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Nature

RSPB announce reward as bird of prey deaths rise to 16

UPDATE 4 APR: Reward has now been increased to £10,000 following pledge by anonymous donor. RSPB Scotland is offering a £5000 reward for information after tests revealed that 16 dead birds of prey found in Ross-shire had been poisoned. The 12 red kites and 4 buzzards were found to the south east of Conon Bridge during a single week in March. Duncan Orr-Ewing, Head of Species and Land Management for RSPB Scotland said: “This appalling incident highlights the very real threat illegal poisoning poses to fantastic species like red kites. The vulnerable Black Isle population in particular has been repeatedly

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Posted in Nature

Cash award success for Skye and Trossachs path projects

Footpath projects in the Trossachs and on the Isle of Skye have won the public vote to secure funding from the European Outdoor Conservation Association. The Skye project won the Alpine category of the awards, and will give cash to the John Muir Trust to pay for repairs to the path up the iconic mountain, Bla Bheinn. Chris Goodman, the John Muir Trust Footpath Manager said: “The breath-taking view from the summit and the relatively straightforward access attracts thousands of people to Bla Bheinn each year. “The pressure of footfall combined with the high rainfall here has created serious erosion

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Posted in Access issues, Nature

Wildlife watching and events planned for Beinn Eighe reserve

The visitor centre at Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve in Wester Ross opened its doors this week enabling visitors to see the first results of a two-year upgrade. Owned and managed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) the reserve is a stunning mix of mountain and woodland which rises from the beautiful Loch Maree to the top of the Beinn Eighe ridge. It is one of Scotland’s wildlife hotspots and is home to golden eagle, pine marten, red deer and otter to name a few. Last year SNH started bringing live images of wildlife into the centre using remote cameras, and

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Posted in Nature, News

Politics of the Hills

I have the 18th September marked off in my diary. A reminder to go and vote, not that I'll need any reminder. I want to mark off the 19th as well, to take a day off and, hopefully, enjoy the biggest party Scotland has seen for 300 years. But then it might be the most depressing day ever, depending on your view. It could be a day for escaping to the hills. I’m all too aware that for many hill-goers politics and the hills don’t mix. I respect that view. For most of us the hills represent a release from

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Posted in Features, Magazine, Nature

Isle of Skye and Trossachs projects need your votes

Conservation projects in the Trossachs and on the Isle of Skye are in the running to win funding from the European Outdoor Conservation Association in a public vote which closes tomorrow. The Skye project is in the running in the Alpine category of the awards, and would see the John Muir Trust win cash to pay for repairs to the path up the iconic mountain, Bla Bheinn. The mountain guards the entrance to the Black Cuillin range on the Isle of Skye, and stands in rugged wild land ringed by coastal villages, sea lochs and native woodland. Chris Goodman, the

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Posted in Nature

Scots Pine returning to Ben Lawers

The iconic Scots Pine is making a return to the lower slopes of Ben Lawers thanks to the combined efforts of the National Trust for Scotland, some local young naturalists and small group tour operator Rabbie’s. Local children from the Killin Green Team planted 15 individually protected Scots Pines at Cragganester on the Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve which is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. Around 50 trees will be in place by the end of the project. Ben Lawers Property Manager Helen Cole said: “It is fantastic to have the next generation of conservationists helping

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Posted in Nature

New action for threatened Highland woodlands and species

With concerns over the state of many Scottish woodlands – and fears for the long-term survival of iconic species including red squirrel, pine marten and capercaillie – conservation charity Trees for Life is marking its 25th anniversary this year with a significant expansion of its forest restoration work across the Highlands and with new projects focusing on the recovery of endangered species. Trees for Life is now extending the geographical range of its forest restoration activity from its previous project area of 1,000 square miles west of Inverness and Loch Ness, and is exploring opportunities to restore neglected and derelict

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Posted in Nature

Six birds of prey found dead near Muir of Ord

The bodies of five red kites and a buzzard have been found in the Muir of Ord area of Ross-shire in the last week. The birds of prey were found dead at several different nearby locations. Police Scotland it that at this stage in the investigation it was not clear how the birds died, but said it was likely the deaths involved “some form of criminality”. Det Insp Scott McDonald said: “I would ask anyone who has been working on the land or using the area for recreational purposes to contact us if they have seen anything suspicious that may

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Posted in Nature

Survey shows wind farms are damaging Scottish tourism

A new survey shows that walkers and climbers are turning their backs on Scotland as electricity companies industrialise wild lands. The Scottish Government is being called on to act now to protect wild lands as a survey reveals that wind farms in mountain areas are damaging a key area of tourism. The call from Scotland’s representative body for mountaineering comes ahead of tomorrow’s debate at Holyrood when MSPs will discuss the Draft Third National Planning Framework. A survey of nearly 1,000 climbers and hill walkers, carried out by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, revealed that 68% say parts of Scotland

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Posted in Nature, News

Bla Bheinn path restoration nominated for European cash award

The outdoor retailer Berghaus has nominated a path restoration project on the Skye Munro Bla Bheinn for a £24,000 award. The contest, which will be decided by the public in an online poll, has been organised by the European Outdoor Conservation Association (a not-for profit environmental outdoor charity with over 120 members from Norway to Spain and from the UK to the Czech Republic). The Bla Bheinn project is nominated in the Alpine category of the awards – another Scottish entrant for path and forest works in the Trossachs is also nominated in the Outdoors category. Voting opens today, more

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Posted in Access issues, Nature, News


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You should always carry a backup means of navigation and not rely on a single phone, app or map. Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is every walker's responsibility to check it and to navigate safely.