Beavers to be released at UK’s biggest national park

Beavers are set to be released at sites in the UK’s biggest national park. NatureScot has approved a licence application for six beaver families to be released in the Cairngorms National Park. Sites in the upper River Spey catchment have been selected for beavers despite some farmers raising concerns about the beavers damaging crops. NatureScot…

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Beavers could return to Cairngorms in efforts to boost numbers

Beavers could return to the Cairngorms as part of efforts to boost their population. The animals died out in Scotland around 400 years ago but were reintroduced in 2009. The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) is now set to speak to the public about a number of possible release sites. As part of the plans…

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Beavers could return to Glen Affric

BEAVERS could soon return to Glen Affric in the Highlands as early as this autumn. Conservation charity Trees for Life is applying to NatureScot – the Scottish Government agency known previously as Scottish Natural Heritage – for a licence to reintroduce the creatures to the glen. The application is supported by four landowners and Forestry…

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Cairngorms wants to bring back ‘lost’ beavers

THE Cairngorms National Park Authority is to lead an application to reintroduce beavers to the area. The park’s board voted to take the lead in the process, while working with other public bodies, charities, landowners, and residents. Sarah Henshall, head of conservation at the authority, said: “We will be doing work around supporting land managers…

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European Beaver Tours launched on Atholl Estates

With the discovery of beaver habitats in a quiet and tranquil location near Dunkeld, Atholl Estates in Highland Perthshire is introducing dedicated tours. This will give people the chance to catch a glimpse of these elusive animals, which are critical to the countryside’s ecological balance. Starting this month and running until September, the European Beaver…

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Just a handful of lodges remain at Balloch Park

Just five custom built, sustainable timber lodges remain for sale in a Scottish country estate. Mains of Taymouth Country Estate at Kenmore has announced that it only has five of its luxury timber lodges left for sale in the second phase at Balloch Park, its residential, buy to let and holiday home development. Priced from…

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Beaver appeal raises £60,000

CONSERVATION charity Trees for Life has raised nearly £60,000 through a crowdfunding appeal to help protect Scotland’s beavers. The fundraising effort sets the scene for a court challenge to the Scottish Government’s beaver policy, which the charity claims is causing “needless loss of beavers’ lives”. Trees for Life and rewilding charity The Lifescape Project claim…

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Biggest beaver survey begins next week

SCOTLAND’S largest survey of beavers will begin next week. NatureScot, the government agency previously known as Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), will work with the University of Essex to conduct surveys in Tayside, the Forth valley and Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park during the autumn and winter. Roo Campbell, NatureScot project lead, said: “From sightings…

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£200 grants for students writing on Scottish rewilding

Countryside and environment students are being offered a grant of up to £200 for dissertations about rewilding in Scotland. The Reforesting Scotland Student Bursary can be used to help with transport, materials and living costs associated with doing a dissertation on the theme of ecological restoration. Reforesting Scotland aims to promote a sustainable forest culture…

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When Scotland’s beavers made their return

I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be able to walk less than a mile from my home in the Tay valley and see fresh signs of beaver activity on the river bank. A couple of fleeting glimpses of a broad brown beaver head disappearing beneath the Tay’s inky depths has been…

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