Lost world open day to celebrate 25 years of conservation

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Helen Webster

Moray-based conservation charity Trees for Life is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special celebration open day at its acclaimed Dundreggan Conservation Estate in Glenmoriston to the west of Loch Ness on Sunday 25 May 2014, from 10.30 am – 5.00 pm. Members of the public are warmly invited to attend the free event and to join BBC presenter and Trees for Life Patron Vanessa Collingridge for a day of activities at this renowned biodiversity hotspot, as the charity marks a quarter century of restoring the ancient but endangered Caledonian Forest in the Scottish Highlands. A programme of entertainment includes…

Posted in Nature, News

Sea Eagle chicks on view at Beinn Eighe visitor centre

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Helen Webster

Visitors to the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve visitor centre in Wester Ross will be treated to fantastic close up views of sea eagle chicks this summer. Local staff have announced the successful hatching of a chick at the nest on Loch Maree Islands. It has been regularly used by the pair of eagles for the past 16 years, and last year Scottish Natural Heritage, which manages Britain’s oldest NNR, installed a remote camera which sends live footage via radio signals to the visitor centre in nearby Kinlochewe. Eoghain Maclean, the reserve mamager, spotted the fluffy chick poking out above…

Posted in Access issues

Scotland’s ghostly trees

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Ben Dolphin

Stand on the summit of any munro and you’ll gaze out across a land of bog, rock, heather and grass. Sometimes it looks so timeless and primeval that it’s tempting to believe it has always had that stark, treeless beauty. But it’s an illusion. One that our hills almost manage to pull off, were it not for certain unexpected objects that shatter the illusion completely. Last week I was working my way around Beinn Bheag on Beinn a’ Ghlo when a skeletal object caught my attention just off the path. Bleached grey-white by age and the elements, half buried within…

Posted in Features, Magazine

Tick warning as 2014 likely to be record year

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Helen Webster

Based on reports from walkers on Walkhighlands, 2014 seems to be gearing up to be a bumper year for ticks. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is therefore urging walkers and climbers to make sure that a Munro or other summit, is the only tick you come home with from your trip. Heather Morning the Mountain Safety Advisor with the MCofS is advising hill-goers to check themselves carefully after a day on the hill to ensure they haven’t picked up any unwanted guests. Ticks are small arthropods (related to spiders & scorpions) and are common in vegetated areas in the…

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Campaigners call for 7 more Scottish National Parks

Posted on May 10, 2014 by Helen Webster

The Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP) and The Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) are calling for more National Parks to be created in Scotland. On the eve of the two day John Muir Conference being held in Perth, the two organisations will host a free Conference Fringe Event on Sunday 11 May from 6.30pm to 7.30pm in the Royal George Hotel, Perth to outline the case for more National Parks in Scotland. The event is open to all and there will be a short presentation followed by an open discussion. The organisers say that the event…

Posted in Nature

Ben Nevis bridges to be replaced

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Helen Webster

Signs are about to go up advising walkers to Ben Nevis that the two aluminium bridges on the main path up the mountain from the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre to the summit are to be replaced. Work is due to start on Monday 19 May to replace both footbridges and is estimated to take up to four weeks. Due to the nature of this essential work and to ensure the safety of the contractors and all other path users, everyone using this route is advised to follow the advisory signs on the hill and the on-site instructions. Restrictions and path…

Posted in Access issues, News

Griff Rhys Jones backs Scottish footpath appeal

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Helen Webster

TV presenter and outdoors devotee Griff Rhys Jones has urged lovers of the outdoors across the UK to help a Scottish mountain charity repair and maintain footpaths through some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes. The John Muir Trust looks after over 120km of footpaths from woodland and coastal trails to world famous mountain routes that provide access to seven Munros and five Corbetts. These include the final zigzag to the summit of Ben Nevis, the wild and rocky Steall Gorge path in Glen Nevis, the four mile trail to remote Sandwood Bay, the main route up stunning Bla Bheinn…

Posted in Access issues, Nature, News

Monbiot rewilding talk ahead of Cairngorms Nature Festival

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Paul Webster

Environmental campaigner and activist George Monbiot is to speak on rewilding in the Cairngorms National Park next week. The Guardian columnist will be giving an evening presentation focussing on rewilding, and outlining his own thoughts on current approaches to managing National Parks and protected places. He will also be signing copies of his latest book on rewilding, ‘Feral’. George Monbiot’s talk will take place at the Boat of Garten Community Hall on Thursday 15th May at 7pm. It is free to attend but booking is essential – the talk is almost certain to be full. There will be tea/coffee and…

Posted in Nature, News

RSPB welcomes Wildlife Crime debate

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Helen Webster

Following this afternoon's debate in the Scottish Parliament on Wildlife Crime, Eradicating raptor persecution from Scotland, an RSPB Scotland spokesperson said: “We welcome today's debate and support the commitment of the Scottish Government to tackle the illegal killing of our native bird of prey species. The introduction of vicarious liability; the current consultation on increasing the investigatory powers of the Scottish SPCA; the review of penalties available to the courts; and the publication of an annual Wildlife Crime Report are all positive measures. We also acknowledge the cross political party support on this matter, including the Scottish Government’s acceptance of…

Posted in Nature

Half of Highland residents say wind farms will damage tourism

Posted on May 4, 2014 by Helen Webster

A new poll has revealed that half the population of the Highlands fear that the spread of large scale wind farm across wild land could damage tourism in the region. The poll, conducted by the polling company for the John Muir Trust, asked found that over 500 residents across the eight Highlands and Islands constituencies ‘What impact do you think the spread of onshore wind farms on wild land in the Highlands and Islands might have on the tourist industry in the region?’ The results were: A positive impact – 5.8% A negative impact – 49.4% No impact – 44.9%…

Posted in Nature