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SOS Puffin
Cairngorms Nature
Halting biodiversity loss
Hidden gem
Contents
Features
10 Ideally placed
Scotland's Youth Hostel network
16 Cairngorms Nature
Halting biodiversity loss
49
16
50
54
30 Peatland revival
Habitat restoration on a
significant scale
49 Tiree Ranger
Helping visitors and locals
Regulars
2
26
Where we are
SNH contact details
3 Welcome
4
Wild calendar
Where to go and what to see
this spring and summer
20 Dualchas coitcheann
/Common heritage
Linking language and environment
22 News
36 Reserve focus
Discover Rum NNR
42 Area news
Reports from around the country
64 Mailing list
Change your details or subscribe
to our e-newsletter
Credits
The Nature of Scotland
The magazine of Scottish Natural Heritage
Issue Number 19 Spring / Summer 2014
Published twice per year
SNH 2014
ISSN 1350 309X
Editor: Jim Jeffrey
Tel. 01738 458528
Where we are
Area offices
Corporate
headquarters
Other offices
Battleby, Redgorton,
Perth PH1 3EW
Tel. 01738 444 177
Silvan House,
3rd Floor East,
231 Corstorphine Road,
Edinburgh EH12 7AT
Tel. 0131 316 2600
Caspian House,
Mariner Court,
Clydebank Business Park,
Clydebank G81 2NR
Tel. 0141 951 4488
Forth
Silvan House,
3rd Floor East,
231 Corstorphine Road,
Edinburgh EH12 7AT
Tel. 0131 316 2600
Forth
The Beta Centre,
Innovation Park,
University of Stirling,
Stirling FK9 4NF
Tel. 01786 450 362
Northern Isles
& North Highland
The Links,
Golspie Business Park,
Golspie,
Sutherland KW10 6UB
Tel. 01408 634 063
Northern Isles
& North Highland
Ground Floor,
Stewart Building,
Alexandra Wharf,
Lerwick,
Shetland ZE1 0LL
Tel. 01595 693 345
South Highland
Fodderty Way,
Dingwall Business Park,
Dingwall IV15 9XB
Tel. 01349 865 333
South Highland
Torlundy,
Fort William,
Inverness-shire PH33 6SW
Tel. 01397 704 716
Southern Scotland
Greystone Park,
55/57 Moffat Road,
Dumfries DG1 1NP
Tel. 01387 272 440
Strathclyde & Ayrshire
Caspian House,
Mariner Court,
Clydebank Business Park,
Clydebank G81 2NR
Tel. 0141 951 4488
Tayside & Grampian
Battleby, Redgorton,
Perth PH1 3EW
Tel. 01738 444 177
Tayside & Grampian
Inverdee House,
Baxter Street,
Torry,
Aberdeen AB11 9QA
Tel. 01224 266 500
2014
Welcome
Ian Ross
Chairman
Scottish Natural Heritage
It could be said that in many respects we live in interesting times, but it is also a
time of opportunities. In taking over as chair of the SNH Board earlier this spring,
I know that the natural heritage of Scotland is a tremendous asset and has the
potential to deliver a range of public benefits. Granted, we have to be increasingly
innovative and creative in the way we manage them and that can be challenging.
We must ensure our actions protect and enhance our precious natural heritage,
but also show how it contributes to the well-being of the people of Scotland.
I would like to look at this from two perspectives. The first is volunteering. I,
like many of you, have been a volunteer, for example carrying out a beach clean,
working with a youth group or sitting as a director on a social enterprise body. I
would like to see more young people reap the benefits from all types of volunteer
work.
When someone takes part in environmental volunteering they develop
practical and social skills, gaining a sense of achievement, self-confidence
and self-esteem. These are all qualities that can help them into permanent
employment. This type of volunteering also helps young people build a
connection with the natural world and sustain a life-long interest in its care. I
firmly believe the hard work and commitment of environmental volunteers benefits
communities, nature and landscape. And, of course, the economy benefits,
through the increased employability of volunteers and by reducing public costs for
health services and environmental projects.
The second perspective on how our natural heritage contributes to our
overall well-being is through a greater focus on our built up areas and centres
of population. It is about promoting greater access to and use of our diverse
countryside and green space. Much of this comes from successful partnerships
with communities, local authorities and non-government organisations, through
initiatives like the Central Scotland Green Network, delivering many benefits for
communities in that area.
Spring
Wild calendar
Listen: each week can sound different to the previous one now; each day brings subtle
changes in colour and scent. Birds are winging-in from far to the south to breed, as
others depart for the farther north. Will the swallows have arrived before the last geese
have gone? Will the whitethroats see the primroses before they fade? Those, and a
myriad other pairings, are just part of the pleasures of spring.
Empressive,
or what?
Tom Tiddlers
Ground
www.snh.gov.uk
Spring
Summer
Voleheart
Orkneys Stone Age heritage is
internationally renowned, whether in
the amazing structures in the Heart of
Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site
on Orkney mainland or on most of the
other islands. But part of the Neolithic
legacy is small, furry and not so often
seen: the Orkney vole.
Visible signs of its presence are
prevalent in the predatory birds you may
be lucky to see there. Short-eared owls
and hen harriers (scarce in many other
places but thriving on Orkney) are two
of those.
Zoologists have long known that
the Orkney vole is odd. Its a type
of common vole, widespread in
continental Europe, but found nowhere
else in Britain and Ireland. Now
researchers led by the University of
Aberdeen and Cornell University have
found that some of the first Neolithic
settlers most likely brought it directly to
Orkney from Belgium as early as 5,100
years ago. Whats more, its DNA is like
a genetic ark from that period.
Further food for thought as you
marvel at a burial cairn, village or henge.
Web tip www.abdn.ac.uk/
news/4846/
www.snh.gov.uk
Summer
Oh, Fingal, rock me
www.snh.gov.uk
Ideally placed
The Scottish Youth Hostel Association is 83 years
old and continues to provide a perfect introduction
to Scotlands natural heritage.
10
www.snh.gov.uk
11
1
Rowardennan Youth
Hostel on the shores of
Loch Lomond.
2
The otter is one of our
most intriguing wildlife
stars.
3
Dating back to the late
1800s the Youth Hostel
at Loch Ossian was
originally a waiting
room for a steamer
that took guests to
Corrour Lodge.
4
The inviting interior of
Loch Ossian Youth
Hostel.
www.snh.gov.uk
13
www.snh.gov.uk
5
The heronry near Loch
Ossian Youth Hostel
has captivated visitors
for several years now.
6
The view from Islay
Youth Hostel as
captured by Jacqui
Dunbar on a recent trip.
15
Cairngorms Nature
Scotlands largest National Park faces challenges to halt biodiversity loss.
The Cairngorms National Park is a truly special
place for nature. It has more high-level mountain
ground than anywhere else in Britain or Ireland,
it has the largest remnant of Caledonian forest,
some of the UKs purest rivers and despite only
covering 2% of our landmass it hosts 25% of the
UKs threatened species.
Impressive statistics perhaps, but maintaining the
international value of the Cairngorms (half the Park is
designated within the Natura 2000 network) is a mammoth
task, and immediate action is still needed to halt the
biodiversity loss that is taking place.
Cairngorms Nature is a new partnership where people
and organisations come together with one purpose a
desire to safeguard and enhance the outstanding nature
in the Cairngorms National Park. Anyone can support
Cairngorms Nature, they just need a passion for the Park.
More than half of Scotlands remaining fragments of
Caledonian forest exist in the National Park and have
enjoyed a high profile in recent years with restoration
schemes such as the one at Glenfeshie. Less well known is
the fact that the Park also holds Scotlands largest extent of
bog woodland, a European priority for conservation. It is also
arguably the UK stronghold for aspen, with stands that go
back hundreds of years.
Managing rivers
The numerous waters of the National Park are some of the
cleanest in Scotland. As we have seen in recent months,
climate change has a significant potential to increase
flooding events, but if we can slow the flow of water in the
catchments we can cope with these pressures and benefit
people as well as nature.
Schemes are under way in the Park to trial new methods
of upland water storage. One scheme at Allt Lorgy near
Carrbridge has reconnected the river with its floodplain
in such a way that the river is doing its own work to reestablish its natural equilibrium, rather than using engineered
solutions.
Across the Park in Glen Clova contour belts of trees
are being planted. These trees will improve soil structure
allowing more water to be absorbed. In turn this will slow the
rate of sediment moving downstream by helping to reduce
peak flow by as much as 40% with strategic planting.
16
www.snh.gov.uk
17
Restoring peatlands
1
Loch Avon is one of the
most remote lochs in
the Cairngorms
National Park.
2
Twinflower, a small and
delicate native flower.
3
Juniper and Scots pine
are evident in this
montane scrub on
Creag Fhiaclach, which
has the highest
treeline in Scotland.
4
The lapwing can look
simply black and white
from a distance, but
close-up shades of
green are clearly
visible.
5
Famland and forestry
in Upper Deeside.
18
6
The capercaillie is
found in Scottish
native pinewoods, one
of the rarest and most
vulnerable habitats.
www.snh.gov.uk
19
Tha dualchas mr
co-cheangailte ris na
feamainn ann an
Gidhlig, agus tha gu
ler dhiubh air an
cleachdadh le daoine
fhathast, gu h-raidh
mar bhiadh agus
airson an talamh
fheamnadh.
There is a strong
tradition of seaweed
usage in the maritime
parts of Gaelic
Scotland, particularly
as food and fertilizer, to
the present day.
Dualchas coitcheann
Common heritage
20
Toradh Mr a Chladaich
www.snh.gov.uk
21
NEWS
NEWS
Tagging n tracking
The use of tracking devices to find out more about our
natural heritage is an increasingly popular and important
approach. Here in Scotland two recent projects look set
to further improve our knowledge of species that would
otherwise be extremely tricky to monitor.
A tiny tracker, weighing less than a paperclip, has
revealed that the red-necked phalarope (which in the UK is
found only in Shetland and the Western Isles) can travel an
astonishing 16,000 miles during its migration.
In 2012 the RSPB and Shetland Ringing Group fitted
tiny geolocators to ten of the birds in Fetlar, Shetland, with
the aim of finding out where they went in winter.
The data gathered recorded a truly epic trip that took
in crossing the Atlantic, heading south down the eastern
seaboard of the United States, journeying across the
Caribbean, before ending up off the coast of Peru. After
wintering in the Pacific, the little bird (which weighs no more
than a golf ball) returned to Fetlar, following a similar route.
The outward journey for the phalarope is even more
admirable when you consider that it heads into the prevailing
weather when travelling towards North America.
23
NEWS
24
NEWS
www.snh.gov.uk
25
A well-travelled wildlife
artist, and awardwinning film-maker,
Jane Smith finds
that Argyll has sights
and sounds every
bit as memorable as
anywhere else in the
world.
1
Kittiwake dispute is
one of Janes earlier
works and captures
the drama and agility
we associate with
many coastal birds.
2
A classic Hebridean
landscape showing
machair, geese and the
distinctive white sands.
26
www.snh.gov.uk
27
Further reading
3
The shy, secretive,
corncrake is seldom
seen, but often heard.
Its distinctive, rasping
call evoking memories
of a more rural past.
4
Jane at work in the
Argyll countryside.
5
Six-spot burnet moths
are attractive,
day-flying moths that
are often mistaken for
butterflies.
28
www.snh.gov.uk
29
1
Habitat restoration at
Whitelee windfarm.
Peatland revival
Windfarms continue to provoke
debate among environmentalists,
but the opportunities for habitat
restoration on a significant
scale are undeniable, as Peter
Robson, Senior Ecologist with
ScottishPower Renewables,
explains.
30
www.snh.gov.uk
Dramatic improvements
2
Removal of forestry
from what was
previously a peatland
area can expose
significant damage.
3
The same site two
years on from
restoration work, with
clear evidence of
habitat recovery.
4
The common snipe is
one of the species that
can benefit most from
upland habitat
restoration of blanket
bog and heath.
32
www.snh.gov.uk
33
1
Attentive Hare by
Fergus Gill.
2
Gannet Preening by
Ruaidhri Forrester.
3
Scotch Mist by Jake
Watson.
Snap to it!
Focus Environment is an environmental photographic
competition for secondary school pupils throughout
Scotland. The competition encourages young people
between the ages of 11 and 18 to demonstrate their
awareness of the natural world around them.
Its an exciting way to encourage
young people to take an interest in
Scotlands natural habitats and wildlife.
The competition is divided into two
age groups, 11-14 and 15-18 and
the categories are My Environment,
Wildlife & Habitats and Natures
Moods. The winning photographs form
a touring exhibition which visits galleries
and museums across Scotland.
2014s competition is now underway.
Anyone interested in entering needs to
34
Gathering momentum
Further information
FOCUS Exhibition
Touring Schedule for 2014
Venue Dates
Fraserburgh Lighthouse Museum
6 - 29 May
Inverness Museum
3 - 27 June
Falls of Clyde, New Lanark World
Heritage Site 1 - 31 July
Shetland Museum & Archives
5 August - 2 September
Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
September dates TBC
Falkirk Wheel
1 - 31 October
35
Reserve focus
www.snh.gov.uk
1
The scenery of Rum
draws visitors from
near and far.
2
The otter is one of the
species resident in and
around Loch Scresort.
3
Tumbling waterfalls on
Kinloch River.
4
Red deer are an
extremely popular
tourist attraction on
Rum.
www.snh.gov.uk
39
Essential
information
4
5
The golden eagle, with
a wingspan of around
two metres, is one of
our most impressive
birds of prey.
6
Rum offers a great
location for an outdoor
holiday.
40
Terrain
Nearby attractions
Kinloch Castle is a time capsule
of Edwardian extravagance largely
untouched by the passage of time.
Guided tours of the fascinating
principal wing of Kinloch Castle take
place daily. To allow guests visiting
for the day an opportunity to take the
tour these are timed to coincide with
the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry from
Mallaig and the MV Sheerwater from
Arisaig.
Further information
You can contact SNH on 01687
462026. You can also download a
leaflet about the reserve from the
publications section of the SNH
website www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/
rum. Find out more about Rum at
http://www.isleofrum.com/index.php
41
Forth
Invernaver innovation
Sumburgh renovation
Green Angels
42
www.snh.gov.uk
43
Southern Scotland
Traveller's Choice
Sensory benches
All on track
44
www.snh.gov.uk
45
South Highland
Silent Witness
46
www.snh.gov.uk
47
Seven Lochs
48
SNH is part-funding a
ranger post on the isle of
Tiree. As Morven MacLean
explains, the aim is to help
to maintain and conserve
the islands unique
natural heritage through a
combination of information,
education, and conservation
activities.
participants.
One of Steves biggest challenges
has been the attempt to improve
access to the less accessible parts
of the island for disabled people and
people with pushchairs. The idea is
to establish an equal access forum,
involving disabled people in making
an assessment of areas where
improvements are required and what
those improvements should be.
Long-term goals
www.snh.gov.uk
49
1
Dramatic scenery on
the Rahoy Hills
reserve.
Remarkable contrasts
both
the
montane
habitats and the
back onto this quiet corner of Scotland.
oak
woodland
are
Special
Areas of
The reserve is run by the SWT in
Conservation
and
form
part
of the
partnership with Ardtornish estate and
European
network
of
protected
sites.
has been a nature reserve since 1975.
50
www.snh.gov.uk
51
2
Arctic sandwort
- Arenaria norvegica.
This rare plant, which
is a protected species,
clings to thin exposed
soil.
3
Hairy stonecrop
- Sedum villosum. This
tiny arctic-alpine plant
grows in wet flushes on
high slopes on the
reserve.
4
Tall-herb plant
community on an
ungrazed sheltered
ledge. An abundance
of grazing-sensitive
montane plants cling to
these ledges, including
roseroot and water
avens.
5
The chequered skipper
is only on the wing
from late May to late
June.
Arienas Wood
Late summer, early autumn sounds
are few, the wood is quiet, robins tick
ticking. Beautiful, delicate pale dead
grasses glow in pools of sunlight
against dark shady places beyond.
There are splashes and flecks of
autumn colour among the trees. A
jay calls, a loud hoarse screech, after
acorns. Common hawker dragonflies
impress, big powerful dragons, and so
slight and delicate damsels, common
blues. Three black Scotch argus on
white bramble blossom. Treecreeper,
built for tree-creeping, up and round
them and out along their limbs. Long
thin toes for gripping bark, stiff tail
support, fine curved bill for prising out
hiding insects from the tightest tree
cracks and bark splits, a detailed finery
of plumes all the shades of the wood, it
is as though it were made of tiny pieces
of bark and lichen.
Steve Hardy, Warden.
www.snh.gov.uk
53
1
Puffins are under
threat on some islands
in the Firth of Forth.
54
www.snh.gov.uk
55
2
Volunteers cut the tree
mallow with loppers
and shears.
3
Over 200 work parties
have generously given
their time to the
project.
A wonderful feature of the East Lothian coastline is the chain of four islands near North
Berwick the Bass Rock, Craigleith, the Lamb and Fidra. As well as forming a delightful
backdrop to the landscape they are hugely important for their breeding seabird populations.
Seabirds are under a lot of pressure
these days from fishing practices and
climate change, but another unusual
threat has emerged in recent years
the invasive plant tree mallow.
Tree mallow is native to coastal
areas around the Mediterranean, and
its northern natural limit is the southwest of the UK and Ireland where it is
comparatively rare. An impressive plant
growing up to 3m high, it can in some
circumstances become invasive and
form a dense cover, excluding all other
vegetation.
56
A local curiosity
57
4
Puffins need clear
access to the breeding
burrows.
5
The removal of tree
mallow requires
cutting the plants close
to ground level.
www.snh.gov.uk
59
1&2
Medal Routes
encourage people of
all abilities and ages to
enjoy short walks.
61
Further information
62
www.snh.gov.uk
3
Using local knowledge
the walks require no
specialist equipment.
63
SOS Puffin
Cairngorms Nature
Halting biodiversity loss
Hidden gem
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Organisation, if applicable
Organisation, if applicable
Previous address
New address
Town Postcode
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64
www.snh.gov.uk
65
www.snh.gov.uk
66