The recent announcement by the Cairngorms National Park Authority that it will actively consider reintroducing beavers has turned attention to other species that the organisation might consider bringing back. The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) asked its Ecology Advisor, Dr David Hetherington to assess the potential for conservation measures or re-introduction plans for 22 creatures which have been wiped out or badly affected by hunting, persecution and habitat loss. The species considered include the massive auroch, a form of wild cattle which died out almost 400 years ago but is used for active management of some nature reserves in continental…

The first case of ash dieback in a protected area of Scotland has been confirmed, Scottish Natural Heritage stated today. Staff from SNH and Stirling Council found a number of young ash saplings showing symptoms of chalara at Balquhidderock Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Stirling. Lab tests carried out by Forest Research at their Northern Research Station at Roslin have now confirmed chalara in two of the samples. At this stage no mature trees have been confirmed as having the infection. The disease is spread via airborne spores. Balquhidderock is privately owned but is managed by Stirling Council…

Almost three quarters of people feel they have no say over changes to their local landscape according to research by the National Trust for Scotland. The findings were revealed in a report published today. The Land We Love contains findings gathered through surveys of 700 National Trust for Scotland members, around 1000 members of the Scottish public and the attendees of a major landscape conference which took place in November 2012. Seventy two per cent of people surveyed said they had “no influence” in response to the question ‘do you feel you are able to influence how your local landscapes…

The Cairngorms National Park Authority is to look into the potential for reintroducing beavers to the area next year. A trial reintroduction project at Knapdale in Argyll is due to end in 2014 and beavers are also living wild in the River Tay catchment area. The National Park has published a Cairngorms Nature Action Plan which includes a range of measures to ensure the area continues to be home to creatures such as red squirrels, Scottish wildcats, capercaillie, freshwater pearl mussels as well as looking into the possibility of reintroducing beavers and the Eurasian crane, which were once native to…

Environmental organisations attempting to stop the unregulated construction of hill tracks in Scotland have been shocked by the scale of the problem, mid-way through a public campaign to identify the worst cases. Working together under Scottish Environment LINK, the nine organisations are asking members of the public to submit photographs of tracks in the Scottish countryside before 1 September, and have already received numerous responses. They say that time is now running out to uncover the true scale of the damage caused to Scotland’s landscapes and wildlife before they try to persuade the Government to change the law. The organisations…

Friends of Nevis have the following events planned for this summer. A Path Maintenance weekend on Friday 26 and Saturday 27th July. We hope (weather permitting) to work both higher up on Ben Nevis up by the zig-zags and then on the Mamore Grazing path along by the Lower Falls in the Glen.   For the higher work you’ll need a good level of hill walking fitness but the for the work lower down you just need to be reasonably fit as the path is relatively level.  With notice we can assist those travelling with accommodation.  Please note that booking for…