Everyone knows that Scotland’s national forests are good places to be – but it’s especially true if you happen to be a capercaillie. Forestry Commission Scotland’s efforts to support and monitor the birds has resulted in the fourth consecutive increase in the number of capercaillie males displaying at ‘lek’ sites on the national forest estate Kenny Kortland, Species Ecologist for the Commission, said, “We’ve put over ten years of work into managing forests in ways that will improve the conditions for capercaillie. “Over the last six years we’ve really focussed on monitoring the results of that effort in forest blocks…

Giant caterpillars and enormous snails will be on show in Lochgilphead town centre in November, the latest results of a nature project between local school pupils and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). The larger-than-life pictures of wildlife will be projected on to the side of a building in the town as part of the annual Lantern Procession on Saturday 6 November. Taken by fourth year pupils from Lochgilphead High School, they show the wonderful wildlife found at Moine Mhor National Nature Reserve, an ancient peat bog that lies to the north of the town. The outdoor projection is the latest step…

The Scottish Government has now approved the plans drawn up by power companies to try and miminise the visual impact of the controversial Beauly to Denny powerline. The plans inlcude putting 100km of existing overhead power cables underground. Conservation charity, the John Muir Trust (JMT) said the measures did not go far enough to safeguard Scotland’s landscape. When Scottish ministers granted planning permssion for the 220 km high voltage power line consisting of 600 pylons, some more than 60 metres high, it left it up to the developers to come up with plans to mitigate the effect on the environment.…

The BBC is reporting that the nuclear submarine HMS Astute has become grounded off the Isle of Skye. An eye-witness told the BBC that the submarine was stuck on the rocks near the Skye road bridge. The Ministry of Defence have said “This is a not a nuclear incident. We are responding to the incident and can confirm that there are no injuries to personnel and the submarine remains watertight. There is no indication of any environmental impact”. Earlier in the summer the submarine caused hold ups on the Skye bridge as motorists stopped to look at it, and local…

Water voles on the John Muir Trust’s Quinag property are thriving, despite a national decline in their numbers. Researchers from Aberdeen University found the third highest annual occupancy of water vole sites on the property, in Assynt, North West Sutherland, since the start of monitoring in 1997. Don O’ Driscoll, the Trust’s Conservation Officer for Quinag said: “It’s really encouraging to see the voles doing so well, especially compared to the national picture where they have declined massively. “Our plans for Quinag include improving the habitats here so that the native biodiversity, including water voles and golden eagles, can continue…

The John Muir Trust has published a new Vision for Wild Land and Wild Places entitled “Our Essential Wildness”. The Vision outlines how the Trust will work to protect and enhance wild land, while ensuring that people are able to engage with wild places and the needs of rural and remote communities are met. The John Muir Trust is the UK’s leading wild land conservation charity. It was founded in 1983, inspired by the work and legacy of conservationist John Muir, the first person to call for action to be taken to protect wild land. Stuart Brooks, chief executive of…

Individuals and organisations across Scotland are being called upon to take practical steps to help shape the future of the country’s landscapes. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has today (8 October) published a ground-breaking Landscape Charter for Scotland. The charter was drawn up by the Scottish Landscape Forum (see Notes). It is in keeping with the European Landscape Convention, which affirms the value of the continent’s landscapes to the well-being of its citizens. The charter calls on communities, land managers, developers, local authorities, public bodies and non-government organisations to recognise the responsibilities and opportunities they have to shape the country’s landscapes,…