A symbolically important moment in the restoration of one of the world's greatest woodland habitats was celebrated on Sunday 20 May 2012 when acclaimed wildlife cameraman and filmmaker Gordon Buchanan planted Trees for Life's Millionth Tree in Scotland's Caledonian Forest. The event took place at a celebration event held at the conservation charity's Dundreggan Estate near Loch Ness, in Glen Moriston, Inverness-shire. “Magnificent and magical, the Caledonian Forest is a wild place at its most wonderful. Every single tree planted helps to restore one of the world’s greatest woodland habitats. One tree will be used by a thousand species in…

Sharp-eyed residents on a Scottish island National Nature Reserve (NNR) helped catch one of Britain’s most notorious egg thieves. Police arrested Matthew Gonshaw after receiving a tip-off from islanders on Rum. Most of the island is managed as an NNR by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). With just 35 inhabitants living amid the mountainous reserve of 10,000 hectares, Rum has one of the world’s largest colonies of the seabird Manx shearwater. It also contains breeding golden eagles and white-tailed eagles. This time of year is also the main bird breeding season for many species, a key reason the egg thief was…

A proposed 22-turbine windfarm at Sallachy, north of Lairg in Sutherland, would result in the loss of a large area of wild land, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has advised. In objecting to the proposals, SNH has also highlighted the adverse effect the development would have on the Assynt and Coigach National Scenic Area (NSA), and the potential impacts on a range of other important sites for wild birds and habitats. Confirming the organisation’s objection, SNH’s director of operations, Andrew Bachell, said: “We support renewable energy as a means of tackling climate change. Our role is to provide information and advice…