Scottish National Heritage - The Nature of Scotland Spring 2009

Scottish Natural Heritage
Spring 2009
The Nature of Scotland
Natural
advantage
The real appeal
of Scotland
Hit the trail
Loch Levens new
access route
Child benet
Outdoor learning
is cool
23/3/09 18:28:00
61180_Mag_Cov.indd 2
Contents
Features
8
Time to celebrate!
Year of Homecoming highlights
10 Volunteer to get out more

Sign up to help Scotlands birds
39
12 Storing up trouble
Peatlands and woodlands our
greenhouse gas guzzlers
10
16 As others see us
Visitors tell us what attracts them
46
28 Childs play
School ground make-overs
26
52
32 Big year for environment

The Cabinet Secretary
looks forward
Regulars
28
Where we are
SNH contact details
Welcome
Wild calendar
Where to go and what to see
this spring
46 Birds of fortune
Sea eagles on Mull
50 Valuing our environment
Scotlands natural wealth
54 WiSe wildlife watching
Guide to the marine scene
60 A trail for all seasons
Explore Loch Leven NNR
22 News
Natural heritage updates
26 Common heritage
Linking language and environment
34 Events diary
Guide to whats on
36 Reserve focus
Discover Blawhorn Moss NNR
42 Area news
Reports from round the country
56 Print out
Our latest publications
58 Kids only!
Activities for younger readers
64 Mailing list
Join our list
www.snh.org.uk
61180_Mag_Txt.indd 1
23/3/09 18:44:53
Credits
Where we are
Area ofces

The Magazine of Scottish Natural Heritage
Issue Number 3 Spring 2009
You can contact SNH by

letter, telephone or email.
The following details
should enable you to nd
your nearest local ofce,
but bear in mind that there
are also smaller ofces
than those listed.
Argyll and Stirling

The Beta Centre,
Innovation Park,
University of Stirling,
Stirling FK9 4NF
Tel. 01786 450 362
Published quarterly
SNH 2009
ISSN 1350 309X
Editor: John Walters
Tel. 01463 725 222
Cover photo: Walkers on the Old Drovers
Road in Glen Coe, with two of the peaks of the
'Three Sisters' in the background.
Photographer: P Tomkins/Scottish Viewpoint
Inside cover: Detail of Glen Coe mountainside.
Welcome page: Birdwatching hide at Loch Leven NNR.
Photographer: Lorne Gill/SNH
Photography all images by Lorne Gill/SNH
other than:
P. Tomkins/Scottish Viewpoint 16, 18, 20, 21;
George Logan/SNH 10, 61; Laurie Campbell/
SNH 22t, 39b; Pete Cairns 47, 48t; John Muir
Papers, Holt-Atherton Special Collections,
University of the Pacic Library 1984
Muir-Hanna Trust 8; John MacPherson/SNH
13r; Laurie Campbell 56b; David Whitaker 24t;
Marc Marnie 24; National Trust for Scotland
25t; Neil McIntyre 26; Alan Aitchison/SNH 28,
Glyn Satterley/SNH 30t; Malina MacDonald
30b; Grounds for Learning 31; Elaine Fraser
(RSPB) 42; Nicki McIntyre/SNH 42; David
Pickett/SNH 43; Hazel White/SNH 43; Sara
Millinger/SNH 43; Eoghain Maclean/SNH 44;
Lochaber Geopark 44; Nick Gedge 45; S&M
Sime 45; Niall Benvie 46; Richard Welsby/SNH
49
Illustration P58 Vicki Gausden
Maps P37 Fitzpatrick Woolmer
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: enquiries@snh.gov.uk
The views expressed in this magazine do not
necessarily reect those of SNH.
Printed by: Woods of Perth, Scotland
WP37K0309
When you have nished with this magazine,

please recycle it. Pass it to another reader or
dispose of it at your local waste-collection
point.
A full list of our ofces

appears on the SNH
website: www.snh.org.uk
Corporate
headquarters
Great Glen House,
Leachkin Road,
Inverness IV3 8NW
Tel. 01463 725 000
Email: enquiries@snh.gov.uk
Other main ofces

Battleby, Redgorton,
Perth PH1 3EW
Tel. 01738 444 177
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
Silvan House,
3rd Floor East,
231 Corstorphine Road,
Edinburgh EH12 7AT
Tel. 0131 316 2600
North Highland
The Links,
Golspie Business Park,
Golspie,
Sutherland KW10 6UB
Tel. 01408 634 063
Caspian House,
Mariner Court,
Clydebank Business Park,
Clydebank G81 2NR
Tel. 0141 951 4488
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
Laundry House,
Dalkeith Country Park,
Dalkeith,
Midlothian EH22 2NA
Tel. 0131 654 2466
Grampian
16/17 Rubislaw Terrace,
Aberdeen AB10 1XE
Tel. 01224 642 863
Welcome
Susan Davies
Director of North Operations
Scottish Natural Heritage
A warm welcome to this rst issue of our magazine in 2009.

With daily headlines of shrinking economies, recession and credit crunch,
its understandable that many might feel rather gloomy about the year ahead.
However, there are still reasons to be hopeful. For example, early signs are that
our tourism industry may hold strong over this difcult period. Its therefore timely
that in this edition we feature an article by VisitScotland highlighting the large
numbers of visitors who say the reason they visit Scotland is because of our
wildlife and scenery.
If our tourism industry is to thrive its important that people can access
information easily on whats available in the area they're visiting. The quality of
the product also needs to be high and offer value for money. We are active in
the efforts being made to help grow Scotlands tourism industry. In particular,
were taking forward our own programme of work to improve the quality of visitor
facilities on our National Nature Reserves through improved visitor centres,
innovative viewing towers, footpaths and trails, as well as clear interpretation. We
believe theres real potential to grow our wildlife-watching and outdoor adventure
markets in the coming year.
The contribution the natural heritage makes to the economy does of course go
far beyond the tourism industry. In this issue we feature an article by our Cabinet
Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, on how a
high-quality natural environment plays a major part in Scotland's overall economic
success. He also stresses the importance of individuals and communities doing
their own bit to contribute to their local environments. In addition, we report on
the ndings of a new report, Valuing our Environment, which shows how much
some of our important industries depend on the environment.
I hope you enjoy this edition and that the articles will inspire you to make
2009 the year you visit a part of Scotland that youve never been to before. And,
wherever you choose to explore, why not also take some time to enjoy the wildlife
and scenery of the National Nature Reserves in that area click on
www.nnr-scotland.org.uk to nd out more.
23/3/09 18:45:03
Wild calendar
Kenny Taylor gives
some seasonal tips for
savouring Scottish wildlife
and landscapes
1
The soft, purring
croaks of common
frogs are easiest to
hear in still weather
when rival males
compete for matings
in ponds.
1
23/3/09 18:45:06
Whether the weather is fair or foul, theres

no denying a shift in the feel of the world
now spring is unfolding. As days lengthen,
buds and birdsong swell, amphibians get
amorous and seabirds re-occupy their
colonies. Each week brings changes,
making this the ideal season for anyone
who relishes natural variety and
plenty of it.
City (and country) slickers

Theres nothing like a good gathering place to boost wildlife
watching. In Scotland, one small pond or large puddle can
do the trick with some slippery customers: amphibians.
Watching a group of frogs in full communal mating action,
glistening bodies clasped, can give a steamy contrast to chill
weather. On calm evenings when the air is still, you could
listen for their subtle, insistent croaking. At Caerlaverock
National Nature Reserve, you might hear the more raucous
chorus of natterjack toads.
More often than meeting the maters themselves, youll
see clumps of frogspawn or strings of toadspawn where
some of the local amphibians have been getting their
breeding act together. Newts are more subtle, laying
individual eggs under leaves of water plants.
For further watery inspiration, some city dwellers could
head for urban wetlands and watercourses. Glasgows
Hogganeld Loch Local Nature Reserve has amphibianfriendly pools. And the Water of Leith, in many ways
Edinburghs home river, has plenty of other wetland interest.
Web tips:
www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/Parks_Outdoors/Parks_
gardens/hogganeldpark.htm
www.wateroeith.org.uk
2
Male toads try to grasp
spawning females for
as long as possible in
their efforts at
fatherhood.
www.snh.org.uk
23/3/09 18:45:09
Lend them your ears
Its remarkable how a blink of spring sunshine can make

small birds warm to some song. The rst migrant cuckoos
could still be weeks away, but that doesnt deter chafnches,
thrushes, tits and many other resident songsters from
welcoming in the season.
If you want to recognise more bird songs, early spring is
an ideal time to start. Tuning-in on a handful of resident birds
on a bright March day can be much less confusing than
trying to unravel massed songs in an early summer chorus
that includes migrant warblers, for example.
You could combine some song learning with enjoyment of
other heritage at the Falls of Clyde beside New Lanark. The
woods here have many kinds of breeding birds and plenty
of landscape drama along the chasms and cascades of the
river. They could give you a taste for others scattered in the
wider Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve.
From May onwards, this is also a good place to take part in
an organised badger watch.
Web tip :
www.swt.org.uk/Falls-of-Clyde-Visitor-Centre
Ogling Tammie Norrie
Remarkably for such a familiar and abundant seabird,

Atlantic pufns almost vanish from the average birdwatchers
radar through autumn and winter. Thats because pufns
spend the darker months out to sea, so widely scattered that
you could sail the North Sea or their namesake ocean for
days and not see one.
Come late April and May at Scottish colonies, everything
changes. The pufns return in force, at rst sitting in
large ocks inshore, then coming to land. Renewing
acquaintances with neighbours, kicking winter debris from
the burrows where most nest, and snoozing beside a mate
are all popular pufn activities at this time.
The Isle of May National Nature Reserve (NNR), easily
reached by day trips from Fife, is now one of the largest
pufnries in Britain and Ireland. At the extreme north of the
country, the NNRs at Noss and Hermaness can reward
anyone with an eye for a good pufn or Tammie Norrie as
the Shetlanders say especially from May onwards.
Web tips (downloadable leaets):
www.snh.org.uk/nnr-scotland/publications_detail.
asp?pubID=119
www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/reserve.asp?NNRId=34
6
23/3/09 18:45:11
Get the drift

Botanists usually call them wild hyacinths. Most of us still
know them as bluebells. But whatever the name for the plant,
theres general agreement about its oral impact. Make no
mistake, the massed displays of these owers give Britain
star billing in the European spring blooms scene. And
Scotland has some excellent venues for that action.
Old-established broadleaved woods, where the trees
are wide enough apart to allow plenty of light to reach the
ground, can be great for bluebells and other spring-owering
plants such as wood anemone. In the southwest, theres an
excellent cluster of bluebell woods near Gatehouse-of-Fleet.
Carstramon Wood, a Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve, is one
of these. Its the largest of several oakwoods in the lower
valley of the Water of Fleet.
Use its paths for circular walks to appreciate bluebells
and listen for birds such as wood warbler. Hundreds of
kilometres away, the woods at Cawdor Castle, beside
Cawdor village, have one of the best shows of bluebells and
other spring owers in the north.
Web tips
www.gatehouse-of-eet.co.uk/Gatehouse_Walks.pdf (leaet)
www.cawdorcastle.com/bigwood/index.cfm
www.snh.org.uk
3
Trill seekers blue tits
add more trills to their
songs in areas where
there are also many
great tits.
4
Both breeding pufns
and young birds like to
loaf at club areas,
such as on rocks, in
their colonies.
5
The soft tones of
bluebells, bracken and
fresh oak leaves are
classic colours of
spring in some lowland
Scottish woods.
7
5
23/3/09 18:45:17
2009 is Scotlands
Year of Homecoming
and Marie Christie, the
events project director,
has picked out some of
the highlights for us
1
John Muir was born in
Dunbar, East Lothian,
and had a passion for
wild places, a legacy
that continues across
the world today.
2
The Caithness &
Sutherland Walking
Festival will run from
2 to 9 May and provide
a celebration of
outdoor activities in
the far north.
Time to celebrate!
Scotlands national Homecoming celebrations formally kicked off at
the end of January and will be running through to St Andrews Day
at the end of November. From Orkney to Aberdeen, from Oban to
the Scottish Borders, more than 300 events are planned across
Scotland as part of the Homecoming.
1
23/3/09 18:45:19
First up was a series of events to mark the 250th anniversary

of the birth of Scotlands national poet and cultural icon
Robert Burns. With Burns as the inspiration behind the yearlong events programme, Homecoming also celebrates some
of Scotlands other great contributions to the world. The
main themes are: great minds and innovations, whisky, golf,
and our rich culture and heritage that lives on at home and
through our global family.
Particular Homecoming events that celebrate Scotlands
natural heritage and wildlife include:
Were delighted SNH are supporting Homecoming and

pleased to be working in partnership on a number of
projects, including the Placebook initiative. This encourages
people to capture the essence of their favourite location
through photographs, writing and recordings and share this
on the Placebook website.
The John Muir Odyssey, a year-long Homecoming

celebration of the life and legacy of John Muir, the
Scottish-born founder of the US national parks and father
of modern conservation. Check out www.jmbt.org.uk
Roots and Boughs: Summer in the Straths, from May to
October, exploring the exceptional landscapes, beauty and
history of Mackay Country in Sutherland.
Click on www.mackaycountry.com for details.
Forest Heritage Scotland, a year-long programme
exploring the sites and settlements that lie hidden beneath
the trees.
Go to www.forestheritagescotland.com for details.
Caithness & Sutherland Walking Festival, a great week
of walking in May in the far north.
Look up www.activities.iberacal.com for details.
Crieff & Strathearn Drovers Tryst, eight days of
walking, socialising and history in October among the
dazzling autumn colours of the Perthshire landscape.
Check out www.droverstryst.co.uk for details.
In the Footsteps of the Reivers, a special programme
of themed walks in September across the Scottish
Borders, where story-telling and music capture the
fascinating colourful history of the Border Reivers and the
distinctive landscape that was their home. Click on
www.ourscotborders.com/HomecomingScotland.aspx
for details.
Spring: During May, experience a month-long special focus

of events on one of Scotlands greatest treasures: whisky!
Look out for some of Scotlands most popular distilleries as
they open their doors to Homecoming visitors.
www.snh.org.uk
Other highlights
Other calendar highlights across the year include:
Summer: Over the summer there will be some new major

international events. The Gathering 2009 will celebrate the
contribution that Scottish clans have made to the history and
culture of the world.
Autumn: In October the Highlands will present Highland
Homecoming, a fortnight-long festival celebrating the best of
Highland culture. It will be built around a major international
conference exploring Scotlands global impact how one
small nation changed the world!
Closing celebrations: In November, there will be a major
celebration of Scottish music. This will include Homecoming
Live in Glasgow and the Scots traditional music awards in
Dumfries.
Why not get involved and join our
celebration events? Homecoming
offers a huge opportunity for Scotland
and we can all contribute to its
success.
9
23/3/09 18:45:19
Volunteer
to get out
more
Sign up for a taster
day and discover
how you can help
Scotlands birds
1
You can get involved in
bird recording at many
different levels and
training is available.
2
Volunteers come from
all walks of life to
record birds in
Scotland.
10
Some folk may think of bird

recording as a hobby for geeks
with telescopes and notebooks!
But it's really an activity that
everyone can enjoy. That's the
message from the thousands of
volunteers who carry out surveys
of birds and other wildlife in
Scotland every year.
And to prove the point, the British Trust
for Ornithology (BTO) Scotland are
running a programme of free survey
taster days to let you see for yourself
the different types of recording you can
get involved in and how easy it is to
take part.
Theres a mix of training on offer,
explained Robin Anderson of BTO
Scotland, and most of its suitable for
beginners whove done little, or no, bird
recording before.
Many people take up bird recording
because it offers a great opportunity to
get out more, discover new places and
experience the wonder of Scotlands
nature as well as understand a bit
more about birds.
And the work is vital. Bird recorders
help to monitor the health of Scottish
bird populations and provide the raw
data that SNH and other organisations
need to decide on conservation issues.
For instance, the information they
provide can help decide where new
nature reserves should be or work out
the impact that climate and land-use
changes may be having on Scotlands
nature.
Much of Scotland is wild and remote
and theres a lot of ground to cover.
Every volunteer who contributes to
bird recording is helping to produce a
clearer picture of whats happening to
bird populations across Scotland. You
dont have to be an expert birdwatcher
to make a useful contribution, as there
are surveys to suit everybody and help
is at hand to get you started.
The new Building Bird Monitoring in
Scotland (BBMS) project (see www.
bto.org/regional/bto_scotland/bbms)
aims to bring more volunteers into bird
recording and survey work in Scotland.
Its funded by SNH, The Gillman Trusts,
BTO and The Scottish Ornithologists'
Club (SOC).
There are general courses covering
various bird survey schemes, including
the current Bird Atlas 200711 project,
which is the largest volunteer bird
survey ever set up in the UK. There are
also more specialised courses, such as
a course on bird song, an introduction
to the Nest Record Scheme and a
course specially for hillwalkers and
outdoor enthusiasts. Check out the
programme to nd a taster day near you
at www.bto.org/regional/bto_scotland/
bbms/training_prog.htm
Courses are free to anyone whod
like to take part as a volunteer in BTO
or SOC bird surveys, Robin added.
The taster days contain a mix of indoor
and outdoor sessions and are a great
way to meet up with like-minded nature
lovers.
We provide lunch and
refreshments, and the people whove
taken part in the events so far have said
they found them really enjoyable and
interesting days out.
The BBMS project will also be
producing three issues of the Birds
in View newsletter, which provides a
guide to bird surveying opportunities
in Scotland. The rst issue is available
for download now at www.bto.org/
regional/bto_scotland/bbms/newsletter.
htm
If youd like more information about
the BBMS project or would like to book
a place on a bird survey taster day,
please contact Robin Anderson at BTO
Scotland by emailing: robin.anderson@
bto.org or phone 01786 466 560.
23/3/09 18:45:21
www.snh.org.uk
11
2
23/3/09 18:49:27
Storing up
trouble
Scotlands peatlands and
woodlands store huge
amounts of carbon, so
theyre crucially important
in controlling climate
change
1
Some 17% of
Scotland's total land
area is woodland,
which makes us one of
the least wooded
countries in Europe.
2
As forests grow,
carbon dioxide is taken
out of the air, so it
helps if we plant more
trees.
12
23/3/09 18:49:30
If were to retain a liveable climate on Earth then

our forests and peatlands have a vital role to play.
Both of them remove carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere and can hold on to it for hundreds or
even thousands of years.
Carbon dioxide (also called CO2) is the gas thats released
by cars, power stations and other human actions. The gas
traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere, which warms the
planet and leads to the climate change that threatens us all.
The benets from forests and peatlands can, however,
quickly be lost. Cutting down trees or drying out peat will
mean that much of the carbon they store is released back
into the atmosphere. In other words, living forests and
peatlands can stockpile carbon, while dying ones give out
previously stored carbon.
Trees and peatlands are the two biggest carbon stores
in Scottish nature, explained Andrew Coupar, SNHs
peatlands group manager. If were to limit climate change
and greenhouse gas releases, then its important to hold on
to as much and as many of these stores as we can.
Carbon can of course escape in various ways. For
instance, trees die and rot, wood or peat gets burnt, and
peat is harvested or worn away. But the stores can be added
to as well.
Thats how natural systems can be used to reduce the
amount of carbon in the atmosphere. We can plant more
trees, for instance, and restore damaged peatlands.
The following facts and gures (where a tonne of CO2
is roughly the same as a person breathes out in a year)
give some idea of just how important our woodlands and
peatlands are as carbon stores:
2
Wood works
Each year, Scotlands forests remove about 10% of the
annual greenhouse gases we release.
The average amount stored away over a full cycle from
planting to harvesting trees in a commercial
forest is around 3 tonnes of carbon per hectare each year.
If we use a tonne of timber instead of a tonne of concrete
or brick in a building then it saves around a tonne of
carbon dioxide.
www.snh.org.uk
13
1
23/3/09 18:49:36
Super stores
Peat soils in Scotland contain almost

25 times as much carbon as all other
plantlife in the UK.
Scotlands peat soils hold almost
a third of the carbon held by all of
Europes forests (3 billion tonnes
compared with 9.5 billion tonnes).
Peatland thats drained for forestry
releases 24 tonnes of carbon per
hectare per year for the rst 24
years after ploughing. After that the
trees start to store carbon.
Undisturbed peatlands store about
0.25 tonnes of carbon per hectare
each year.
Current affairs
Each household in Scotland releases

about 0.5 tonnes of carbon into the
atmosphere every year through
electricity use.
There are around 1.8 million hectares
of peatland and 2.3 million
households in Scotland. If all our
peatlands were undamaged theyd
stockpile the same as almost 40% of
all the carbon produced by
Scotlands households from electricity
use.
Wind of change
A typical 2 megawatt onshore wind

turbine reduces CO2 emissions by
2260 tonnes each year (compared
with electricity thats produced
from the standard mix of sources
coal, oil, gas, hydro and renewables).
Wind farms clearly reduce carbon
emissions from fossil fuels. But if
theyre built on peat they can spend
the rst 25 years compensating
for the loss of peat.
14
23/3/09 18:49:41
Mind boggling
Burning a litre of diesel produces

around 2.62 kg of carbon dioxide.
Petrol has a lower carbon content
and produces around 2.39 kg of CO2
per litre.
Intact bog plantlife builds up around
920 kg of carbon dioxide per hectare
per year.
So one hectare of intact bog
stockpiles the CO2 output from 384
litres of petrol or 350 litres of diesel
every year.
The cost of this fuel would be around
345 per year at current prices.
The one-off cost of restoring bogs,
by drain blocking, varies a lot. It can
be several hundred pounds per
hectare or as low as 8 per hectare
in the Flow Country of Caithness &
Sutherland.
Trees and peatlands work together to

reduce the amount of carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere, Andrew added. If
we protect existing stores and manage
areas to help the future build-up of
carbon then theyll continue to help
reduce climate change.
Theyll also help increase the variety
of life around us and provide a range
of other environmental services, such
as helping to manage ooding and
providing clean water supplies.
3
Peatlands are the
ultimate carbon store.
They can lock up
carbon for thousands
of years.
4
Heat accounts for 53%
of total energy demand
in Scotland, with
electricity at 20% and
transport at 27%.
5
Around 20% of
Scotland's electricity is
currently generated by
renewable energy.
6
If peatland drains are
blocked then the ability
of the bog to hold
water will be restored
and the peat can grow
again.
www.snh.org.uk
15
23/3/09 18:49:46
As others see us
What attracts visitors to
Scotland? Sandy Dear of
VisitScotland reveals the
reasons why millions of tourists
ock here each year
16
23/3/09 18:49:51
Here I am sitting on the train, travelling south

through Drumochter, looking for inspiration for
this article on the importance of our natural
environment for tourism. And the inspiration is all
around me. From snowy winter hills to sweeping,
sandy beaches and everything in between, these
are the reasons so many of our visitors come to
Scotland on holiday and keep coming back year
after year.
www.snh.org.uk
What makes Scotlands natural environment quite so

appealing to our visitors? We may not have the highest,
the biggest, or even the wildest. But what we do have is
a unique mix of unspoiled and inhabited areas where the
natural environment is easy to reach and closely tied in
with our cultural heritage making the landscape part of
the visitor experience rather than simply the backdrop to it.
And easy access means we can cater for visitors on a short
city break to Scotland who want to experience some of our
wonderful wildlife in an afternoon, as well as those who want
to dive right in for two weeks or more.
17
23/3/09 18:49:54
In 2007, almost 16 million tourists

took overnight trips to Scotland. Their
annual spend was over 4.2 billion,
supporting over 9% of all jobs in
Scotland. People from overseas made
up 18% of tourism trips to Scotland, or
about 1.4bn in 2007. With partners
from across the tourism industry,
VisitScotland are working hard with
other public sector partners and the
tourism industry to increase visitor
spend. To help us do this we need to
understand what it is that our visitors
really love about Scotland.
Since 2004, VisitScotland have
commissioned the Visitor Experience
Survey to help us better understand
our visitors. The aim is to provide an
overview of visitors experiences in
Scotland, and to gather general views
and opinions from a cross-section of
visitors, in order to gain a snapshot of
the Scottish tourism experience. We
recruit visitors from home and abroad
in the summer and interview them over
the telephone after their holiday in

Scotland.
The results show that the main
reasons visitors choose to holiday in
Scotland remain pretty much the same
from year to year. They include: the
scenery; the number of things to see
and do; the friendliness of the local
people; and the nature and wildlife
(even more important to international
visitors). In this years survey, the
Spanish and Dutch, in particular, saw
nature and wildlife as a very important
factor. Indeed, Scotland is ranked the
top European eco-destination and
ninth in the world, with wildlife tourism
generating around 210 million for the
Scottish economy in 2006.
Whilst these factors have regularly
been the most important reasons
for choosing Scotland as a place to
holiday, its important to note that
theyre also the things on which
Scotland is thought to perform best.
1
Looking along the
'Queen's View' towards
Schiehallion from the
east end of Loch
Tummel.
2
Dramatic scenery lies
at the heart of our
capital city, with the
crags and hills of
Holyrood Park giving
Edinburgh its
distinctive skyline.
3
Close encounters with
wildlife create
treasured memories
for many visitors.
18
23/3/09 18:49:57
Looking good
In the 2007 survey, French, German

and Italian visitors all rated scenery
along with nature/wildlife as the top
two reasons for visiting Scotland. 94%
of our French visitors and 97% of our
German visitors rated scenery as very
important or important in their decision
to come to Scotland on holiday. Even
87% of our visitors from Canada,
a country with some fairly stunning
scenery of its own, quoted scenery as a
key reason for coming to Scotland.
What was also remarkable was their
satisfaction level with these aspects
of Scotland following their visit: a
whopping 82% were very satised with
the scenery they experienced during
their visit.
In the 2008 survey, 95% of our US
visitors rated scenery as signicant,
making it the single most important
reason for coming to Scotland. And
scenery received a big thumbs up,
with a rating of 4.8 out of 5 in terms of
satisfaction.
For VisitScotland, the natural
heritage is a key theme, along with our
cultural heritage, in all of our marketing
initiatives promoting Scotland. It
even features in our city marketing
campaigns through our City Plus
initiative promoting day visits from
Edinburgh and Glasgow. Indeed,
Scotlands scenery, nature and wildlife
remain central to VisitScotlands
efforts to attract visitors, whether its
on websites, through direct mail or in
brochures.
www.snh.org.uk
19
23/3/09 18:50:02
Biggest in Europe
Eight out of ten people who completed the 2007 survey felt
that Scotland protects and cares for its natural environment,
and an impressive four out of ten people felt their holiday
decisions were affected by environmental concerns. Back
in 1997 VisitScotland recognised how important the
environment is to visitors and set up the Green Tourism
Business Scheme (GTBS) with our partners. Its now the
biggest scheme of its kind in Europe, with the resource
savings made by GTBS members playing a big part in
Scotland becoming a more sustainable tourism destination.
In addition, weve set up our own planning and sustainability
team at VisitScotland. As well as making VisitScotland
a greener organisation, by reducing our own energy use
and business travel, were working with all VisitScotland
departments to build sustainable development into all that
we do. Through this work we aim to play our part in making
Scotland the most sustainable place for tourism in Europe.
That way we can make sure those lovely Drumochter hills
and wonderful sandy beaches bring pleasure to locals and
visitors alike this year, next year and for generations to come.
20
4
The Scottish Seabird
Centre at North
Berwick holds the
Green Tourism Gold
Award and was
VisitScotland's
Tourism Business of
the Year 2008.
5
Scotland is blessed
with some very ne
beaches, such as this
one at Yellowcraigs,
near Dirleton, East
Lothian.
23/3/09 18:50:05
www.snh.org.uk
21
5
23/3/09 19:57:32
News
shellsh to the humble bumblebee,
many species that we may often
dismiss as not being important or even
cute enough to protect have a vital
A new vision for the conservation of
thousands of Scotlands animal species role to play in Scottish biodiversity and
many are under threat.
has been launched.
It must also be stressed that many
Invertebrates, such as insects
invertebrate species are also critical to
and shellsh, make up around 98%
the Scottish economy. I hope this new
of Scotlands animal species. A new
strategy will aim to ensure theyre
valued and protected for future
generations.
Invertebrates are animals without
backbones and they play a key role in a
healthy environment and economy. But
they're currently at risk from their homes
being destroyed, over-exploitation,
pollution and other threats.
The strategy produced by the
Initiative for Scottish Invertebrates
and funded by SNH explains how
98% of Scotlands animals can be
saved. It involves using the expertise
of volunteers to ensure that threatened
habitats, sites and species are
identied and conserved.
The strategy was launched by
former minister for the environment
Michael Russell, who said that
invertebrates were the unsung heroes
of the animal kingdom. From bugs to
Vision for bugs, snails

and starsh
strategy will encourage many Scots to

take an interest in what is a fascinating
range of species and ensure we all
work together to ensure they have a
future in Scotland.
A copy of the strategy can be
downloaded at www.buglife.org.uk/
Resources/Buglife/Documents/PDF/
ScottishStrategy.pdf
Boundary change goes before Parliament

A report on proposals to extend the
Cairngorms National Park into Perth
and Kinross has gone to the Scottish
Parliament.
The report recommends changes
in three locations along Glen Garry,
at Killiecrankie (pictured right) and in
Glen Shee to the boundary on which
SNH consulted. The extension would
enlarge the national park already
the UKs largest by almost 20%,
adding another 71,000 hectares and an
additional 930 residents.
SNH carried out a consultation on
both the new-look park boundaries
and how local councils should be
represented on the park board. The
22
next steps towards extending the

national park will be taken by Scottish
Ministers.
The Government asked SNH
to conduct the consultation into the
reshaping of the park boundary,
explained Susan Davies, SNHs north
operations director. We ran the
consultation earlier this year and a
total of 66 people and organisations
responded. Were pleased that our
recommendations have now been
placed before the Parliament.
The report contains maps of the
SNH recommended boundary and a
summary of the consultation responses.
You can view them at www.snh.org.uk/
nationalparks
23/3/09 19:57:35
New funding to tackle wildlife crime

If you have an original idea for how to
tackle wildlife crime in Scotland, then
wed like to hear from you.
The Scottish Government has given
SNH extra funds to help combat wildlife
crime, with 220,000 available for
projects to be completed by 31 March
2011.
Scheme awards will normally be
for up to 20,000 per year, with no
lower limit, and for up to 50% of eligible
costs.
Proposals must show how they
would make sure the law is put
into force, provide intelligence and/
or prevent crime. You can apply by
downloading details of the scheme and
an SNH grant application form from our
website. Click on www.snh.org.uk and
go to Our Work, then select Grants
from the drop-down list.
SNH runs the scheme on behalf of a
number of organisations involved in the
Partnership for Action Against Wildlife

Crime (PAW). If you have a proposal
youd like to discuss, please contact
Stewart Pritchard on 01738 458 649
or email: stewart.pritchard@snh.gov.uk
The new funding follows soon after
the publishing of a map highlighting hot
spots where conrmed poisoning of
birds of prey has taken place over the
last ve years in Scotland.
The map has been veried by the
Government and marks agreement
among PAW partner organisations on
the size and general location of the
problems of poisonings.
The map covers the period
20042008 and was compiled for
the Scottish Government using data
from the Scottish Agricultural Science
Agency. The species of birds conrmed
as poisoned and included in the
incidents are red kite (pictured right),
buzzard, golden eagle, goshawk, tawny
owl, sea eagle and peregrine falcon.

Publication of the map has been
hailed as a signicant step forward, as
the level of crime committed against
birds of prey has often been a source
of disagreement between the wildlife
lobby and land managers. You can
view the map at www.scotland.gov.uk/
Topics/Environment/Wildlife-Habitats/
bird-poisoning-map
Red alert as project launches

A three-year project to try and save
Scotlands red squirrel population will
get under way in April.
The 1.3 million Saving Scotlands
Red Squirrels project will develop
habitats in which they can ourish,
protect routes into their northern
strongholds and cull grey squirrels in
targeted areas of the country.
The number of reds has been
dropping since the arrival of the grey
squirrel from North America in the 19th
century. Greys compete with reds for
food and can also carry the squirrel pox
virus, which can kill reds in about 14
days.
There are currently some 121,000
red squirrels in Scotland, which
represents about 75% of the UKs
reds. There are thought to be between
200,000 and 300,000 greys in
Scotland.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust, SNH,
Forestry Commission Scotland and the
Scottish Rural Property and Business
Association are behind the project.
Ron Macdonald, head of policy and
advice with SNH, said that grey squirrel
www.snh.org.uk
control would focus on the key routes

being used by grey squirrels to spread
north.
Greys have already pushed out
the red squirrels from most of England,
Wales and Scotlands central belt,
he said, but much of the north still
remains free of greys.
Unfortunately, sightings of greys
are becoming more frequent in
northern Perthshire and Angus, and
theres already a population of them
established in Aberdeen. Its therefore
essential that we act quickly to protect
red squirrels north of the central belt
and stop the greys advancing further.
Meanwhile, 32 red squirrels have

been released at a site in the northwest
Highlands to try and re-establish
them there. The animals were trapped
under licence at a number of sites
in the east Highlands by well-known
wildlife consultant Roy Dennis and then
released on the Dundonnell Estate in
Wester Ross.
The red squirrel has been absent
from the area for around 30 years and
its hoped this pilot project will extend
its breeding range and provide a refuge
from the threat of the greys.
This is very much a pilot project,
Ron Macdonald of SNH commented.
Well need to look at the results
carefully before making decisions about
the future of any similar ventures.
We issued the licence for the red
squirrels to be collected and weve
been involved in making sure there
were no harmful effects through the
animals being removed. The squirrels
are being checked by a vet and the
project includes very careful monitoring
of the animals over a ve-year period.
23
23/3/09 19:57:37
News
Action plan for
geese agreed
reduce the threats and support the

species through its current problems.
The Greenland white-fronted
An international action plan aimed at
goose breeds only in west Greenland,
reviving the fortunes of the Greenland
migrating in spring and autumn
white-fronted goose has been agreed
through south and west Iceland to
after a summit meeting on the island of
wintering grounds in the north and
Islay in February.
west of Scotland, west Wales and
A group of world experts on the
Ireland. Scotland holds about 13,000
goose visited the island for a three-day
Greenland white-fronted geese, with
conference and workshop organised
some 7,000 of them wintering on Islay.
by SNH. There are growing concerns
The decline in numbers has
that declines in numbers of the geese
happened because the geese are no
threaten the survival of the distinctive
longer producing enough young to
species.
of the species.
replace those that die each year. The
Their population has tumbled from
Hopes are now high that the new
reasons for the low levels of young
a peak of 35,600 in 1999 to 23,200
action plan will stem the decline in the
being born are thought to include too
last spring. The rapid decline is causing goose populations and their breeding
much snowfall in recent years when the
concern in Greenland, Iceland, Ireland
productivity. The agreement reached on geese arrived at their nesting grounds
and the UK, which are the four key
Islay will mean targeted conservation
and competition with the increasing
countries in the migratory life cycle
work in each country designed to
Canada goose population in Greenland.
Gaelic natural world online

A new learning tool to help people
identify and understand Gaelic names
for trees, plants and animals is now
available online.
Faclan Ndair, or Words of
Nature, is for Gaelic speakers and
non-speakers alike. You can nd it by
clicking on the SNH website www.snh.
24
org.uk and going to the Gaelic section.

The online database offers translations
of names that describe our native
species and also provides audio guides
to help with pronouncing the Gaelic
words.
The new resource highlights the fact
that many traditional Gaelic names and
terms can add to our understanding

through their vivid descriptions and
insights to the story of a particular
species.
Behaviour and usefulness often
feature in Gaelic names, explained
Shona Sloan, SNHs Gaelic
communications ofcer and a native
Gaelic speaker from South Uist.
For instance, there are two names
in Gaelic for the bluebell. The rst is
brg na chuthaig, or the cuckoos
shoe, due to the shape of its ower and
because it appears at the same time as
the cuckoo.
But its also called fuath-mhuc,
or the thing the pig dislikes, which
suggests youre unlikely to nd a pig
near bluebells as theyre believed to
nd the smell unpleasant.
Faclan Ndair is an ongoing project
and were keen to hear from anyone
who might know local Gaelic names
for different species. If you might
have something we could add to the
database, please contact Shona Sloan
on 01463 725 038 or email her at
shona.sloan@snh.gov.uk
23/3/09 19:57:41
Sea eagle
study starts
Happy Birthday St Abbs!

Scotlands rst marine reserve is 25
years old this year and you can join in
the celebrations by taking part in some
of the special events organised to mark
the occasion.
The ofcial launch of St Abbs &
Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve
(VMR) took place in August 1984
when conservationist Sir David Bellamy
jumped into the water at St Abbs
harbour to declare it open.
This was Scotlands rst
marine protected area, explained
National Trust for Scotland ranger
for the reserve, Liza Cole, and just
establishing it was ground-breaking
stuff.
It involved an enormous number of
people and an awful lot of discussions
to settle differences between various
parties. Since then, the reserve
has continued to lead the way in
community-led marine conservation.
Lizas job as marine ranger

involves looking after the day-to-day
management of the VMR and bringing
about its aims of protecting the rich
marine wildlife of the area, educating
people about the marine environment
and promoting responsible use of the
coastal waters.
I feel very honoured to be at the
helm as the reserve reaches such
a major milestone, Liza continued.
Were planning a whole year of
celebratory events that I hope will bring
enjoyment to a lot of folk, while also
reecting the amount of work that has
been put in by so many people over the
years.
Check out the website www.marinereserve.co.uk/volunteers-conservation/
news/news.php for full details of the
many events. They include seashore
safaris, searching for cetaceans, an
underwater photography competition
and much more.
An independent study has begun into

the extent to which sea eagles were
involved in the losses of lambs reported
in a couple of areas of the west
Highlands last year.
The study resulted from a meeting
between crofters from the Gairloch and
Skye areas, SNH, the Scottish Crofting
Foundation and the RSPB Scotland.
Crofters on the Gairloch peninsula
reported losses of more than 200
lambs between May and September
last year and claimed that sea eagles
took most of them.
Funded by SNH, the study will
look at the 2008 information on sheep
deaths and lamb losses at Gairloch
and in an area of Skye. Researchers
will also monitor a group of lambs this
spring to nd out what theyre dying
from and will check sea eagle nests to
see what theyre preying on.
Local land managers naturally
want to nd a solution, explained Ron
Macdonald, head of policy and advice
with SNH. Well be providing the
resources for monitoring and research
in order to understand the situation
better and ensure we get the right
solution rst time.
Seek advice call

A call has gone out for land managers
to seek advice before starting works on
protected areas. The request has been
made by SNH after a recent court case
involving damage to a protected site of
special scientic interest.
SNH's south operations director,
Roddy Fairley, appealed to land
managers to work with the organisation.
SNH are keen to stress that we have
www.snh.org.uk
good working relations with most

land managers and we continually
provide advice on how to keep within
the law while carrying out normal land
management, he explained.
Most routine land management
can still take place on protected areas
if managers seek advice from SNH
before starting works on them.
25
Dualchas coitcheann
Common heritage
Two birds traditionally

linked with Scotland carry
English names that come
from Gaelic. Ruairidh
MacIlleathain explains the
origins of ptarmigan and
capercaillie
D eun Ghidhlig
na h-Alba
Tha aon rud cinnteach mun fhacal
trmachan, s an d fhuaireadh
ptarmigan ann am Beurla cha robh
an litir p ceangailte ris a-riamh ann
an Gidhlig! Cha mh a nochd am p
ann an seann lmh-sgrobhainnean
Beurla ann an Alba. Mar eisimpleir,
sgrobh an Rgh, Seumas VI, gu Iarla
Thulaich Bhrdainn, ag iarraidh air
termigantis a chur thuige (airson an
truinnseir). Tha e coltach gun deach am
p neo-fhuaimnichte a chur ri toiseach
an fhacail le muinntir Oxford nuair a
bhathar a cur faclair Beurla ri chile
(samhail pterodactyl). Ann an sgre
Gherrloch, s e tormachan a chanar ris
an eun-mhonaidh seo agus tha smuain
ann gur e torm (no torman) am facal as
fherr a n tuairisgeul air gairm an ein.
A bharrachd air sin, s e tarm seann
riochd air torm. S ann s an fhuaim a
dhirich ainm an ein, a rir choltais.
S e an trmachan eun oigeil stite
Alasga agus s iomadh duine a mhair
be tron gheamhradh an sin le bhith
ag ithe thrmachan. Air silleabh sin,
26
bhathar a dol a chur Ptarmigan mar

ainm air baile beag minnearach ann an
taobh sear na stite o chionn mu cheud
bliadhna. Ge-t, cha b urrainn do na
daoine aontachadh air litreachadh an
ainm (air silleabh a p) agus chuir iad
Chicken mar ainm air a bhaile na ite!
Tha an capall-coille cirdeach don
trmachan ach tha e a fuireach sna
coilltean ghiuthais seach sa mhonadh
mar a bhiodh dil bho ainm ann
an Gidhlig. O chionn ceithir cheud
bliadhna, sgrobh an t-Easbaig Leslie
gun robh a Bheurla capercaillie a
tighinn bhon Ghidhlig, a ciallachadh
horse of the forest. Thathar a danamh
dheth gur e as coireach ri ainm gairm
a choilich aig m na dra. Tha e
coltach ris an fhuaim a tha casan eich
a danamh, a falbh aig astar. Tha an
capall-coille agus an trmachan prseil
do mhuinntir na h-Alba ann an iomadh
digh. Am measg sin, tha gun do
dhirich na h-ainmean Beurla aca bho
ar cnan fhin.
1, 2
Tha an gairmean a
toirt dhuinn an
ainmean: s e d eun
bhragha luachmhor
a th anns a' chapallchoille (1) agus an
trmachan (2),
ainmean a dhirich
s na gairmean a tha
iad a danamh.
23/3/09 19:57:48
Two Gaelic birds

of Scotland
The silent p in ptarmigan is an odd
way to start the word. It was apparently
added by dictionary makers, despite
the words clear origin in the Gaelic
trmachan, rather than any Ancient
Greek root. In old Scottish manuscripts
in Scots or English, the initial letter of
the word is t not p. The inspiration
for trmachan (tormachan in the
Gairloch dialect) is the word tarm or
torm, which means a murmur a good
description of the call made by this
mountain-dwelling bird, as hillwalkers
can conrm.
Its relative, the capercaillie, also
owes its English name to the Gaelic
language. It is capall-coille the
horse of the forest as Bishop Leslie
indicated some four centuries ago. The
name comes from the call of the cock
bird on the ancestral lek or breeding

ground its thought to resemble the
noise made by a horses hooves when
moving at pace.
The words ptarmigan and
capercaillie mean little without
knowing their origins. But trmachan
and capall-coille are names with
meaning and signicance. They offer a
hint of the richness to be found in the
links between the Gaelic language and
Scotlands environment.
If you'd like to learn more about
Gaelic names for animals, trees and
plants, check out our new online
database called Faclan Ndair, or
Words of Nature. The database is for
both Gaelic speakers and non-speakers
and you can nd it at www.snh.org.uk/
gaelic/dictionary
1, 2
The sounds they
make give us their
names: the
capercaillie (1) and
the ptarmigan (2) are
two beautiful and
valuable bird species
that carry English
names derived from
the Gaelic
interpretation of their
calls.
2
www.snh.org.uk
27
23/3/09 19:57:49
28
23/3/09 19:57:53
Childs play
Across Scotland pupils are
turning dull areas of mown
grass and tarmac in their
playgounds into wildlife
havens. Alastair Seaman of
the school grounds agency
Grounds for Learning
explains why
Think globally, act locally is now a familiar saying.

But when it comes to nature, one of the most
important local areas where we can turn words
into action is denitely the neighbourhood school.
With a little imagination and some willing volunteers, even
an inner-city tarmac playground can be turned into a wildlife
haven. And you dont need a huge budget either.
You can start by planting native trees, shrubs and owers,
which will encourage a wide range of birds and bugs. And
birdlife can also be attracted in by providing feeders, nesting
boxes and bird baths. Many schools even use webcam
boxes to study the nesting process close up. In North
Lanarkshire some of the newly built schools have also
included swift nesting boxes to encourage these high-speed
iers to take up residence.
Minibeasts will quickly move into school grounds if
you provide suitable homes, such as log or stone piles,
hibernation hotels, wildowers and areas of uncut grassland.
And you can create mini ponds by sinking large buckets into
the ground, develop wetlands from poorly draining areas,
or encourage more secretive visitors with the help of bat or
hedgehog boxes.
www.snh.org.uk
29
1
23/3/09 19:58:06
The value of all this extends far beyond the birds and
bugs that make their home in the grounds. Theres now
strong evidence that positive childhood experiences of
nature are important in developing sustainable attitudes and
behaviours in later life. If we want future generations to love
and cherish nature then we need to ensure theyre hooked
from an early age. Experiencing and caring for nature in
their own space on a daily basis, and through the different
seasons, is more likely to inuence pupils than an occasional
visit to a nature reserve, important as these are.
Many of Scotlands children have limited access to our
countryside and in some areas they dont even have access
to a garden. For these children, school grounds represent
one of the few outdoor spaces where they can experience
nature on a regular basis.
As well as getting to know nature in all its variety, school
grounds are a great place for hands-on learning about
other issues such as food, soils, air, water, climate change,
pollution and renewable energy. They also present a chance
to develop more sustainable attitudes and habits, such
as encouraging cycling or walking, growing food, litter
management and composting. These subjects are now
taught widely in class across Scotland. The challenge is to
ensure that theyre not only taught in class but practised
as part of everyday school life. Theres no better way to
learn than to do and without the chance to put things
into practice theres a danger that classroom teaching is
undermined.
30
23/3/09 19:58:15
Greening our school grounds has amazing knock-on

effects. By making them look more pleasant it helps create
positive feelings and a sense of pride in the school. Pupils
and teachers enjoy school more and teachers often report
improved behaviour and a better attitude to learning. The
process of improving wildlife also offers a great way of
getting the local community involved in school life.
With the support of SNH, Grounds for Learning are
working to highlight the rich potential of school grounds and
to support teachers, pupils and parents in turning them into
nature-friendly spaces. Support is offered through:
training events for teachers and nursery school workers;
an annual conference that celebrates good practice;
a service where we visit and advise, which can include an
after-school training session with teachers or a workshop;
a free newsletter every term packed with case studies,
ideas and news;
advice by phone and email for members, as well as access
to an online library;
a website with inspiring case studies and free resources to
download;
a free teachers' booklet with inspiration and practical
ideas; and
a wide variety of books, DVDs and toolkits, for sale or
available on loan.
You can nd out more about all of these options and get
further information at www.gscotland.org.uk or by phoning
Grounds for Learning on 01259 220 887.
The best classroom

and the richest
cupboard is roofed
only by the sky.
Nursery education pioneer
Margaret McMillan, 1914
1
Fresh air, natural light
and open spaces blow
away the cobwebs and
stimulate the brain.
2
Involving pupils in
looking after their
grounds encourages a
sense of ownership,
pride and self-worth.
3
Suited and booted
children can enjoy
outdoor play and
learning in any
weather.
4
The outdoors offer
opportunities to
showcase children's
creativity.
5
84% of schools that
have developed their
grounds report that
pupils interact better.
www.snh.org.uk
31
23/3/09 20:21:31
32
23/3/09 20:21:33
The Cabinet Secretary

for Rural Affairs and the
Environment, Richard
Lochhead MSP, outlines
recent Government action
for a greener Scotland
Big year for

environment
1
Major proposals for the
environment will go
before Parliament this
year, dealing with
climate change,
ooding and our seas.
www.snh.org.uk
again! last year is clear evidence

that changing weather patterns are
here to stay and we need to do all we
can to protect homes, businesses and
communities.
Scotlands rst Marine Bill will
protect our seas and both the habitats
And as SNHs own research shows
and industries they support. Vitally, the
elsewhere in this magazine (pp.
Westminster Government has recently
5053), the natural environment is
agreed that Scotland will have control
also an important economic asset.
of marine planning and conservation out
So protecting and improving our
to 200 nautical miles.
environment is not only good for us and
All three Bills will be considered
good for the planet, its good for the
by Parliament in 2009. Thats a clear
economy too. Thats never been more
signal about how serious the Scottish
important than during these current,
Government takes its environmental
difcult times.
responsibilities. This coming year well
And thats why we all need to act
also be continuing our work to help
now, individually and collectively, to
individuals and communities do their
protect our precious natural assets and own bit to help the environment
reduce further damage from climate
locally and globally.
change.
Mr Earth the face of our Go
The Scottish Government have
Greener campaign will again be
been playing their part for a greener
highly visible and well also be rolling
Scotland by taking action across a
out millions of more pounds from
number of fronts. Weve been working
our Climate Challenge Fund to help
in partnership with our own agencies,
communities reduce their carbon
such as SNH, as well as with local
footprint and save residents cash. The
authorities, communities and others.
Fund totals 27.4 million and will be
Together were delivering changes that open for applications through till 2011.
will bring real and lasting benets to the
2009 is shaping up to be another
environment and people.
big year for the environment and once
Last year we consulted on major
again the Scottish Government will
new proposals in three key areas of
be at the forefront of work to create
environmental policy climate change, a greener Scotland and to ensure
ooding and our seas.
sustainable, economic growth. By all
Our Climate Change Bill, which
working together, the future for our
also includes new proposals on waste, environment can be much brighter.
will put Scotland at the forefront of
For more information, visit www.
global action to reduce greenhouse gas infoscotland.com/gogreener
emissions. It has a challenging target of
reducing emissions by 80% by 2050.
Our Flooding Bill will put in place
21st-century measures to deal with
the impact of climate change on our
weather. The heavy rain we suffered
Scotland is blessed with a

fantastic environment that we
can all appreciate and enjoy
every day. It is part of who and
what we are.
33
23/3/09 20:21:40
Events diary
April
2009
Friday 10 Nature Detectives

Levenmouth Woods
Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
Wednesday 15 Area Evening

Monday 20 Receptions
Kingussie/
Newtonmore
Borders
(location tbc)
May
All welcome (please check SNH website or local

area ofce to conrm venue and timings).
Hear, and hopefully see, some of the Taynish

woodland wildlife. From 10am to 12 noon come
along and tune in your ears to the melodies.
Tel: 01546 603 611
Saturday 25 Meet the Wardens

Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
Drop in to the Boathouse Hide from 11am to 3pm

to chat with the SNH wardens about the wildlife
of Loch Leven. No need to book.
Tel: 01577 864 439
Wednesday 29 Sharing Good

Practice: Inspired by
nature
Battleby
Perth
How do we nd inspiration? Repeated by popular Tel: 01738 458 556

demand, this event led by Gordon MacLellan
sgp@snh.gov.uk
(Creeping Toad) will focus on hands-on creative
activities for interpreters, educators and workshop
leaders.
Wednesday 29 Volunteers Meeting

Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
From 7.30pm to 9pm well be joined by guest

speaker Dr Heather McHafe from the Royal
Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Call the reserve
ofce to book your place.
Tel: 01577 864 439
A large number of onshore wind farms have been

given consent in Scotland and will be built over
the next two to three years. This event aims to
share the experience gained from building the
wind farms already operating here.
Tel: 01738 458 556

sgp@snh.gov.uk
Thursday 7
Sharing Good
Practice: Wind farm
construction
Battleby
Perth
Sunday 10 Dawn Chorus

Loch Lomond NNR
West Highlands
Tuesday 19 Levenmouth Botany

Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
Tel: 01577 864 439
Saturday 25 Bird Song Walk

Taynish NNR
Argyll
Thursday 7 Area Evening

Thursday 14 Receptions
Mallaig
Shetland
(location tbc)
34
Guided walk for all the family from 10am to 12

noon. Join us in Levenmouth Woods to search
for birds, otters, red squirrels and more! Booking
essential.

Join us from 5.30am to 8.00am and experience

the impressive dawn chorus. Meet at Kilmaronock
Millennium Hall, Gartocharn, and well take you
down onto the reserve and help identify bird
songs and calls. Booking essential.
Tel: 01389 722 105
SNH guided walk from 6pm to 8pm to explore

the range of plants at Levenmouth. Booking
essential.
Tel: 01577 864 439
23/3/09 20:21:43
Saturday 23 Moth Trapping

Taynish NNR
Argyll
June
Tel: 01546 603 611
Sunday 24 Burleigh Botany

Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
SNH guided walk from 9am to 12 noon to explore Tel: 01577 864 439
the range of plants at Burleigh Sands, as part of
Loch Leven's annual Discovery Day in Kirkgate
Park. Booking essential.
Tuesday 2 Findatie Botany

Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
SNH guided walk from 6pm to 8pm to explore

the range of plants at Findatie. Booking essential.
Tel: 01577 864 439
Saturday 6 Bracken Bashers

Taynish NNR
Argyll
Some fun exercise from 10am to 1pm to keep the

clearings open for wildlife.
Tel: 01546 603 611
Tuesday 9 Sharing Good

Practice: Invasive
non-native species
Battleby
Perth
Invasive non-native species are a big threat to

Tel: 01738 458 556
biodiversity. Ciria (the Construction Industry
sgp@snh.gov.uk
Research and Information Association) has
recognised this threat and developed a manual on
managing invasive species.
Wednesday 10 Meet the Wardens

Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
Drop in between 3pm and 7pm to the Kingsher

Hide at Burleigh to chat with the wardens about
the wildlife of Loch Leven. No need to book.
Wednesday 10 Area Evening

Thursday 18 Receptions
Tuesday 23 Castle Douglas
Alloa
Buchan

Tuesday 16 Sharing Good

Practice: Productive
landscapes
Battleby
Perth
www.snh.org.uk
From 9am to 11am John Knowler of Glasgow

Natural History Society will be telling us about
the moths trapped on the reserve the night
before. Help us look at and identify some of these
beautiful creatures and add to our moth records.
Tel: 01577 864 439
This event will look at some of the opportunities

and issues around making the most sustainable
use of land from various viewpoints: communities,
producers, farmers, businesses, landowners
and of course, our natural heritage.
Tel: 01738 458 556

sgp@snh.gov.uk
Tuesday 23
Sharing Good
Practice: Planning
and access
Battleby
Perth
How can access benet from planning gain?

How can your Community Planning Partnership
help access development? The opportunities for
improving outdoor access through the planning
system will be explored at this event.
Tel: 01738 458 556

sgp@snh.gov.uk
Tuesday 30
Sharing Good
Practice: Wind farms
and birds
Battleby
Perth
This event will focus particularly on recently

issued draft onshore guidance from SNH, as well
as guidance being developed by others in both
onshore and offshore settings.
Tel: 01738 458 556

sgp@snh.gov.uk
35
23/3/09 20:21:45
Expand your horizons

Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve (NNR) is barely a
stone's throw from a motorway, but here you can soak up the
magic of one of Scotlands best preserved lowland peatbogs. Its
an oasis of open windswept moors and a place full of secrets.
By using a boardwalk to cross the peat, you can discover some
of its treasures like the nodding white heads of bog cotton in
early summer or the explosive cackle of a red grouse as it bolts
from the heather. And beneath your feet there are over 8000
years of history, locked into its deep peat layers.
36
23/3/09 20:21:45
Blawhorn Moss Trail

Leaving Blackridge
and travelling west
on the A89, look
for the sign on
your right-hand
side directing you
up the road to the
reserve car park,
from where the
trail begins.
Blawhorn Moss
N ational Nature Res er v e
5
6
This short walk of

some 1.8 km/1.2
miles introduces
you to some
of the reserve
highlights. Use the
numbered map
and directions in
the text to guide
you round.
4
3
Key
Trail
NNR boundary
A 89
B l a ck ri d g e
Parking
Viewpoint
1
Pass through the gate out of the car
park and follow the track. From this
point a panorama opens up to the
east, with views over West Lothian
and out to Edinburgh. This birds-eye
view gave rise to the sites name. In
the 18th century Blawhorn was on the
main coaching route from Glasgow to
Edinburgh and a lookout boy would
blow a horn to warn the nearby inn of
the approach of another coach.
2
Remain on the trail until you reach the
reserve boundary, which is marked
by a fence and a gate through which
wheelchairs/pushchairs can pass.
As you enter the reserve, its worth
reecting that most raised bogs like this
have been dug out for fuel, drained for
farming or planted for forestry. Luckily,
Blawhorn has survived, although
drainage channels were dug in the
past. Blocking over 40 km/25 miles of
ditches has allowed the site to thrive
once again as a squelchy sanctuary.
You may come across a ock of sheep
grazing the bog. They're used to keep
the heather in check and roam across
all the reserve.
1
The boardwalk curves
round above the bog
and features a number
of outsize sculptures,
including this one of a
dragony.
www.snh.org.uk
37
23/3/09 20:21:48
3
Continue along the path and youll
come across a panel that explains how
the bog formed. It began life as a damp
hollow left by a glacier after the last
ice age, some 10,000 years ago. Over
time, plants grew in the hollow, then
died back. When they died, the wet
conditions stopped them rotting and, as
layers and layers built up, the remains
were squeezed and squashed until they
formed peat.
4
Move on from the panel and cross
the bridge onto the boardwalk, which
will allow you to experience the bog
at rst-hand without getting your feet
wet. If you have a closer look at the
edge of the boardwalk, youll see
various plants, including the Sphagnum
mosses that help form the bog. As it
rains, Sphagnum soaks up the water,
holding on to it like a sponge. When
the mosses die, they add to the peat
layer, while the living mosses continue
to soak up rain. The bog gradually
builds over time and rises up from
the surrounding landscape. This is
why raised bogs develop their typical
domed shape.
2
Plants on the bog
include cranberry,
which thrives in the
wet conditions.
3
The bog is formed from
sponge-like Sphagnum
mosses.
38
4
Heather provides
perfect cover for birds
like this red grouse.
5
Look out for common
hawker dragonies
around the bog pools.
5
Continue round the boardwalk
and youll see striking sculptures
representing mosses and a dragony.
During the summer youll often glimpse
darting dragonies over these bog
pools. Blawhorn is a haven for wildlife
throughout the year, with mammals
such as roe deer and a range of birds
visiting the reserve. In the spring you
might hear the bubbling call of a curlew
or see the zig-zag ight of a snipe.
Hen harriers and short-eared owls use
the bog as a hunting ground and red
grouse lift off frantically if disturbed.
Youre now at the quietest point of the
walk, with the hustle and bustle of the
busiest part of Scotland seemingly far
away.
6
Continue round the boardwalk, crossing
the bridge to retrace your route back to
the car park. Alternatively, youre more
than welcome to step off the boardwalk
and explore the rest of the site you
might even nd the odd cranberry if
you visit in late summer! But youll need
to wear wellingtons as the bog is very
wet, and please be wary of the frequent
ditches.
5
www.snh.org.uk
39
23/3/09 20:22:00
6
Local children from
Blackridge get up
close and personal
with the boglife.
7
In late summer you
may come across the
ery owerhead of bog
asphodel. The plant's
other name is 'bone
breaker', because it
was once thought to
cause brittle bones in
cattle that grazed on it.
8
Some of the
Sphagnum mosses on
which the bog's
survival depends.
40
23/3/09 20:22:04
Essential
information
The reserve lies northwest of Blackridge

in central Scotland, north of Junction
4 off the Edinburgh Glasgow M8
motorway. Access to Blawhorn is via a
road thats signed from the A89, about
0.8 km/0.5 miles west of Blackridge.
Please note that a locked gate restricts
access after 9pm in summer months
and after 5pm during the winter. Theres
a community centre in Blackridge and
a public library with a fully accessible
toilet. Opening times are Tuesday
OS maps
and Thursday: 2.00pm 6.30pm,
Wednesday: 9.30am 12.30pm,
Landranger 65 (Falkirk & Linlithgow),
1.30pm 4.30pm. Theres also a
Explorer 349 (Falkirk, Cumbernauld and
Superloo in Armadale, about 3 km/2
Livingston).
miles east of Blackridge.
Nearby natural attractions
Why not combine your trip to Blawhorn

with a visit to another site close at hand.
There are three country parks in West
Lothian within about 20 km/12.5 miles
of Blawhorn. Each offers a different
Trail length
If you have a dog with you, please make
type of experience and has a Ranger
sure its kept on a short lead or under
Service to lead walks and activities.
About 1.8 km/1.2 miles. The reserve
close control. Please also make sure
also links into the local path network for Check out:
you pick up after your dog and dispose those wanting a longer walk.
of waste carefully.
Beecraigs Country Park nestles high
in the Bathgate Hills near the historic
Terrain
town of Linlithgow. See www.beecraigs.
com/info.htm
The start and end of the trail is on a
wide, well-surfaced track thats a bit
Polkemmet Country Park is based in
bumpy, but suitable for wheelchairs/
a former private estate on the edge
pushchairs. On the reserve, youll nd a of Whitburn. See www.activitypoint.
surfaced path, which then moves onto
co.uk/cgi-bin/list.cgi?r=scotland.
a boardwalk. The boardwalk is suitable N21&e=1442(PolkemmetCountryPark
for a range of visitors and has a passing
place on the north side where people
Almondell and Calderwood Country
can pass safely.
Park lies between Broxburn and East
Most of the trail is at with only a small
incline on the main track. The track
includes a couple of seats and theres a
bench at the start of the boardwalk with
views over the bog. Blawhorn is a bog
but you won't need to wear wellingtons
if you stick to the path/boardwalk.
Public transport
Blawhorn Moss is one of 58 National

Nature Reserves in Scotland. Find out
more at www.nnr-scotland.org.uk
www.snh.org.uk
Calder. See www.activitypoint.co.uk/

cgi-bin/list.cgi?r=scotland.N&e=1443(
AlmondellandCalderwoodCountryPark
For more information, please contact:
Scottish Natural Heritage, The Laundry
House, Dalkeith Country Park, Dalkeith,
Midlothian, EH22 2NA,
tel: 0131 654 2466.
The nearest bus stop is in Blackridge,

about 30 minutes' walk from the
reserve.
41
23/3/09 20:25:04
SNH Area News

Tayside & Clackmannanshire
Correspondent: Shona Hill
Smoothing rufed
feathers
Saving our reds
February saw the launch of Saving

Operation Countrywatch Partnership is Scotlands Red Squirrels, a three-year
partnership project between Scottish
a ground-breaking scheme to protect
Natural Heritage, Scottish Wildlife
threatened birds on over 150,000
Trust, Forestry Commission Scotland
hectares of Perthshire. The upland
estates involved are Drummond, Fordie, and the Scottish Rural Property &
Business Association. This joint effort
Invergeldie, Glenturret, Glen Beich,
aims to protect and keep red squirrel
Remony and Ardtalnaig, with Atholl
populations in the areas where they
Estates also joining recently. Theyre
presently live and provide focal points
working in a partnership chaired by
from where their numbers can expand
Tayside Police and SNH, along with
in the future. The project will also look
RSPB Scotland and Tayside Raptor
to push grey squirrels back along their
Study Group.
key arrival routes where possible.
All partners want healthy, legally
The main tasks of the project will
managed heather moorland that
be
to
organise grey squirrel control;
supports grouse, but which also allows
work
with
landowners to make their
threatened birds of prey like hen harrier,
forests
suitable
for red squirrels;
golden eagle and peregrine to thrive.
create
demonstration
woodlands to
The project aims to show that sporting
show
good
practice;
monitor
how
and conservation interests can exist
well
grey
squirrel
control
and
positive
side by side through openness, trust
management
for
red
squirrels
is
and cooperation.
working.
The partners meet twice a year
The project team will provide
to discuss moorland, bird of prey
landowners
with squirrel traps
and policing issues. The cooperation
and
advise
them
on applying for
between the estates and police has
support
through
the
Scottish Rural
helped to improve action against
Development
Programme.
Tayside is
wildlife crimes.
covered
by
Ken
Neil,
who
has
several
Much has been achieved in the
years'
experience
as
a
red
squirrel
partnership area, where eight hen
ofcer for Dundee and Tayside. Ken can
harriers nest regularly. Persecution of
be contacted on 01382 431 849 or via
birds of prey still occurs in other parts
email: redsquirrel.project@dundeecity.
of Scotland and through projects like
gov.uk
this we hope we can move closer to
stopping it.
42
Farm funding rst

Monzie Farm is a family-run organic
beef and sheep enterprise managed
by Rory Cameron on the hill slopes
of Beinn a' Ghlo, east of Blair Atholl.
The farm is home to an amazing range
of wildlife with three Sites of Special
Scientic Interest (SSSIs) and two
Special Areas of Conservation.
The Camerons have been involved
in schemes involving farming and the
environment since 1997 and are now
among the rst to get funding under
the Rural Priorities Scheme as part
of the Scottish Rural Development
Programme.
This isnt an easy place to farm,
commented Rory Cameron, and with a
lot of SSSI land we have to be careful
about what we do. However, the SSSIs
helped us get the funding and that will
be of great benet to the whole farm
over the next ve years.
Funding will help Rory with
managing the species-rich grassland,
wetlands and mown grassland, as
well as supporting the farm to keep its
organic status. Some of the important
areas are under threat from birch trees
and weeds that are making inroads.
However, grazing cattle and sheep on
these areas, along with some scrub and
weed control, should keep them in tiptop condition.
23/3/09 20:25:06
SNH Area News

Argyll & Stirling
Correspondents: David Pickett, Hazel White, Tim Jacobs
Green Christmas trees
Step this way
Saints alive!
Through an inspired piece of

marketing, staff at Flanders Moss
National Nature Reserve were able to
turn problem young Scots pine trees
that are sprouting across the bog into
green Christmas trees.
If we leave the young self-seeded
pine trees then they quickly grow into
a pine woodland that shades and
dries out the specialist bog wildlife
for which Flanders Moss is famous.
So this year we invited the public to
come to the boardwalk at Flanders
Moss, where they could choose a
truly environmentally friendly tree and
have it cut specially for them. This
got a lot of publicity locally and 220
people turned up on the day to pick
up their free tree. Most had never
been to Flanders Moss before, but
many intend to return in the summer.
So, not only did we have over 200
troublesome trees removed from the
site, but we also had the chance to
talk to many new visitors about the
charms of Flanders Moss. A Flanders
Moss tree even ended up being
decorated on air for Fred MacAulays
show on BBC Radio Scotland! And
for the Christmas period a number of
homes had a piece of Flanders Moss
in their front rooms as a conversation
piece.
Our new circular path at Taynish

National Nature Reserve is a strenuous
hike round one of Argylls ancient
broadleaved woodlands. But its worth
it when you get to the top and take
in the vista of hills, lochs and islands,
along with superb sea views.
Even though the Barr Mr (Big Hill)
is only 126 metres (413 ft) high, there
are steep, pitched sections. Skilled
workers have hand-crafted steps and
500 metres (1640 ft) of new path up
its north face. Because the hill is hard
to access by machine, material for the
path was own in by helicopter, before
being lowered carefully through the
tree canopy in bags. You can soak up
the scenery from new oak benches that
have been placed at two of the best
viewpoints on the trail.
We ran a programme of events
at Taynish in 2008 on various topics,
including moth trapping, bracken
bashing, bat watching and an
archaeological dig, along with a guided
walk of the new trail in October. If
youre interested in Taynish, or would
like to be emailed about future events,
please contact Hazel on
01546 603 611.
Not every National Nature Reserve has

the privilege of having a saint, but Loch
Lomond does. The reserve embraces
ve of the lochs islands, including
Inchcailloch near Balmaha. The
Inchcailloch Festival in September saw
St Kentigerna come back to life when
the Drymen Theatre Group performed
a locally written play, which weaved
together key periods of the islands rich
cultural history.
The festival really brought the
islands history alive. But the event was
a success in other ways too. It was
great for creating bonds with a local
community group, their families and
friends an event and audience that
you wouldnt naturally associate with
a nature reserve. It also represents
success for the Loch Lomond and The
Trossachs National Park, whose staff
have been managing the island for the
last four years.
If youve never been to Inchcailloch,
youve been missing out. For a wee
island it offers a lot. Not only is it
clothed in rich Atlantic oak woodland,
which comes alive in spring with
woodland bird song and a carpet of
bluebells, but it also has an ancient
burial ground with church ruin, a picnic
site with golden sand and some of the
best views in Scotland. Why not try it?
www.snh.org.uk
43
27/3/09 15:15:50
SNH Area News

West Highland
Correspondents: Eoghain Maclean, Lorraine Servant, Stephen Varwell
Paths for all
Journey into the past
Pretty but alien
Weve built a new network of all-abilities

paths on Beinn Eighe National Nature
Reserve and theyre proving to be a big
success with both locals and visitors.
The paths have been used by over
3500 people since they opened last
September, including families, walkers
and joggers.
Beinn Eighe already attracts
between 30,000 and 40,000 visitors a
year, drawn by the wonderful mountain
scenery and ancient pinewood
fragments overlooking Loch Maree. The
new paths lie close to the neighbouring
village of Kinlochewe, which means
people have greater opportunity
to experience a rugged mountain
environment close to the village. Picnic
tables are provided at six points along
the paths and there are bins and bags
so that owners can pick up after their
dogs.
The new facilities cover some
2000 metres of path, bringing the
total network of formal paths on the
reserve to 10,000 metres. These
range from low-level all-ability paths
to strenuous mountain paths. The
network also delivers an economic
benet in terms of attracting people to
the area, providing a spin-off for local
businesses.
In 1838 Charles Darwin visited

Lochaber and wrote that, It is far the
most remarkable area I ever examined.
Quite a statement, considering this
was after his voyage to the Galapagos
Islands on the Beagle!
Lochaber has many and varied
geological features of international
importance from the remnants of a
volcano on Rum to the Parallel Roads
of Glen Roy, which so astonished
Darwin. SNH have been working
with Lochaber Geopark to help raise
awareness of the amazing stories that
lie behind these features.
But geology can be difcult to
grasp. After all, even Darwin was
wrong about the origin of the Parallel
Roads. So if you could do with some
help unravelling the past, why not
come along and learn from a local
expert? Lochaber Geopark is running
a series of guided minibus tours to
help celebrate European Geopark
Week. Discover how ancient mountain
building, ery volcanic activity and
moving glaciers have contributed to our
dramatic and varied landscape.
European Geopark Week starts on
1 June. Booking is essential please
call 01397 705 922, or for more
information on Lochaber Geopark see
www.lochabergeopark.org.uk
On Skye there are a number of

sites that are important for their oak
woodlands and limestone features.
Both of these are now relatively rare
habitats, which are home to a huge
variety of plants, insects, mosses and
lichens.
However, some of these sites are
threatened by invasion from species
such as rhododendron, which loves
oakwoods, and cotoneaster, which
loves growing in the crevices within
limestone. Neither of these species
is native to Britain and they were
introduced to woodlands around large
houses during the 1800s.
SNH staff have been working with
landowners and specialists to try and
remove these alien species from a
number of woodland and limestone
sites. This involves cutting the plants
and treating the roots with chemicals
to prevent their re-growth. The cut
plants are then destroyed either being
burnt, chipped or removed for disposal
elsewhere.
Many of these sites are in remote
and hard to reach locations, which
means that removing these species
poses quite a challenge. However,
were hopeful that the projects will be a
success and that these important areas
will be able to thrive again.
44
27/3/09 15:15:38
SNH Area News

Dumfries & Galloway
Correspondents: Alan Steel, Tommy Donnelly, Chris Miles
Nature gets theatrical
New home suits newts
Festival of biodiversity
An unusual celebration of local wildlife

took place recently at Caerlaverock
National Nature Reserve (NNR)
on the Solway Firth near Dumfries.
The Peoples Palace, a 1920s style
tented cinema and theatre, hosted
Goose, an evening of silent movies
all about nature. On the bill were a
mixture of old lms and new creations,
including two short animations made
specially for the occasion by local
schoolchildren from Caerlaverock
and Kirkbean Primary Schools, all
accompanied by live music.
We wanted to let more people
know about the reserve and its special
species, said reserve manager
Alan Steel, so its been great to
get children involved in making up
stories, creating costumes and masks.
They came up with some fantastic
interpretations of the wildlife that lives
on the mudats and saltmarsh.
The reserves merse or saltmarsh
supports thousands of wildfowl and
waders, particularly barnacle geese
from the Arctic. Its also home to
rare natterjack toads, whose entire
Scottish population is found along the
Solway coast. The boundary of the
NNR was recently extended across
the River Nith estuary to include the
area around Kirkbean. For further
information, visit the Caerlaverock
page www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/
reserve.asp?NNRId=51
Great crested newts have become

the star attractions at Culmore Bridge
holiday complex at Sandhead, near
Stranraer. These extremely rare and
European protected animals were
discovered before work began on
building eight specially designed
holiday cottages for wheelchair users.
Special care had to be taken to
protect the newts and their habitat,
but the development was successfully
completed and included restoring a
very overgrown pond.
Two years later, the site owners, Mr
and Mrs Sime, discovered a few small
newts in the pond. The great crested
newts were obviously delighted with
their new home and, better still, were
breeding again! Clearly, development
can go hand in hand with conservation.
The owners created such a highquality habitat for the newts that SNH
agreed to fund the building of a bridge
across the pond and its island. This
allows wheelchair users to get a closeup view of these fantastic animals and
may be one of the only places in Britain
where this is possible.
The Wigtownshire great crested
newts are an important population of
these threatened species, so if you
nd any in your garden or on your land,
please contact your nearest SNH
ofce.
As part of our work for action on local

biodiversity, SNH are supporting the
sixth Dumfries & Galloway Wildlife
Festival this spring. This years festival
looks to be bigger and better than ever,
with over 50 events on the programme.
There are lots of opportunities to
visit some of the best places for
wildlife in Dumfries and Galloway,
including Caerlaverock, Cairnsmore
and Kirkconnell Flow National Nature
Reserves. New for 2009 is the Wildlife
Art Exhibition at Mersehead, featuring
the work of leading artists, and a walk
through geological time at Rockcliffe.
The whole programme can be seen at
www.wildlifefestival.org.uk
The festival is a showcase for action
being taken to help species, habitats
and peoples understanding and
enjoyment of the natural heritage. Over
the last 10 years, SNH have supported
some key biodiversity projects including
the local Environmental Resource
Centre (www.dgerc.org.uk), the Red
Kite Trail (www.gallowaykitetrail.com)
and Community Action for Biodiversity
(www.dgcommunity.net/dgcommunity/
miniweb.aspx?id=330).
The Wildlife Festival will be
launched with the publication of
a new Biodiversity Action Plan for
Dumfries and Galloway. This sets out
the priorities and actions for the next
10 years in order to address climate
change pressures.
www.snh.org.uk
45
23/3/09 20:25:11
Sea eagles are

returning to their
former strongholds
across Scotland
and for many
residents on the Isle
of Mull its proving
to be a happy
homecoming
46
23/3/09 20:25:13
1
Sea eagles prefer
sheltered lochs or sea
lochs in Scotland
rather than exposed
coastal sites.
2
Look to the skies the
Mull sea eagles pull in
thousands of wildlife
watchers every year.
Birds of fortune
White-tailed sea eagles may still be an unusual
sight in many parts of the country, but for some
30 years now theyve been soaring over the
island of Mull.
Iona Community Trust, Strathclyde Police, RSPB Scotland,

SNH and Forestry Commission Scotland, who between
them provide the hide, staff and equipment. It attracts some
4,000 people during the summer, with visitors paying a small
charge while locals get free entry.
The island is one of the core areas where sea eagles have
The money taken in through the hide is shared out
settled in Scotland since they were brought back from
locally, explained Colin MacFarlane, SNHs local area ofcer.
extinction through reintroductions. These spectacular birds Half goes towards the seasonal ranger post and the bird
often compared to ying barn doors because of their sheer hide equipment, while the other half goes to a community
size are Britains largest bird of prey and have become a
fund that the Mull & Iona Community Trust manage. The trust
rmly established tourist magnet for Mull.
distribute the funds to applicants from Mull, which spreads
The island boasts the rst and possibly the only
the word about the project while ensuring the community
viewing hide in the world where you can watch sea eagles
benets.
at the nest. As a result, its attracting thousands of wildlife
In 2008 the fund supported a number of local projects,
enthusiasts, who boost the islands economy by as much as including the upgrade of a heating system and repairs to
1.7 million annually.
a lift for the disabled in two community halls. It also gave
This gure is based on a recent survey for the Royal
money to Mull Harriers Athletic Club and towards Tobermory
Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) which reckoned
Youth Choir attendance at the National Mod.
that some 350,000 visitors travel to Mull every year and
The Mull Eagle Watch Partnership are also responsible
spend 38 million there, with between 1.45m and 1.69m for Operation Easter, which is led by Strathclyde Police
of that credited to the sea eagles.
and local volunteers. Its an island-wide operation, with the
The viewing project is a partnership between Mull &
observers watching over golden and sea eagle nest sites to
ensure the birds arent disturbed. The fact that locals know
2
the whereabouts of the birds has put off would-be thieves
and no eggs have been taken since the project launched in
1999.
Sea eagles arrived on Mull in 1980 and began breeding
here in 1985, Colin continued. Today, many folk see the
eagles as a bonus because theyre a major tourist attraction
for Mull and provide a welcome boost for the local economy.
But that wasnt always the case.
Sheep farmers raised concerns about sea eagles taking
lambs and, although its rare, studies conrmed that eagles
do occasionally take live as well as dead or poorly lambs on
Mull. As a result, SNH launched a management scheme in
2005 to provide land managers with payments to improve
sheep stocks, through sheep health measures such as
tick treatments or extra shepherding. So far, the scheme
has provided 120,000 in payments to the 27 people in
the scheme and its seen by many as a successful way of
dealing with a difcult and contentious issue.
www.snh.org.uk
47
23/3/09 20:25:18
See eagles on Mull
One of the best places in Europe to enjoy great views of sea

eagles is Loch Frisa on the west side of Mull. The entrance
to the site can vary depending on where the eagles nest. You
do need to drive your vehicle though at your own risk
along a forest track to the hide car park.
This year the viewing hide will open on 6 April in time
for Easter and will remain open until the end of August.
Countryside rangers will be on site to guide you to the hide,
as well as providing up-to-date information on the project
and the eagles. Entry to the hide costs 4 per adult and
2 for children. Please always check opening and closing
details before setting out by calling 01688 302 038.
For those who cant travel to the island to see the birds
for themselves, theres a regularly updated blog about the
birds on the RSPBs website at www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/
tracking/mulleagles/index.asp
It also offers the chance to track two young white-tailed
eagles that were tagged last year, as theyre sending back
information on their whereabouts through an interactive
satellite tagging project. The aim is to nd out more about
where they travel to as they move off the island, and identify
areas that are important for the survival of young sea eagles.
48
23/3/09 20:25:21
Return of the native
Rough guide to sea eagles
Sea eagles were widespread in Scotland in the 18th century,

but by 1900 only a handful of pairs remained. The last
breeding record here was on the Isle of Skye in 1916, and
Scotlands last white-tailed eagle an albino female was
shot in Shetland two years later. The species became extinct
because of persecution from gamekeepers, shepherds and
egg collectors.
Large-scale reintroduction of the birds started on Rum in
the Inner Hebrides in 1975 and over the next ten years 82
young eagles from Norway were released from the island.
The rst successful breeding took place in 1985. There were
further releases of birds in Wester Ross in the 1990s and
another reintroduction programme started in 2007 on the
east of Scotland, where the birds hadnt been seen for 150
years.
The white-tailed eagle often called

the sea eagle because its mainly a
coastal bird is the fourth largest eagle
in the world and Scotlands largest bird
of prey.
The global population of sea eagles is
still small at only 9,00011,000 pairs,
with two-thirds of them breeding in
Norway and Russia. There are currently
just over 40 breeding pairs in Scotland.
At almost two and a half metres (eight
feet), it has the largest wingspan of
any British bird. Males and females are
similar, though the females are slightly
larger.
Theyre long-lived birds, with an average
adult life of 21 years. Sea eagles mate
for life, although if one of the pair dies
the survivor will readily nd a new mate.
Eagles have a dramatic courtship
display, which ends in the pair locking
talons mid-air and whirling towards the
ground in a series of cartwheels.
3
Operation Easter is led
by Strathclyde Police
and local volunteers.
They monitor eagle
nesting sites in the
vulnerable early part of
the breeding season.
Their large nests of sticks are generally

found in trees or on cliff ledges. The
birds are faithful to their territories, so
nests are often reused over many years.
4
The sea eagle's diet is
varied, including sh,
birds, carrion and
sometimes small
mammals.
The female lays two or three eggs in

March or April and the eggs hatch a
few days apart. The female does most
of the brooding and direct feeding of
the young, but the male takes over now
and then.
5
Pictish stone carving
from Orkney showing a
sea eagle.
5
The bird has a number of names in

Gaelic including the vivid iolaire sil na
grine or eagle of the sunlit eye.
On Orkney sea eagles have been
found in 4000-year-old burial mounds
alongside human remains, suggesting
they were revered by our ancestors.
Shetland shermen believed that as
soon as a sea eagle appeared sh
would rise to the surface, belly up.
Some even smeared their baits with
eagle fat to improve their catch.
www.snh.org.uk
49
23/3/09 20:25:25
Valuing our
environment
A new report has highlighted how crucial the
natural environment is to Scotlands economy
and quality of life
50
1
The natural
environment supports
one in seven of all
full-time jobs in
Scotland.
2
Forestry and timber
processing are hugely
important to Scotland.
Over the next 10 years
wood production is
expected to increase
by 28%.
23/3/09 20:25:27
Major new research has found

that one in seven of all fulltime jobs in Scotland and 11%
of the countrys total output
are dependent on the natural
environment.
These are the key ndings of a study
thats looked for the rst time at the
nancial impact of Scotlands natural
environment. While previous research
tried to put a gure on some aspects of
the natural environment, this is the rst
ever economic survey of its sustainable
use.
The report, Valuing our Environment,
reveals that the countrys economy
benets to the tune of 17.2 billion a
year from sustainable use of the natural
environment. The environment also
supports 242,000 jobs or 14% of all
full-time jobs in Scotland.
This report shows that the natural
environment is at the heart of this
countrys wealth, remarked Andrew
Thin, SNH chairman. Its therefore
much more than just the setting for a
successful tourism industry.
For instance, it provides a
platform for new technologies, such
as renewable energy, as well as the
expanding service sectors. These
businesses need to nd and keep
highly skilled staff, which is good for
future employment in Scotland. So
its pretty obvious that economic and
environmental benets go hand in
hand.
The study funded through a
partnership led by SNH shows that
a fth of our industries depend to a
large extent on the natural environment.
Among the more obvious sectors are
farming, shing and forestry, but others
include food and drink production,
water supplies, renewable energy,
tourism, timber processing and
recreation. Indeed, the report reveals
that two-thirds of existing businesses
benet from the natural environment,
and this may also encourage new
businesses to locate in Scotland.
www.snh.org.uk
This report shows

that the natural
environment is at the
heart of this countrys
wealth
51
23/3/09 20:34:35
Examples of how some industries rely

on the natural environment are:
Our unspoiled lochs provide plentiful
drinking water while Scotlands vast
coastline delivers many wild products
including sh and shellsh.
Our soils provide timber and much
of our traditional food. Farmers
and crofters produce high-quality
livestock, as well as vegetables and
fruit, and provide the wheat and
barley for many of our world-famous
whiskies.
In tourism, Scotland's landscape
and wildlife are commonly
given as the main reasons
for people visiting Scotland. In 2007,
72% rated 'scenery' and 46% rated
'nature and wildlife' as very important
when choosing Scotland as a place
to holiday.
Scotland has plenty of wind, wave
and tidal supplies spread across
the country. Already, 20% of the
country's electricity comes from
renewable energy such as hydro
schemes and windfarms.
This new research singles out the
economic impact of Scotlands natural
environment. But it didnt attempt to
measure other economic benets that
the environment gives to Scotlands
economy. Some of these wider benets
have been looked at in other studies.
For example, the Forestry Commission
reckon the health benets of Scottish
woodlands (such as avoiding illness by
taking physical exercise) are worth up
to 19 million a year.
Natural services, like reducing
the risks of ooding and soaking up
carbon thats been released, are equally
important. For instance, the value of
Scottish woodland in storing carbon
was thought to be worth up to 2.6
billion in 2002. None of these wider
benets are included in this study.
You can read the full research report
(The Economic Impact of Scotlands
Natural Environment) at www.snh.org.
uk/pubs
3
Processing of shmeal
in Aberdeen was
reckoned to be worth
48.6 million in 2004.
4
Farming is central to
the rural scene and
contributes 800
million to the Scottish
economy.
5
Visitors who enjoyed
water sports on Lochs
Morlich and Insh in
2003 spent 1.46
million.
52
23/3/09 20:34:39
www.snh.org.uk
53
23/3/09 20:34:42
WiSe wildlife watching

Scotland is one of the best places in
Europe to watch marine wildlife and theres
a helpful Code to guide you
54
23/3/09 20:34:50
1
Revenue from marine
wildlife tourism in
Scotland has reached
57 million, creating
more than 2,500 jobs
in the Highlands and
Islands alone.
2
Dolphin watching in
the Moray Firth is the
number one thing to
see and do in Scotland
according to a recent
VisitScotland survey of
UK visitors.
Around Scotlands coasts, were fortunate to be

able to see some of the worlds most exciting
marine species such as whales, dolphins and
porpoises. We can even get up close to such
fantastic creatures as basking sharks, otters, seals,
turtles and whole colonies of seabirds.
This wealth of wildlife is attracting growing numbers of
wildlife watchers to Scotland, keen to see these beautiful
animals in their natural environment, either from the coast or
on a boat trip. As a result, wildlife tourism is becoming an
important part of our economy.
The rising popularity of marine wildlife watching tours,
and an increase in marine leisure activities in general, does
carry the risk though of disturbing the very wildlife that we
treasure.
In response, SNH developed the Scottish Marine
Wildlife Watching Code, which gives practical advice on:
helping you to enjoy watching marine wildlife;
improving your chances of seeing wildlife;
reducing disturbance to marine wildlife;
supporting the wildlife watching industry; and
helping you stay within the law.
The information and guidance in the Code is aimed
at everybody who goes looking for marine wildlife around
Scotland, whether theyre watching from the shore or at
www.snh.org.uk
sea. The Code isnt a set of laws or regulations its main

purpose is to raise awareness and offer practical guidance.
Many wildlife tour operators are now approved through
the Wildlife Safe (WiSe) training scheme and have agreed to
follow the Code to ensure they work safely and sustainably.
We recommend you choose one of these operators if you
plan to go marine wildlife watching around Scotland.
The principles behind the Scottish Marine Wildlife
Watching Code are:
Be aware of how your actions could affect wildlife and
recognise the signs that animals make when they feel
threatened. Be sensitive to the interests of the wildlife
youre watching.
Take responsibility and move away quietly if you see signs
of disturbance. Consider how much time you spend
watching animals. The presence of people over long
periods can be disturbing, however careful you may be.
Have respect for other people, wildlife and the
environment. Respect the privacy and livelihoods of those
who live by the sea, and leave the environment as you nd it.
Youll nd information on the species that youre likely to
see and the best times and places to view them in the Code.
It also gives more detailed advice on how you can watch a
range of marine animals responsibly. To nd out more, and
to download your copy of the Code, go to www.marinecode.
org or contact Fiona Manson at ona.manson@snh.gov.uk or
tel. 01738 458 641.
55
23/3/09 20:34:59
Print out
Cetacean location
It may surprise you to learn just how
rich our seas are in cetaceans, which
is the name for the group of marine
mammals that includes whales,
dolphins and porpoises. Nearly a
quarter of the worlds cetacean
species are found in Scottish coastal
waters. Theyre rarely seen, and poorly
understood, but theyre also among the
most exciting and appealing of all the
species that are naturally Scottish.
You can discover more about this
fascinating group of animals in our new
booklet called Whales, Dolphins and
Porpoises. This is the rst booklet in
the Naturally Scottish series to appear
in a new revised style with greater use
of striking imagery. The publication
has features on the big four cetacean
species killer whale, minke whale,
bottlenose dolphin and porpoise
and includes information on the best
places to watch cetaceans around
Scotlands coasts. It also has details
of conservation measures being taken
in order to protect these wonderful
creatures.
You can order Whales, Dolphins
and Porpoises online from April 2009.
Can you name it?

If you think you recognise this species,
then why not email your answer
(with your full name and address) to
Enquiries@snh.gov.uk. Alternatively,
send it on a postcard to the Editor,
SNH Magazine, Great Glen House,
Leachkin Road, Inverness IV3 8NW
by 15 May 2009. Four lucky winners
will be drawn from the correct entries,
each of whom will receive a copy of the
new Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises
booklet shown above.
56
Print out
SNH fund about 50 research, survey and monitoring
projects every year to help us develop policy and support
our work. At the end of each project, the researcher has
to produce a report on the work theyve done. You can
download these research reports as PDF documents from
the 'Publications' section of our website at www.snh.org.uk/
pubs. By way of example, here are summaries for a couple of
the reports we published in 2008:
Mountain hares in Scotland

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust sent out a
questionnaire to land owners and managers across Scotland
asking for basic information about where mountain hares live
and how many are snared and shot. We found that mountain
hares our only native hare species were present across
48% of Scotland.
The study showed that mountain hares are widespread
in upland areas and theyre strongly linked with areas of
heather moorland
managed for
rearing grouse. It
also conrmed that
mountain hares can
live at low numbers
in a wide range of
other areas including
grassland, unmanaged
heather, woodland and
commercial forestry.
The population rises
and falls naturally over
a period of years.
The questionnaires
revealed that at least 24,500 mountain hares were killed in
Scotland in 2006/07 across 90 estates. Most were killed
in order to control ticks (50%), followed by game shooting
(40%) and forestry protection (10%). This total represents
7% of the 350,000 mountain hares estimated as the British
population in 1995 (although this population gure has a
large margin of error plus or minus 50% and almost the
entire population is actually found in Scotland). Comparisons
between the 2006/07 data and earlier 1995/96 research
showed no sign that the numbers of animals being taken had
reduced the range of mountain hares in Scotland.
SNH Commissioned Report No. 278: The distribution of
Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus) in Scotland (2006/07)
www.snh.org.uk
Long-distance routes
Scotland has four ofcial long-distance routes (LDRs)
the West Highland Way, Speyside Way, Southern Upland
Way and Great Glen Way as well as a number of other
multi-day routes. The aim of this project was to look at other
countries experiences of long-distance routes and then
compare these with the situation in Scotland.
The study showed that a successful long-distance route
includes:
a clearly signed route through interesting landscapes;
lots of different things to see;
historic or other interests;
easy to reach start and end points;
well-spaced food/drink stops and accommodation; and
good route guides and luggage transfer services.
The researchers noted that the market for LDRs is
changing, with a growing number of inexperienced, cashrich, time-poor walkers. And in keeping with changes in
holiday choices, people are opting more for routes they can
complete in a short break of 34 days. It seems the use
of LDRs by walkers has peaked after a decade of steady
growth, but there now appears to be greater interest in longdistance cycling and horse-riding routes.
Looking to the future, theres some demand for more
routes in Scotland, particularly for one or more water-based
routes. Theres also considerable scope to market all existing
LDRs better and further improve routes to meet the needs
of users. The report suggests that there could also be
opportunities to develop shorter circular routes based on
LDRs to bring health and local economy benets.
SNH Commissioned Report No. 274: Long Distance
Routes
57
23/3/09 20:35:08
Kids only!
Thread elastic through holes and tie knots
Cut, colour in
and wear!
Holes
for
elastic
Sea eagles are very skilled at shing and have

eight long talons to catch and hold onto the sh.
The sea eagle is the largest bird of prey in Britain. It
has huge wings shaped like a rectangle. Its feathers
are mainly brown and the adult has a pale head and
a white tail. Its eyes, beak and talons (or hooked
claws) are bright yellow.
58
Sea eagles dont breed until theyre ve or six

years old and they can live for over 20 years.
Females lay two or three eggs in an eyrie on a
cliff or in a large tree.
23/3/09 20:35:12
The white-tailed sea eagle is a bird of prey and a predator, which means
that its a hunter and eats meat. The sea eagle became extinct in Britain in
1918, but for the last 30 years we have been bringing small numbers of
sea eagles over from Norway to live here in Scotland.
We now have around 40 pairs living in Scotland, so this bird is still very
rare. Unfortunately, the eagles are still not safe so their nests have to be
constantly watched to stop egg thieves. Sometimes sea eagles are even
found poisoned or shot.
If you want to see sea eagles in the wild, you can watch them at the nest
in some parts of Scotland, such as the Isle of Mull.
Across
1 Place where you can see sea
eagles in the wild (4,2,4)
4 Sea eagles are skilled at catching
them (4)
6 The number of talons that a sea
eagle has (5)
8 The country from which sea eagles
were re-introduced to Scotland (6)
9 An eagles nest (5)
Down
2 The people who put sea eagles
in danger (3,7)
3 The group of birds the sea eagle
belongs to (5,2,4)
5 The shape of a sea eagle's wing (9)
7 An eagle's claw (5)
59
Crossword answers: Across 1, Isle of Mull; 4, Fish; 6, Eight; 8, Norway; 9, Eyrie
Down 2, Egg thieves; 3, Birds of prey; 5, Rectangle; 7, Talon
www.snh.org.uk
A new all-abilities trail alongside Loch Leven National Nature Reserve in

Kinross-shire looks set to become a major visitor attraction for the area
A trail for all seasons

1
60
23/3/09 20:35:26
in fun ways to help visitors understand

the loch and its history.
Safeguarding wildlife has top
priority on national nature reserves,
explained Craig Nisbet, SNHs reserve
ofcer. We also want to provide
opportunities for people to enjoy nature
showcases like Loch Leven.
We know a lot of people come to
Loch Leven National Nature Reserve
Loch Leven to see and do things that
is the largest lowland loch in Scotland
arent necessarily connected with it
and one of the most important sites
being a national nature reserve. They
in Europe for wildfowl in winter and
may come for the spectacular views
breeding ducks during spring and
and peaceful atmosphere, or the other
summer.
wonderful activities and stories here,
The original idea for the new
such as the lochs superb angling
Loch Leven Heritage Trail came from
TRACKS (The Rural Access Committee heritage and the Mary Queen of Scots
for Kinross-shire) and it has taken some connection through Lochleven Castle.
But wed still like to try and make
four years to plan and create. The trail
sure they go away with an experience
aims to provide people whether
thats raised their understanding of the
they're walkers, cyclists, wheelchair/
lochs importance and their awareness
scooter users or pushing a buggy
of the wildlife that makes it such a
with much greater access and offer
special place.
them a high-quality visitor experience.
To help people get the most out
The at, mostly barrier-free path
of their visit theres now a range of
weaves through woodland and marsh
interpretation to inform and entertain. It
around three-quarters of the shoreline,
includes artistic gateways at the main
meaning visitors can now safely
entry points to provide a welcome
explore a sizeable area of countryside.
and orientation, as well as sculpture,
It stretches from Kinross Pier past
seating, viewing points, bird hides and
Burleigh Sands and all the way along
bridges.
the Levenmouth side of the loch to
The project cost 1.8 million with
RSPBs Vane Farm Centre.
SNH as one of the main funders and
Its more than just a multi-use path
TRACKS are now working with others
though, as the trail links 24 natural,
cultural, sporting and built heritage sites to try and get agreement and funding to
around the water. These are interpreted complete the circuit around the loch.
One of Europes top wildlife sites

has now become a whole lot
easier for people to visit thanks
to the opening of a 13.5 km (8
miles) long path that runs around
a large part of it.
www.snh.org.uk
1
On yer bike the new
trail from Kinross Pier
to Vane Farm is
designed to be enjoyed
by all.
2
Loch Leven provides
an all year round
wildlife spectacle.
3
Trail waymarker.
61
26/3/09 08:31:56
We want to provide
opportunities for
people to enjoy nature
showcases like Loch
Leven.
Protecting the birds

One of the basic principles underlying the project is that the
birds feeding and resting in the shallows around the loch
have quiet, safe areas. So theres screening in place to
separate them from people and dogs on the path. This
should also deter users and dogs from straying onto
sensitive parts of the shoreline.
The screening includes tree and hedge planting,
embankments, post and wire fencing, and wooden screens.
In addition, reserve staff are regularly out on the path to meet
visitors and provide access advice.
The trails been carefully designed to provide a
sanctuary for the birds on the shoreline, Craig added. The
way people behave on the trail is also important if were to
retain the peaceful atmosphere thats so essential for the
birdlife. We know visitors value the peace and quiet at Loch
Leven, so people and birds are pretty much looking for the
same thing.
4
The trail is level, wide
and well surfaced, with
very few barriers to
access.
5
Sturdy seats are
located at various
points along the trail
and some have short
statements in verse or
prose to encourage
visitor interest.
6
You'll nd information
about the trail at the
main access points of
Kinross Pier, Kirkgate
Point, Burleigh Sands
and Findatie.
5
62
26/3/09 08:33:32
Birds galore
The loch provides a safe refuge for

birds throughout the year. In spring and
summer its one of the most important
areas in Europe for breeding ducks,
with around 1000 pairs nesting on
St Serfs Island. In September and
October the lochs important for some
35,000 wildfowl that use the loch as a
staging post for travelling to and from
their breeding grounds. And in winter
more than 20,000 geese, ducks and
swans spend time here.
Useful information
Leave the M90 at Kinross and follow
signs to Kinross Pier. Other access
points are at Burleigh Sands, off the
Lethangie minor road, and at Findatie
and RSPB Vane Farm, off the B9097.
Bus services from Perth to Kinross
run every hour and take around 35
minutes. There are also hourly bus
connections from Dunfermline that take
25 minutes to reach Kinross up the
M90.
You can get something to eat or
drink at various places on or near to the
route of the trail. And you can pick up
a Loch Leven Heritage Trail leaet from
many outlets around Kinross, including
local shops, the tourist ofce in the
County Buildings, the Boathouse Bistro
at Kinross Pier, Loch Levens Larder
and RSPB Vane Farm.
www.snh.org.uk
63
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Scottish Natural Heritage

The Nature of Scotland

10 Volunteer to get out more

32 Big year for environment

The Nature of Scotland

You can contact SNH by

Argyll and Stirling

When you have nished with this magazine,

A full list of our ofces

Other main ofces

Dumfries and Galloway

The Nature of Scotland

A warm welcome to this rst issue of our magazine in 2009.

The Nature of Scotland

Whether the weather is fair or foul, theres

City (and country) slickers

Lend them your ears

Its remarkable how a blink of spring sunshine can make

Ogling Tammie Norrie

Remarkably for such a familiar and abundant seabird,

The Nature of Scotland

Get the drift

The Nature of Scotland

First up was a series of events to mark the 250th anniversary

Were delighted SNH are supporting Homecoming and

The John Muir Odyssey, a year-long Homecoming

Spring: During May, experience a month-long special focus

Summer: Over the summer there will be some new major

Some folk may think of bird

The Nature of Scotland

If were to retain a liveable climate on Earth then

Peat soils in Scotland contain almost

Each household in Scotland releases

A typical 2 megawatt onshore wind

The Nature of Scotland

Burning a litre of diesel produces

Trees and peatlands work together to

The Nature of Scotland

Here I am sitting on the train, travelling south

What makes Scotlands natural environment quite so

In 2007, almost 16 million tourists

the telephone after their holiday in

The Nature of Scotland

In the 2007 survey, French, German

The Nature of Scotland

Vision for bugs, snails

strategy will encourage many Scots to

Boundary change goes before Parliament

next steps towards extending the

New funding to tackle wildlife crime

Partnership for Action Against Wildlife

owl, sea eagle and peregrine falcon.

Red alert as project launches

control would focus on the key routes

Meanwhile, 32 red squirrels have

reduce the threats and support the

Gaelic natural world online

org.uk and going to the Gaelic section.

terms can add to our understanding

Happy Birthday St Abbs!

Lizas job as marine ranger

An independent study has begun into

Seek advice call

good working relations with most