Regenerating a beautiful Scottish estate

Mar Lodge Estate is nestled in Royal Deeside and provides the backdrop of this beautiful book. In 1995 the National Trust for Scotland took over the estate in a bid to improve and conserve its landscape. Painting, the assistant ecologist at Mar Lodge Estate, details the work that has occurred over the last 25 years…

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Delight as storm petrels confirmed breeding on isle

Storm petrels have been confirmed breeding on NatureScot’s Isle of May National Nature Reserve for the first time. NatureScot, the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) and the Isle of May Bird Observatory have suspected there may be a colony on the island since 2019, when storm petrels were first spotted displaying and calling.…

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Legal challenge to Govt’s beaver killing policy

A legal challenge by Trees for Life to the Scottish Government’s beaver killing policy will be heard by the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Thursday 3 June and Friday 4 June. Trees for Life says the Government’s nature agency NatureScot is breaking the law by failing to make the killing of the protected species…

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Europe’s first stoat detection dogs arrive in Orkney

Three specially trained conservation detection dogs are the most recent team members for a project to safeguard Orkney’s native wildlife. The trio will be using their sensitive noses to assist the world’s largest stoat eradication. The first stoat detection dogs in Europe have arrived in Orkney. They are the latest team members for a project…

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Keep your dog on the lead as lambing season begins

Several Scottish organisations have united in an urgent plea to dog owners across the country to keep their dogs under proper control around livestock. Lambing season is already well underway in Scotland, and most of the ewes we see now grazing the hills and fields are heavily pregnant at this time of year. Already farmers…

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Footpath funding to increase access

SOME of Scotland’s best-loved paths are being revamped with fresh funding to remove barriers and improve access for all. NatureScot, the Scottish Goverment agency known previously as Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), is funding almost £111,000 of improvements to the path network. The cash covers many of Scotland’s long-distance walks, such as the West Highland Way.…

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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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Helping nature: Scotland’s successes and challenges

A NEW report reveals what progress has been made towards tackling biodiversity loss in Scotland – and the challenges that lie ahead. NatureScot, the Scottish Government agency previously known as Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), has published its biodiversity duty report covering 2018 to 2020. The document details the work carried out to tackle the loss…

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Ten easy ways to help Scotland’s wildlife

HALF of Scots want to do more to help our native wildlife, according to new figures. NatureScot, formerly Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), carried out its research during the pandemic, when more people visited nature reserves and green spaces in cities. The Scottish Government agency has now come up with ten top tips to help Scots…

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