Nature

Planned wind farm demo called off

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Helen Webster

The planned demonstration against the Allt Duine windfarm on 8th November outside the Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, has been called off. The demonstration had been called to coincide with a Council meeting due to discuss the application. Today (3 Nov) the Save Monadhliath Mountains (SMM) campaign team was informed by council officers that the Allt Duine s.36 application will not come before the Highland Council’s Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Planning Application Committee, as anticipated. A spokesman for the campaign said, “SMM believes that the postponement could enable the councillors to visit the site and spend valuable time fully…

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Tyndrum gold mine plans approved

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Helen Webster

The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority has today (25 Oct) granted planning permission to Scotgold Resources Ltd for a goldmine at Cononish near Tyndrum. The decision comes at the end of a long running planning saga dating back to early 2010. Planning officers had recommended approval after a resubmitted application addressed many of the environmental concerns relating to the production of waste and use of water on the site. Members of the Park Authority decided that the need for economic growth outweighed concerns about the environment. Conditions have been placed on Scotgold Resources to minimise the long…

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Beauly Denny powerline measures rejected by Council

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Helen Webster

Following last month’s public meeting at which plans to reduce the visual impact of the Beauly to Denny powerline around Stirling were voted down, the Council has formally rejected the plans and branded them “inadequate and ineffective”. The Scottish Government has approved the line of the power route but asked Scottish Power and Stirling Council to work together to come up with plans to mitigate the effect of the planned giant pylons in the area around Stirling and the Wallace Monument. Scottish Power put forward plans which involved painting the pylons to blend in with the surroundings and planting to…

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Views wanted on Scottish woodland expansion plans

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Helen Webster

Individuals, land managers, local authorities, the voluntary sector and community groups across Scotland are all being asked their views on how best to take forward woodland expansion in Scotland. The call to gather views comes from Dr Andrew Barbour, the chairman of the Woodland Expansion Advisory Group. This 18-strong group of farmers, foresters, conservation, community and land experts, has been tasked with the job of providing Scottish Ministers with advice on identifying which types of land are best for tree planting. Dr Barbour said: “One clear message from the Group is a desire to gather as many views as possible…

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Planners recommend Tyndrum gold mine approval

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Helen Webster

In the latest round of planning decisions for the proposed gold mine at Cononish, near Tyndrum, planning officers are recommending approval. The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority will consider Scotgold Resources Ltd’s plans on 25 October. The original planning application was refused by the Park Authority in August 2010. This latest application is an amended application which was submitted in July this year, it was given a cautious welcome by SNH and the John Muir Trust on the proviso that environmental concerns had been properly addressed. Scotgold chief executive Chris Sangster told the BBC, “We are delighted…

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Report calls for new ski developments higher in mountains

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Helen Webster

A government-funded report has called for the construction of new ski resorts to be built higher in the Scottish mountains. The report – commissioned by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, says that “Scottish resorts will have to develop, where possible, the snowsports experience at higher altitudes and improve access to higher snow fields by rationalising / replacing surface tows with chairlifts, creating accessible mini resorts higher up the mountain”. The report notes that skiing in Scotland currently has a total economic value of £30 million per year, with 194 direct full-time equivalent jobs at the resorts and a…

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Red Kite project scoops new science prize

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Helen Webster

A new science prize in honour of two renowned Galloway ornithologists has gone to research into illegal killing of red kites in northern Scotland. The Watson award, named after father and son Donald and Jeff Watson, both keen ornithologists and a renowned bird artist and golden eagle expert respectively, was given to a team led by RSPB scientists at a ceremony at Dalry town hall on 1 October. The RSPB research assessed the “phenomenal success story” of reintroducing red kites to the UK and compared the projects in the Highlands with the Chilterns. The project set out to identify why…

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Red Squirrel census planned

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Helen Webster

The National Trust for Scotland fears that in the future visitors to some of its Highland properties, where red squirrels have been commonplace, will no longer be able to see the iconic animal. As part of its response to these fears the Trust plans to carry out a squirrel census at all its properties over the next year. The census forms part of the charity’s red squirrel conservation plan which it has shared during Red Squirrel week. The Trust has red squirrel populations at many of its properties from the red squirrel “stronghold” of Brodick Country Park on Arran to…

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Pink Footed sunset at Loch Leven

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Helen Webster

One of Loch Leven’s greatest wildlife displays will be in the spotlight on October 8 and 23 at free events run by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) staff. Autumn sees the return of one of Loch Leven’s flagship species, the pink-footed goose. After a summer in Iceland and Greenland, the geese migrate south to the UK and stay until the spring. Loch Leven is one of their main destinations, with as much as 10 percent of the global population roosting on the loch shore by night and feeding in surrounding farmlands by day. Craig Nisbet, SNH reserve officer, said: “This is…

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Mull of Galloway tourist boost

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Helen Webster

An RSPB report says that its Mull of Galloway nature reserve provides a half million pound boost to the local economy and supports more than a dozen jobs in the area. RSPB Scotland area manager Andrew Bielinski said, “With its busy seabird cities and stunning beauty, Mull of Galloway is a great place to enjoy nature. This report proves the worth of nature reserves to the local economy.” “Not only are these important places to conserve and protect our wildlife and environment, but they also bring tourism, money and jobs to the area, which is always welcome news to smaller…

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