One of the world's most respected landscape photographers, Colin Prior, opened the John Muir Trust's new visitor centre, Wild Space, in Pitlochry, yesterday (Mon 22 April). The opening was also attended by a range of other respected figures from the fields of conservation, mountaineering and tourism, including: outdoors author and broadcaster, Cameron McNeish; Maude Tiso; and the Chairman of VisitScotland, Mike Cantley. Colin Prior, who more than anyone has captured the essence of Scotland’s natural landscapes during his decades as a professional photographer said: “All my life I’ve loved mountains, wild places and the great outdoors so I’m delighted to…

The National Trust for Scotland is calling for old hiking boots that are destined to be binned for a bold new billboard to promote its work to care for Scotland's mountains. Ninety pairs of boots are going to be nailed to a huge billboard in Edinburgh in June, alongside a message encouraging commuters to support the Trust’s countryside. Part of the One Wee Step campaign which launched in 2012, the outdoors advert is the latest to highlight the fact that the Trust cares for 76,000 ha of some of the wildest and most spectacular countryside in Scotland, encompassing 46 Munro…

One of Scotland's rarest carnivores is showing encouraging signs of recovery, a new report has highlighted. From Argyll to Aberdeenshire, and Caithness to the central belt, the pine marten is proving that rare mammals can recover their numbers, given the right conditions. It is a real success story for an animal which has vanished from much of England and Wales. A joint survey by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and The Vincent Wildlife Trust (VWT), to be published later this week, shows the pine marten population has regained ground across much of Scotland. It is now re-colonising areas from which it…

The Friends of Nevis have a packed programme of events, litter picks and work parties this spring. Organiser Anna Trafford says, “The wildlife monitoring events start with the launch of the Squirrel Project at Cafe Beag in Glen Nevis on the 20th April at 10.30. The Red Squirrel is one of Scotland's Big Five animal species and specialist Juliet Robinson will be telling us all about how red Squirrels are coping in Glen Nevis and what will be happening over the summer at the special squirrel events. Call the office on 01397 701901 by the 17th April to register for…

The momentum for statutory protection of Scotland’s wild land is continuing to build. A petition lodged two years ago by the John Muir Trust calling for the protection of wild land will be put under the Holyrood spotlight when government agency, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), gives evidence to the Public Petitions Committee. Following a discussion on the petition at the February meeting of the committee, MSPs will now ask SNH chiefs to explain what progress they have made on mapping Scotland’s wild land – a process which began over two years ago. Ian Jardine, SNH Chief Executive and Andrew Thin,…