Scottish National Heritage - The Nature of Scotland SpringSummer2014Issue_19

7/25/2019 Scottish National Heritage - The Nature of Scotland SpringSummer2014Issue_19

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SOS PuffinTackling tree mallow

Cairngorms NatuHalting biodiversity loss

Hidden gemOn the Morvern peninsula

The Nature of ScotlandScottish Natural Heritage Spring / Summer 2014


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www.snh.gov.uk

Contents

4 49

26

Features10 Ideally placed Scotland's Youth

16 Cairngorms Nat Halting biodivers

26 Capturing the m Wildlife artist Jan

settles into Argy

30 Peatland reviva Habitat restorati

significant scale

49 Tiree Ranger Helping visitors

50 Hidden gem sp Biodiversity on t

peninsula

54 Protecting a pu Removing tree m

breeding seabird

60 Scotland's man Going for a walk

Scotland

Regulars2 Where we are SNH contact details

3 Welcome

4 Wild calendar Where to go and what to see

this spring and summer

20 Dualchas coitcheann/Common heritage

Linking language and environment

22 News

36 Reserve focus Discover Rum NNR

42 Area news Reports from around the country

64 Mailing list Change your details or subscribe

to our e-newsletter

16

10 50

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Scotlands nature blog

We have a variety of blogs for you to follow. Our Scotlands natwide range of subjects, and recent posts have featured the worlichens on Beinn Eighe, beavers in Tayside and the freshwater pcan find a link to this blog on the homepage of our website.


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Welcome

Ian RossChairmanScottish Natural Heritage

It could be said that in many respects we live in interesting timetime of opportunities. In taking over as chair of the SNH BoardI know that the natural heritage of Scotland is a tremendous asspotential to deliver a range of public benefits. Granted, we haveinnovative and creative in the way we manage them and that caWe must ensure our actions protect and enhance our precious but also show how it contributes to the well-being of the people

I would like to look at this from two perspectives. The first is like many of you, have been a volunteer, for example carrying ouworking with a youth group or sitting as a director on a social ewould like to see more young people reap the benefits from all twork.

When someone takes part in environmental volunteering thepractical and social skills, gaining a sense of achievement, self-and self-esteem. These are all qualities that can help them into employment. This type of volunteering also helps young peopleconnection with the natural world and sustain a life-long interesfirmly believe the hard work and commitment of environmental vcommunities, nature and landscape. And, of course, the economthrough the increased employability of volunteers and by reducihealth services and environmental projects.

The second perspective on how our natural heritage contrib

overall well-being is through a greater focus on our b uilt up areaof population. It is about promoting greater access to and use ocountryside and green space. Much of this comes from succeswith communities, local authorities and non-government organisinitiatives like the Central Scotland Green Network, delivering mcommunities in that area.

edits

ature of Scotlandagazine of Scottish Natural HeritageNumber 19 Spring / Summer 2014

hed twice per yearH 20141350 309X

: Jim Jeffrey738 458528

photo: Seilebost, Harrisgrapher: Lorne Gill/SNH

cover photo: Thriftcover photographer: Lorne Gill/SNH

me page photographer: Lorne Gill/SNH

graphy all images by Lorne Gill/ SNH other than John Paulgraphy p3 inset; David Whitaker p4 and p9 image two in strip; Lauriebell p6 image 2 in strip, p9 image four in strip, p14, p33; Dave Bevan/

epl.com p6 image 3 in strip; Laurie Campbell/SNH p9 image 3 in strip,ottom; Andy Rouse/2020VISION p12; Jacqui Dunbar p15; Marklin/2020VISION /CNPA p16, p18 left, and p19 (left and bottom); Sue

naturepl.com p20; Stuart Nicol Photography p22; Colin Hattersley/cotland p24 right; Becky Duncan/SNH p25; Mark Smith p29 top;Robson, p32 both; John MacPherson/ SNH p36; Chrisrsall/2020VISION p38; George Logan p39 top, p40 right, p41; Marklin p40 left, p46 centre; Catriona Frankitti/SNL p42 left; Valerie

n p42 centre, Groves Raines architects p42 right; The Green Teamft; Coille Alba p43 centre; Lewis Mackenzie/Hebrides FishNTripsft; Doug Bartholomew/SNH p44 right; Nick Gedge p45 left; Neilp45 centre; Pete Cairns/2020VISION p46 right; Sarah Phillips p48

oy McKeag p49; Greg McVean/Scottish Seabird Centre p54, p58;Hunt p56, 57, 59; Stuart Wallace p60; Rob Burns p61.

are your views about The Nature of Scotlandor suggest articles forissues please contact the editor:

Magazineby, Redgorton,PH1 3EW

[email protected]

ews expressed in this magazine do notsarily reflect those of SNH.

d by: J Thomson Colour Printers, Glasgow2k0414

youve finished with this magazine, please recycle it. Pass it toer reader or dispose of it at your local waste-collection point.

Where we are

You can contact SNH byletter, telephone or email.The following detailsshould enable you to findyour nearest main office,but bear in mind that wealso have a number ofoffices smaller than thoselisted.

A full list of our officesappears on the SNHwebsite: www.snh.gov.uk

Corporateheadquarters

Great Glen House,Leachkin Road,Inverness IV3 8NWTel. 01463 725 000Email: [email protected]

Other offices

Battleby, Redgorton,Perth PH1 3EWTel. 01738 444 177

Silvan House,3rd Floor East,231 Corstorphine Road,Edinburgh EH12 7ATTel. 0131 316 2600

Caspian House,Mariner Court,Clydebank Business Park,Clydebank G81 2NRTel. 0141 951 4488

Area offices

Argyll & Outer Hebrides32 Francis Street,Stornoway,Isle of Lewis HS1 2NDTel. 01851 705 258

ForthSilvan House,3rd Floor East,231 Corstorphine Road,Edinburgh EH12 7ATTel. 0131 316 2600

ForthThe Beta Centre,Innovation Park,University of Stirling,Stirling FK9 4NFTel. 01786 450 362

Northern Isles& North HighlandThe Links,Golspie Business Park,Golspie,Sutherland KW10 6UBTel. 01408 634 063

Northern Isles& North Highland

Ground Floor,Stewart Building,Alexandra Wharf,Lerwick,Shetland ZE1 0LLTel. 01595 693 345

South HighlandFodderty Way,Dingwall Business Park,Dingwall IV15 9XBTel. 01349 865 333

South HighlandTorlundy,Fort William,Inverness-shire PH33 6SWTel. 01397 704 716

Southern ScotlandGreystone Park,55/57 Moffat Road,Dumfries DG1 1NPTel. 01387 272 440

Strathclyde & AyrshireCaspian House,Mariner Court,Clydebank Business Park,Clydebank G81 2NRTel. 0141 951 4488

Tayside & GrampianBattleby, Redgorton,Perth PH1 3EW

Tel. 01738 444 177

Tayside & GrampianInverdee House,Baxter Street,Torry,Aberdeen AB11 9QATel. 01224 266 500

The Nature of Scotland

2014


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The Nature of Scotland www.snh.gov.uk

Listen:each week can sound different to the previous one now; each day brchanges in colour and scent. Birds are winging-in from far to the south to breothers depart for the farther north. Will the swallows have arrived before the have gone? Will the whitethroats see the primroses before they fade? Thosemyriad other pairings, are just part of the pleasures of spring.

Kenny Taylor gives some seasonal tips forsavouring Scottish wildlife and landscapes

Wild calendar

Cheers for the

churr muffitSpring and early summer are the besttimes to learn new bird songs andcalls, or refresh identification of someyou know already. Names derived fromsounds can fast-track recognition.

Cuckoo is a classic. But if youcouple such onomatopoeia (Scrabblebuffs, take note) with a bit of plumageor behaviour description in a name,theres a double ID boost.

Take whitethroat. This perky littlewarbler will be scratching out songsfrom gorse bushes and brambly thicketsacross lowland Scotland now. It doeswell around farms in the central belt, somany whitethroats breed close to themajority of people in the country.

Its English-language name givesan image of one distinctive aspect ofits plumage. Now think churr muffit.Thats one of the many Scots terms forwhitethroat. The first part describes the

churring, scolding call. The second isgloriously descriptive of the way it canpuff-out those white throat feathers.

Another excellent old Scots namedescriptive of that call is whishie, or forthe rambling song Blethering Tam.But churr muffit is a classic.

Web tip www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-id/whitethroat-lesser-whitethroat

Empressive,

or what?Think moth and youll most likelypicture a night scene. But there are alsomany day-flying moths, some of which,both as adults and caterpillars, areamongst the most spectacular insectsin the country.

As befits the grandeur of its name,the Emperor related to the silk mothsfarmed in Asia is one of these. Insummer, you might meet one of its hairycaterpillars on moorland large, anddecked-out in emerald green, blackhoops and yellow spots.

On a sunny spring day, theres abetter chance of seeing an adult malein flight over a moor or open g rassland.With forewings up to 32mm across(females are even bigger) this is animpressive creature, made all the moreattractive by circular eyespot patternson its wings.

A female Emperor isnt called an

Empress. But theres no doubting herpower to impressthe males. Keepinghidden in vegetation, she releasesscent from a gland on her abdomen.This pheromone is a potent lure formales, as many as 70 of which havebeen known to home-in on one female.

Web tip www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Britain%20-%20Saturnia%20pavonia.htm

Tom Tiddle

GroundArchitectural skills, dasexual energy, carefuamazing what can beaverage of five centimspined stickleback is question.

One of the most wthe country, you coulriver or loch or in pooSome even venture faspines towards the hlittle fishs back typone small are usualBut some in the Hebrspines.

Come spring, the stakes claim to a terriwater. Then he makessticking together bitsseaweed. He tries to lay eggs in the nest, udance and blush-red

in. Once shes laid heto do the same with ofemales.

After the fry hatchfather, guarding the ythey can swim off to epool or ocean for the

Web tip www.bbclife/Three-spined_st
http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Britain%20-%20Saturnia%20pavonia.htmhttp://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Britain%20-%20Saturnia%20pavonia.htmhttp://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Britain%20-%20Saturnia%20pavonia.htmhttp://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Britain%20-%20Saturnia%20pavonia.htmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Three-spined_sticklebackhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Three-spined_sticklebackhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Three-spined_sticklebackhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Three-spined_sticklebackhttp://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Britain%20-%20Saturnia%20pavonia.htm


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Spring

SummHave you ever stathrough a bright snight, watching aslate and never qufull darkness? As dwindle and owl cAs sounds of surfcalls mingle? As deastern sky with papricot beyond roor beach? If you hmaybe this is the If you have, youll you want to do it again.

ome other things to look for in spring:erry trees in blossom; the firstswallows; pondskatersback on pools; new leaveson

s, just opened.

Voleheart

Orkneys Stone Age internationally renownthe amazing structureNeolithic Orkney Woon Orkney mainland oother islands. But parlegacy is small, furry aseen: the Orkney vole

Visible signs of itsprevalent in the predabe lucky to see thereand hen harriers (scaplaces but thriving onof those.

Zoologists have lothe Orkney vole is odof common vole, widecontinental Europe, belse in Britain and Ireresearchers led by thAberdeen and Cornefound that some of thsettlers most likely brOrkney from Belgiumyears ago. Whats moa genetic ark from th

Further food for thmarvel at a burial cair

Web tip www.abdnews/4846/

Will the earth movefor you?

Aberfoyle, Callander, Comrie, Crieff:names to bring a smile of pleasureto anyone who loves the land andlife of those parts of Stirlingshireand Perthshire where lowland meetshighland. For all those villages sit on ornear one Scotlands defining geologicalfeatures the Highland Boundary Fault(HBF).

Formed hundreds of millions ofyears ago, when ancient continentscollided, many Highland mountains roseand the Central Lowlands sank, theHBF stands out on maps and satelliteimages. It runs from Arran in the west to

Stonehaven in the east, passing placessuch as the southern end of LochLomond and a bevy of villages onthe way.

Comrie sits bang on the faultline.Thats why its the earthquake capitalof Scotland, with records of majorshoogles over several centuries. Inthe late 1800s, the village was theepicentre of detailed scientific studiesof tremors. A purpose-built EarthquakeHouse was constructed for sensitiveequipment to record quakes. Nowrestored and fitted with modern devicesby the British Geological Survey, youcan visit and see if the force will be withyou.

Web tip www.strathearn.com/pl/earthquake.htm


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Some other things to look for in summer:Coastal cushionsof sea pinks; moorhenbroods on canals; hairy caterpillarso

deer barking.

h, Fingal, rock me

dsworth, Keats, Scott, Tennyson,er and Mendelssohn all raved aboutt they also did so much more.ugh their skills with words, musicpaint, they made Fingals Cave, ascooped hollow in the side of Staffa,of the worlds most famous caves.was an overture by Mendelssohn,ughly the same time as a newer painting, that propelled the caveo-celebrity. The German composerbled Fingals Cave on the scorehe name stuck. What had onceUamh Bhinn (Cave of Melody)

aelic was now linked in popularination to a superhero of Celtic.nd through these layers of fameantasy, the wonder is that bothals Cave and the wider island arerkable. Six-sided basalt columnsvolcanoes active at the birth of

Atlantic Ocean; wave music andes in the stony chamber; tame

ns and gorgeous black guillemot,st a few miles from Ionas saintedand the craggy west coast of Mull.ake a look this summer, and feelrt of nature.

Web tip www.southernhebrides./staffa.html

Faster than most

Hear their screaming calls as theyzoom over town buildings and you cantmistake the season. No other Scottishbreeding bird seems as hefted tosummer as the swift. Many dont arriveback from Africa until late May. Flocksform in June and early July. By lateAugust, most have gone.

You need to look up and be quickabout it to catch sight of swifts inaerobatic action. Screaming partiesof swifts in fast pursuit can add high-speed action to a summers evening,but come dusk, many birds rise higher and higher until lost from view.

Recent studies show that swifts canascend to 10,000 feet or more at night,where they may also sleep, adjustingposition through the night to cope withchanges in wind direction and strength.So swifts eat, sleep, preen and evenmate on the wing.

Swift numbers have plummetedacross Europe in recent decades, aconsequence, some reckon, of modernbuildings having fewer cavities a swiftcan use during those brief monthswhen it ventures north.

Web tip www.commonswift.org/swift_english.html

Stars and elf arrows

The stem is often the length of anadults index finger, pointing up frommoor or bog to the heavens. The yellowflowers are sunny yellow and shapedlike stars.

Bog asphodel makes beautifulsummer links between earth and sky,then continues through autumn andwinter, as stems and old flower headsfade to russet and buff. Its brightorange, pollen-bearing anthers wereonce used as a saffron substitute andto make a yellow hair dye.

But other associations are lessromantic. Some farmers used to blameit for brittle bone disease in sheep andcattle (hence ossifragum = bone-breaker in its species name). This wasa case of shooting the messenger,since bog asphodel can be a goodindicator of calcium-poor ground thereal cause of the problem.

The scientific jury is still out onwhat role or not it might play in asheep ailment called alveld (elf fire)in Norway, once said to be caused byelves shooting arrows at flocks duringthe light nights of summer. There aremore things in heaven and earth.

Web tip www.first-nature.com/flowers/narthecium_ossifragum.php


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Ideally placedThe Scottish Youth Hostel Association is 83 yearsold and continues to provide a perfect introductionto Scotlands natural heritage.


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Close up with an otter

Jan Robinson is the manager at LochOssian and has developed a keeninterest in her wildlife neighbours.However, surprises are still part of thelure of this magical location. As withmost places the wildlife around heretends to be shy and retiring and verysensitive to change or noise, explainedJan. A couple of years ago the railwayline was shut down briefly. One morningduring that spell I went out to emptythe bins and was treated to a wonderfulclose-up meeting with an otter. Ottersare notoriously tricky to spot and usuallyrequire huge amounts of patience tosee. I think it must have simply got awee bit bolder with the lack of comingsand goings.

We have a great variety of bird lifeon the loch. Probably the most dramaticis the black-throated diver which has awonderfully haunting call. We also havemergansers; they make me smile, asthey remind me of punks, and I enjoywatching them with their young. Fromthe bench outside the hostel with agood pair of binoculars you can glimpse

herons as well as goldeneyes, siskins,and tree creepers.

Most people who come herehope to see the iconic species like reddeer and golden eagle, Jan added.However, you do have to work atseeing them, and I suspect that headingoff the beaten track is the k ey tospotting them.

Im sometimes astonished by theefforts some folk make to reach thisfairly remote hostel; this winter we hadpeople turn up at the door on skis. Butwhilst its true that winter here can beachingly beautiful, we are busier in thesummer.

We generate our own energy froma wind turbine and solar panels, andwe have a sophisticated grey waterfiltration system that feeds out into thereed bed. The renewable energy systemmeans that sometimes you have to fityour activities to suit the weather but,hey, on a big windy day we can turneverything on!

Away from the wilderness of LochOssian and farther south, Oban YouthHostel is a great starting point fortaking a boat trip to spot porpoises,

can enjoy some oftlands favourite specieshabitats from the networkcottish youth hostelsed around the country. Withommodation to suit all tastes,e is something for everyone.editor of SYHAs Hostellerazine, Jane Mackie, selectsa few highlights.

Scottish Youth Hostels AssociationHA) was founded in 1931 and,ugh initially centred on Edinburghhe Borders, youth hostels werestarting up in other regions thatincluding Loch Ossian. Always ate hostel, Loch Ossian is today aionally-styled eco-hostel, set in thete wilderness of Rannoch Moor.ue to its wind and solar p ower andte location (one mile on foot fromour station), Loch Ossian givessight into the kind of hostellingyed by previous generations and isat place to enjoy a p eaceful breakst stunning scenery.

1Rowardennan YouthHostel on the shores ofLoch Lomond.

2The otter is one of ourmost intriguing wildlifestars.

3Dating back to the late1800s the Youth Hostelat Loch Ossian wasoriginally a waitingroom for a steamerthat took gueststoCorrour Lodge.

4The inviting interior ofLoch Ossian YouthHostel.


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dolphins, basking sharks, whales, seals,sea eagles, gannets, guillemots and ahost of other seabirds. Back in April2013, a sperm whale spent almost ninedays in Oban Bay, right outside theyouth hostel!

Islay is famous for having more than200 different species of birds, includingoystercatchers, gannets, terns, gulls,ducks, shags, and cormorants aroundthe coast and wild geese, lapwings,curlews, corncrakes and many otherbirds inland. Buzzards, hen harriers,golden eagles and other birds of preycan be spotted in the more remoteparts of Islay.

Heading up to the north-westof Scotland, Torridon Youth Hostelis ideally placed for those who lovemountain scenery and the challengeof bagging a few Munros. Wildlifeabounds too. There are otters along theloch and a resident pine marten whichvisits the youth hostel bird table.

National Parks, national treasures

Cairngorms National Park, with itspristine mountains and ancient forests,is of significant value worldwide andit houses over a quarter of Britainsthreatened species. We have three

youth hostels within the park Aviemore, Braemar and CairngormLodge which all provide good accessto spotting wildlife.

Guests may be rewarded withsightings of red squirrels, red deer,roe deer, ptarmigan and mountainhares. If you're lucky, there are alsoopportunities to see pine martens andospreys at Cairngorm Lodge.

Scotlands first National Park, LochLomond and the Trossachs is veryaccessible to the central belt and alsohome to Munros, Corbetts, large lochsand beautiful, unspoiled scenery. If youkeep your eyes peeled in spring andsummer you could spot some of Britainsmost special birds such as black grouseand osprey. Rowardennan Lodge YouthHostel on the banks of Loch Lomond orCrianlarich a little further north providean ideal base from which to explore allthe treasures in the Park.

For further information, please visitwww.syha.org.uk.

Leugh an artaigil seo sa Ghidhlig aigwww.snh.gov.uk/gaelic

SYHA Hostelling Scoup with SNH and NatScotland for a conseTorridon (28 Septem2014), which can be SYHA website.

5The heronry near LochOssian Youth Hostelhas captivated visitorsfor several years now.

6The view from IslayYouth Hostel ascaptured by JacquiDunbar on a recent trip.


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Cairngorms NatureThe Cairngorms National Park is a place for nature. It has more high-leground than anywhere else in Britait has the largest remnant of Caledsome of the UKs purest rivers andcovering 2% of our landmass it hosUKs threatened species.

Impressive statistics perhaps, but maintaininternational value of the Cairngorms (half designated within the Natura 2000 networ

task, and immediate action is still needed tbiodiversity loss that is taking place.

Cairngorms Nature is a new partnershiand organisations come together with onedesire to safeguard and enhance the outsin the Cairngorms National Park. Anyone cCairngorms Nature, they just need a passi

More than half of Scotlands remaining Caledonian forest exist in the National Parenjoyed a high profile in recent years with schemes such as the one at Glenfeshie. Lethe fact that the Park also holds Scotlandbog woodland, a European priority for conarguably the UK stronghold for aspen, withback hundreds of years.

Managing rivers

The numerous waters of the National Park cleanest in Scotland. As we have seen in rclimate change has a significant potential tflooding events, but if we can slow the flowcatchments we can cope with these presspeople as well as nature.

Schemes are under way in the Park to of upland water storage. One scheme at ACarrbridge has reconnected the river with in such a way that the river is doing its owestablish its natural equilibrium, rather thansolutions.

Across the Park in Glen Clova contour are being planted. These trees will improveallowing more water to be absorbed. In turrate of sediment moving downstream by hepeak flow by as much as 40% with strat

otlands largest National Park faces challenges to halt biodiversity loss.


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ven for waders

arge wetland and wet grassland areas in the Parkavens for wintering wildfowl and farmland waders.ever, there are still threats to the environment from aty of pressures, some of which have resulted in a drasticction in numbers of wader species in recent years.adenoch and Strathspey remains the most importantand area for breeding waders in the UK and the way inh farmers and crofters manage the land is a key factor inorting the rich nature value of the area. They are leading

way in an effort to create feeding sites for waders suchpwing and redshank.fter hundreds of years of decline, montane scrub is

mpoverished in the UK that many people dont evense it is missing. The National Park has some of the lastemaining, scattered, fragments; including the best andest example of a continuous treeline in Britain. In July3 landowners and managers of est ates in the northernngorms met to discuss the feasibility of restoringane scrub and natural treeline on a large scale. Therea very positive drive to take the project forwards,orted by a common desire to see landscape change.he high-altitude ground of the uplands provides some of

most exceptional and less obvious aspects of the Parksversity. There are extensive tracts of montane plant

munities including primitive organisms such as slimeds and rare lichens. The Park also has the highest tractsanket bog in the UK, however some 35% of designatednd features are in a less than favourable condition.

Restoring peatlands

The Green Stimulus Peatland Restoration Project (PeatlandAction) is a 15million Scottish Government initiative toreduce carbon released into the atmosphere by helpingto restore degraded peatlands. SNH and the CairngormsNational Park Authority have recruited a peatland restorationofficer specifically to work with landowners in the NationalPark.

The farmland and grassland habitats of the low groundof the Park have a history of low intensity management andhigh nature value farming. However, economic pressures canresult in more intensive practices which threaten a decline inbiodiversity. It is vital that farming systems in the Park remainwell managed and productive whilst continuing to improvebiodiversity.

The challenges to conservation and biodiversity thatthe Park faces are very real. In order to maintain this jewelof global significance it is essential that all parties cometogether so that we can leave a rich legacy for futuregenerations.

Cairngorms Nature is open to anyone with a commitmentto enhance and conserve the nature of the Cairngorms. TheCairngorms Nature Festival takes place on May 17 and 18and will be a weekend to inspire and engage people to take

an interest in the Park. For more information on how to getinvolved with Cairngorms Nature or for details of the Festivalplease visit www.cairngorms.co.uk

Article kindly supplied by Charlotte Millburn, Press Officer,Cairngorms National Park Authority.

1Loch Avon is one of themost remote lochs inthe CairngormsNational Park.

2Twinflower, a small anddelicate native flower.

3Juniper and Scots pineare evident in thismontane scrub onCreag Fhiaclach, whichhas the highesttreeline in Scotland.

4The lapwing can looksimply black and white

from a distance, butclose-up shades ofgreen are clearlyvisible.

5Famland and forestryin Upper Deeside.

6The capercaillie isfound in Scottishnative pinewoods, oneof the rarest and mostvulnerable habitats.

2 3 4


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ualchas coitcheannommon heritage

Toradh Mr a Chladaich

Tha rann traidiseanta ann a tha ag innse dhuinn c iad nafeamainn as fherr a ghabhas ithe, agus cuin

Cairgein earraich, duileasg samhraidh,Gruaigean foghair, stamh geamhraidh

Tha a chiad dh dhiubh sin cho ainmeil am measg nanGidheal s gun deach an ainmean a thoirt a-steach donBheurla. Tha an cairgein a gabhail ainm bho na carraigeanair am bi e a fs gu h-osal air a chladach-fheamainn.Thathar dhen bheachd gur ann bho Ghidhlig na h-ireann,seach Gidhlig na h-Alba, a dhirich carrageenann am

Beurla.Bidh na Gidheil Albannach fhathast ga ithe agus, ged

a tha an rann a moladh an earraich, s ann sa Chitean asfherr a tha e, nuair a tha na beothamain ann aig an re asirde. Bithear ga bhuain aig sle-mhara an reothairt agus gafhgail a-muigh air blr-gealachaidh far am bi e a dol geal lesolas na grine. Thathar ag rdh gur e blr seamraig an t-iteas fherr oir togaidh an cairgein mlseachd nan lusan. Agus,gu traidiseanta, bu chir leigeil leis an t-uisge a fhrasadh trtursan.

Faodar an cairgein a stradh ann an ite tioram airsonmhosan. Tha e math airson cl (stiubha), mlsean is silidhmheasan a thiughachadh agus bhathar ga thoirt gu tric dodhaoine a bha a fulang le tinneas na stamaig.

Bhiodh na Gidheil cuideachd a gabhail mthair-an-duilisg mar ainm brdail air a chairgein, ga cheangal rifeamainn eile a th air ithe gu mr an duileasg. Tha ant-ainm sin a tighinn bho duille-uisgeagus tha e air a dhola-steach don Bheurla mar dulse. Bhiodh daoine ga ithe amhnuair a bhiodh iad ag obair air a chladach (agus tha prtain,geir agus Beothaman A gu ler ann as t-samhradh, nuair asfherr a tha e, a rir an rainn), ach s ann mar cl duilisgasbitheanta a ghabhte e, agus tha cuid de dhaoine gu mathmeasail air cl duilisg fhathast.

Thathar ag rdh gu bheil e for mhath don t-slinte aguschlir Mrtainn MacIlleMhrtainn gun robh eileanaich gachleachdadh aig toiseach an ochdamh linn deug airsonfeabhas a thoirt air feadhainn a bha a fulang le fiabhras.Agus tha abairt ann bheir cl duilisg is cl deanntaigsnuadh air gruaidh mar mhadainn shamhraidh.

Tha an rann a moladh gruaigeanas t-fhoghar. S e sinainm eile air mirceanno muirinean feamainn a tha a fsair an trigh-sholag agus a ghabhas ithe amh no air achcaireachd. Agus stamhsa gheamhradh bheir sinn silair an fheamainn sin a-rithist uaireigin s an ine romhainn.

Ruairidh MacIlleathain guides us through the delights of seaweedhow this resource has been incredibly useful to Scottish coastal cfor centuries. Two varieties even have English names which origina

The bountiful se

There is a traditional Gtells us the finest natito eat, and when theybest. In translated forcarrageen, summer dbadderlocks, winter t

The first two are samong the Gaels thawere adopted by EngCarrageengets its nathe rocks carraigeawhich it grows on thethe shore. Its thoughcame from Irish GaelScottish.

But the Gaels of Svery partial to it. Tradit is best to bleach it clover lawn and to allon three times. Oncefor months and can bthickening or setting puddings and fruit jel

Carrageen is poetmthair-an-duilisg,thdulse, linking it to anois still widely eaten. Tduileasg, originally duleaf, gave us the Engcommonly eaten raw the shore and it is nutquantities of protein, but its most commonScotland as cl duilissoup. Another sayingdulse soup and nettle

wonderful complexionThe rhyme praisesseaweeds badderloand sea tangle (Lamiwinter. Well look at tcolumn.

ualchas mreangailte ris nainn ann anlig, agus tha guhiubh air anhdadh le daoineast, gu h-raidhhiadh agusan talamhnadh.

is a strongon of seaweedin the maritime

of Gaelicnd, particularlyd and fertilizer, toesent day.


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NEWS

Tagging n tracking

The use of tracking devices to find out more about ournatural heritage is an increasingly popular and imp ortantapproach. Here in Scotland two recent projects look setto further improve our knowledge of species that wouldotherwise be extremely tricky to monitor.

A tiny tracker, weighing less than a paperclip, hasrevealed that the red-necked phalarope (which in the UK isfound only in Shetland and the Western Isles) can travel anastonishing 16,000 miles during its migration.

In 2012 the RSPB and Shetland Ringing Group fittedtiny geolocators to ten of the birds in Fetlar, Shetland, withthe aim of finding out where they went in winter.

The data gathered recorded a truly epic trip that tookin crossing the Atlantic, heading south down the easternseaboard of the United States, journeying across theCaribbean, before ending up off the coast of Peru. Afterwintering in the Pacific, the little bird (which weighs no morethan a golf ball) returned to Fetlar, following a similar route.

The outward journey for the phalarope is even moreadmirable when you consider that it heads into the prevailingweather when travelling towards North America.

Rum rat

Meanwhile, in a pioneering project on Rum a female rat wasfitted with a rat global positioning system (GPS) to track itsmovements.

The beautiful Rum National Nature Reserve is managedby Scottish Natural Heritage and is home to around a quarterof the world's breeding population of Manx shearwaters.They are a migratory marvel, sometimes reaching the seasaround the Falkland Islands before returning to Rum by wayof the African coast, a round trip of staggering proportions.

However, in recent history brown rats have been sightedat the shearwater colony and they could have an adverseeffect on the population.

Understanding rat behaviour is vital to assessing theirlikely impacts on Manx shearwaters and other species, asLesley Watt, the SNH Rum reserve officer, explained, Ratsare thought to be responsible for numerous global s eabirdpopulation declines through predation on eggs, chicks and

adult birds, though historically they have not been thought tohave an impact on the Rum shearwater colony.But we are concerned that rat numbers and predation

may increase in the future. So we need to know more aboutthe ecology of the rats to inform our future managementpolicy for this globally important Manx shearwater breedingsite.

We are all intrigued about what we'll find out when ourroaming rat data is analysed and we view the results.

Scots pine voted the nations favourite tree

In our last issue we carried news that a three-month consultation was underway to find out if the publicin Scotland would like a national tree, and if so which species. Well, the votes are now in and theScots pine has been voted Scotlands favourite native tree.

The survey was carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland, and opened online last October,attracting 4,500 responses.

The Scots pine was the clear favourite, with over 52% (2,374) of all responses opting for thisspecies. The second favourite tree was the rowan, which received 15%, and in third place came theholly with 7%. Seen as evocative of Scotlands landscape, the Scots pine is an important p rovider ofhabitat for species such as the Scottish crossbill, pine marten and capercaillie.

Declaring the Scots pine as the national tree of Scotland during a Members Debate in the ScottishParliament, Environment and Climate Change Minister, Paul Wheelhouse, said: Scotlands trees,forests and woodlands are some of our greatest and most treasured natural assets. We are rightlyproud of them because they help shape our landscape and make Scotland the fantastic country that it

is.The Scots pine was an obvious choice and certainly the peoples choice. Its designation of being

the national tree of Scotland will help create an iconic symbol to highlight the significant contributiontrees make to our country.

The idea of a national tree of Scotland came from Alex Hamilton, a member of the public whobrought his campaign to the Scottish Parliament through a petition and received cross-party supportfrom MSPs.

Forestry Commission Scotland is now developing a range of activities to help promote the nationaltree of Scotland across the country.

New cycle path forthe Trossachs

Loch Lomond and the TrossachsNational Park (LLTNP) will soon benefitfrom 750,000 of funding towardsa new cycle path from Strathyre toKingshouse. Sustrans Scotland willwork in partnership with LLTNP andForestry Commission Scotland toconstruct the 3.5km cycle path.

Transport Minister Keith Brown(pictured above centre, with FionaLogan of LLTNP and John Lauder ofSustrans Scotland) said The ScottishGovernment is committed to investingin cycling infrastructure, training androad safety projects through activepartnerships with charities such asSustrans to make Scotland a moreactive and healthy nation and increasethe numbers of people choosing tocycle each day.

Sustrans Scotland considers thatthe new off-road route will prove apopular draw for locals and touristsalike. Its a significant economic

investment for the area and will providelocal people with a safe cyclinglink between the villages and localbusinesses whilst also providing saferecreational facilities.

You can find out more on theSustrans website at www.sustrans.org.uk/news


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NEWS

John Muir Way new coast-to-coast route.

Homecoming Scotland 2014 the year when Scotlandwelcomes the world!

This special year provides plenty of opportunity to celebratethe very best of Scotland's wildlife and landscapes,encouraging you to get active, enjoy our fantastic naturallarder, as well as our creativity, culture and ancestralheritage.

One of the highlights of the year so far was the JohnMuir Festival in April celebrating the life and legacy of theScots-born naturalist who is widely acknowledged as thefounding father of the National Park movement.

Muir was a conservation visionary who lived most ofhis life in North America. But did you know that he was aScot and that it was in Scotland that he first fell in love withnature? His legacy will now be permanently marked herewith the opening of the John Muir Way on 21 April this year(see page 25 for more details).

In addition to the John Muir Festival, there are lots

of other events and activities featuring our wildlife andlandscapes during this year of Homecoming Scotland 2014.Make this your year to enjoy our stunning flora and fauna andget along to one of the many festivals around the country,showcasing wildlife through nature trails, boat trips and agreat range of events for all ages. Why not visit one of ourfantastic national parks or national nature reserves and seesome of Scotlands natural stars - red squirrels, red deer,some of the largest and most important seabird colonies inthe world and so much more.

Find out more about Homecoming Scotland 2014 eventsat www.homecomingscotland.com. For more informationabout our national parks and national nature reservesvisit http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/ , http://cairngorms.co.uk/ or www.nnr-scotland.org.ukor visitwww.snh.gov.uk.

Field Studies Council

Many of us have been inspired bynature through visiting outdoor centreswith school, college or universitygroups. The Field Studies Council(FSC) has two centres in Scotland Kindrogan and the newly acquiredMillport and there is a f air chance thatsome of you will have passed throughthe doors of these buildings.

The FSC has other centres inEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland,and no doubt Dale Fort, Orielton,Blencathra, Flatford Mill and MalhamTarn bring back fond memories ofstudying outside and fighting theelements.

In July, Professor Des Thompson,SNHs Principal Adviser on Biodiversity,becomes chairman of the FSC. I viewthis as a great chance to build on earliersuccesses in the FSC and for outdoorlearning more widely, explained Des.Recently, the FSC led the publicationof an exciting and challenging blueprintReaching Into the Outside, launched at

the House of Commons. This sets outten ambitious opportunities for doing farmore to broaden the benefits of outdoorlearning.

The Field Studies Council is keen tohear your ideas and you can participatethrough its website at http://www.field-studies-council.org

The John Muir Way stretches 134 miles, or 215 km, across Scotlands heartland, and runs between

Helensburgh in the west through to Muirs birthplace of Dunbar on the east coast.It would take you around seven to ten d ays to walk from end to end, and about half that by bike. But

the Way is designed in such a way as to make bite-size chunks extremely attractive.The John Muir Way was the vision of Keith Geddes, the Central Scotland Green Network (CSG N)

Chairman. He proposed the extension of the original John Muir Way in East Lothian westwards acrossCSGN to Helensburgh, forming a coast-to-coast route.

This new path symbolically links John Muirs birthplace with Loch Lomond and the TrossachsNational Park Scotlands first National Park. J ohn Muir is often referred to as the father of nationalparks, so nothing could be more app ropriate.

SNH led the route d evelopment, working with CSGN, nine local authorities, the National Park,Sustrans, Scottish Canals, Historic Scotland, the Forestry Commission and various landowners.

The aim was to create an accessible, popular route linking together the finest landscapes,countryside and places of interest for residents and visitors. It's a flagship project which demonstratesthe benefits of CSG N partnership working. With only a short timescale for development (2010 to2014) its testimony to everyones hard work that it opened to coincide with Homecoming Scotlandand the Commonwealth Games. Moreover it links several core paths with other p romoted paths androutes.

Partners hope that the route will encourage many people to become more active, improving theirhealth and wellbeing, enjoyment of nature, and also raising their awareness of John Muir.

This new route, combined with Scotland's recognition of his achievements on April 21 each year,gives opportunities to develop a growing recognition of Muir in his homeland and remind ourselves thathis inspirational work is even more relevant today than it was during his lifetime.

In addition to the opening of the new route, Scotlands National Parks, with SNH and otherpartners, have come together to host The John Muir Conference 2014that will explore ourapproaches to managing protected areas and National Parks and ask Are they delivering for our 21st

century society?. The conference, in Perth Concert Hall on 12 and 13 May, includes study tours to arange of conservation and visitor management projects in Scotland. Full det ails of the conference atwww.johnmuir100.com .

You can find out all about the John Muir Way including detailed maps on the John Muir Waywebsite athttp://johnmuirway.org/ . And why not visit the John Muir facebook page?


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Capturing the magic of Argyll When she was in her twenties,Jane Smith, after graduating fromManchester University, found thather career as a natural historyfilm maker for the BBC andNational Geographictook heron stunning assignments aroundthe world. She could be filmingsnowy owls on the tundra thenliving with penguins in the SouthAtlantic.

Now living in Argyll on the west coastof Scotland, home since 1997, Janehas found not only a new source ofinspiration and wonder but also adifferent way of seeing and expressingher love of the natural world.

When Jane and her husband,

A well-travelled wildlifeartist, and award-winning film-maker,Jane Smith findsthat Argyll has sightsand sounds everybit as memorable asanywhere else in theworld.

wildlife film-maker Mark Smith, wantedto find somewhere to call home andraise a family, they werent sure ifanywhere in Britain could comparewith some of the amazing locationsthey had seen on their travels. Theytoured the length and breadth of thecountry in a campervan, and just as itseemed their search was in vain theyreached Argyll and instantly knew theyhad found somewhere special, a partof Scotland that seemed so unusuallyrich in hilltops, coastline, woodland andislands.

Inspired by nature

For Jane this would not only be achange in lifestyle but also, in 2000when her first child was born, a changeof career. Polar bears and small

children are not very cnoted, so I started tepainting and print-mamy new home of ArgyThe more I looked, thlearned where ospreysea trout jump, wherein winter and corncra

Her passion for aand when internet blopopular she found shplatform very effectivestorytelling and artwohistory. By 2005 she the Royal Botanic Gawith work she createdproject jointly createdForestry CommissionSociety of Wildlife Ar2012 Jane was electeof the SWLA, with wh

1Kittiwake dispute isone of Janes earlierworks and capturesthe drama and agilitywe associate withmany coastal birds.

2A classic Hebrideanlandscape showingmachair, geese and thedistinctive white sands.


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bited annually for the last six yearse Mall Galleries, London.The captivating allure of Argyll andslands is deeply felt not only by they artists that have grown up therelso by those, like Jane, who haved themselves instantly at home in aof Scotland quite unlike any other.There are several thriving artistsctives, studio trails and gallerieseflect just how much, and in how

y ways, artists draw upon Argyllsscape, heritage and wildlife.Its only by interacting with wildlifewe start to care about it, she says.

When we stand outside on a frostynight and listen to the stags roaring andthe tawny owls hooting to each otheracross the loch, its every bit as excitingas the Serengeti.

Encounters with wildlife

This almost tactile relationship withthe world around her means all Janespictures start with a field sketch, toconvey the excitement of an encounterwith a wild animal or bird. I find that asI sit outside, drawing quietly, the life ofthe wood or meadow carries on around

3The shy, secretive,corncrake is seldomseen, but often heard.Its distinctive, raspingcall evoking memoriesof a more rural past.

4Jane at work in theArgyll countryside.

5Six-spot burnet mothsare attractive,day-flying moths thatare often mistaken forbutterflies.

me, she explained. I see far more thanif I was moving through. I draw thesmall things that pass b y, marsh fritillarybutterflies, marmalade hoverflies,beautiful demoiselle damselflies abovethe burn and gall wasps in the oaks.

Of course, as well as its oakwoods,burns and lochs, Argyll has seeminglyendless coastal and island habitats toexplore. Since 2011 Jane has beenworking with the RSPB on the islandof Oronsay. In 2012 she exhibited atGlasgows Kelvingrove Art Gallery andMuseum with 'Sea art in a d ifferentway, in which she teamed up with fiveother artists to capture interpretationsof the Future of the Atlantic MarineEnvironment (FAME) project, led byRSPB, and funded by the EuropeanCommission

In her early years as a naturalhistory film maker Jane worked in and

grew to love parts of the world thatmany, if not most, of us will neverexperience at first hand. However, asshe says, finding your own wildlife backhome is every bit as exciting and aprivilege to be treasured.

You can read more about Janesexperiences on Oronsay and seemore examples of her work at www.janesmithwildlifeart.blogspot.com

Further reading

Aig an Oir Society of Wildlife Artistsat http://swla.co.uk/wp-swla/past-projects

Future of the Atlantic MarineEnvironment (FAME) at www.fameproject.ev/en

Leugh an artaigil seo sa Ghidhlig aigwww.snh.gov.uk/gaelic

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ttishPower Renewables has approached new

dfarm developments with an aim to minimiseificant environmental effects through sensitivegn and habitat restoration.

01 ScottishPower Renewables pioneered the first large-e Habitat Management Plan (HMP) within the industryeinn an Tuirc windfarm in Argyll. The area covered 1670ares of upland heath and blanket bog. By early 2014 thebined total of land covered by our HMPs stood at 8200ares spread across 16 sites, primarily in upland areas.

eatland revivalndfarms continue to provokebate among environmentalists,t the opportunities for habitatstoration on a significantale are undeniable, as Peterbson, Senior Ecologist withottishPower Renewables,plains.

Upland Scotland comprises a rich mosaic of grassland,heathland, woodland and bog habitats. Many areas aresubject to high rainfall and cool annual average temperatureswhich lend themselves to the formation of peat.

The uplands are also where the wind resource isgreatest, which has led to many windfarms being locatedin these same areas. Given the environmental sensitivitiesof these landscapes many windfarms are co-located incommercial forestry, particularly those areas which haveperformed poorly in their intended function of producingquality timber.

Of the land covered by HMPs in upland areas,

approximately 50% comprises former commercial forestryon peatland. While techniques for restoring open moorpeatlands are relatively well understood, there are fewexamples of peatland restoration from commercial forestry.

Researching afforested peatlands

This led ScottishPower Renewables to implement researchto understand how forested peatlands work at a functionallevel, and to undertake experiments to investigate newrestoration techniques.

Much of this work was undertaken at Black Law (central

belt) and Whitelee (west Scotland) windfahave two of the largest and most ambitiouwindfarm industry. They aim to deliver specspecies, such as breeding waders, raptorsScottishPower Renewables has taken an arecognises that, for species to benefit, thewith creating quality habitats.

Where peatlands are involved, the undhow these heavily degraded systems havefundamental. The process of planting foresduring early afforestation attempts involvedto create elevated ridges into which trees w


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44ws connected to a drain network.his method has implications for the land afterwards.urrows create localised drawdown of the water t able

affect surface water movement. Moreover, the elevateds cause approximately 40% of the surface area to bed above the original ground level. As trees grow thece of the peatland is compressed by the weight of theand shaded by branches becoming denser.

fter felling, despite light being able to reach the surfaceagain, the legacy of drains and furrows persist.

ts more, there is potential for erosion to occur on bare,sed peat by a combination of frost, wind and waterff.

d for intervention

eight years of monitoring has been undertaken at Blackwindfarm to investigate whether blanket bog wouldre post-felling without further intervention. Although are localised circumstances where this could occur,

majority of deforested blanket bog requires specialagement to achieve restoration.

further driver to intervene has been the spread ofer trees regenerating from seed on many sites, whichoccur at high densities where surface conditions remain

fter early trials to investigate traditional restorationods of ditch-blocking proved unsuccessful, a moreic approach was considered necessary. A method washt to remedy both the dry surface conditions and theasing problem of coniferous regeneration.n area of land at Whitelee windfarm was identified as antest site, and after pilot studies to test various ideas in

0 one method emerged as a promising candidate.

Dramatic improvements

The technique involves un-ploughing the ground b y removingtree stumps and spreading forestry residues in a particularway that, together with tracking by special low groundpressure machinery, results in a flattened surface withprotection from erosion. Monitoring has revealed that thisprocess dramatically raises water levels closer to the peatsurface and early indicators of vegetation growth showthat specialist bog plants (such as sphagnum mosses) areincreasing at a surprisingly rapid rate.

The aim, once the correct conditions for restoration areachieved, is that the various flora and fauna which occupythese habitats will show a similar improvement and thereforeachieve the wider HMP aims.

Building on the 2010 success, a larger-scale 10 hectaretrial was implemented in 2013. This aimed to investigatepotential environmental side effects of water quality, runoffrates, and erosion which could occur using this technique.Early results are promising and ScottishPower Renewablesare cautiously expanding the roll-out of this method, witha few tweaks, to a larger scale in 2014 with a view to

developing the knowledge to a level where it can be safelydeployed at other appropriate sites.It has been a lengthy process to improve our

understanding of peatland restoration, and we have hadmany supportive meetings with the relevant stakeholdersinvolved in delivering these HMPs, including S NH, ForestryCommission, RSPB and various local authorities.

However, this work has potential to support a much widerknowledge base than just windfarms, and ScottishPowerRenewables, who funded peatland researchers StrathCaulaidh to scope, design and deliver the 10-year workprogram, aim to have the work published in a format which isaccessible to all practitioners in this area.

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n exciting way to encourageg people to take an interest inlands natural habitats and wildlife.competition is divided into twogroups, 11-14 and 15-18 andategories are My Environment,

dlife & Habitats and Naturesds. The winning photographs formring exhibition which visits galleriesmuseums across Scotland.

4s competition is now underway.ne interested in entering needs to

Snap to it!

be in secondary education in Scotlandand the closing date for entries isMonday 6 October 2014. Please bearin mind that all photographs submittedmust be taken in Scotland.

Back in early 1995, which wasEuropean Nature Conservation Year(ENCY), Chevron had just completed amajor conservation project in Aberdeenand was looking to develop a newenvironmental project. One of the focusareas of ENCY was environmentaleducation for Europes school children,

cus Environment is an environmental photographicmpetition for secondary school pupils throughoutotland. The competition encourages young peopleween the ages of 11 and 18 to demonstrate theirareness of the natural world around them.

2

and it seemed that developing aschools project would fit very well withthe greater European aim.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)had been designated the manager forENCY efforts in Scotland, so Chevronreached out to SNH to explore id eas.At the same time, Conservation Trustfor Volunteers (TCV) was also keen todevelop a schools project, so the threeparties got together to exchange ideas;the result was Focus Environment.

Real talent emerges

Focus Environment was launched inspring 1995, with competition packssent to every secondary school inScotland. That year, the response wasrelatively modest, compared to the2000 plus entries received in 2013,but it was evident that there wassome real talent in Scotlands schoolsthat deserved recognition across thecountry.

The initial concept had just been

to run a competition but now theorganisers put together an awardsevent and a travelling exhibition toshowcase the work of the nationstalented young photographers. Thatopening awards event was held inthe National Museum of Scotland inEdinburgh in November 1995, with theexhibition taking pride of place in themuseums main concourse, and youngpeople from all over Scotland comingwith their families to celebrate theirachievements.

Gathering momentum

Since then, the event has gainedmomentum, with growing numbers ofentrants, showcasing both the sheerbeauty of Scotlands landscape, floraand fauna and the talent of many youngpeople to audiences across the country.The photo exhibition travels throughoutthe year, in venues such as DynamicEarth in Edinburgh, the InvernessMuseum and Art Gallery, the Falkirk

Wheel and the Shetland Museum.Today, Focus Environment is

a partnership between Chevron,the Scottish Wildlife Trust andTCV Scotland, continuing to bringtogether business and conservationorganisations in an event that promotesenvironment, education and the arts.It isnt just confined to Scotland eitherwith similar competitions being held inNorway and Australia.

Further information

You can read all about the FocusEnvironment project at http://www.focusenvironment.com/index.asp and if you would like to see the touringexhibition the timetable (right) showswhere and when the exhibition will benear you.

FOCUS ExhibitionTouring Schedule for

Venue Dates

Fraserburgh Lightho6 - 29 May

Inverness Museum3 - 27 June

Falls of Clyde, New HeritageSite1 - 31

Shetland Museum &5 August - 2 Septem

Scottish Parliament,September dates TB

Falkirk Wheel1 - 31 October

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The big Small Islem is the largest of the island quartet known as the Small Isles. More mountainousn neighbouring Eigg, Muck and Canna, its jagged outline is famous on Scotlandsstern seaboard.

Rum National Nature Reserveis one of Britains largest atover 100 square kilometres.Its landscape and wildlife havemade it internationally well-known and it is undoubtedly oneof the most spectacular naturereserves in Scotland.

For many it is a fascinating bird thatis the biggest natural draw on Rum.The Manx shearwater is the islandsmost common bird and the colony herecan number upwards of 60,000. Itsreputedly Britains longest-lived birdwith records of birds living for over 5 0years. What makes them even moreremarkable is that they are a migratorymarvel. They arent resident all yearround on Rum and return to the island

each spring from the South Atlantic tobreed in burrows on the Rum Cuillin.Thus between spending spring andsummer in the northern hemisphere,and autumn and winter off the coastof South America, they clock up anastonishing 13,000 mile migration.

One bird that is resident on Rumthroughout the year is the magnificentsea eagle, which is the fourth-largesteagle in the world and is S cotland'slargest bird of prey. Its wingspan animpressive two and a half metres ishard to mistake. The coastal areas andmountain tops are ideal places to seekout a glimpse of a bird that began itsreintroduction to Scotland back in 1975on Rum.

Equally at home on Rum are reddeer. For several decades studies ofthis popular Scottish species have

taken place each yeaenabled a comprehenanimals behaviour toMany of us who may to Rum will have watcAutumnwatchprogramajestic animals in g

Finally, it isnt just brings visitors to Ruma rich social and econKinloch Castle is a rea bygone era. The ca1897 for Sir George Lancastrian industrialit began to decline afOne when the Bullouand less frequently, athe family trustees sothe castle to the NatuCouncil.


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1The scenery of Rumdraws visitors fromnear and far.

2The otter is one of thespecies resident in andaround Loch Scresort.

3Tumbling waterfalls onKinloch River.

4Red deer are anextremely populartourist attraction onRum.

2 3

visitors will most likely arrive onby ferry. The ferry enters Lochsort and moors on the southof the loch. The loch is home tos, and grey and common seals areent too. You can try and s potfrom a nearby otter hide just ainute walk from the pier.ollow the track from the piernd the bay, sticking to the lowerwhich hugs the shoreline, whereducks and oystercatchers are

mon and you may see greenshank.walk heads into the village itselfe you will find a crossroads and a

post for Harris and Kilmory.

Follow the initial stages of a clear trackthat is the easiest way to reach eitherKilmory or Harris from the village ofKinloch on foot.

The route hugs a pine wood andfollows the south side of the KinlochRiver which has both brown and seatrout. Herons can often be spottedhunting here. On sunny days this canbe a good spot to see butterflies, andsmall pearl-bordered fritillary and greenhairstreak are about in early summer.Common lizards and tiger beetles arealso regularly seen on this track.

Just beyond the trees, whereprimroses abound in spring, you willreach a fork on the track. Stay to theleft and note that the river bends awayfrom you. You may see bobbing dippershere, look for a distinctive white bibwhich contrasts with a dark head andbody.

The walk progresses fairly steeply to alarge deer fence where you pass througha small swing gate to the side.

Rum is something of a strongholdfor red deer. They can be one of thehighlights of a visit to Rum and are oftenspotted in this glen. This iconic animalis Britains largest land-based mammaland is arguably most visible when itsrich red coat stands out against a wintrybackdrop. Autumn, however, brings therut, and roaring stags can fill the glenswith what is one of Scotlands mostexciting natural sounds.

walk we suggest here is the 8kmch Glen Trail. Although this walk iswell-defined track you should bee that you are heading into remotetryside and carry appropriate

wear and waterproofs.


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Essential

informationAn NNR since April 1957, Rum NationalNature Reserve is famed for red deer,Manx shearwater, Highland ponies,eagles and above all stunning scenery.Rum is part of the group of islandsknown as the Small Isles and togetherwith Canna, Muck and Eigg lies southof Skye and west of Morar. CaledonianMacBrayne have a regular ferry serviceto Rum from Mallaig, but a numberof small firms also provide a serviceincluding the MV Sheerwater SmallIsles ferry from Arisaig (summer only).

OS maps

Explorer 397(Rum, Eigg, Muck, Canna & Sanday)Landranger 39(Rum, Eigg, Muck & Canna)

Trails

There are several trails to enjoy on Rum.Our featured walk explores KinlochGlen, but you may enjoy the Otter Hideor North Side walks. These waymarkedtrails make it easy to explore Rum on ashort visit.

A mere 10-minute walk from thepier lies the Otter Hide path. From thepier walk beyond the boatsheds and

5

rack slopes uphill and passes ae of rusting machinery on the ridgee left. This was the stone crusherby George Bulloughs men to

e surfacing materials for the tracksarris and Kilmory.ou are now out in open hills and

an of the skyline often gives viewsaring golden eagles. Last yeartted a golden eagle chick with alite tag and it was regularly spottedng in this glen.cotland is home to almost all of

440 or so pairs of golden eaglesattempt to breed in Britain.ification can be a challenge forrs. Look for fairly rectangulared wings held in a shallow Ve.y contrast, buzzards have shorter, rounded wings and tend to soarthem held level to the body. Theeagle also holds its wings fairlywhen soaring, and has a wedge-ed tail.

The path next arrives at a stone bridg ewhere you can see the Kinloch Glenwaterfall and a view of Mullach Mor(the translation of which means thebig eminence). There is also a viewof relatively young woodland where insummer blackcaps and willow warblerstake advantage of the many insectspresent.

The ground around here can beboggy off the track and you might spotthe delicate yellow flowers of tormentiland bog asphodel or the tiny blueflowers of the common milkwort.

Small birds such as meadow pipit,wheatear, stonechat and skylark mayalso be around, the latter perhaps beingheard before you spot it.

left onto a path that passes a seatingarea then heads into the woods and

the ruins of an old village. The pathcontinues straight to the otter hide.From the hide, otters, minke whales andseals can sometimes be seen, as can arange of birds including oystercatcher,red-throated diver, red-breastedmerganser, and gannet.

The North Side trail is approximately2 miles long and you should allowone hour to complete this walk. Turnright just before the small bridge overKinloch Burn and follow the yelloweagle trail markers. An early highlightof this walk is seeing Highland poniesin the village fields during the stalkingseason. The walk although not highdoes reach a point where good viewsof the peak of Hallival are visible.

Terrain

The walks are mostly on firm levelsurfaces but the ground conditionscan vary along the way and after heavy

rainfall can be boggy. You shouldconsider wearing at very least goodwalking shoes or boots and carrywaterproof clothing as the area is notedfor its high rainfall.

Scottish Outdoor

Access Code

Please follow the Scottish Outdoor

6

Access Code and locthe reserve. Please ke

under close control oat sensitive times sucbird breeding seasonand comply with any A short lead is taken tand under close conthe dog is able to rescommands and kept

Nearby attractio

Kinloch Castle is a timof Edwardian extravauntouched by the pasGuided tours of the faprincipal wing of Kinloplace daily. To allow gfor the day an opporttour these are timed tthe Caledonian MacBMallaig and the MV SArisaig.

Further informa

You can contact SNH462026. You can alsleaflet about the resepublications section website www.nnr-scorum.Find out more ahttp://www.isleofrum

At this point you have a choice. Visitorswho are planning to return to themainland by ferry should retrace theirsteps, but those with a few d ays on theisland are now at an ideal point fromwhich to forge farther on and eitherexplore the north of the island andhead for Kilmory Glen or turn south andwalk to Harris. Either way the viewsfrom here are marvellous. Most of thelandscape of Rum was shaped by theformation of a volcano some 60 millionyears ago, and in Hallival and Askivalthe island has two of the Hebridesmost attractive peaks.

5The golden eagle, witha wingspan of aroundtwo metres, is one ofour most impressivebirds of prey.

6Rum offers a greatlocation for an outdoorholiday.

6


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kney geese solution

goose-meat went on sale atsed outlets in Orkney last year

e first time. The resident greylage population in Orkney hasnded rapidly in recent years,ing significant agricultural damage.e same time, both wildlife tourismwildfowling make an importantribution to the Orkney economy.

We are therefore working to find ance to control the resident gooselation to establish a viable number

can be managed sustainably andmise agricultural impacts whilerating important income for thepopulation.his work is being carried out under

Orkney Resident Greylag Gooseptive Management Pilot, and in3 we started trialling the sale ofe meat that has been harvestede project. Goose meat is a good,hy source of protein and allowsle to eat fresh, eat seasonal, and

ocal.he sale of goose meat in thisyear has gone really well with

ent products available suchoose sausages and goosests. Scotlands Natural Larderducational and tasting events toote goose products and we haveproduced recipe cards for bakede breasts and goose casserole.

wild goose meat is only availableale from licensed sellers in Orkney.

Invernaver innovation

The crofters at Invernaver and NorthAchnabourin in north Sutherland

have joined forces to manage theinternationally significant dunes andheaths in a novel arrangement withSNH. This special area has taken abattering over the years and not justfrom the weather. Episodes of over-and under-grazing have combined withburning, rabbits and weeds to damagethe intricate mosaic of species.

Invernaver hosts plant communitiesmore commonly found on top of theCairngorms thriving just above sealevel alongside sand dune species. Thecrofters are working closely with SNHon management aimed at restoring thisunique protected area. The boundarybetween the two grazings has beenfenced and the sheep combined intoone flock. This allows sheep to beremoved from the hill ground andherded onto Invernaver in the winterwhen heavier grazing is required toremove excess growth and benefit theless robust species.

In summer most of the sheep are

put back onto the hill while thoseleft on Invernaver are shepherded toencourage them onto the higher groundallowing the plants around the dunes toflower and set seed.

The grazing of key species ismeasured by the crofters and will showwhether more or fewer sheep arerequired at key times of the year.

Sumburgh renovation

Visitors and locals alike will benefitfrom the new facilities at Sumburgh

Head when they are unveiled in May,marking the completion of an ambitiousproject, led by Shetland AmenityTrust. The iconic lighthouse buildings,perched above the cliffs at the southerntip of mainland Shetland, have beencompletely renovated, with greatattention to historic detail.

SNH is a partner in this project,which includes state-of-the-artinteractive displays revealing thewonders of the marine environmentand its complex food webs culminatingin top predators such as the seabirdsand killer whales for which Shetland isfamous. Light is very much the theme,the lighthouse having played a vital partin Shetlands maritime safety over thepast two centuries, and the sun itselfgiving life to the sea through the energycaptured by marine algae at the base ofthe food chain.

The internationally important seabirdcolony at Sumburgh Head is an RSPBreserve and one of the most accessible

in Britain. The site is very popularwith visitors, including those from thecruise ships which make brief stopsin Shetland. Passengers are regularlytaken from Lerwick to Sumburgh Headin the summer to see the seabirdspectacle, including ever-popularpuffins, at close quarters.

See www.sumburghhead.com

NH Area Newsrthern Isles and North Highlandspondents: Gail Churchill, Valerie Wilson, Juan Brown

Controlling rhododendron

Introduced in the 18th century for usein parks and gardens, rhododendron

ponticum is our most widespreadand damaging non-native plant. Ithas attractive flowers, but reducesbiodiversity by eradicating other plants,hinders the natural regeneration oftrees and is a factor in spreading plantdiseases.

Controlling rhododendron isdifficult and expensive. Action must betaken over a wide area to prevent re-colonisation. The traditional method ofcontrol has been to cut the plants downthen treat the area with herbicide for upto two years. This control can in itselfbe damaging to the environment.

In March 2014 a successfulworkshop on rhododendron controlwas held at Kippenrait Glen SSSI nearDunblane.

This was organised and led byJohn Parrott of Coille Alba, a smallenvironmental charity, supportedby SNH and Forestry CommissionScotland, and attended by over 40 landowners, forest managers and forestry

contractors. John demonstrated newtechniques, including the injection ofherbicide directly into the plant stems,which has been shown to have close toa 100% success rate.

By spreading the word about thesenew techniques, the aim is to ensurethat future control is cheaper, quicker,more environmentally friendly andultimately more successful.

Green Angels

The Green Team delivers volunteeringand Outdoor Learning programmes

to young people in Edinburgh. TheirGreen Angels programme encouragesgirls aged 12-18 to take part inenvironmental volunteering throughexploring the countryside in and aroundEdinburgh. The girls learn about theirlocal natural environment in a fun andexciting way and carry out conservationtasks that improve access to greenspaces and benefit wildlife.

Green Angels, which is fundedby Scottish Natural Heritage, wasdeveloped as a way of reducing thebarriers some girls face to being in amixed gender group and carrying outphysically demanding and sometimesmuddy work.

The Green Team is working inpartnership with Blackhall Mosqueto support the participation of elevengirls in this programme. The girls tookpart in various activities, includingtree planting, pond dipping andenvironmental art. They learned lots ofnew skills, made new friends and their

confidence in the outdoors grew. All ofthe girls have achieved their John MuirAward and were presented with theircertificates at the Mosque.

If you would like to find out m oreabout volunteering with the GreenTeam, have a look at their website www.greenteam.org.uk/

SNH Area NewsForthCorrespondents: John OKeefe, Caroline Crawford, Iain Rennick

Gateway to the

Visitor facilities on theNational Nature Rese

Forth have been imprbuilding at the main h

This replaces a buthe Mouse House building originally ere1960s as accommodworkers studying the population, hence the

It was then convemakeshift visitor centhas served the islandin poor condition andmodern regulations sdisabled access.

The new building It acts as a gateway providing informationis to see on the islandpoints in the season sget the most from thealso provides essenti toilets, seating and meeting place for larg

Up to 10,000 peobetween April and Oc

year on visitor boats wAnstruther and Northare rewarded with onbest wildlife spectaclseabirds on the islandseason plus a large s


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veller's Choice

s and Harris, in the Outerrides, has been ranked fifth best

d in the world and the best inpe by TripAdvisor. The Travellersce Awards puts the island ahead ofkes of tropical paradise Ko Tao inand and the famous Easter Island.isitors are attracted to theseds for their stunning scenery,culture and increasingly theirtacular wildlife.

One of the growing attractions forors is the opportunity to watch seaes at close quarters. Following aessful re-introduction programmeea eagle population has been

wing steadily and now the island isof Scotlands strongholds for theies.

n order to safeguard the wildlifee island and coastal waters,tish Natural Heritage and RSPBncouraging wildlife tour operators

gn up to the sea eagle watchinge of Conduct.he code promotes best practicedlife watching, enabling visitors

ocal businesses to enjoy andefit from wildlife, whilst ensuringntinues to thrive. It is hoped thate wildlife tour operators will adoptode and help protect our naturalage for future generations in thisning part of Scotland.

New life for Taynish Mill

Readers may remember our article onthe refurbishment of Taynish Mill at

Taynish NNR in the Autumn/Winter2013 edition of The Nature of Scotland.We are now delighted to announce

that the Mill will have a new lease of lifethroughout the Year of Homecoming2014. The reserve team are planningsome great exhibitions through thecourse of the year at this magicallocation.

The team can now put the Millsancient walls to good use once again,remarked Reserve Manager AlanMartin, The Mill is only a short walkfrom the reserve car park and along anall-ability pathway. We hope that theMill Exhibitions will be an additionalhighlight to any visit to the Reserve forlocal residents and visitors alike.

This historic building which was veryclose to being lost forever will now hosteducational exhibitions, interpretationon the Reserve, and there are a fewsurprises planned for later in the year.

So if you are coming to Argyll, makesure you check out Taynish and its

magical Mill. You may surprise yourselfthat youve never been before and youwill likely want to come back.

NH Area News

spondent: Mags Russell

Act now, enjoy forever

A new initiative led by Scottish NaturalHeritage and partners Argyll and Bute

Council, Forestry Commission Scotlandand NHS Highland will take a collectiveapproach towards maintaining andenhancing Argylls countryside andcoastal areas.

Argyll and Isles Coast andCountryside Trust (ACT) is a charitywith eight board members and anexperienced advisory group, andemploys a development officer.Julie Young will work with agencies,communities, and groups to poolresources, experience and information.

Julie says, The key areas ACTwill focus on are developing andpromoting improved access networks;enhancing biodiversity and the historicenvironment, taking a lead in developingregion-wide projects and collaborativeworking and supporting the existingnetwork of groups working in theseareas.

Ross Lilley, SNH OperationsManager Argyll & Outer Hebrides andboard member of ACT noted, Already

there is a good consensus amongst theboard members on what the Trust candeliver and considerable enthusiasm tostart building projects that will achieveour aims.

The Trusts work will be focussedon making Argyll and the isles a betterplace to work, live and visit.

gyll and Outer Hebrides

Sensory benches

Cairnsmore NNR in the heart of theGalloway and South Ayrshire Biosphere

Reserve has some new artwork to helpyou get a feel for the essence of theplace.

The installation of beautifullydesigned ergonomic benches aimsto create a sensory experience byfocussing attention on the surroundinglandscape. The invitation is to lie down,and let the sounds, smells and sights ofnature dominate your senses.

Rosnes Bench is an idea developedby Scottish artists Dalziel and Scullion.They were inspired by the Biosphereand Dark Sky Park initiatives, whichencourage better understanding of ourenvironment by local communities andvisitors.

To appreciate the Rosnes Bencheswe have to allow the artworks tochallenge how we see and perceivethe natural world. The benches slowus down, create stillness, change ourviewpoint and help us to remain in themoment, and be part of the immediatecontext that surrounds us.

Thirty benches have been installed in12 special places throughout Galloway.At Cairnsmore the benches are besidethe Clints of Dromore walk where theheather, wind and ever-changing skywill whisper their secrets to those whocan hear them. For further informationand directions to the other locations goto www.rosnesbench.com

All on track

Anyone driving alongGalashiels to Edinbur

notice the constructionew Borders RailwayDue for completio

of 2015, the developesome challenges to mon the resident wildlifAs works progressedproviding expert advicspecial licences requspecies have to be d

Some species havto relocate. One-way installed under licencVictorian tunnel aheaworks. The bats then roost sites in bat boxetrees.

Disturbance to baavoided at most locatexclusion zones durinwork. And for otters, cledges have been usallow them access un

These are just somthe great care thats b

developers, consultaand other stakeholdeanimals and their natuThe hope is that oncevisitors will find the aras it was before, and by the new developm

SNH Area NewsSouthern ScotlandCorrespondents: Paeder OConnell, Chris Miles, Andrew Panter, Trevor Godden

Caerlaverock under siege

At the start of the year, CaerlaverockNNR on the Solway Firth experienced

its highest water levels for 50 years.High spring tides coincided withheavy rainfall and severe storms tobring sea water flooding over thesaltmarsh. This caused damage topaths and bridges but, most shockingof all, was the sheer amount of p lasticdebris left behind.

Thanks to the efforts of our regularvolunteer groups and the localcommunity, a sustained clean-upoperation removed huge amounts ofrubbish, from traffic cones and sheepfeed buckets to little yellow rubberducks!

The paths are now clear, the reserveis open, and there are some fantas ticseasonal wildlife experiences to be had.

Spring sees the saltmarsh comeinto bloom with a colourful carpet ofwildflowers; skylarks sing their glorioussong and breeding waders defend theirterritories in acrobatic aerial displays.

On warm evenings, the reserveechoes with the rasping mating calls of

rare natterjack toads. Caerlaverock isa place of constant change and everyvisit is unique. But if rising sea levelsare a consequence of climate changeand cause erosion of the saltmarshhabitats as predicted, all this could beunder threat.


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BioBlitz at Loch Leven NNR

Bio means life and Blitz means todo something quickly and intensively.

A BioBlitz is a great outdoor familyevent where members of the public,with help from local experts, worktogether to do a fast and intensivesurvey of all forms of life in a naturalspace.

Its a race to see or find as manydifferent species of plants, birds,insects, fungi, mammals and fish aspossible in 24 hours. Everything iswritten down to make a list of speciesrecords which feed into nationaldatabases that monitor our wildlife.

Loch Leven NNR celebrates its 50thAnniversary this year and what betterway to celebrate than to come alongand join in with our BioBlitz. Runningfrom 12 noon on Saturday 5 July until12 noon on Sunday 6 July 2014 therewill be a wide variety of wildlife expertson hand to help you identify what youcome across or you can just find outmore about what can be found at thenature reserve.

If you are interested in wildlife

and want to help at the Loch LevenNNR BioBlitz, or want to learn moreabout the day, please email [email protected] the firstinstance. Youll be glad you did.

Silent Witness

If you like crime dramas, you might havespotted the brooding background of

Corrie Fee NNR on your TV in January.The BBCs Silent Witnessforensicpathologists headed north to supportlocal police investigating the chillingmurder of a lap dancer found in aremote forest in the two-part episode Ina Lonely Place.

The shows producer describedthe area as a great place to shootwhen they spent several days filming inSeptember in Corrie Fee, Glen Clovaand Dundee.

Locations were given fictionalnames Glen Doll Forest becameMacroom Forest and we saw theteam of pathologists walking therefrom Corrie Fee to see bodies beingexhumed.

Locals featured as extras and SNHreceived a small location fee, which weused for some path maintenance work.

Why not visit this Ice Age relicyourself? Youll see alpine plants, birdsand dragonflies from the path buthopefully nothing as grisly as the

scenes created by the Silent Witnesscrew.

http://www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/corrie-fee/

SNH Area NewsTayside and GrampianCorrespondents: Shona Smith, Sandra Penman, Ewen Cameron

Tales from the

Natural Capital refersocial and economic

provided by nature thfrom.Rivers provide us

from angling tourism recreational opportunriverbank walking andSadly, we have all bewith our Natural Capeast Scotland, the DePartnership and Rivefunding from SNH, haJoanna Dick to be theofficer. Her challengius all more aware of hvery dependent on ou

Environmental issbig and daunting thatto make a difference. projects will show thecan all do to help, andeach do a small thingto a big difference.

So check out theiriverdee.org.ukand schools work, learn h

can share the river aYellow Fish project.

If youre not near twww.rafts.org.ukcalocal Rivers Trust youDont leave it to someyour bit too.

agaidh Cadet Corps

e woodland on Creag Meagaidhhas been getting a boost, thanks

e efforts of Highland Air Cadets.estoring the native forest is onee main aims of the Reservesagement but in the past (prere Conservancy Council and) non-native trees like Sitka spruceplanted and these are causing

es as they seed out into the nativedland and open ground.

We need to keep on top of thesenerating seedlings and saplings.willing team of workers armed withtools relished this conservation

. The task was ideal for developingplanning, teamwork and leadership and their competitive instinctsnt they achieved a power of work.also got the chance to practiceghting skills, shelter building andouflage and concealment.eserve Manager Rory Richardsondelighted with their visit. At Creaggaidh we are always keen to workgroups of young people like schoolskills classes and the cadets, he

d. Its a real win-win situation ascan play their part in improvingature of the Reserve and develop

ul skills and life experience at thee time. The Highland Air Cadetsbeen visiting Creag Meagaidhfor the past three years to carry

work for us.

Eagle eye from the sky

An exciting new project on twoHighland NNRs is helping us

understand more about the behaviourof golden eagle chicks once theyfledge.

Last summer two fledgling eagleswere fitted with satellite tags, one in theCairngorms and one on Rum NNR. Thetransmitter is fitted as a mini back-packand is powered by an integrated s olarpanel. This sends signals to a s atellitewhich records the birds movements ona daily basis.

The Rum NNR youngster, namedMowgli by Rum Primary Schoolpupils, moved out of his parents homerange but remained on the island andwas seen hunting and feeding oncarrion. In February Mowgli hoppedislands, however, and was tracked onneighbouring Eigg.

Brave is the name given to theCairngorm youngster who has movedmore widely, visiting the Angus Glensand Drumochter Hills.

The maps will be updated on aweekly basis and posted on SNH social

media outlets to promote interest inNNRs and golden eagles.

Caring for capercaillie

One of Scotlands most threatenedbirds the capercaillie is the focus of

conservation efforts in Strathspey.Capercaillie live in mature Scotspine forests and like quiet places toeat pine needles and undertake theirbreeding rituals. Disturbance frompeople and dogs has been a problem,especially where the male birds carryout communal displays called lekkingduring the spring breeding season.

In a capercaillie wood adjacent toBoat of Garten, Cairngorms NationalPark Authority (CNPA), the localcommunity, Seafield Estate and SNHhave put in place innovative measuresaimed at reducing recreationaldisturbance. Following these trials afollow up SNH survey showed dramaticeffects on peoples behaviour whichshould benefit the birds.

Many other factors affectcapercaillie numbers and within theCairngorms National Park, CNPAand its partners are drawing up aconservation framework for the species.A key task is to carry out a spatial

analysis to find out: where the main capercaillie

populations are in the Park; where the threats are; what are suitable areas for birds to

expand into; and what are the priority areas tha

Documents

Scottish National Heritage - The Nature of Scotland SpringSummer2014Issue_19