The John Muir Trust today launched a campaign calling for improved statutory wild land protection of the UK’s last remaining unspoilt landscapes. The campaign is being launched in the week following the Scottish Governments approval of the Beauly-Denny Line though some of Scotland’s finest scenery. “Never before has there been a greater demonstration of the need for statutory protection of the UK’s last remaining areas of wild land,” commented the John Muir Trust’s Chairman, John Hutchison. “Last week’s Beauly-Denny decision has shown how even the Cairngorms National Park has proved an inadequate defence from the creeping industrialisation of our natural…

RSPB Scotland has used new powers to apply to buy large areas of Forestry Commission plantation at Dyke and Forsinain in north Sutherland. The national bird charity is able to apply under the new National Forest Land Scheme which gives communities, and certain non-governmental organisations, the opportunity to bid to buy or lease national forest land on the basis that it provides increased public benefits. RSPB Scotland aims to restore these areas of forest to open peatland, restoring the associated habitats and biodiversity, whilst also protecting the carbon stored in deep peats. It already owns a large area of land…

The Forestry Commission in Scotland will set up and manage 18 stronghold sites that will help safeguard the country’s surviving red squirrel population. Welcoming the announcement, Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said, “Red squirrels are an important and high-profile part of Scotland’s biodiversity so it is crucial that we do what we can to safeguard their long-term survival. It is not enough to simply control grey squirrels. We also need to ensure that we protect and manage those habitats that allow red squirrels to thrive but which are unappealing for greys.” “The backing and support of landowners means that we can…

Trees for Life will today launch an innovative forest restoration project with the arrival of wild boar in a special woodland enclosure on its Dundreggan Estate in Glen Moriston, Inverness-shire. Six wild boar – donated by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig near Kingussie – will be used to reduce bracken in an area of ancient birchwood on the estate, restoring a missing ecological process and facilitating the regeneration of native trees and woodland flowering plants. Alan Watson Featherstone, Executive Director of Trees for Life, said: “Wild boar are an integral part of the Caledonian…

Ally Macaskill, Wild Land Ranger for Schiehallion and Glen Nevis, has been using some innovative technology this year to help with wildlife monitoring on the John Muir Trust’s East Schiehallion estate. Ally’s German Shorthaired Pointers, Max and Gus, have been wearing GPS locator collars which relay their precise movements and location back to a handset that he carries with him on the hill. The slopes of Schiehallion provide breeding sites for many birds, including Hen Harriers, Merlins and Ptarmigan, as well as Red and Black Grouse. Ally uses his dogs to monitor the grouse by sniffing them out and standing…

The habits of some of St Kilda’s smallest inhabitants will soon be uncovered, as the University of Edinburgh begins a three-year study of the archipelago’s native field mouse. The St Kilda Field Mouse is unique to the islands, which are owned and cared for by the National Trust for Scotland. Although field mice are common through the UK, the ones on St Kilda are unusual for several reasons, the most notable being that they are nearly twice the weight of their relatives on the mainland and have different hair colouration on their belly. They also live in unusual conditions, in…

The proposed super resort at Dall Estate in Rannoch, Perthshire could cause significant damage to an internationally important nature site, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has warned. In its response to Perth and Kinross Council, SNH says the development would have a negative impact on Scotland’s ancient Caledonian pine woodlands and will significantly detract from the quality and character of the nationally important landscape of Loch Rannoch. The proposed development includes a luxury hotel with health spa, clinic, leisure and retail facilities, two 18-hole golf courses, a clubhouse, over 100 houses, staff accommodation, and a restaurant within Loch Rannoch. It would…