A public consultation begins today, 11 May, on a new code for deer management in Scotland. Anyone with an interest in deer management is being encouraged to give feedback on the Code of Practice on Deer Management, developed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). The purpose of the code is to help all land managers and land owners, whether in the Central Belt or the Highlands of Scotland, to manage deer sustainably. The code supports the current voluntary approach to deer management. The consultation runs until 1 July. Andrew Thin, SNH chairman, said: “Wild deer are an important part of Scotland’s…

Springwatch, the BBC’s prime time nature TV show, will kick off its series this year with a visit to the Scottish Beaver Trial, in Knapdale Forest, mid-Argyll, it has been revealed. With footage set to air live from the beaver trial site from Monday 30 May 2011, members of the Springwatch team are already stationed in Knapdale, working with Scottish Beaver Trial staff with the aim of bringing the best footage of wild beavers in Scotland ever seen to UK television screens. The Scottish Beaver Trial began almost two years ago on 29 May 2009 when three beaver families were…

A group of landowners is calling on the Scottish government to allow them to kill some birds of prey. In the BBC Scotland documentary aired yesterday (10 May) the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association said they needed to have such powers to protect stocks of grouse and other game birds as grouse moors were becoming uneconomic due to the decline of in the number of grouse as a result of predatory birds. Landowners want to be given licences allowing them to kill more common birds such as buzzard and ravens. In response, Duncan Orr-Ewing from the RSPB Scotland described…

A new award, hosted by RSPB Scotland, is looking for nominations for people and projects making a real difference to Scottish nature conservation. The winners of the first annual Nature of Scotland Awards will be announced in March 2012, with nominations open until 26 August. There are six categories, each recognising a different area or type of contribution to the protection of Scotland’s natural heritage: the Marine Conservation award; the Sustainable Development award; the Politician of the Year award; the Innovation award; the Outstanding Contribution award and the RSPB Species Champion award. Anyone can enter the awards, as long as…

Police are investigating the death of a of a young golden eagle which was found poisoned in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire. The bird, which was fitted with a satellite tag, was found on the Glenbuchat Estate in Strathdon. Subsequent tests on the body found the banned pesticide carbofuran. PC Dave MacKinnon, Grampian’s wildlife crime officer, told the BBC: “We are always very concerned when illegal pesticides are used in our countryside for the poisoning of birds of prey. “I am particularly disappointed that this incident has resulted in the death of a young golden eagle. Articles have been removed from the estate…

As wild fires continue to smoulder across the open ground and woodlands of the western Highlands, a group of landowners in Coigach and Assynt have joined forces in a bid to prevent further damage to wildlife habitats and to try and bring the fire under complete control. The Assynt Foundation, Eisg Brachaid, John Muir Trust and the Scottish Wildlife Trust have all contributed to the costs of fighting the fire, which is estimated to have affected over 8,000 acres of land so far. With Inverpolly estate and Scottish Natural Heritage also contributing funds, this group of landowners has raised over…