‘Stay the Night’ returns to forest car parks

MOTORHOMES and campervans will be able to “Stay the Night” again this year in 36 car parks run by government agency Forestry & Land Scotland (FLS). This year’s scheme runs from 1 April to 31 October and will charge vehicles £7 for the night. FLS said that “stays are for one night only between the…

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Wildlife film inspires Dundee art project

A BBC wildlife documentary has inspired Turner Prize-nominated artist Heather Phillipson in creating her work for this summer’s Art Night Festival in Dundee. Phillipson’s work, provisionally entitled “Dream Land”, will be exhibited at the University of Dundee’s Cooper Gallery from 16 June to 1 July. Phillipson will attend an Art Night event at the gallery…

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Helping it Happen Awards open for 2023

TWO categories have been added to this year’s Helping it Happen Awards. Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the membership body that organises the competition, said the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Scotland aims to celebrate “those who have spent their lives working in and for Scotland’s countryside”. The Rural Rising Star Award is designed…

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Northwoods Rewilding Network plants 100,000 trees

THE Northwoods Rewilding Network has planted more than 108,000 native trees during its first two years, according to figures released this morning. The network, which has grown to include 55 partners spread throughout Scotland, said the trees cover an area equivalent to 210 football pitches. More than 4,100 of the trees are along rivers, where…

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Peatland restoration roadshow shifts into gear

MONDAY marks the start of a peatland restoration roadshow. Peatland consultancy firm Caledonian Climate Partnership (CCP) has organised the discussions, which are touring Scotland until 23 March. The roadshow – which is supported by NatureScot and Peatland Action – is aimed at “people with an interest in land management and nature restoration, including farmers, keepers,…

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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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Scottish Youth Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture

THE Scottish Youth Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture has been presented to Steph McKenna from Lochaber. McKenna divides her time between local charity Lochaber Hope and local business Off Beat Bikes. Last summer, she worked as a seasonal ranger with the John Muir Trust and ran a junior ranger scheme. “We live in such…

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Perth event to examine grouse conservation

SCOTLAND’S four grouse species will be under the spotlight during an event in Perth. The symposium – entitlted “Practical Conservation for Scotland’s Grouse species” – is being organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and the World Pheasant Association (WPA). Taking place at Balhousie Castle on 5 May, the event will examine the…

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Estates’ contribution to ‘wellbeing economy’ measured

A NEW report has examined the contribution that Scotland’s country estates make to our nation’s “wellbeing economy”. The Scottish Government set 11 national outcomes to measure progress towards a “wellbeing economy”, which it defined as “an economic system that places the wellbeing of current and future generations at its core”. A report by Biggar Economics…

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Buccleuch selling more of Langholm Moor

ESTATE owner Buccleuch revealed this morning that it will sell more of Langholm Moor next month. Oxygen Conservation, which already owners land around the Firth of Tay, will buy 11,390 acres of moor around Blackburn and Hartsgarth. The organisation aims to demonstrate that environmental conservation can also deliver social and economic benefits for local communities.…

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