Posts Tagged ‘NatureScot’
Skye’s Fairy Pools get makeover as tourist numbers soar
A much needed makeover of Skye’s Fairy Pools has been completed – as tourist numbers continue to increase on the island. In the past few years, the number of visitors has grown significantly, taking a heavy toll on the natural environment and causing concern for visitors’ safety. Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS), kickstarted the…
Read MoreNearly £1m in funding for extra rangers at nature hot spots this summer
Scotland’s nature hot spots will benefit from extra rangers this summer after receiving nearly £1million in funding. The NatureScot Better Places funding will go directly to 24 countryside, coast and island projects enabling an additional 62 staff to be employed. The extra ‘boots on the ground’ help manage visitor pressure in hotspots like Shetland, Glencoe,…
Read MoreNoss Nature Reserve reopened following avian flu outbreak
Noss National Nature Reserve has reopened to the public following the island’s closure last year due to avian flu. The Noss ferry has resumed service this season and NatureScot staff are looking forward to welcoming visitors back to the island, which is home to thousands of seabirds each summer. Last summer both Noss and the…
Read More‘National effort’ needed to save Scottish wildcat
A MAMMALS expert has warned that a “national effort” is needed in order to save the Scottish wildcat from extinction. Roo Campbell, the mammal adviser to government agency NatureScot, used the publication of a report to highlight the threat to the wildcat, which is critically endangered. The report draws together the findings from the Scottish…
Read MoreEndangered pearl mussels discovered in Scottish lochs
FRESHWATER pearl mussels have been found in two of Scotland’s lochs, according to researchers. Up until now, freshwater pearl mussels were thought to live only in Scotland’s rivers, but researchers – who used remotely-operated underwater drones and snorkelling equipment – discovered a small number of the crticially-endangered mussels in Sutherland and the Trossachs. The survey,…
Read MoreScots want ‘wilder’ national parks
A MAJORITY of Scots want our national parks to be “wilder”, according to a survey by the Scottish Rewilding Alliance. An opinion poll conducted by market research agency Survation found that 74% of Scots agreed with a call to make national parks wilder, while 6% were opposed to the idea. In February, NatureScot – the…
Read MoreScotland gives bees a helping hand
PROJECTS throughout Scotland are helping bees and other pollinators, according to a new report. The “Pollinator Strategy 2022 Progress Report” by NatureScot, the Scottish Government agency known previously as Scottish Natural Heritage, highlighted the work of organisations to create wildflower meadows, connect habitats, and gather evidence on how climate change is affecting pollinators. Projects highlighted…
Read MorePeatland 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,…
Read MoreBeavers 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…
Read MoreWildlife struggles as climate change bites
SCOTLAND’S wildlife is struggling to recover due to biodiversity loss and climate change, according to experts. Figures published this morning by NatureScot, the Scottish Government agency known previously as Scottish Natural Heritage, showed species are struggling to increase their numbers or to spread their locations. More than 2,800 species are stuck at 1990s’ levels, which…
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