SNHMaScottish National Heritage - The Nature of Scotland Summer 2009gazine Summer 2009

www.snh.org.
uk
Scottish Natural Heritage
Summer 2009
The Nature of Scotland
Feeling good
How nature can
help
Here be dragons
Discover some
aerial jewels
On your doorstep
Wildlife in the city
Contents
Features
8
Unearthing natures wonders

Youngsters dig out garden secrets
10 Just what the doctor ordered

Nature delivers a natural high
39
16 Of damsels and dragons

Check out dragonies near you
22 City sights
Glasgow wildlife for all
56
30 Join the club!

Follow in their footsteps
17
46 National treasures
Exploring your national parks
63
Regulars
26
Where we are
SNH contact details
Welcome
Wild calendar
Where to go and what to see this
summer
52 Learning from the past

Scotlands past points to the future
56 Making a splash
St Abbs plunges into special year
60 Growing up with Wild things!
Natural inspiration for young
people
20 Common heritage
Linking language and environment
26 News
Natural heritage updates
34 Events diary
Guide to whats on
36 Reserve focus
Discover Inchcailloch in
Loch Lomond NNR
42 Area news
Reports from round the country
45 Print out
Our latest publications
58 Kids only!
Activities for younger readers
64 Mailing list
Join our list
www.snh.org.uk
Credits
Where we are
Area ofces

The Magazine of Scottish Natural Heritage
Issue Number 4 Summer 2009
You can contact SNH by

letter, telephone or email.
The following details
should enable you to find
your nearest local office,
but bear in mind that there
are also smaller offices
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: Young girl sitting among bluebells
and ferns in Brechin, Angus.
Photographer: Niall Benvie
Inside cover: Native bluebells are also known as
wild hyacinths in Scotland. Britain is home to half
of the world's total population.
Welcome page: Glasgow from the south.
Photographer: Lorne Gill/SNH
Andrew Darrington/Alamy 6t; Sea Life Surveys/
Specialist Stock 6b; National Museums Scotland
8; George Logan/SNH 14; Laurie Campbell 16, 17;
Laurie Campbell/SNH 18, 19b; David Whitaker
19t; RSPB 22; Peter Sandround/SNH 23, 24, 25;
Laura Steel/SNH 26; Marc Marnie 27t; Peter
Cairns/www.toothandclaw.org.uk 28; Alan Ross
29; Seton Gordon Estate 31; Dennis Coutts 32;
Sue Scott 33t; John Love 33b; David Whitaker 38b;
Peter Duncan/SNH 42l, c; Aigas Field Centre 42r;
John Love 43c; Rod Huckbody/Stornoway
Gazette 43r; Geoff Atkins/SNH 44l; Martin Twiss/
SNH 44r; Pat Macdonald/SNH 52; Perthshire
Picture Agency 55; Jim Greeneld 56; Mike Clark
57; Clive Grewcock/SNH 61, 63.
Illustration jillcalder.com 9; Vicki Gausden 58
Maps Fitzpatrick Woolmer 37
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
WP37K0609
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 offices

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
Andrew Thin
Chairman
In a time of severe pressure on public spending its inevitable, and right, that
people will ask hard questions of public service organisations like SNH. What are
you doing with my money, and what am I getting in return? How important is this,
and cant we wait until the current economic recession is behind us? Should we
really be spending money on birds and beasties when were struggling to meet
public expenditure demands in areas like health and education?
Theres an inherent assumption in some of this that is fundamentally awed.
Public spending on nature is not an end in itself. On the contrary, its purpose
must be to secure and increase the wide range of public benets that we all
derive from these assets. Scotland would be a much poorer country, in all senses
of the word, without them. They play a central role in our economy, in our health,
and in our sense of who we are, but the benets dont come automatically.
Indeed, for too many Scots theyre not all that apparent, and in some cases
not even all that real. In particular, the health benets that we derive from our
natural environment are far from evenly distributed. Its ne for those who live in
leafy surroundings and can take advantage of the open-air gym on their doorstep.
But it's irrelevant to the many who live in poorly designed urban jungles with
neither the ability nor the condence to access the countryside farther aeld.
So, in this issue of our magazine we take a look at some of the things that
SNH are doing, with others, to make Scotland a healthier and better place for all
of us. There are articles on nature, health and well-being; on supporting our city
museums to encourage people to get out more and enjoy nature; on the great
breathing spaces presented by Scotlands two national parks; and on ways to
provoke young people's interest in the natural heritage. I hope that theyll inspire
you. Our health, like nature itself, is something that we too often take for granted...
until its too late.
Wild
calendar
Long days and bright summer nights can

hold wildlife interest 24/7. Wader calls in
the Simmer Dim of the Northern Isles, bats
on the wing by a lowland wood or seals
singing on a moonlit skerry could tempt you
to skip sleep. But at least you could doze
later to the hum of bees or the twitter of
swallows.
Kenny Taylor gives

some seasonal tips for
savouring Scottish wildlife
and landscapes
The cute and the deadly

Creatures with round heads and large eyes appeal to many
people. Common (or harbour) seals are no exception. Add
the many attractive variations in their mottled coats, and
its no surprise that boat trips to watch seals are a popular
summer jaunt.
Youll nd places to do this around widely separated
parts of the Scottish coast. But it also pays to look for
offshore seal haul-outs near roads. One excellent common
seal loang area is near the Cromarty Firth Bridge between
Dingwall and Evanton. Lay-bys along the A9 on the north
side and a car park and restaurant at Foulis Ferry give scope
for watching common seals nearby without disturbing them.
Scottish common seal numbers have been declining in
recent years. In the Northern Isles, attacks on pups by killer
whales could be one of the reasons for the decline. So if
youre in Orkney or Shetland in June or July, you might just
see more sea mammals than youd expected.
Web tips:
www.snh.org.uk/publications/online/naturallyscottish/seals/
sealsinscotland.asp
www.storehouseoffoulis.co.uk
www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/04/23115405
4
1
www.snh.org.uk
Brown-eyed twirl
Warm summer days, ower-rich grassland and uttering
butteries are made for each other. Brightly coloured
butteries, such as peacocks and red admirals, may seem to
steal the show. But theres both pleasure and challenge in
looking more closely at less amboyant summer iers.
Browns are an aptly named buttery family that includes
widespread species, such as the meadow brown, and some
scarcer ones for which Scotland is an important home.
The mountain ringlet is a brown, and is Britains only true
mountain-dwelling buttery. Some live in the Lake District,
but its stronghold is in the uplands of Perthshire and
Lochaber.
The Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve famed for
its alpine owers and the glories of the scenery above
bonny Loch Tay is in the heart of Scotlands mountain
ringlet territory. Like the Scotch argus (another brown), the
mountain ringlet has eyespots on its wings and ies only if
the sun is shining. Mountains, sun, butteries: sounds like
another heady mix.
Web tip:
www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/reserve.asp?NNRId=31
Catch the minke
It can match a double-decker bus in length and weight. So

when a minke whale emerges from the deeps, its sure to
cause a stir. The minke whale is the commonest whale seen
in Scottish inshore waters, but that doesnt make it a pushover to spot.
Typically, a minke doesnt stay near the surface for long.
Even if youre with a boatload of whale enthusiasts, that
means you have to keep scanning the sea for signs of its
black, curved back and small dorsal n.
Mull is one of Scotlands whale-watching hotspots, with
trips sailing from Tobermory to waters off Ardnamurchan and
the west of the island. Regular ferries here and elsewhere
also give the chance of whale, dolphin and porpoise
sightings. Summer services across the Minch, including
Ullapool to Stornoway, are a good bet. So too are the
scheduled ferries from Arisaig or Mallaig to Eigg and the
other Small Isles.
Web tips:
www.whaledolphintrust.co.uk
www.sealifesurveys.com
6
1
Eighty per cent of the
UKs common seals
breed in Scotland,
which is home to at
least 20,000 of these
dappled sea mammals.
2
The mountain ringlet is
one of Scotlands rarer
brown butteries.
Several of its colonies
survive in national
nature reserves.
3
Its a rare treat if a
minke whale emerges,
head rst, beside a
boat. Pure white front
ns, or ukes, are one
of the minkes
distinctive features.
4
Bumblebees help to
pollinate both
wildowers and crops
as they move between
plants to feed.
Born to hum
Times are hard for foggie-toddlers and droners. Numbers
of bumblebees (as youll most likely know them) have been
in tailspin in many places. Thats why the Scottish and UK
governments are funding new research aimed at improving
life for bees.
But its not all gloom for the big buzzers. Scotland has
17 different species and some excellent places to watch
them. At the Loch Leven National Nature Reserve, you
could couple a visit to enjoy wildfowl and cultural heritage
with appreciation of bees that benet from the worlds rst
bumblebee sanctuary. Created around two years ago with
help from SNH, this owery meadow at the RSPBs Vane
Farm is already attracting many different bumblebees.
In the Hebrides and Orkney, you might be lucky enough
to see one of Scotlands rarest bumblebees, the great yellow.
It relishes the clover on traditionally managed grasslands in
places such as the RSPBs Balranald Reserve and the Loch
Druidibeg National Nature Reserve.
Web tips:
www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/reserve.asp?NNRId=33
www.bumblebeeconservation.org/vane.htm
www.snh.org.uk/pubs/results.asp?Q=bumblebees&rpp=10
4
www.snh.org.uk
Unearthing natures wonders

What lurks at the bottom of your garden? A new exhibition at the National
Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh encourages younger visitors to become
detectives and nd out
Inspired by the work of Charles

Darwin, and on the 200th
anniversary of his birth, a new
Garden Detectives exhibition at
the National Museum of Scotland
transforms the ordinary into the
extraordinary.
Children can delve into hedges, take a
peek in the garden shed and unearth
wonders from the exhibition ower beds
and pond. They can explore habitats,
study food chains, track animals and
discover what they get up to while
were asleep all without getting their
hands dirty!
Darwins greatest ability was his
skill as an observer when studying the
natural world around him, says Graham
Rotheray, the museums curator of
insects. With Garden Detectives we
want to encourage the same level of
curiosity in our younger visitors.
Highlighting the importance of
involving children in the environment
from a young age, Graham points out
that, teaching young people to explore
gives them invaluable life skills. Here
they can begin to unravel the vast
complexities of the natural world.
With more than 30,000 species of
insects and spiders alone living in the
UK today, an average Scottish garden
may contain many hundreds of different
species. Add in the huge variety of
mammals, birds, plants and fungi, and
you begin to get an idea of the size of
the challenge facing the exhibition team.

1
Win a family day out at the

National Museum of Scotland
We have ve family days out to the Garden Detectives exhibition to
give away. The rst ve readers to email info@nms.ac.uk with the
subject line Garden Detectives competition (including their name
and address) by 5pm on 26 June 2009 will win a family day out (a
free lunch for a maximum of ve people in the caf with goody bags
for each child). All entries will be added to the National Museums
Scotland email newsletter for the latest news on events, exhibitions
and special offers. If you dont wish to be added to the email list,
please include no newsletter in your entry.
1
The exhibition
encourages children to
investigate the world
of a garden.
2
Illustration for the
exhibition.
www.snh.org.uk
A cut-away garden shed houses a

selection of specimens, including the
complete life cycle of a dragony. The
closer visitors look, the more theyll
discover. We present visitors with
contrasts like large and small insects,
day and night-time creatures, ladybirds
with different numbers of spots, and so
on, Graham explains.
These enable visitors not only to
learn more about the garden as a haven
for wildlife but also to see how they live
together and how we can observe and
study them. Just as life varies at different
levels in a pond, similar structured
habitats can be found in a hedgerow.
By comparing different creatures
and seeing how theyre grouped,
children will be able to spot themes
behind the evolution of life. The most
important lesson from the exhibition
will be to highlight the amazing stories,

life cycles and lessons to be gained
without having to leave the garden,
adds Graham, reecting a lesson that
was not lost on Darwin himself.
Despite his ve-year groundbreaking scientic expedition aboard
HMS Beagle, it was Darwins
observations in his own garden that
nally persuaded him to complete and
publish On the Origin of Species.
Aimed at families with children aged
between ve and nine, the exhibition
will also be of great interest to primary
schools. Garden Detectives is at
the National Museum of Scotland,
Edinburgh, from 26 June to 27
September, with nancial support from
SNH. Admission is free and you can
visit www.nms.ac.uk/gardendetectives
to nd out more.
9
Just what the doctor ordered

Scotland has, in the past, been labelled the sick
man of Europe because of its poor health record.
So what can the natural heritage do to help?
10
www.snh.org.uk
11
Nature is good for you thats ofcial. Medical

research has shown that contact with nature has
a positive impact on peoples blood pressure,
cholesterol, outlook on life, stress reduction and
child development.
Thats the good news. The bad news is that too few of us
are taking advantage of the benets that being outdoors can
bring. As a nation, we should be making more use of the
natural heritage to address some of the important physical
and mental health issues facing Scotland today.
Thats why the Scottish Government are looking to
increase the number of adults enjoying the outdoors each
week. Getting people out and about goes some way
towards meeting the medical advice that we should be
taking 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least ve times
a week. It should also help with other government goals of
curbing weight increase in children, improving adults mental
well-being and increasing the life span of people living in
disadvantaged areas.
12
1
A visit to your local
park can provide a
health boost for all the
family.
2
Growing food in
community gardens or
allotments is a good
way to exercise and
meet people, with the
added bonus that you
can eat the results of
your hard work!
3
For many people, the
natural environment
provides the perfect
place to exercise and
relax.
Healthier Scotland
Recent research suggests that nature can help meet all of
these targets by providing:
Green exercise Being active outdoors can improve
peoples physical and mental health.
Natural recovery The natural heritage, and being involved
in its care, can help with recovery from physical and mental
stresses.
Illness prevention Just being outdoors can deliver
various health and well-being benets, as well as help
people guard against future illness.
Wider benets Experience of nature and looking after it
can lead to stronger and more inclusive communities.
Direction for the young Healthier lifestyles result from
positive interest in the natural world at a young age and
encouraging outdoor activity.
Doctors and health professionals are more and more
aware of the role that contact with nature and being
active outdoors can play in creating a healthier Scotland,
commented Pete Rawcliffe, SNHs quality of life group
manager.
We can all feel physically and mentally better by getting
out and about more. And you dont have to be super-t to
enjoy the benets. Just being active outdoors can go a long
way towards making you feel good. Its fun too, whether
youre out on your own, with friends or family, or as part of an
organised group.
Scotland certainly needs to develop new approaches
that can help improve the nations health, given its history of
long-standing and major health issues, including:
Heart disease This is still one of the major causes of
early death in Scotland and it plays a big part in health
inequalities.
Obesity More than half the population are classied as
overweight, with nearly a quarter dened as obese.
Obesity levels are also high and increasing among schoolaged children.
Mental health Depression and similar disorders were the
fth most common group of conditions reported in
doctors surgeries in 2005/06.
www.snh.org.uk
13
4
Outdoor activity offers
everyone the chance to
explore new places
and learn more about
the natural world.
5
The chance to meet
others and work
together can be as
important for
volunteers as the
direct health benets.
14

4
Health inequalities
A major concern in Scotland remains the long-standing
health inequalities that exist between different parts of the
country, and between different social and economic groups.
People in disadvantaged areas already live shorter, less
healthy lives and tend to confront long-term disease at a
much earlier age than society as a whole. They also suffer
poorer mental health.
Unfortunately, as improvements in public health have
been achieved nationally, the health inequalities have grown.
Between 2000 and 2006, the rates of death from heart
disease fell by 33% among the under 75s in Scotland
overall, but by only 27% in the most deprived areas. Similar
gures for cancer were 9% and 2% respectively.
In fact, at just 54 years, life expectancy for people in
parts of Glasgow is now 28 years shorter than elsewhere in
Scotland, and less than other parts of the developing world.
Disadvantaged areas also tend to be linked with poverty,
which means that residents are less able to travel farther to
enjoy the outdoors. It therefore makes sense to plan for more
local greenspace, path networks and attractive landscapes

close to peoples homes.
People with access to nearby nature are generally
healthier than those who dont have access, Pete added.
And we know that attractive parks, green spaces and
nearby countryside are more likely to be used for physical
activity.
SNH believe the benets of enjoying the outdoors
should be shared by all of Scotlands people. Were
therefore placing greater emphasis on getting more people
outdoors, and encouraging them to embrace a stronger
outdoor culture through recreation, volunteering and outdoor
learning.
Were also working with the health sector to support
others in providing high-quality places for contact with
nature close to peoples homes. This can dramatically
improve the quality of life in run-down areas as well as offer
a route to health for residents.
www.snh.org.uk
15
16
Of damsels
and dragons
One of the natural highlights

of summer is watching
a dragony or damsely
cruising over a pond like
a mini helicopter. Now
your help is needed with
recording where they live
Dragonies and damselies are some of our oldest

insects whose ancestors were on the wing over
300 million years ago. They are beautiful aerial
jewels with stunning colours, fascinating behaviour
and incredible powers of ight.
1
The southern hawker
dragony is on the
move northwards. It
often breeds in garden
ponds but hunts well
away from water.
2
If you come across a
damsely on or around
large lochs then it's
likely to be the
common blue.
www.snh.org.uk
However, having survived the extinction of the dinosaurs

and several ice ages, the question now is: Can dragonies
survive the increasing pressures that people are putting on
them?
These beautiful creatures are threatened by climate
change and destruction of the areas where they live. Thats
why the British Dragony Society (BDS) have launched the
Dragonies in Focus project.
This ve-year project, co-funded by SNH, centres on a
nationwide survey to nd out exactly where our dragonies
are living and how well theyre coping with the threats they
face. This will lead to a new atlas in 2013, which will give a
snapshot of where Britains dragonies are currently found.
Several of the scarce species are found in Scotland,
explained Stephen Prentice, Dragonies in Focus ofcer
with the BDS, and it appears that many other species are
expanding northwards. For example, the southern hawker
never used to be seen in Scotland, but over the last 20 years
its quickened its movement into Scotland, with one spotted
recently as far north as Stornoway.
Dragonies are increasingly heading to Britain from
Europe, he added. Understanding where and how quickly
our dragonies are moving will help plan for the future,
especially in terms of the way we try and conserve them. It
will be important to make sure theyre provided with the best
opportunities to react to change.
17
Dragonies are sensitive to

temperature, which makes them useful
for studies on how climate change
is affecting the natural world. The
information collected can also be used
to monitor endangered species and
help them recover. Records of breeding
activity are particularly important for
identifying key dragony sites.
Scotland has always been underrecorded because of its large size and
relatively small population. However,
the BDS aims to survey all of it before
the end of 2012. The country has been
divided up into 10-km squares all
1119 of them. 2008 was the rst year
of recording for the atlas and, despite
the poor weather, volunteers provided
records for 172 of the 10-km squares,
or about 15% of the total. More
volunteers are needed to cover all the
Scottish squares before the end of the
project.
If youre interested in getting
involved then you could help by
recording dragony activity in your
neighbourhood. There are ve key
pieces of information that make up a
good dragony record: the name of the
species youve seen, where you saw it,
the map reference, the date and your
name/contact details. Extra information
thats also really helpful includes the life
stage of the dragony whether its an
adult, a larva or just the discarded skin
when it becomes an adult.
Other information you can collect
includes the type of habitat, the
weather, the height of the site and
breeding behaviour. All the data
collected will be used as a starting
point from which to monitor changes,
and work out whether theyre due to the
habitat being altered, pollution, climate
change or competition. You can enter
records online at the BDS website
www.dragonysoc.org.uk
To give the project a boost in
Scotland the BDS and SNH are
co-hosting an event at Loch Leven
National Nature Reserve on 22 July.
It will include a hands-on afternoon
discovering the wonderful world of
dragonies, as well as an evening talk.
You can nd further details at www.snh.
org.uk/scottish/taysclack/events.asp
18
Rough guide to dragonies
Dragonies and damselies belong to

the insect group known as Odonata,
meaning toothed jaw, because their
mouthparts are jagged.
Theyre often referred to jointly as
dragonies, but damselies are the
much smaller and weaker ying relatives
of dragonies.
The life cycle is egg (usually laid under
water), larva or nymph (free moving
and water dwelling) and adult. The
larva lives for several weeks (or years
depending on the species) under water
and undergoes a series of moults as it
grows. It emerges from the water when
its ready to undergo its nal moult,
where the skin splits to release the
winged adult.
Dragonies are harmless to people as
they have no sting and will not attack.
Adult dragonies are skilful hunters.
They eat other ying insects, particularly
ies, midges and mosquitoes. They
also take butteries, moths and smaller
dragonies. The larvae, which live in
water, eat almost anything thats living
and smaller than themselves.
Among the species that catch and eat

adult dragonies are birds, spiders and
frogs.
3
Moorland bogs and
pools are where youll
nd the northern
emerald dragony. Its
restricted to northwest
Scotland, apart from a
tiny colony in
southwest Ireland.
4
Large red damselies
are among the earliest
species to appear each
spring.
5
The azure hawker is
widespread in the
Highlands and is only
found in Scotland.
www.snh.org.uk
Dragonies such as the emperor can

reach a length of about 85 mm
with a wingspan of around
120 mm. Damselies are much smaller,
demoiselles being the largest they
have a body length of about 50 mm and
a wingspan of around 60 mm.
The maximum speed of large species
like the hawkers is around 2530 mph.
Average cruising speed is probably
about 10 mph.
An old name for damselies was devils
darning needles. This comes from an
old myth that if you went to sleep by a
stream on a summers day, damselies
would use their long, thin bodies to sew
your eyelids shut!
19
Dualchas coitcheann
Common heritage
In Scottish Gaelic tradition,
the meadowsweet plant
is linked to Cuchullin, one
of the greatest of all our
legendary heroes. Ruairidh
MacIlleathain explains the
link
1
Crios Ch Chulainn
lus le ceangal don
t-seann ghaisgeach
ainmeil
Ghidhealach.
Crios Ch Chulainn
(Cuchullins belt)
the name and folklore
link this species to one
of the most famous
characters in Gaelic
tradition.
Lus gaisgich
Chleachd muinntir Shasainn an lus
seo (Filipendula ulmaria) anns an
t-seann aimsir airson mil-dheoch a
mhlseachadh agus s e sin as coireach
ri ainm ann am Beurla. Ach ann an
Gidhlig canar Crios Ch Chulainn ris
no uaireannan Cneas Ch Chulainn
agus tha e gu lidir co-cheangailte
nar dualchas fhin ris an t-seann
ghaisgeach sin a tha a nochdadh cho
fada air ais ann an eachdraidh nan
Gidheal ri Tin B Cailnge, nuair a
bha e a sabaid s leth nan Ultach an
aghaidh arm Chonnacht.
Ged a bhuineadh C Chulainn do
dhUlaidh, a rir beul-aithris ann an
Alba, dhionnsaich e na sgilean cogaidh
aige aig a Bhnrigh Sgthach anns
an Eilean Sgitheanach. Gabhaidh an
caisteal aice (Dn Sgthaich) faicinn
fhathast air taobh an iar Shlite ann an
ceann a deas an eilein. Bidh os aig a
chuid mhir de Ghidheil gur e Setanta
an t-ainm-baistidh a bh air, ach gun do
ghabh e C Chulainn air fhin (agus
obair a choin mhairbh) nuair a mharbh
e an c-faire aig fear air an robh
Culann. Ach is iongantach ma tha os
air sin aig a mhr-chuid a choimheadas
ball-coise Albannach air an t-sianal
20
telebhisein dhen aon ainm!

Bhathar a cleachdadh an luis seo le
bhith ga chur air an rlar airson deagh
fhileadh a sgaoileadh anns an taigh.
Bhathar cuideachd ga chleachdadh
airson abhras a lughdachadh agus s e
sin a tha ga cheangal do Ch Chulainn.
Ged a bha e na ghaisgeach, bha e
iomraiteach airson a chuid riastraidh
bhiodh e a dol s a rian le fearg. A
rir beul-aithris, bha an dearg chuthach
air latha a bha seo, agus bha dragh
air buidheann de bhoireannaich gum
faigheadh e bs. Thug iad air ionnlad
fhin ann an amar a bha ln dhen
lus seo, agus chaidh e am feabhas.
Bho sin a-mach, chumadh e bad
dhen lus na chrios airson a bhith a
cuimhneachadh mar a shbhail e a
bheatha.
Chan eil os d cho sean s a tha
an ceangal eadar an gaisgeach agus
an lus, ach tha e beagan cheudan
bhliadhnaichean aig a char as lugha.
Ann an ran an t-Samhraidh le Alasdair
Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair, a sgrobhadh
timcheall air 1738, tha am brd a-mach
air S cbhraidh fileadh do mhuineil, a
Chrios Cho-chulainn nan crn.
A heros plant
The English name for the meadowsweet
derives from Anglo-Saxon times when
it was used for sweetening mead. The
Gaelic name is completely different, as
it ties the plant to a legendary gure in
Celtic tradition Cuchullin.
Although an Ulsterman, Cuchullin
is intimately linked to Scotland as hes
said to have learned his ghting skills
from the warrior queen Sgthach on
the Isle of Skye. The meadowsweet in
Gaelic Scotland is crios Ch Chulainn
Cuchullins belt an association
thats credited to the plants use in
treating fevers.
Cuchullin suffered horrendous
rages, when he became unbeatable
on the eld of battle, but observers
were often worried that he would die
of apoplexy. During one of these bouts,
some women convinced him to bathe
in meadowsweet. He was calmed and,
from that point on, he carried a sprig
of the plant tucked in his belt to remind
him of how it saved his life.
www.snh.org.uk
21
City sights
The most popular

visitor attraction
in Scotland now
offers a great range
of wildlife events
and activities for
everyone to enjoy
22
Almost one and a half million visitors passed

through Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in
Glasgow last year and one of the highlights for
many will have been an unexpected insight into the
citys wildlife.
Information ofcers from RSPB Scotland (Royal Society for
the Protection of Birds) now have a presence at the museum
and lead guided tours around its grand halls and galleries.
Operating under the banner of A date with nature, the two
RSPB guides aim to get folk excited about the wonderful
wildlife they can see in the city, as well as providing an
insight on wider conservation issues.
They also hold talks and family activities at regular
events, with a recent highlight being a visit by the hugely
popular childrens author Julia Davidson, famous for the
Gruffalo books. In addition, they lead guided walks at the
weekend out in Kelvingrove Park, with all ages and levels
of understanding welcome. They aim to make sure that
theres something for everyone, with a bit of local history
included too, and the chance to use RSPB telescopes and
binoculars.
1
Kelvingrove is the most
visited museum in the
UK outside of London.
2
Park and stride
Bonnie Grifn of the
RSPB leads a family
group on a riverside
walk in Kelvingrove
Park.
www.snh.org.uk
23
Inspiring children
During the week, a group of eld teachers and volunteers are
also present to offer rst-hand outdoor learning experiences
for Glasgow primary school children. This complements the
museums own indoor classroom teaching. Over 60 schools
and some 2,000 pupils have already taken advantage of the
opportunities, which seek to inspire and enthuse the children
about the nature around them.
The project is based in the heart of Glasgow and
were aiming to encourage a real sense of pride in the local
environment, explained Pardeep Chand, RSPB Scotlands
senior information ofcer at Kelvingrove. The citys parks,
open spaces and gardens are home to nearly 4,000 different
kinds of plants and animals, so theres plenty to talk about.
The museum attracts people from all parts of Glasgow
and were keen to work with communities and individuals
who dont normally know about or get involved with the
natural heritage.
We focus on getting them excited about the peregrines,
foxes and other wildlife living on their doorstep. We also
connect people to the outdoor environment by leading
the guided walks in the park and directing people to other
nature-based tourism activities.
The project is being funded by the National Lottery
through the Heritage Lottery Fund (until September this
year) and SNH. It's run in partnership with Glasgow City
Council and Culture and Sport Glasgow.
3
The RSPB recently
organised for author
Julia Davidson of
'Gruffalo' fame to visit
and put on a show at
the museum.
4
The Gruffalo event
proved a big hit with
youngsters.
The citys parks, open

spaces and gardens
are home to nearly
4,000 different kinds
of plants and animals
24
SNH were also a major contributor to the recent

28 million refurbishment of the Kelvingrove Museum. And
the organisation provided support through some of their
specialist staff acting as expert reviewers for the natural
history galleries.
The RSPB information staff at the museum are assisted
by a team of volunteers who lead guided walks and get
involved in wildlife surveying in the park and along the River
Kelvin. Through their efforts, the environment along the River
Kelvin is being improved for wildlife and nest boxes put
up for a range of local bird species. Future plans include
installing a peregrine nesting platform and CCTV on one of
the museums towers, which will allow them to beam back
live images to the museum.
Were trying to show people that nature really is on the
doorstep of city communities, added Pardeep, and you
dont need to take a trip to remote places to see wildlife. We
also want to enthuse people enough that theyll get involved
in making a positive difference for their local wildlife.
www.snh.org.uk
25
NEWS
Searching beneath the surface
Interesting times lie ahead for Scotlands marine environment. Next year will see
the publication of the rst State of Scotlands Seas report and the passing of the
Scottish Marine Act.
In addition, the Scottish Governments new champion for our marine
environment, Marine Scotland, will be developing new marine protected areas
and a new marine planning system. Both of these will need to be underpinned by
high-quality marine data.
SNH have been working with partners, communities and the public to improve
knowledge of the marine environment. For example, SNHs dive team used a
recent training session to look at the previously unsurveyed ameshell beds in
Loch Carron and Loch Alsh. Flameshell (pictured above) beds are distinctly
Scottish, but not much is known about how they live and where they can be
found.
These colourful molluscs are unique in the way they take materials from the
seabed oor and form nests, which are then taken over by a range of other
plants and animals. The results from the survey will be used to work out how to
safeguard these creatures in the future.
Another recent example of survey work has been taken forward with
others at Lamlash Bay in Arran. A no take zone was set up in 2008 and SNH
commissioned a map of the bay to show where different species live. Marine
Scotlands laboratory has begun monitoring the population of scallops, and
volunteer divers will be checking out the important maerl (red seaweed) beds
within Lamlash Bay. The combined results will allow us to judge what effect the
no take zone is having on the maerl beds and scallops.
This kind of monitoring and survey work means we can improve our knowledge
of Scotlands seas, which puts us in a better position to advise on where we need
to focus our conservation efforts. You can nd published reports on SNHs marine
survey and monitoring at www.snh.org/publications
26
The web has opened a new door to Scotlands

history with a site that guides walkers to nearly
2000 km of historic paths around the country.
The Heritage Paths Project is an online resource
giving easy access to a wealth of information on
historic paths across Scotland.
The new website, www.heritagepaths.co.uk,
run by the Scottish Rights of Way and Access
Society (ScotWays), was funded by the
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and SNH.
The Heritage Paths Project brings together carefully researched images, maps
and information on the traditional routes and long-distance paths used down the
generations for journeys such as trade, pilgrimage, travel and burial customs.
Internet users now have the tools to nd out about old paths all over Scotland
and travel along them. The website has a range of paths, from those that are very
accessible to those that are challenging. All of them give a new insight into the
purpose and methods of travel before the car.
This online database aims to encourage people to get outdoors by putting
these paths in their historical context and encouraging people to explore them
for themselves. Pictured are pupils from Ceres Primary in Fife, who walked
back in time along the famous local path The Waterless Road and over the old
packhorse bridge in Ceres.
NEWS
Travel through time
Beavers back
Three beaver families have been released at lochs in the Knapdale area of midArgyll as part of a trial release project. The return of the beavers comes after a
450-year absence of the species from Scotland after being hunted to extinction
here.
The beaver families were collected by a specialist team in Telemark, Norway,
last year and then shipped to Devon for six months in quarantine. This is the rstever formal reintroduction of a (previously extinct) native mammal into the wild in
Britain.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust and Royal Zoological Society of Scotland have
been responsible for overseeing the release of the animals. They have radiotagged the adult beavers and will run the trial over the next ve
years (2009-2014).
SNH will be independently monitoring the project and
are contributing 275,000 to the costs. The monitoring will
include the relationship between beavers and woodland, water
plants, river habitat, water levels, dragonies, freshwater sh
and otters.
Were pleased the trial is under way, commented
Colin Galbraith, director of policy and advice for SNH, as it
provides the best opportunity to see how beavers t into the
Scottish countryside in a carefully planned and managed way.
SNH have a key role in monitoring progress and in
reporting the outcome of the trial to Ministers in due course.
Importantly, the monitoring programme carried out by SNH
and others will be transparent and open. The public will be
able to read reports and other outputs on the SNH website
(www.snh.org.uk/scottishbeavertrial), so that everyone can see
how the trial has gone and how the beavers have settled in.
www.snh.org.uk
27
NEWS
Wildcat stronghold project
A new project has been launched, aimed at securing the future of the Scottish
wildcat in the Cairngorms National Park through working with a range of partners
and interest groups.
The Cairngorms National Park (CNP) is a stronghold for the wildcat, but some
estimates suggest that there may be as few as 400 pure wildcats left in Scotland.
Wildcats were once widespread throughout the UK, but in previous centuries
they were hunted ruthlessly so that by the 19th century they had become extinct
in England and Wales.
Their numbers continued to decline in Scotland into the 20th century, reaching
their lowest about 1914, by which time the few remaining cats were restricted to
remote parts of the Highlands.
The wildcat is now fully protected by law but its threatened by a range of
factors. These include cross-breeding with domestic cats, mistakes by those
trying to identify animals when carrying out predator control and fatal diseases
spread by unvaccinated domestic cats.
The Cairngorms Wildcat Project aims to tackle the threats facing wildcats by
drawing popular attention to the plight of the animal through an awareness-raising
campaign called Highland Tiger.
The project will work with vets and cat welfare groups to increase levels of
neutering and vaccination of domestic cats in the CNP. Project staff will also work
with land managers to ensure that predator control activities are wildcat-friendly.
Local land managers and other members of the public are encouraged to help
monitor the wildcat population and the extent of both cross-breeding and disease.
They can do this by reporting sightings and submitting carcases of animals killed
on the roads to local drop-off points for scientic research.
You can nd further information on the project at www.highlandtiger.com
28
You can now book your place at The Changing Nature of Scotland conference,
which will take place in Perth Concert Hall on 17 and 18 September this year.
The conference is aimed at everyone with an interest in a healthy environment
and will look at our changing environment, why it matters and what were doing
about it.
Keynote speakers will include Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Minister for
Environment; Dr Harry Burns, Chief Medical Ofcer for Scotland; Julie HeskethLaird, Scottish Whisky Association; and Professor Laurence Mee, The Scottish
Association for Marine Science.
Its being organised by SNH along with our Scottish Environmental and Rural
Services (SEARS) partners. For further information please visit the conference
website, which is now live and open for registration. You can access it via the
SNH website at www.snh.org.uk/conference2009 or directly at www.eventsforce.
net/SNHConference2009
NEWS
Conference attendance
Water vole comeback

More than 600 water voles have been released in the Trossachs and its hoped
that a further 400 will be released later in the year.
In the rst attempt to reintroduce water voles from one part of Scotland to
another, the three-year project aims to reinstate the animals at restored wetland
sites in the Aberfoyle area.
The rare animals, once a common sight across the UK, have become extinct in
the area over the last 25 years. Their decline in numbers has been blamed locally
on loss of habitat and predation by mink.
All of the animals being released have been bred from voles that were
originally captured on a development site near Glasgow. The water voles will be
carefully monitored and, to ensure they dont pose a signicant threat to the water
voles, the mink will also be monitored.
The project is focused along a 20-km stretch of water course in the Duchray
and Kelty areas, both of which ow through Loch Ard Forest.
The project is being led by Forestry Commission Scotland, and is being
partnered by SNH, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and the Kilgarth
Development Company, along with Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
Authority.
www.snh.org.uk
29
Join the club!
Ewen Cameron and Pete

Moore of SNH outline a
project that celebrates
those whove helped our
understanding of Scottish
wildlife, and encourage you
to follow their lead
1
The Highland
Naturalists exhibition
has something to
interest all ages.
30
Coffee-table books and TV nature programmes often leave us

with the impression that people who study wildlife have to be
professional scientists leading expeditions or cameramen with
thousands of pounds worth of technical equipment.
Some of them are, but others have nothing more than a pencil and notebook,
allied with binoculars and the patience to observe and record what they see.
The Highland Naturalists project celebrates those who, over the last 300
years, have contributed much to our understanding of Scotlands wildlife. Some
are old, some are young, some are male, some female there are even some
husband and wife or father and daughter teams. What they all have in common is
an interest in the world around them and the willingness to record what they see.
People also assume that in a small country like Scotland we must already
know all there is to know about our wildlife, but nothing could be further from the
truth. There are literally thousands of Scottish native plants and animals about
which we know very little.
The Highland Naturalists project has two main elements. Firstly, an exhibition,
most recently on display in the Caithness Horizons museum in Thurso and SNHs
Inverness headquarters. The exhibition features a selection of 15 naturalists and
some of the equipment and other materials associated with their work.
The second element is the website www.highlandnaturalists.com, which forms
a longer-term legacy with a global audience. It currently features 35 naturalists
and were awaiting further nominations of people to be added to this roll of
honour.
Seton Gordon (18861977) devoted
his life to lecturing and writing about
the landscapes, wildlife, history and
traditions of the Highlands and Islands.
He demonstrated two vital skills
of the naturalist: keen observation
and careful recording. But he also
had time to enthuse and encourage
others, irrespective of their ages
or backgrounds. This photo of him
was taken by his wife Audrey as he
examined the prey items at the nest of
a golden eagle. His standard eld kit
included the kilt!
www.snh.org.uk
31
The featured naturalists include the well known, such as Seton Gordon, a
pioneering photographer and commentator on Scottish culture and wildlife; Roy
Dennis of Strathspey osprey fame; and Gavin Maxwell, who brought delight to
generations with his books on west coast otters. It also includes the less well
known, such as Alan Joyce, a former biology teacher at Golspie High School,
who inspired generations of youngsters and supervised a group of pupils that
won both the Scottish and UK Young Scientist of the Year awards. And theres
James MacGeoch, a founder member of the Inverness Bird Watching Group, who
bought his rst camera in 1936 for ve shillings (25 pence!). By way of contrast,
the group also includes Laurie Campbell, whose photographs grace many of
todays wildlife books.
If youre lucky enough to see the exhibition or if you have a browse through
the website, we hope youll realise that you dont have to be an expert; indeed,
none of these naturalists started out as experts. They began with interest and
enthusiasm and it grew from there.
If you like the sound of that, try contacting your local SNH ofce, countryside
ranger, biological record centre, bird club, watch group or whatever is near you.
You should nd other enthusiasts wholl be glad to help you get started. Whether
its a golden eagle or a moss, whatever you choose to do, the information you
gather will help us all enjoy the treasure trove of wildlife that Scotland still offers.
Who knows where it might lead to eventually you may even end up featured on
our website!
Bobby Tulloch (19291996) had no formal training, but his self-acquired

knowledge led to him being offered the job of representative for the RSPB in
Shetland. He wrote and illustrated various books and liked nothing better than
showing visitors his native Shetland Isles and their wildlife. Bobby is shown below
with a bearded seal, a rare visitor to Britain. The picture was taken by Shetland
photographer Dennis Coutts, who captioned it: Bobby Tulloch (the one on the
left) with bearded seal, 1977!
32
1
Sue Scott studied marine biology at

Bangor University in Wales, but was
introduced to serious diving when she
joined the survey teams undertaking the
Marine Nature Conservation Review.
She was soon asked to survey the west
of Scotland, where she developed a
fascination for sea lochs. Sues photos
of marine plants and animals are in
high demand and she regularly talks to
diving groups about becoming involved
in recording and conservation.
Bob Swanns mother maintains that his

interest in birds arose from her taking
him to feed the ducks in the parks of
his native Edinburgh. True or not, hes
certainly come a long way since then.
For 30 years he worked as a geography
teacher in the Highlands while also
being involved in a whole range of longterm bird research projects. He was
able to inuence a whole generation of
schoolchildren through his job and at
one stage had half the school involved
in the Bird Club! A few years ago, Bob
won an award from the British Trust
for Ornithology for his efforts over the
years. And hes pleased to see that
some of the young folk he inuenced
are themselves now trying to encourage
youngsters by giving talks at schools
and showing others how to ring birds
for research.
www.snh.org.uk
33
Events diary
July
2009
Saturday 4
Sunday 5
Thursday 9
Open Day
Noss NNR
Shetland
Family day with fun activities and some

refreshments. Free of charge (including the
inatable boat ferry across Noss Sound), no
booking required.
Tel: 01595 693 345
Alpine Amphitheatre
Corrie Fee NNR
Angus
Spend the day in Corrie Fee NNR and discover

the importance of its plants and animals. Meet
at 11am at Glen Doll Ranger Base. Booking
essential.
Tel: 01575 550 233
Family Day
Tentsmuir NNR
Tayside
A range of activities to try while exploring

Tentsmuir Point. Booking essential.
Tel: 01382 552 704
Lots of games, crafts and activities for all the

family from 12 noon to 4pm at Burn o Vat Visitor
Centre.
Tel: 01224 642 863
Fun and frolics for all the family! Guided events,

kids activities and light refreshments. Booking
essential.
Tel: 01334 654 038
Sunday 12 Fun Day

Muir of Dinnet NNR
Grampian Highlands
Tuesday 14
Wednesday 15
Open Days
Isle of May NNR
Firth of Forth
Thursday 16 Osprey Walk

Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
Sunday 19
34
Tel: 01577 864 439
Drop in to the Boathouse Hide from 11am to 3pm Tel: 01577 864 439
and chat with the SNH wardens about the wildlife
of Loch Leven.
Wednesday 22 Damsels and Dragons Meet at Burleigh Sands and discover the
Loch Leven NNR
wonderful world of our four-winged friends from
Tayside
1pm to 3pm. Pond-dipping, net-catching fun for
all the family. Booking essential.
Tel: 01577 864 439
Wednesday 22
Sunday 26
August
Meet the Wardens

Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
Join reserve staff at Burleigh Sands from 6pm

to 8pm in the search for shing raptors and
breeding wildfowl. Booking essential.
Volunteers Meeting
Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
Guest speaker at Millbridge Hall, Kinross, from

7.30pm to 9pm will be Jonathan Willet of the
British Dragony Society. Booking essential.
Tel: 01577 864 439
Local History
Muir of Dinnet NNR
Grampian Highlands
Meet at New Kinord car park and join a walk

from 2pm to 4pm through 5,000 years of human
history. Booking essential.
Tel: 01224 642 863

catriona.reid@snh.
gov.uk
Join professional storyteller Pauline Cordiner from

2pm to 4pm at Burn o Vat Visitor Centre for a
short, story-powered walk to the spectacular Vat.
Booking essential.
Tel: 01224 642 863

catriona.reid@snh.
gov.uk
Sunday 2 Storytelling
Muir of Dinnet NNR
Grampian Highlands
Thursday 6
Osprey Walk
Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
Join reserve staff at Burleigh Sands from 6pm

to 8pm in the search for shing raptors and
breeding wildfowl. Booking essential.
Tel: 01577 864 439
Monday 10
Rocks, Pines & Lines

Muir of Dinnet NNR
Grampian Highlands
Join an expert team of rangers to follow in the

footsteps of Queen Victoria. The 8-mile/13-km
guided walk will run from Dinnet, through the
reserve, and on to Ballater. Booking is essential.
Tel: 01339 755 467
Saturday 15 Be a Warden
Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
September
Tuesday 1 Sharing Good

Practice (SGP):
Understanding
coastal
climate change
St Andrews
Thursday 3 SGP: Earth science
Tuesday 29 outdoors
North Berwick/
Stonehaven
Tel: 01577 864 439
Were at risk from the increasing impacts of

sea level rise, storminess and other critical
factors. Leading experts will introduce current
understanding of these changes and the options
for minimising impacts.
Tel: 01738 458 556

sgp@snh.gov.uk
Each of these hands-on one-day workshops

will explore the stories of Scotlands rocks and
their links with landscape, history, resources and
climate change.
Tel: 01738 458 556

sgp@snh.gov.uk
Tuesday 8
SGP: How to sell the

climate change story
Battleby
Perth
This event explores the messages, tools and

techniques available to help sell the climate
change adaptation story.
Tel: 01738 458 556

sgp@snh.gov.uk
Wednesday 9
SGP: Wetlands
managing habitats
through grazing
Blawhorn Moss NNR
West Lothian
This workshop will look at the different options for

using grazing to manage wetland habitats.
Tel: 01738 458 556

sgp@snh.gov.uk
Wednesday 9
Creatures of the
Night!
Beinn Eighe NNR
Wester Ross
Discover the fascinating nightlife of the reserve,

including moths, bats and anything else we may
nd! Booking essential.
Tel: 01854 613 904

07881 502 230
Wednesday 16
SGP: Run-of-river
hydro schemes
Battleby
Perth
Scotland has a long history of exploiting the

power in our rivers as a renewable energy
resource. This event will explore how to avoid or
reduce harmful effects.
Tel: 01738 458 556

sgp@snh.gov.uk
Fungi Foray
Muir of Dinnet NNR
Grampian Highlands
Join fungi expert Marysia Stamm from 2pm to

4pm at Burn o Vat Visitor Centre for a guided
walk to explore the fungi found on the reserve.
Booking essential.
Tel: 01224 642 863
Wednesday 23
SGP: Natural heritage

skills for planners
Battleby
Perth
This event is aimed at local authority planners

seeking to improve their awareness and
understanding of natural heritage interests, which
they need to take into account in their planning
work.
Tel: 01738 458 556

sgp@snh.gov.uk
Wednesday 23
Meet the Wardens

Loch Leven NNR
Tayside
Drop in to the Kingsher Hide from 2pm to 5pm

and chat with the SNH wardens about the wildlife
of Loch Leven.
Tel: 01577 864 439
Wednesday 30
Mushroom Meander
Beinn Eighe NNR
Wester Ross
Life as we know it would be a bit different without

fabulous fungi. Come for a walk in the woods and
nd out why. Booking essential.
Tel: 01854 613 904

07881 502 230
Saturday 19
www.snh.org.uk
Meet at the pier, Kinross, at 10am and be a

warden for the day. Help with tasks around the
reserve. Booking essential.
35
Island of the cowled women

Loch Lomond is famous the world over for the beauty of its wooded
shores and islands. Part of the loch is a national nature reserve, including
the wonderful island of Inchcailloch. The rocky isle is covered with rich oak
woodland and gives stunning views over the loch. It also has an ancient
burial ground and a golden beach thats ideal for picnicking. The best time
to visit is from mid-May to June when the bluebells and wild garlic are at
their peak, and the woods are alive with summer migrant birds
36

1
Inchcailloch Trail
Make your way to the boatyard in
Balmaha where you can hop on
one of the old clinker-built ferries
for the short trip across to the
island. You could complete this
woodland walk in an hour and a
half, but youll probably want to
spend at least double that and
take time to enjoy all the island
has to offer. The summit path
across to Port Bawn is steep in
places but well worth the effort.
Use the numbered map and
directions in the text to guide
you round. If you want to cut the
walk short, then you can take the
central path, which takes about
15 minutes to walk.
North Jetty
Far
m B
urn
Alder Burn
North
Hill
Alder
Marsh
Burial
al Ground a
and
Church Ruins 7
Endrick Viewpoint
p
Barn End
Summit Viewpoint
Sum
oint
Ta
it
Bu
4
Main Ridge
lley
C e n t r a l Va
Centr al path
e Burn
dg
Church Ri
M ac Fa rl an
Cofn
Valley
Summit pa
th
3
6
Farm Ruins
Low path
rn
5
Port Bawn
Jetty
Key
Passenger boat to Balmaha
Port Bawn
th Ridge
West Promontory
Sou
1
After being dropped at the North Jetty,
wander up the hill until you come to a
junction. Take the left-hand path that
leads to the summit. Oakwoods like
the one youre walking through once
surrounded the loch. Over thousands of
years they disappeared as trees were
cut for rewood, building and charcoal.
Then, around 200 years ago, there
was a demand for leather belts to drive
machinery in city factories. Leather is
softened and made supple with tannin,
a natural material found in oak bark. So
Loch Lomonds landowners planted
more new trees around the loch, and
on islands like Inchcailloch, to meet the
demand.
Look out for the islands fallow deer
on your visit. King Robert the Bruce
probably introduced fallow deer to
Loch Lomond in the 1300s. The islands
were used as deer parks where only
the king and his nobles were allowed
to hunt. The Inchcailloch deer vary a lot
in colour, from pale to dark brown, and
many have attractive white spots.
North Bay
Clearance Beach
Trail
South Promontory
Boat
Toilet
Picnic area
Viewpoint
Historic structure
200
metres
www.snh.org.uk
37
2
Walk on for about 10 minutes and youll
notice a small valley heading down
to the loch side. This is called Cofn
Valley. For hundreds of years, the dead
were carried up here on their way to the
burial ground.
This was also where they hauled
timber out. Before the North Jetty was
built, boats were beached on the shore
below you. During the oak harvest,
peeled bark was piled close by the
shore before being taken to Glasgow
on boats.
3
Carry on climbing up the path until you
reach the seat. You can take a break
here and enjoy the magnicent view
looking south to the mouth of the River
Endrick.
The river feeds the lochs shallow
waters. Insects and minibeasts thrive
in the water and provide food for
abundant sh and birds. Look out for
ospreys shing here in summer.
1
The Highland
Boundary Fault runs
through Inchcailloch
and other islands in
Loch Lomond.
2
A white fallow deer doe
on the island.
3
You may be lucky and
spot an osprey hunting
sh at the mouth of the
River Endrick.
38
4
Visitors can opt for the
lower path or head for
the summit.
5
The sheltered, sandy
bay at Port Bawn is a
popular spot for
picknicking.
www.snh.org.uk
4
After taking in the view, walk on for
another ve minutes until you reach the
summit viewpoint. If youre visiting on a
clear day youll enjoy one of Scotlands
nest views of Loch Lomond and the
surrounding mountains.
Around 450 million years ago, the
rocks of lowland Scotland collided with
those to the north, and the crumple
zone formed the Highland Boundary
Fault. The collision forced up the
mountains you see around you. The
fault goes straight through Inchcailloch,
so you can stand with one foot in the
Highlands and one in the Lowlands!
5
From the summit, follow the path down
the other side of the ridge. At the next
junction go left and head down towards
Port Bawn. With reasonable weather,
this is a lovely place for a picnic and
even a paddle in the shallow bay.
39
6
From Port Bawn take the low path
along the north side of the island until
you come across a pile of stones and
ruined walls. These are a reminder of
the last folk to live here. They were
farmers who grew a few crops and
kept some livestock. However, by the
end of the 18th century landlords were
replacing small farms with large-scale
sheep farms or woodlands. Around
1796, the farmer was asked to plant
acorns and more than 2,000 years of
farming tradition on Inchcailloch came
to an end.
7
Carry on along from the Farm Ruin
and youll nally come across the old
burial ground and the kirk ruin. This is
an atmospheric place where its worth
spending a bit of time.
Tradition has it that around 1,300
years ago Saint Kentigerna, daughter of
an Irish king and mother of Saint Fillan,
settled here and set up a nunnery. She
died here in AD 734 and is remembered
in the name of the island Inchcailloch,
meaning island of the old or cowled
women.
Five hundred years later, a church
was built here and dedicated to her
memory. It was in constant use until
1770. Long after the church fell into
ruin, local people continued to use the
burial ground. The last burial took place
in 1947.
6
Stone carving of a cow
on a gravestone in the
islands burial ground.
7
School group on a visit
to the island.
40
Essential information
Boat
The ferry from Balmaha (Macfarlane & Son, tel: 01360 870
214) runs on demand but youre best to book your trip in
advance, especially if its outwith the main visitor season.
The ferry operator can drop you at either North Jetty or Port
Bawn. If steps are too much for you, ask to be dropped off
at Port Bawn. Its a relaxing spot with a picnic site, a lovely
beach and toilets.
Bus and rail

The nearest railway station is at Balloch and from there you
can take a bus to Balmaha. A few minutes walk will take you
to the boatyard.
OS maps
Landranger 56 (Loch Lomond & Inveraray), Explorer 347
(Loch Lomond South).
Trail length
About 3 km/2 miles.
Terrain
The paths at Inchcailloch are well surfaced, narrow in places
and with a few ights of steps. They can be a bit muddy in
places after rain. The summit path gradually climbs to 75
metres (246 feet) and is rugged in places.
7
Dogs
If you have a dog with you, please make sure its kept on a
short lead or under close control, especially during the bird
breeding season (1 April to 1 July). Please also make sure
you pick up after your dog and dispose of waste carefully.
Nearby natural attractions
A fuller walking guide can be downloaded from the NNR

website (www.nnr-scotland.org.uk) or you can pick up a
guide at the National Park Centre in Balmaha. You can also
get further information from the National Park Centre (tel:
01389 722 100 or email: info@lochlomond-trossachs.org).
the Aber path to Loch Lomond NNR, which gives a taste

of the Endrick Mouth area and starts next to the
Gartocharn Millennium Hall. Theres a car park and bus
stop nearby. See www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/downloads/
publications/AbertoLochLomond.pdf
Why not combine your trip to Inchcailloch with a visit to

another site close at hand? You could try:
the walk from Gartocharn up Duncryne Hill (an extinct

volcano known locally as The Dumpling), which takes only
30 minutes to walk up and back but gives great views.
Inchcailloch is one of 58 national
nature reserves in Scotland. Find out
more at www.nnr-scotland.org.uk
www.snh.org.uk
the walk up Conic Hill from Balmaha, which takes a couple

of hours. Its very steep in places but provides wonderful
views of the loch and islands.
41
SNH Area News

East Highland
Correspondents: Peter Duncan, David Carstairs, Anne Murray
Take the high road
Trails facelift
Hands-on at Aigas
Major repairs to the path on Ben

Wyvis National Nature Reserve have
been completed after months of often
gruelling work over the last winter.
A helicopter was used to y in the
materials and some 200 lifts were
needed to complete the work. The
helicopter carried stone from a local
quarry for use on the boulder pitched
sections. The stone is similar to the
scree found on Ben Wyvis. This allowed
the existing scree slope to remain as
natural as possible and without too
much disturbance.
The reserve is famous for its upland
plants but large areas of the original
path had been eroded away through
heavy use. The contractors (pictured
above with bags of stone) upgraded
almost 1000 metres of the path and
used a hut while working high up on
the hill. The work included building a
high-quality stone staircase through the
centre of a steep, boulder slope.
The benets of the path work
will be long-lasting, both to nature
conservation and the thousands
of visitors who come to the SNH
managed reserve each year.
Visitors to Craigellachie National Nature

Reserve by Aviemore will be welcomed
this year with newly upgraded, easyto-follow waymarked trails. Each differs
in length and gradient, but they all
celebrate the natural heritage of one of
Strathspeys largest birchwoods. The
trails are open throughout the year and
provide you with a chance to view the
owers, butteries and moths for which
Craigellachie is famous.
The reserve is set on a hillside, so
its been a challenge to design a range
of trails that would appeal to everyone.
The Lochan and Woodland Trails give
easy ambling for all users of the low
ground. A longer route, the Buzzard
Trail, winds its way through the thicker
parts of the wood. You may even see
the bird its named after or hear its
mewing overhead.
Finally, the Viewpoint Trail can
be reached with a bit of a stretch.
On a clear day, Rothiemurchus and
Glenmore Scots pine forests unfold
before you, with the Cairngorm
mountains on the horizon. Pictured are
some of the team working on the trails,
with Aviemore in the background.
Aigas Field Centre lies close to

Inverness and has its own native
woodland, moorland and a loch, all
of which provide great resources for
hands-on outdoor learning. Added to
this, theyve just opened a new allabilities woodland classroom, which
is purpose-built and eco-friendly. This
provides the ideal base for escaping
really bad weather or for indoor work
like peering at bugs and beasties under
microscopes!
Every year, thousands of children
and young adults visit Aigas for their
tailor-made lessons on everything from
minibeasts to Higher geography and
biology. This gives pupils and teachers
hands-on experience of the natural
world, bringing textbook learning to life
and complementing classroom lessons.
SNH have been grant-aiding Aigas
for many years and have recently
funded their environmental education
programme for local schools and
nurseries. We also fund an outreach
programme that allows Aigas staff to
visit local schools. One of the popular
themes for these trips is to work with
schools to make their grounds more
wildlife-friendly.
The aim is to share the wonders
of the natural world in a fun and
inspiring way, where pupils absorb lots
of information without even realising
theyre learning.
42
SNH Area News

Western Isles
Correspondents: Tracey Begg, Roddy MacMinn, Mark MacDonald
Great yellow stronghold
Future of Monachs
Greener transport
A group of enthusiastic local

volunteers has been mobilised across
the Western Isles to monitor the
bumblebee population this summer.
Offers of support have been
particularly strong from Uist and
Barra, where a total of 10 committed
volunteers will take part in a
programme of training and monitoring.
The great yellow bumblebee has
suffered huge declines over the past
50 years, largely due to changes
in how we farm nowadays. Its now
Britains rarest bumblebee. Some of
the strongest remaining populations
are found on the machair of the
Western Isles.
Bumblebee training days will be
held outdoors, beginning in June,
supported by SNH staff and funding.
Each volunteer will then monitor a
xed patch in key machair areas,
providing coverage across the
islands. The aim will be to collect
long-term information from the same
sites annually. This will provide data
that will improve our knowledge of
great yellow bumblebee distribution
and their population trends across the
Western Isles. For more information,
contact Tracey Begg on 01870 620
238.
The ve low-lying Monach Isles, known

locally as Heisgeir, lie just off the west
coast of North Uist. They were made
a national nature reserve in 1966 and
are home to Europes most important
grey seal colony. They also hold notable
seabird populations, as well as machair
and dune habitats.
SNH are currently reviewing
the reserve management and were
planning to consult the public this
summer about how the reserve should
look in the future. Well be presenting
our vision for the next 25 years and
asking the local community (and other
interested groups) for their own ideas
and comments.
Were particularly keen to hear from
people with knowledge and experience
of the islands, as well as those whod
like to become involved in the running
of the reserve. We hope to retain the
special character of the islands, while
improving the opportunities for locals
and visitors to experience and learn
about the Monachs themselves.
Well shortly be publishing our
proposals and the story of the reserve.
These will be sent out to community
representatives and other interest
groups. If youd like to nd out more,
please contact Roddy MacMinn on
01851 705 258.
An environmental project in Stornoway

is aiming to use cleaner technology
transport to support community
services.
Staran are a community interest
company who offer a garden care and
support service. They provide work
placement and volunteer opportunities
for older men. Those taken on are
either long-term unemployed or have
signicant barriers in the way of them
nding work.
Staran undertake work for the
elderly and disabled, community
groups, public benet activities
and environmental amenity works
in community areas. SNH recently
gave them a grant to help buy two
new vehicles for the project. One
was a small electric mega-van for
environmental handyman work. The
other was a tipper pick-up, so that
larger teams could carry and remove
larger volumes of material.
SNH also recently provided funding
for Third Sector Hebrides (TSH) to
develop an old bakery in Stornoway.
The SNH grant will help create a
greenspace garden area, which adults
with additional needs on placement
with TSH can help to look after.
This area will help to create a mood of
well-being and positive mental health.
Representatives of Staran, TSH and
SNH are shown above with the new
vehicles.
www.snh.org.uk
43
SNH Area News

Strathclyde and Ayrshire
Correspondents: Geoff Atkins, Dorothy Simpson, Martin Twiss
Estate in better state
Saltcoats solution
Gorge trail opens
Ten years ago the beautiful woodlands

and ancient buildings of Dalzell Estate,
near Motherwell in Lanarkshire, were
in a sorry state. A recent restoration
project has turned their fortunes
around.
With the help of Heritage Lottery
funding, it has been possible to
reconstruct and replant the Japanese
garden, create new paths and improve
the ponds for wildlife. In addition, the
funding allowed the historic buildings
to be restored, including the Hamilton
family mausoleum, bridges and follies.
The estate lies on the edge of
Motherwell, sitting on the banks of the
River Clyde, and includes the Barons
Haugh Nature Reserve. The Haugh
would have provided summer grazing
for the estate in the past, but is now
managed for wetland birds.
The project team, led by North
Lanarkshire Council staff, included
the specialist expertise of RSPB and
support from SNH. Local people have
also been involved from the start.
It was a big project that worked
well because of all the people involved,
commented Geoff Atkins, SNHs local
area access ofcer. Dalzell Estate and
the neighbouring RSPB Barons Haugh
Reserve have nally become the visitor
attraction that they deserve to be.
You can nd out more from the
website:
www.dalzellandbaronshaugh.co.uk
The Clyde coast holiday town of

Saltcoats recently sought to reduce
the impact of climate change by
improving the towns ood defences.
Engineers came up with the idea of
building sea defence structures, such
as breakwaters.
However, the Saltcoats beach
contains fossilised trees dating from
around 300 million years ago (pictured
above) and these were in danger of
being destroyed by the building of
breakwaters.
The trees are within the Ardossan
to Saltcoats Coast Site of Special
Scientic Interest (SSSI). The rocks of
this site formed when a volcano was
active in the area and at a time when
the land and climate were very different
from today.
Fortunately, the engineers and
SNH staff were able to come up with
a solution to protect the trees, by
reducing the size of the breakwaters
and positioning them away from the key
rocks. The option also helped to avoid
spoiling the views from the town.
As for the trees, the design of the
ood defences has meant that its
been possible to leave a gap in the
breakwaters around the fossilised
stumps. Theyll now be left undisturbed
in their 300-million-year-old location to
remind us that nothing stays the same,
not even the climate.
You can now access an improved trail

through two of the gorge woods in
the Clyde Valley Woodlands National
Nature Reserve (NNR). The trail follows
the course of the gorge for about four
miles through Cleghorn Glen and
Cartland Craigs, and theres a new
leaet to guide you.
A local sculptor, Alan Kain, has
designed eight posts to physically
mark the line of the trail through the
gorge. The designs he used on the
waymarker posts were based on wildlife
drawings that children from the local
Robert Owen Memorial Primary School
provided.
The posts were installed in May
and the children have now visited the
woods to see for themselves how
their drawings are helping to raise
awareness of these outstanding and
dramatic woodlands.
The Clyde Valley Woodlands NNR
is unusual in that its a mosaic of rich
wildlife habitats among living, working
landscapes. Peoples homes and
workplaces are interwoven with the
woodlands.
This project is part of our ongoing
effort, along with our NNR partners
(South Lanarkshire Council and the
Scottish Wildlife Trust), to re-engage
local communities with these special
woodlands.
44
Print out
SNH have set out a vision of what Scotland could be like based on
sustainable use of the natural heritage. Natural Heritage Futures guides the
management of Scotland's nature and landscapes towards 2025. Its made
up of six national prospectuses covering farmland, coasts and seas, hills and
moors, settlements, fresh waters, and forests and woodlands. There are also
local prospectuses for 21 different parts of Scotland that each have a distinctive
character.
The vision is not a blueprint or some sort of impossible ideal but gives an
impression of what Scotland could be like with the natural heritage contributing as
fully as possible to the social and economic well-being of Scotland into the future.
First published in 2002, the prospectuses have just been updated in
consultation with stakeholders to reect changes in issues that inuence the
natural heritage, such as farming policy, conservation law and climate change.
These updates act as supplements and should be read along with the original
documents. The documents and updates are available from the SNH website at
www.snh.gov.uk/publications
Weve published a joint statement

called Action on Climate Change
with our partner agencies Forestry
Commission Scotland, Scottish
Environmental Protection Agency
and Historic Scotland. The booklet
outlines the role that each of these four
government organisations expects to
play in taking early action to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, and in
helping Scotland adapt to a changing
climate. It reects the individual action
plans already published or being
prepared by each of the organisations.
The North American signal craysh

poses a real risk to our wildlife, rivers
and lochs. Its a powerful predator that
damages riverbanks and spawning
beds, as well as presenting a big threat
to several freshwater species. Weve
produced a poster-leaet that explains
the nature of the problem. The leaet
tells you what to do if you come across
this pest, and there are contact details
and a set of handy hints for canoeists,
boaters and anglers.
Thanks to all those who entered the Can you name it competition in the last issue. The correct answer was minke whale. The four lucky winners of the Whales,
Dolphins and Porpoises booklet are: Angus Smith, Boness; Ranald Coyne, Arisaig; Karen Munro, Scrabster; and Cornelia Oekekoven, St Andrews.
www.snh.org.uk
45
46
National treasures
Scotland has two national parks that
everyones welcome to explore and enjoy,
free of charge, 365 days a year
www.snh.org.uk
47
Youll come across national parks

pretty much all over the world.
Some 6,500 national parks and
similarly protected areas cover
about 12% of the Earths surface
thats about a million square
kilometres!
However, Scotland joined the national
parks club quite late in the day, despite
the fact we boast some of the planets
nest natural environments. The worlds
earliest national park was established
in 1872 (Yellowstone in America), while
Scotlands rst came along only some
seven years ago.
Its a little ironic that we joined so
late, given that it was a Scot, John Muir,
who became known as the Father
of the American National Parks. He
inuenced the American government
to create their rst ve national parks
including Yosemite and the Grand
Canyon.
But, whatever the reasons for our
tardy approach, the parks are now very
much part of the nations natural and
cultural heritage. Loch Lomond & The
Trossachs became our initial national
park in 2002 and the Cairngorms
followed a year later. The parks are a
big part of Scotlands national identity
as they represent some of this countrys
most iconic landscapes and show how
people and places can thrive together.
Indeed, Scottish national parks
differ from many others around the
world as they have social and economic
development aims alongside those
of conservation, understanding and
enjoyment of the countryside. This is
an explicit recognition of those who live
and work in the national parks.
The parks are a big

part of Scotlands
national identity
48

2
1
View north over Loch
Lomond from Conic
Hill.
2
Heather moorland
above Strath Fillan,
Crianlarich.
3
Tourist reading an
interpretive leaet at
Uath Lochans,
Glenfeshie.
www.snh.org.uk
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs

National Park lies in the west of
the country, only some 40 minutes
from Glasgow and 90 minutes from
Edinburgh. It covers 720 sq miles
(1,865 sq km) and includes some of the
countrys most spectacular and varied
scenery.
Centred on Loch Lomond, the
largest stretch of fresh water in
mainland Britain, the park climbs from
the grassy lowlands of the south to the
towering mountains of Breadalbane and
the sea lochs of the Cowal peninsula.
To the northeast lies Cairngorms
National Park, the largest in Britain. In
fact, at 3,800 sq km, its 40% larger
than the Lake District and twice the size
of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs.
Cairngorms boasts the largest
area of mountain landscape in Britain,
including an arctic wilderness and four
of Scotlands largest peaks, as well as

heather-clad moorland, woodlands,
rivers and lochs. The lowlands are
formed by the beautiful straths of Spey,
Dee and Don.
National parks are an asset for the
whole of Scotland, commented David
Green, convener of the Cairngorms
National Park Authority (CNPA), and
their management relies on the work of
a wide range of partners, including land
managers, voluntary organisations and
agencies such as SNH. The national
park authorities are here to lead and
co-ordinate this work.
There are real opportunities to use
national parks to help address some
of the big land use challenges facing
rural Scotland, such as climate change,
carbon and water management and the
future options for upland farming.
49
For instance, Loch Lomond & The

Trossachs run a natural heritage grant
scheme. Now in its third year, this
joint scheme with SNH has funded
more than 50 projects on the ground.
These include barn owl boxes, shery
survey equipment, workshops for land
managers, drain blocking to restore
wetlands and work to control nonnative invasive species.
Work has also begun with RSPB
on a project to restore and enhance
the wading bird populations in Glen
Dochart. Surveys of the oodplains
will identify the main areas being used
by farmland wading birds, such as
redshank, lapwing, curlew and snipe.
This will be used to advise local farmers
and land managers where these birds
would benet from positive habitat
management.
Among recent projects in the
Cairngorms National Park, SNH and
the CNPA have worked together on
a study of what wildness means to
people. The study will help the CNPA
identify, conserve and enhance the
sense of wildness in the park and, by
working with land managers and other
partners, safeguard these wonderful

places for the future.
Another area of close co-operation
between agencies and land managers
is the Cairngorms Wildcat Project (see
page 28), set up in response to the
decline of the wildcats population over
the past few years. The national park
is one of the remaining strongholds for
this iconic species.
And the CNPA have also been
working with partners like SNH,
RSPB and local estates to compile
descriptions of the nine national nature
reserves in or next to the park. These
have been brought together in The
Cairngorms Explorer, a booklet giving
visitors and residents all the information
they need to get around the park at low
cost.
Much has been achieved in the
early years of the parks, Mr Green
concluded. But this is a long-term
approach that will continue to need
close co-operation. Scotlands national
parks have an exciting part to play in
our future approach to managing rural
Scotland.
4
River Dee on Mar
Lodge estate near
Braemar, Deeside.
5
Water lilies growing in
a lochan at Inshriach,
Strathspey.
50
www.snh.org.uk
51
Learning from the past

Scotland has a remarkable geological history which
reveals important pointers to our future
52
Scotlands geological history stretches back

over three billion years of the Earths existence.
It includes the rocks, fossils, minerals, soils,
landforms and natural processes that make up
Scotlands varied landscapes and structure.
Collectively, these features represent Scotlands
geodiversity. And the way in which theyve responded and
adapted to climate change in the past can provide a useful
early warning for the future.
Looking at whats happened to the Earth in former times
is similar to the research we do on other planets in our solar
system. For example, the information we now have about the
past and present environment of Mars has been worked out
largely by studying its geodiversity. So, if we can discover
whats been going on in other parts of the universe then it
should be a lot easier to understand whats been happening
closer to home!
In fact, Scotlands geodiversity reveals that climate
change is nothing new our landscapes and natural
heritage have always been dynamic. Even within the
geologically recent past (the last three million years),
Scotlands climate has changed radically, switching
repeatedly from glacial to warm conditions. Even since the
last dramatic global warming 11,500 years ago, our climate
has rarely stood still.
The last cooling, during the so-called Little Ice Age,
reached its peak in Scotland in the late 18th and early
19th centuries. Since then, our climate has been warming,
coinciding with the increased release of greenhouse gases
from the Industrial Revolution onwards. Climate change
and sea-level rise have been happening for some time.
Signicantly, they will extend well beyond the AD 2100
timescale of current climate projections.
That sort of timescale is outwith the normal timeframe
of most policy makers, planners and lay people. But
understanding geodiversity and particularly how to
work with natural processes can play an important part
in planning how to adapt our management of the natural
heritage. In fact, geodiversity is a bit like using a barometer
it gives us an insight into what could happen next.
1
Coastal change is
nothing new. The
Culbin Sands bar on
the Moray coast is
extending west at over
20 metres a year. This
coastline has been
moving for over 6,500
years.
www.snh.org.uk
53
Living with change

Over the last hundred years, the average air temperature has
risen by about 0.7C. But by the end of the present century,
the world could be as much as 4C warmer than it is today.
This could start irreversible melting of the Greenland and
West Antarctic ice sheets over a period of a few thousand
years.
The geological record reveals how past environments
responded to broadly similar climate changes. The early to
middle Pliocene period (between three and ve million years
ago) gives perhaps the best idea of what a future, warmer
world might be like. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere
then were around the same as theyve reached today, and
global temperatures were about 3C higher, with sea levels
up to 25 metres higher.
Some of the more far-reaching effects of climate change
are likely to be at the coast. The latest projections from the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
show a sea-level rise of 7 mm each year in Scotland in the
next few decades, outstripping rates seen in the last few
thousand years. The effects will probably be made worse
because natural coastal defences, such as beaches and
saltmarshes, wont be topped up with new material, and
there are likely to be more frequent storms and ooding.
If we look at whats happened to our weather over the
last 40 years, the future might hold the following:

More frequent storms, especially in the west, leading to:
- more dynamic coasts and rivers that are challenging to
live near, especially in low-lying areas;
- ooding more often along rivers and at the coast; and
- greater disruption of transport routes, through landslides
and ooding.
Carbon-rich soils become destabilised, leading to the
release of more greenhouse gases.
Soil being eroded quicker, especially during windy or very
wet conditions.
Changes in the depth and length of time that snow lies, as
well as more periods of high wind speed.
These changes will affect not only Scotlands geodiversity
but also its plants and animals. For example, more ooding
and erosion will affect the quality of freshwater habitats
that are important for endangered species, such as the
freshwater pearl mussel and lamprey. Overall, species and
habitats may have less time to recover from extreme events,
such as ood damage to sh-spawning areas in rivers. Some
landform changes may simply be too fast for the species and
habitats they support to adapt or relocate.
54
Natural processes
Understanding the links between geological and biological
diversity will help our efforts to manage how the natural
heritage adapts to climate change. For rivers, coasts and
steep hillsides, this involves giving them sufcient space
for natural processes to work, rather than seeking to
control them. It may mean creating room for natural ood
management, restoring oodplains and providing space
at the coast to allow movement of landforms and habitats.
Natural ood management, which means interfering as little
as possible, will support nature conservation at the same
time as reducing ooding risk.
We need to draw together existing knowledge of natural
processes to understand how the landscape may respond
to climate change. Just because were unsure about the
outcome shouldnt stop us from acting now. Climate change
is with us, and the effects it will have on the natural heritage
mean that we have to start now to develop policies and plan
the way ahead, based on what geodiversity tells us about
natural processes and changes.
www.snh.org.uk
2
Climate change will
bring more ooding,
such as this example
on the River Tay at
Stanley.
3
We're already seeing
regular disruption to
transport routes
through landslides.
Rescue helicopters
had to winch stranded
people from their
vehicles after a
landslide engulfed the
A85 in 2004 at Glen
Ogle near
Lochearnhead.
55
National Trust for Scotland

ranger Liza Cole explains
why this is a special year
for Scotlands rst marine
reserve
Making a splash
56
1
One of the main
reasons that divers
come to St Abbs is the
wolf sh. The reserve
is regarded as the best
place in the UK to see
them.
2
Thousands of people
dive in the reserve
every year, where the
clear waters provide
perfect conditions to
view the rich and
varied marine wildlife.
Twenty-ve years ago, Sir David Bellamy ung

himself into the water at St Abbs harbour, so
declaring Scotlands rst marine reserve open. It
was the climax to a lot of effort by a whole host of
people to get things to this stage.
reserves (MNRs) and brought hope that the wildlife of the

coastal waters would receive legal protection. However, the
legislation proved a bit cumbersome. It soon became clear
that it was going to take a lot of work to designate these
reserves. In the end, it took 14 years for just three MNRs to
be set up in the whole of the UK.
Not to be deterred, a committee of shermen,
But Im sure the founding members never thought even
conservationists, divers and others got together. They
in their wildest dreams that the voluntary marine reserve
(VMR) would still be a leading light in marine conservation in decided to combine the look and dont touch area at
Scotland a quarter of a century later. So, how did it all come St Abbs with the Barefoots reserve, and so St Abbs &
Eyemouth VMR came into being. Its aims have not changed
about?
People have been diving at St Abbs ever since they could to this day: conserving marine wildlife, raising awareness
get their hands on the right bits and pieces to construct their of the marine environment and promoting responsible
recreation. All of this is achieved alongside a sustainable
own dive kit. Some came just to enjoy the easy access to
creel shery. And it works pretty well on the whole, so much
clear waters and spectacular underwater scenery. Others
so that the VMR is respected countrywide for its work.
also appreciated the fantastic abundance and variety of
There are all sorts of events planned throughout the year
marine life, with the unusual combination of Arctic species,
as a way of celebrating the reserves silver jubilee, not least
such as the wolf sh, alongside Mediterranean-Atlantic
a ceremonial jump in at St Abbs Harbour on 18 August,
species, such as the Devonshire cup coral.
the anniversary of the launch. Were hoping to get David
In the early days, there were just a handful of divers,
who were seen by the locals as being strange but harmless Bellamy to come back and do it again, joined by 24 others,
one person for each year of the VMRs existence. Then, in
eccentrics. However, as more and more people started
the autumn, we hope to host the Scottish Diving Conference
coming to the area to dive, there were concerns that they
here.
might start to harm the wildlife, with many folk being in the
In addition, because the area holds a special place in
habit of taking a lobster or crab home for the pot.
many peoples hearts, weve decided that the most tting
So, dive clubs who visited St Abbs regularly set up a
tribute would be to give everyone the chance to play a
self-imposed look and dont touch area at St Abbs, and
part in the management of the VMR. So, were launching a
encouraged others to sign up to this too. And, about the
Friends group for the reserve. It means that for just 1 a
same time, a conservation-minded landowner at Eyemouth,
month you can do your bit for St Abbs and have your name
who could control shore access to great dive sites like
Weasel Loch, established the Barefoots Marine Reserve off put on a virtual noticeboard on the website, our modern-day
equivalent of the original idea.
the coast there.
If youd like more details on the VMR and how to become
The introduction of the Wildlife and Countryside Act in
a Friend go to www.marine-reserve.co.uk
1981 offered the potential to form statutory marine nature
www.snh.org.uk
57
Kids only!
Dragonies are
the fastest ying
insects in the UK
they can travel
at speeds of up to
30 mph!
You will need:
4 pipe cleaners
different colours if
possible sparkly
ones look really good
4 large beads all
the same colour, or
two pairs of different
colours
1 lollipop stick if you
want, you can colour it
with a felt pen
Plastic carton like
the ones you get
strawberries in
1. Thread one bead onto a pipe cleaner about

2 cm from the end. This is the rst eye.
2. Bring the short end of the pipe cleaner over

the top of the bead and twist it round the long
end. Repeat with a second bead and pipe
cleaner.
3. Hold the two eyes together and

twist the two pipe cleaners together to make
the body.
Sewing thread
PVA glue
4. Cut the body to about 12 cm long.

5. Draw your wings onto a plastic carton with
a permanent marker pen. Cut them out and
draw on the patterns of the wing.
6. Do all this again to make your second

dragony.
7. Using PVA glue, stick the wings onto the
bodies.
8. Tie two pieces of thread to your dragony,
one in front of the wings and one behind. Find
the balancing point and tie the two threads
together at the top. Then tie it to one end
of the lollipop stick. Do the same with your
second dragony but make the length different,
so they don't bump into each other!
9. Tie another piece of thread to the middle of
the lollipop stick.
Dragonies are
amongst the
most ancient
living creatures
on the Earth.
They've been
around for 300
million years
even before
dinosaurs!
Dragonies huge
round eyes mean
that they have
almost 360
vision. They can
see colour,
ultraviolet and
polarised light,
which helps them
to spot prey
against a bright
sky and to nd
water.
The Gaelic
language has
many different
names for
dragonies,
including Head of
snake, Blazing y
and Spider
snake.
Some dragonies
live for six to
seven years, but
only for a couple
of months as a
ying adult.
Now you can hang it up and watch the

dragonies y around!
58
The Nature
Na e of Scotland
Scotland
The adult ies off to

look for midges and
ies to eat.
The adult waits for the sun

to come up and its wings
to harden.
Nymphs have
special extendable
jaws that shoot out
to catch food, even
small sh
and tadpoles.
The nymph
climbs up a
reed during
the night.
The nal skin splits and

the adult emerges.
Nymphs
grow and
shed skin
several
times.
Dragony lays eggs

on the surface of
the water.
Nymph hatches and
lives in water.
Play Dicing with dragons and learn about the ups and downs of a dragonys life!
Cut out the counters and take turns to throw a dice to see who can be the rst to y.
www.snh.org.uk
www.snh.org
59
It was the bestest day in

school! That kind of reaction has
become fairly commonplace for
the folk behind an organisation
that aims to open up the
wonders of the natural world for
schoolchildren.
Wild things! are a charity that seek

to inspire young people in Highland
and Grampian regions to develop
a greater interest in their natural
heritage. The children are encouraged
to get their hands dirty and develop
a lasting enthusiasm for their natural
surroundings.
The various courses we run try to
increase the self-esteem, team building
skills and self-condence of everyone
who takes part, explained Jennie
Martin, founder of Wild things!. Many
of the teenagers we work with are
considered at risk or are struggling in
mainstream education.
Getting away from the classroom
has given many children with learning
and behavioural problems the chance
to shine and be good at something.
This has done wonders for their selfcondence and self-worth, as well as
building their respect for the natural
environment.
Prior to setting up Wild things!,
Jennie worked with Trees for Life,
Growing up with
Wild things!
Getting children interested in nature gets harder when we
have to compete with video games and TV culture. But an
organisation in the north of Scotland seems to have found
a way
60
an award-winning project aimed at

restoring the Caledonian forest. She
became aware of the practical benets
that direct contact with wild places
has on peoples sense of well-being,
as well as the commitment to nature
conservation that it nurtures. So, she
set up Wild things! some ve years ago,
and SNH have been grant-aiding the
organisation ever since.
The charity have given over 5,000
children and teenagers across the north
of Scotland the chance to learn about
the natural environment and its wildlife.
The Wild things! programmes weave
important messages about climate
change and leaving no trace into their
content in a clever and fun way, so that
both children and adults absorb them
without realising theyre doing so.
Research has shown that repeat
visits to wild places have a much
bigger impact on a person than one-off
experiences, Jennie continued. We
also take into account that one size
doesnt t all. So we run a series of
three different multi-day programmes
aimed at different ages, from 5 to 55!
These allow people to become
familiar and comfortable with the
outdoors, which is important because
many of the children who take part
arent used to being outside. The aim
is to encourage them to build a lasting
relationship with the outdoors.
1
Making a bowl on a
bushcraft course.
2
Jennie Martin checks
out a woodpecker nest
with a Forest School
group.
www.snh.org.uk
61
Experience the wild
The rst programme created by Wild

things! involved day trips to Glen Affric,
and its still going strong. Primary
school children are introduced to their
local ancient Caledonian pine forest in
Glen Affric National Nature Reserve.
For many of the participants, this is their
rst visit to an ancient woodland.
All the activities on these day trips
are based on a physical or imaginary
experience of the forest. Storytelling
is used a lot and each programme
is based on characters from within
these stories. The children play games
that awaken their senses to their
environment. The activities include
collecting objects that are soft, hard or
squidgy for their forest box; imagining
theyre owls and listening out for prey;
working together to build a human
tree; or disappearing to their very own
magic spot for 10 minutes.
The second programme is known
as Forest School and is a type of
schooling that originated in Denmark.
Its now becoming a popular part of the
school curriculum and is successfully
used with children at a time in their lives
when theyre particularly open to new
experiences. Its also used with young
people who have special needs or are
at risk of exclusion from school.
Children walk, cycle or occasionally
take the bus to their local woodland for
two hours each week. Over a six-week
period they learn to develop a hands-on
appreciation of their local environment.
The children build campres and
make pine needle tea, learn about the
importance of wood ants or spiders, the
beauty of dragonies, the clever way a
tree grows or how a ower is pollinated.
3
Charcoal making in
Glen Moriston.
62
Part of the Forest School ethos is

that it happens in almost all different
types of weather, which can make it an
invigorating time! Theyve been known
to make snow spiders, beetles and
snails on one of the Forest Schools in
February!
Wilderness skills and bushcraft
residential courses make up the
third programme. These offer an
exciting opportunity for teenagers to
be introduced to their local natural
environment. The courses work
well with vulnerable young people
by building their self-esteem and
condence. Taking this a step further,
Wild things! expanded their work in
2008 and introduced a wilderness and
bushcraft skills programme for adults
recovering from substance abuse.
The Wild things! courses range from
a two-day introductory training to a
ve-day more advanced course, leading
up to a bushcraft expedition of four or
ve days on the trail. The skills taught
include activities such as woodland
shelter building, re craft skills, tool
making, stalking, reading animal tracks
and signs, and identifying wild foods
and medicinal plants.
The teacher response to the pupil
away-days has been overwhelmingly
positive, as illustrated by a fairly typical
response from a Lossiemouth teacher.
From a school point of view, the Wild
things! experience has been brilliant
for a group of boys in S2 who have
learning and behavioural difculties.
They now have personal experiences
that they can talk about with adults and
peers. Theyve grown in condence
from their experiences and the project
is developing their independence.
4
Drawing a map of the
camp in the Forest
School Magic Book.
5
Counting the legs on
mini-beasts!
www.snh.org.uk
63
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www.snh.org.uk
Summer 2009
Feeling good
How nature can
help
Here be dragons
Discover some
aerial jewels
On your doorstep
Wildlife in the city

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