Nature detectives are invited to try and spot dragonflies as well as other wildlife, with a bit of expert help, on a guided walk searching for wildlife clues at Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve on Sunday 3 July. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) reserve staff will help people on the walk spot a variety of birds, dragonflies and other insects and plants, as well as touching on the cultural history of the Endrick Mouth area. Tim Jacobs, SNH’s Loch Lomond reserve manager, said: “We hope that people will join us for this fun look at the reserve. This is an opportunity…

A National Trust for Scotland’s Brodick Country Park ranger has been involved in identifying and looking after a rare vagrant parti-coloured bat that was found grounded on the Isle of Arran earlier this year. Ranger Corinna Goeckeritz received a phone call from a family in Kildonan, a few months back. Nine-year old Victoria Mowatt, who is a member of the local National Trust for Scotland Young Naturalists’ Club and attends Whiting Bay Primary School, found that bat on the ground. Victoria looked closely and established the bat was still alive, although obviously in trouble. With the help of her family,…

An urgent international call for action on peatland protection and restoration has been made following the release of findings at a landmark peatlands conference. Delegates heard that a loss of only 5% of the carbon stored in UK peatlands would equate to the total annual UK greenhouse gas emissions. The conference, Investing in Peatlands: Delivering Multiple Benefits, has been organised by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) UK Peatland Programme in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The event has drawn together a wide range of scientists, experts and land managers from across…

The cost of a controversial power line from Beauly to Denny has almost doubled. The total cost of the controversial scheme, which will see 600 giant pylons erected along most of the 137 mile route, is now expected to be £600 million, almost double that of the estimated price of £331m. The power line is being constructed by Scottish and Southern Energy and Scottish Power and consumers will pay for the increased cost. The BBC reports that the regulator Ofgem estimated it would add up to 10p to electricity bills for each UK household a year.