about-snh/what-we-do/health-andThe 94 schemes are very diverse, not only in terms of
wellbeing/healthier-scotland/green-exercise-projects
size and what they provide, but also the health conditions
they cater for and whether health professionals are involved.
www.snh.gov.uk
57
Kids only!
Explore A rock pooL
and SEE what YOU
can find!
Go down to the beach at low tide

and explore the creatures and plants
of the rock pools that are exposed
when the tide goes out. Youll
be able to discover some of the
secrets that are hidden in the
world of the sea.
Can you find all of the

creatures listed below?
Crab
Shrimp
Fish
Jellyfish
Shell
Starfish
Seaweed
Anemones
going on a bug hunt

Have you ever taken the time to look at bugs? Theyre amazing creatures that fly, buzz, sting, leap and even light up! A good way to
attract bugs is to put out a peeled banana with brown sugar sprinkled on top. Leave to sit outside for a while, then spread it onto the
bark of a tree. Check regularly to see what new bugs you have attracted. Look through a magnifying glass and draw what you see.
Come out at night with a torch and see if there are any newcomers. If you want to take a closer look at a particular bug, put it in a
container with a bottle top of water, a stick and some green leaves. (Return your bug to the place you found him within 24 hours.)
58
keep cool this summer

Be inspired by your surroundings and make this beautiful fan to keep
you cool during those long sunny afternoons in the garden.
What you need: a piece of paper about 1m by 20 cm, two wide lollipop
sticks, PVA glue, sticky tape and coloured pens/pencils to decorate.
Look around you and choose a theme for your design maybe flowers,
birds or even butterflies! Now decorate the paper by drawing all your
ideas. You could also include words.
Pleat the paper into folds about 1.5 cm wide. Glue a lollipop stick onto
each end of the paper. The lollipop stick should stick out about 2 cm
above the top of the paper. Tape the bottom of the fan together.
To open your fan, bring the lollipop sticks all the way round so that they
meet. Now you will be able to keep yourself cool when the sun comes out!
worms
SPLASH!!
This game is best played outdoors on a warm sunny day,
when clothes dont really matter! Itll work well if everyone
who takes part is a good sport. With suspicion and shock,
its great fun...
You will need: number cards (e.g. six people playing the
game = six cards numbered 1 to 6), a plastic tumbler and a
large bucket of warm water.
How to play: Choose one player to be the splasher. He picks
a number without letting anyone else see it. He then fills up
the small container with water, and stands in the centre of
the other players, who form a circle around him. The splasher
faces each person in turn, and the outside players take turns
to shout out a number between one and six. When an outside
player shouts the splashers chosen number, the splasher
throws the cup of water at them!! SPLASH!!!
www.snh.gov.uk
are responsible for a lot

of things that make our
soil good enough to grow
healthy plants, which in
turn provide us with food.
Worms help to increase the
amount of air and water
that gets into the soil. They
break down materials like
leaves and grass into
things that plants can
use. The worms help to
turn the soil, bringing
down organic matter
from the top and mixing
it with the soil below.
Having worms around
in your garden is a good
sign that you have healthy
soil. If you want to learn
more about a worms
importance in our
environment, you can
buy worm farm kits,
which allow you to see
into the wonderful world of
worms usually hidden underground!
59
Sound judgement
A series of research projects is under way to
ensure the new marine renewables industry
can exist in harmony with wildlife. Kat Jones of
SNHs government relations team reports
1
60
Imagine living in a world where sound

travels more than four times faster than we
experience and can carry many thousands
of miles. Thats what lifes like for creatures
living in the sea.
Im sitting with Caroline Carter, from the Scottish Association
of Marine Science, on the shore of Loch Creran, a few
miles north of her laboratory at Oban. Were looking out on
a shale-blue sea, rippled by a light wind blowing from the
opposite shore.
Sound travels at around 1,500 metres per second in
water, she tells me, and the low-frequency songs of whales
can be heard from one side of the Atlantic to the other!
For marine mammals, hearing is their key sense, says
Caroline, whos in her first year of an SNH and Scottish
Environment Protection Agency funded PhD to investigate
whether sea mammals can hear, and therefore avoid, marine
renewable devices.
Theres actually very little information about sound levels
in tidally active and coastal areas, as most of the work has
been done in areas of deeper water where the military have
been interested in sonar devices, explains Caroline.
Her research involves sending hydrophones out to drift
with the currents and measuring the noise landscapes
of these areas. This will fill in some of the gaps in our
understanding of noise in the marine environment. It should
also help with designing and deciding where to put marine
renewable devices to reduce the effects on marine mammals
to a minimum.
But its not just in the area of underwater noise that
theres a lot to discover. We actually know surprisingly little
about our coasts and seas, despite how near they are and
their importance to our economy.
EMEC test site
Loch Creran
1
Marine mammals, such
as seals, have an
incredibly keen sense
of hearing.
2
Caroline Carter braves
the west coast weather
to position drifting
hydrophones that can
measure underwater
sound.
www.snh.gov.uk
61
New discoveries
Scotlands coastline is one of the longest in Europe if it
was stretched out in a straight line it would reach all the
way from Scotland to Hawaii. The vast scale of Scotlands
coastal and marine resource, along with the obvious
difficulties of observing and measuring whats happening
under the surface of the sea, means that were still
discovering new species and the way that marine animals
live.
For instance, only four years ago, SNH scientists
discovered one of the worlds rarest coral-like structures in a
loch in Morven. These colonies of reef-building worms were
previously thought to exist only in Loch Creran and in three
other places in the world. Its clear that we have a challenge
ahead of us to get hold of the information we need to
ensure that we choose the best sites for marine renewable
technologies and to minimise their impacts on marine wildlife
and habitats.
Its vital that we increase our knowledge of the marine
environment if were to get marine renewable development
right, comments George Lees, policy and advice manager
for SNH. Were therefore focusing on some of the key
questions that will help ensure marine devices can contribute
to a low-carbon Scotland while not harming our spectacular
marine wildlife. We have a number of research projects
that will help us give the best, scientifically based advice to

government and developers.
Theres a project mapping the use of sea space by
seals, basking sharks, whales and dolphins in the Pentland
Firth and Orkney area, where many of the tidal turbines will
be installed. Another is reviewing the effects of noise from
marine devices on salmon, trout and eels. And theres also a
review of the diving behaviour of seabirds and the distances
they travel to find food.
Monitoring is another important strand of SNHs research
work. Projects include surveying marine mammals, fish
and birds in areas where marine devices will be placed,
as well as monitoring wildlife around the EMEC wave test
facility in Orkney. In all cases, were identifying gaps in
our knowledge and trying to ensure that we address them,
George adds.
Naturally gifted
Scotland is fortunate in being blessed with a wealth of
energy from nature. We have 25% of the offshore wind, 10%
of the wave and 25% of the tidal resources of Europe. But
the rate at which we install renewables will need to increase
if were to achieve the cuts in greenhouse gases that are
needed to avoid dangerous climate change.
62
Productive seas
Scotlands seas are highly
productive and diverse, supporting
over 8,000 different species and
30% of Europes breeding seabirds.
They also create huge wind, tidal
and wave energy resources. The
connection between our renewable
energy resources and the fertility of
our seas lies in Scotlands unique
geography.
The vast ice sheets that covered
Scotland during the last ice age
carved a highly indented coastline
leaving deep lochs and over 800
islands. This gives Scotland a
coastline some 11,800 km long, as
well as some of the strongest and
most complex tides in the world.
Water flowing between the islands
and around the headlands restricts
the flow of water. This creates fierce
tidal currents and concentrates
fish into distinct areas, producing
important feeding grounds for
seabirds and marine mammals.
Scotland lies on the edge of the
European continental shelf, bearing
the brunt of the Atlantic swell and
winds that blow over thousands of
miles of ocean. Winds and waves
can be harnessed to produce
renewable energy, but Scotland
also sees the benefits in the
nutrients that are brought up from
the deep ocean and in the mixing of
the waters by waves.
To accommodate this pace, we need new approaches for

looking at the effects of renewable devices on marine wildlife
and habitats. Marine Scotland are developing an approach
where one or a few renewable devices are installed, and the
effects on the marine environment and wildlife are closely
monitored before the number of devices is expanded, or
larger numbers are built elsewhere. Information gathered
from this phased approach with early installations will help
us make better informed decisions on how future devices
should be developed and located.
Many areas with strong tides are also among Scotlands
richest areas for marine life. This is the case in the seas
around Orkney, where large numbers of seabirds and marine
mammals feast on the plentiful marine life of the islands.
Orkney has a number of highly important protected
sites because of the scale of the bird colonies, explains
George. We have to speak to the developers during the
planning process in Orkney so that we make sure the health
of these sites is maintained. And in locations where several
renewable devices are planned for the same area, then
we have to consider the potential for additional effects on
marine wildlife.
Sound signatures
Once Caroline Carter has gathered information on the
soundscape in tidal areas, shes hoping to work with the
marine renewables companies to find sound signatures for
their devices. She plans to use these, and her own data, to
check whether marine mammals will be able to hear tidal
stream generators. The developers will also be doing a lot
of their own monitoring and research around the devices,
which could offer important insights if the results are shared,
she says.
Marine developers will need to carry out rigorous
monitoring when they put devices in place and will have to
provide the results to Marine Scotland and SNH. Were
looking for ways to encourage companies to share their
data without affecting their need to keep some things
confidential, George Lees commented.
Back on Loch Creran, Caroline is talking me through
the huge variety of marine devices that are currently being
planned, developed and tested. No-one knows which will
be successful in commercial terms and each could have a
different effect on the marine environment, she says. Some
marine devices could even have unexpected positive effects
for marine wildlife by providing an artificial reef for creatures
that would otherwise have nothing suitable to live on, says
Caroline. There are so many unknowns. But thats what
makes it exciting.
3
Serpulid reef in Loch
Creran. These are the
best developed reefs
of their kind in the
world. Theyre a haven
for other marine
wildlife.
www.snh.gov.uk
63
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Scottish Natural Heritage

The Nature of Scotland

Nature for all

The great big paddle

10 Celebrating 100,000 awards

14 Simple and easy campaign

22 Fun in the sun

28 Welcome to Scotlands nature

34 We two are one

50 Scotlands sea monster

You can contact SNH by

Argyll and Stirling

Editor: John Walters

A full list of our offices

Photography all images by Lorne Gill/SNH other than: Mark Hamblin 6;

Great Glen House,

Other main offices

Dumfries and Galloway

The Nature of Scotland

The Nature of Scotland

A bunny runs through it

The Nature of Scotland

Catch a flying pie

Say it again, sand

the fore. At Laig Bay, you could stand on beautiful Jurassic

The great big paddle

Work has begun on creating Scotlands first formal

The Nature of Scotland

One of Scotlands most popular

will take four or five days to complete.

interpretation signage, which promotes

The John Muir Trust, the UKs leading wild land

those who take part. They have to show enthusiasm and

The Nature of Scotland

The John Muir Award

The Nature of Scotland

Rangers from Aberdeen City Council

Theres a 30-year tradition of outdoor

They used bushcraft and survival

Even though we have our differences of

The Nature of Scotland

with information specific to their local

The Nature of Scotland

Operation Caesar launched

Sea eagle research

Wildcat population appears stable

Lus buidhe Bealltainn

The Nature of Scotland

Yellow plant of Beltane

Almost 200 events celebrating

The Nature of Scotland

Organised by SNH and partners, the week offered

The Nature of Scotland

A recent research study looked at

The reputation of estates and land ownership is a

Its fair to say that both organisations were a bit anxious

but they didnt regard that image negatively. They did,

we recognise that we can be viewed in a negative light. It

The Nature of Scotland

You probably know plenty of outdoor places that

Many of us are surrounded by information about special places

The Nature of Scotland

Fusion for all