Two Scottish charities are calling for at least seven more national parks to be set up in Scotland. The Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP) and the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) are suggesting that new parks be set up in The Cheviots, Galloway, Glen Affric, Harris, Mull and parts of Lochaber to include Ben Nevis and Glencoe. The two groups say that national park designation is needed to protect the special landscapes of the areas. President of the APRS, Jimmie Macgregor, told the BBC, “We have wild mountains, pristine rivers and lochs, ancient forests, stunning coastline…

Conservation group the John Muir Trust has expressed disappointment in the vote of the Highland Council's South Planning Applications Committee to accept the Stronelairg wind development subject to conditions and called on the Scottish Government to make sure that a full public inquiry now takes place. “We are disappointed that the majority of councillors chose to ignore expert opinion from bodies which include Scottish Natural Heritage, the Cairngorms National Park, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and the John Muir Trust,” said Helen McDade, the John Muir Trust Head of Policy. “But despite this setback, the fight to save the Monadhliath…

On Monday afternoon, Highland Council’s planning committee will decide whether to object to the controversial Stronelairg wind power proposal in the heart of the Monadhliath Mountains above Loch Ness. The meeting will follow a site visit by the councillors that morning. Scotland’s wild land charity, the John Muir Trust, and the representative body for its climbers and hillwalkers, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, have both called upon the councillors to follow in the footsteps of their counterparts on the North Planning Advisory Committee who recently objected to two proposed wind developments on wild land. The government’s own agency, Scottish Natural…

Danish businessman and conservationist, Anders Povlsen, has increased his holding of Scottish wild land by purchasing the 20,000 Gaick Estate in the Cairngorms. Mr Povlsen already owns the neighbouring Glenfeshie Estate and has pioneered a number of measures aimed at increasing the bio-diversity of the area, including efforts to re-generate the natural forest and reduce red deer numbers. The Gaick Estate was previously owned by the French designer-goods heir Xavier Louis Vuitton who has also recently sold the nearby Dalchully Estate at Laggan.  Whilst some of his land management ideas have proved controversial, Anders Povlsen has generally been seen as…

As spring approaches, dog owners are being encouraged to pick up after their dog when out and about. The latest national radio campaign from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) begins this week, focussing on the issues surrounding dog waste, as part of ongoing work to publicise access rights and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Kirstin Guthrie, SNH Communications Officer said: “Our radio campaign introduces the character ‘Jess’ – a wise border collie – who helps dispel some myths, as well as highlight how not cleaning up after your dog can kill livestock and encourage other people to think badly of you…