The latest report looking at the trial reintroduction of beavers at Knapdale in Argyll has revealed that by 2013 fourteeen beavers had been born in the wild as a result of the trial. The report sets out findings from the fourth year of ecological monitoring, up to spring 2013, in the five-year Scottish Beaver Trial (SBT). The monitoring phase of the trial concluded at the end of May 2014 and the final report, which will help Scottish Government decide on the longer term future of beavers in Scotland, is due to be published in December 2014. That report will also…

The mountains of Scotland are home to some iconic bird species. Seeing a Golden Eagle flying above a mountain ridge or spotting the striking Dotterel on a high plateau can add a little extra something to your day in the hills. But what if our birds started to disappear, and nobody noticed?The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) wants to improve monitoring and is asking for help from hillwalkers, climbers and other outdoor folk. They need volunteers to help out with their new Mountain Bird Survey. Perhaps you could help? Taking part in the survey is a great way to add another…

A new Commonwealth Forest near Loch Ness has been established as a lasting and green legacy to this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, in an initiative being launched by conservation charity Trees for Life during Legacy Week (9-13 June). Trees for Life has planted 6,500 trees in the new forest at its Dundreggan Conservation Estate in Glenmoriston – one for every athlete competing in the Games, with Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Moray MSP Richard Lochhead planting the 6,500th tree. The award-winning charity aims to expand the new forest with the support of spectators who attend the…

Scottish Energy minister Fergus Ewing has approved a new 67 turbine wind farm at Stronelairg – the largest ever proposed in the Highlands – on the Monadhliath mountains. The area had been identified as one of Scotland’s ‘Core Areas of Wild Land’ by Scottish Natural Heritage, and conservationists had hoped that the proposed new protection for such wild areas would result in rejection of the plan. Plans for another wind farm at Newfield Moor – on low moorland northeast of Lockerbie – were rejected by Mr Ewing, although this was far from wild land areas. The latter plan had seen…

Police Scotland have confirmed in a statement that the deaths of the buzzards and red kites in the Black Isle earlier this year were in fact due to banned poisons. The statement has dismissed widely-circulated rumours spread online that the investigation had found that the bird deaths connected with the RSPB’s Red Kite feeding station at Tollie. The RSPB has branded the rumours that it was responsible for the deaths “completely outrageous”. RSPB Scotland volunteer Andrea Goddard told the BBC that “these anonymous rumour-mongers seem to be attempting to muddy the waters and mislead the general public.” Mrs Goddard said…

Scotland's First World War heroes will be commemorated with new native woodland in the Pentland Hills south of Edinburgh. The Woodland Trust Scotland is working in partnership with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to create Scotland's First World War Centenary Wood, one of four to be planted by the charity across the UK which will create a living memorial of the conflict. Over the next four years more than 50,000 trees including oak, birch and rowan will be planted on land that has been used by army personnel for training for more than a century on the MOD training estate…

The John Muir Trust has welcomed the analyses and recommendations made on deer management in Scotland by the Land Reform Review Group, published last week. Section 32 of the report, Wild Deer, recognises that “Scotland's population of native red and roe deer are important national assets that should be sustainably managed in the public interest”. The report also notes that for 50 years, despite repeated warnings by the responsible authorities (Red Deer Commission; Deer Commission Scotland; Scottish Natural Heritage), wild deer numbers have continued to rise. Consequently, there are a range of negative social, economic, animal welfare and environment impacts.…

One of Scotland's rarest birds will be the subject of a national survey to see how the population is faring after years of decline. In Scotland, choughs are only found in a small area of the south-west, with a remarkable 90% of the birds making their home on the island of Islay. A member of the crow, or corvid, family, choughs primarily feed on insects and larvae and in particular those that are found in the dung of cattle. A team of surveyors has now begun work to chart the fortunes of the charismatic birds, known for their striking red…

Plans to build a wind farm above the renowned Highland landscape of Glen Affric will have severe effects on some of Scotland's most cherished views and will damage the local economy, according to the body that represents hillwalkers and climbers. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) has objected to a proposal to build seven 119.5m (392 feet) wind turbines on the slopes of Beinn Mhor above Tomich, just south of the famous glen. In its objection to the planning application by wind farm development company WPD, the MCofS has told Highland Council: “The proposal would severely impact on the important…