Following the decision on 14 December by Shetland Islands Councillors to recommend the Viking wind development for approval, the UK's leading wild land charity, the John Muir Trust (JMT), believes it is essential that an independent Public Local Inquiry investigates the impact of the proposed development. The Trust believes that the size and scale of the Viking development, which consists of 127 turbines reaching to 145 metres high, 104 kilometres of tracks, and associated buildings and quarries, makes it unsuitable for one of the wildest areas in the UK. Helen McDade, head of policy for the John Muir Trust, said:…

Tracking the effects of climate change and severe weather episodes on Scotland's species will be just one of the challenges ahead for 10 would-be ecological surveyors. The Scottish Wildlife Trust will soon call for applications for an exclusive training programme set to turn 10 promising environmentalists into the ecological surveyors of Scotland's future. Thanks to project funding provided under their Skills for the Future programme, the Heritage Lottery Fund is making a £398,000 investment in Scotland’s future environment which will see the Scottish Wildlife Trust provide 10 full-time 18-month training placements, including an annual bursary of £12,500, set to run…

A butterfly that is in serious decline across the UK has been found in abundance in newly discovered colonies in the Highlands, and their chances of thriving next year have been given a boost by the recent cold snap. The pearl bordered fritillary has been found at several Forestry Commission Scotland sites near Contin and Garve, just to the west of Dingwall. Discovered by Commission staff and volunteers from the Blackwater Wildlife Group, the sites had not previously been recorded by the Commission or appeared in the National Biodiversity Network records. Graeme Findlay for the Commission in North Highland said:…

Northern Constabulary are appealing for information after two buzzards were found poisoned next to a rabbit bait in a farm field near Boat of Garten next to the A95 road on 15 October this year. The birds were found by Strathspey Estate staff, who immediately alerted Police. Subsequent examination of the birds and the bait confirmed that the banned pesticide ‘carbofuran’ had been used to kill the birds. Northern Constabulary and Strathspey estate are working closely together in the investigation of this incident. A spokesman for Strathspey Estate commented: “Everyone at the estate is shocked by this discovery. Considering the…