A call has gone out for helpers with a Rhododendron clearance project to support native wildlife. Volunteers are wanted to take part in conservation work on the Isle of Rum between 13th and 16th July. The project is being run by the Isle of Rum Community Trust, and as well as clearing the invasive plants using the ‘lever and mulch’ technique, volunteers will also get the chance to help with wildlife gardening in the island’s community garden. Rum is one of Scotland’s most stunning national nature reserves, owned and managed by Scottish Natural Heritage, who are grant aiding this volunteer…

Climate change has impacted on upland plants and vegetation over the past half century, new evidence from north west Scotland has revealed. Research funded by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has revealed for the first time the impacts of climate change on mountain landscapes. The pioneering work was carried out by Aberdeen University and supported by the Hutton Institute and Bergen University, Norway. Dr Louise Ross of Aberdeen University and colleagues reassessed study plots throughout north west Scotland last surveyed by pioneering botanists Donald McVean and Derek Ratcliffe 50 years ago. Species which increased…

Nature lovers are invited to find out all about the hidden lives of seabirds on the Isle of May at the popular Seabird Open Day on Sunday, 17 June. Experts will be on hand to tell all about the fascinating lives of the nearly a quarter of million seabirds which call the island home. The day is a chance to witness one of the top wildlife spectacles of Scotland, get close to the birds and talk to the expert researchers. There will alsobe plenty of fun for the kids, with storytelling, face painting, and more. The Isle of May is…

From Stornoway to Stirling, and from Dunbeith to Dalbeattie, 20 new native woods will be created across Scotland to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The woods are part of a UK-wide project to create 60 Diamond Woods across the country, one for each year of The Queen's reign. Each Diamond Wood will be at least 60 acres in size. In total the Diamond Woods in Scotland will cover more than 2,500 acres (1,000 hectares), forming a collective area of woodland nearly four times the size of Holyrood Park in Edinburgh. 1.5 million native trees will be planted within the 20…

To celebrate Scotland's amazing biodiversity, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is launching a free photo contest today. As part of Scottish Biodiversity Week festivities, SNH is encouraging Scots to enjoy nature by capturing their favourite natural places and wildlife. The sixth annual Nature Photography Competition is open to both amateur and professional photographers. Keen photographers have plenty of time to get snapping, with a deadline of July 31 to get their photos to SNH. First prize is a one-to-one tutorial with one of Scotland’s leading professional nature photographers, Lorne Gill; second prize is a Nikon D5100 Digital SLR camera with a…