Nearby residents are hoping to own the most southerly part of Scotland if their community buyout plans are successful. The Northern Lighthouse Board is seeking to sell 30 acres at the tip of the Mull of Galloway and a local community company wants to try and buy it. The Mull of Galloway is home to an internationally important seabird colony as well as dramatic cliffs and the lighthouse and associated buildings. The Mull of Galloway Trust wants to buy the land in order to preserve it and avoid any commercial exploitation as experienced at Lands End in Cornwall. A Trust…

Alan Watson Featherstone, founder and executive director of conservation charity Trees for Life, has won The Environment category of the prestigious Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards 2012. “As the winners of these awards are decided by public vote in the UK, this is inspiring, national recognition of Trees for Life’s restoration of the Caledonian Forest. I’m very grateful to everyone who voted – it’s an honour that shows how deeply people care about conserving Scotland’s world-class wild landscapes, and about protecting our stunning biodiversity and wildlife,”said Alan Watson Featherstone. The charity has now planted more than one million trees at…

The body representing hillwalkers and climbers in Scotland says Highland Council's lack of objection to a wind farm near Ben Wyvis sends the message that the Highlands are open house for massive industrial-scale wind farms. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) says that despite over 300 objections to the Glenmorie Wind Farm (209 to the Scottish Government and 132 to The Highland Council), the next Highland Council North Planning Committee on 27 November looks set to agree to ‘raise no objection’ to the inappropriately sited Glenmorie Wind Farm. The proposal would see 31 turbines at 125m in height erected on…

A group of capercaillie experts and enthusiasts have been visiting two Highland estates to find out why numbers of the rare species are increasing in the face of serious declines in other parts of Scotland. Earlier this month The Friends of Capercaillie were invited to visit the Forestry Commission Scotland owned Inshriach Forest and the privately owned Glenfeshie Estate. Across Scotland – the only place in Britain where capercaillie are found – there are thought to be fewer than 1,300 of these magnificent turkey sized birds remaining. Nationally they appear to be declining still further in their former strongholds like…

Entries are open for next year’s RSPB Nature of Scotland Awards. The awards aim to recognise and reward those who are making a real difference to the conservation of Scotland’s beautiful landscapes and unique wildlife. The RSPB is asking people to nominate individuals, businesses or organisations for the following categories: Marine Conservation Sustainable Development Politician of the Year Innovation Outstanding Contribution RSPB Species Champion Community Initiative Education. The winners will be announced in Edinburgh in October 2013. It is free to enter and nominate those who you believe should be rewarded for their conservation efforts. The deadline for submission is…

A new report by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) confirms results from previous years showing that Scotland's seabird numbers have continued to decline, although there are some species that have fared better than others. The report uses data collected by volunteers and professionals from a sample of breeding colonies around Scotland. It shows that, from 1986 to 2011, the numbers of seabirds breeding in Scotland has dropped by around 53%. Of the 11 species reviewed over the 25-year period, the numbers of nine decreased. The largest declines were for the Arctic skua (74%), Arctic tern (72%) and black-legged kittiwake (66%). Two…

A John Muir Trust/YouGov poll shows that 43% of UK citizens, including 36% of Scots, are less likely to visit a scenic area with lots of wind turbines. This comes after First Minister Alex Salmond recently claimed that wind farms do not negatively impact Scotland’s scenery and that they actually enhance the appeal of Scotland as a country. However, just 2% agree with him and say they are more likely to visit to an area of natural beauty with large numbers of turbines. The JMT results show a widespread demand (40% in the UK and 37% in Scotland) for government…