Issuu

Number 85 | March 2015

THE PRICKLY ISSUE What does the future hold for Scotland’s urban wildlife?

SHOWCASE: What the Trust is doing to protect wildlife in urban areas

Welcome

Inside this issue FEATURES 14

14 TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF

WELCOME

The Trust has long been a champion of urban biodiversity. Richard Rowe reports on four innovative projects that are helping to revive our urban green spaces.

Jonny Hughes, Chief Executive

THE PRICKLY ISSUE

Hedgehog numbers have declined by a staggering 95% since 1950 but the true cause is still up for debate. We ask a number of hedgehog experts for their views.

A close encounter with nature in the wilds of Scotland – whether it be a soaring golden eagle or breaching dolphin – is undoubtedly a thrilling experience. Wildlife city-side is not normally associated with such spectacle and yet few of us will forget that first close encounter with an urban fox, or the sight of thousands of starlings pulsing in black waves over the city skyline at dusk.

SHAPING THE CITY OF THE FUTURE

s the planet’s city dwellers outnumber those in rural areas for the first time, we A look at how green design ideas can help transform our urban environment.

26 BRINGING BACK THE BUZZ

Landscape gardener John Frater is helping develop Edinburgh’s parks, roadside verges and roundabouts, making space for wildlife in the heart of our capital city.

REGULARS 6

LATEST NEWS News round-up from the Trust and the world of conservation.

PROJECT NEWS 6

All the latest news from the Trust’s partnership projects.

34 VIEWPOINT

Planning volunteer Liz Albert explains her role.

READING 36 LIST

30 Q&A

Our urban areas are where most people experience wildlife on a daily basis and there’s a lifetime’s worth of natural encounters waiting to be had in our gardens, allotments and local parks. I’ve always had a particular fascination with the species that survive in the harshest man-made environments. How can we not be inspired by the tenacity of the likes of capillary thread-moss, clinging to walls and hiding in the cracks of pavements?

New Environment Minister Aileen McLeod answers our questions.

A selection of books – including Helen Macdonald’s Costa Book of the Year-winning biography.

Scottish Wildlife magazine is published by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. © Scottish Wildlife Trust. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. All photography © Scottish Wildlife Trust unless otherwise stated. The Scottish Wildlife Trust accepts no liability for omissions or incorrect data in advertisements and letters. Views expressed in Scottish Wildlife are not necessarily those of the Scottish Wildlife Trust. ISSN: 0143 1234. Registered office: Harbourside House, 110 Commercial Street, Edinburgh EH6 6NF. Tel: 0131 312 7765. Fax: 0131 312 8705. Email: enquiries@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk. Website: scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland (no. SC040247). It is also a Scottish registered charity (no. SC005792).

WIN A LU BREAXURY TWO K FOR PERTIN RURAL HSHI RE SEE P A GE 3

As this issue of Scottish Wildlife illustrates, such urban nature – when taken together – is quite literally essential to our health and wellbeing. It’s time for some quid pro quo.

Scottish Wildlife is published three times a year: March, August and November. Deadlines for news and letters: 1 January, 1 June, 1 September. No unsolicited articles please. Scottish Wildlife is free to members. Membership rates from 1 April (excluding discounts for paying by Direct Debit): Individual (concession) £33 (£18); Joint (concession) £46 (£24); Family £53 (£48); Watch £18; Life (joint) £800 (£1,200); Senior Citizen Life (joint) £500 (£700). Patron: HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay. Chairman: Robin Harper. Vice-Chairs: Patric Baird, Jon Barnes, Amanda Forsyth. Chief Executive: Jonny Hughes. Editor: Jo Pike editor@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk. Production Editor: Oliver Davies. Design: Connect Publications (Scotland) Ltd connectcommunications.co.uk Advertising: Elliot Whitehead 0131 561 0020, Clare Stebbing 0131 561 0024. Printing: Inkmark. Cover photo: Shutterstock.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is affiliated to The Wildlife Trusts, a UK-wide network of 47 Trusts with more than 2,000 wildlife reserves. MARCH 2015 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 3

SIMON JONES Director of Conservation

Wildlife matters

Latest news

News from the Trust, our projects and the wider world of conservation

All the latest Trust news is available on our website: scottishwildlife trust.org.uk

SCOTLAND is a small country on a big planet. While our cities are modest in size and few in number, more and more people now experience wildlife in an urban setting. This is only likely to increase as our towns and cities grow.

KEEP UP TO DATE

From the pollinating services given freely by bees and hoverflies to the waste disposal services of earthworms and snails, life in cities is still heavily reliant on wildlife. The Trust has a proud history of treasuring urban biodiversity, from the picturesque wildlife garden at Johnston Terrace in Edinburgh to Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre in Grangemouth, Possil Marsh in Glasgow and The Miley in Dundee (to name but a few). Starting with these small parcels of semi-natural habitat, our ambitions for urban wildlife have grown, as has the need for more effective conservation of native ecosystems. Major projects such as the Cumbernauld and Edinburgh Living Landscapes have taken forward an ‘ecosystem-scale’ approach to protecting, rebuilding and connecting urban habitats. As if through the eyes of a high-flying bird, these projects capture the patchwork quilt of wilder places in our built-up areas, from the most minuscule window box or garden to allotments, city parks and river corridors. Our policy team is also working hard to ensure that the sum total of these places is recognised alongside their individual parts, and that new developments incorporate design You can find features to an urban reserve protect and ne ar you at restore their scottishwildlifetrus biodiversity t. value. org.uk/visit You too can help safeguard our urban wildlife: visit one of our urban reserves, make your garden more wildlife friendly, or help ensure that your local council continues to value and enhance our green spaces. From parks to housing schemes, industrial estates to retail parks, every place can be enriched by that buzzing bumblebee or a dawn chorus blackbird. 4 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2015

Green light for wildcat project A groundbreaking conservation project to help the threatened Scottish wildcat is celebrating a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £973,100. Wildcat Action – which involves more than 30 organisations, community groups and landowners – will focus on tackling the decline of Scottish wildcats in six recently identified priority areas, covering the Angus Glens, northern Strathspey, Morvern, Strathavon, Strathbogie and Strathpeffer. The Scottish wildcat is one of the most threatened mammals in Europe – rarer than the Siberian tiger – and is particularly at risk from hybridisation with feral and domestic cats, disease transmission and incidental persecution. Wildcat Action will raise awareness of wildcats and the threats they face, providing training in wildcat surveys and wildcat-friendly land

management practices. The project will also encourage schools and community groups to learn more about wildcats, and champion responsible domestic cat ownership. Colin McLean, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: “We have some incredible native wildlife in Scotland but our species and habitats are under constant threat. “We are delighted to see such a strong partnership working together for the good of this iconic Scottish species. “We hope that with the Heritage Lottery Fund grant, communities across the country will be inspired and empowered to safeguard the existence of these rare creatures.” The Scottish Wildlife Trust will play a key role in leading the communications for the project, hosting a dedicated Communications Co-ordinator for the full five years of Wildcat Action.

Scottish Wildlife Trust news

A flying start

Tiffany, one of last year’s Operation Peregrine volunteers

Work in progress

VOLUNTEERS play a vital role in the work of the Trust and in return gain valuable skills, enjoy rewarding work and make new friends. As you are reading this, we will be busy recruiting volunteers for People’s Postcode Lottery Peregrine Watch and Osprey Watch. These programmes cannot run without a team of dedicated volunteers, so if you are interested and can offer even a few hours a week, please get in touch with Peter Gilbert, Volunteer Development Officer, at pgilbert@scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk

OVER winter, many of our reserves have benefited from improvement works. At Balgavies Loch, the paths, fencing and car park have been upgraded, with woodland restoration to follow in the near future. This was made possible thanks to a £37,500 grant from Angus Environmental Trust through the Landfill Communities Fund. At Longridge Moss, dams have been installed to raise the water table, which will increase the health of this lowland raised bog, while at Seafar Wood in Cumbernauld non-native trees have been removed to improve the biodiversity value of this relatively young woodland.

Peatland Action at Carsegowan Moss © Steve Blow

AS part of the Peatland Action Fund, administered by Scottish Natural Heritage, the Trust is carrying out ‘peat bunding’ on Carsegowan Moss. This technique involves using very low ground pressure excavators to remove the damaged surface layers of peat, then deeper peat is used to build up a low ‘bund’ (or embankment) to hold back and slow the flow of water from the site. Peat bunding has been developed in recent years on bogs in the north of England, often where the sites have been forested or milled for compost. Even badly damaged sites have responded positively to the work, increasing confidence that the

technique will work well on bogs in better condition. Carsegowan Moss is one of the best examples of a lowland raised bog in Galloway. Despite

felling and ditch damming using plastic piling, there is still rapid water loss from the edges and it is hoped the peat bunding technique will reduce this.

Meet Magnus the Magpie THE upgrade at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre is almost complete and the new interpretation panels are soon to be installed. A total of £45,000 from Veolia Environmental Trust has reinvigorated Jupiter, with revamped

wildlife gardens and interpretation panels. Magnus the Magpie – named after broadcaster and journalist Magnus Magnusson KBE, who opened Jupiter in 1992 – guides visitors through the new interpretation panels.

Michael Portillo visits the Falls of Clyde THE breathtaking waterfalls of Corra Linn at the Falls of Clyde were the backdrop for BBC2’s Great British Railway Journeys, hosted by former MP-turned-broadcaster Michael Portillo. Michael was shown around the reserve by Victorian naturalist Allison Galbraith, who gave him a taste of what it would have been like to take part in the ‘Petit’ Grand Tours of the 18th and 19th Centuries. Victorian naturalist tours are available for groups on request. For more information contact Falls of Clyde on 01555 665 262 or email us at fallsofclyde@ scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk MARCH 2015 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 5

Project news

Project news © Tracy Lambert

TV role for Experts for Nature graduate Children learn about pine martens during the popular workshops

Pine marten workshops MORE than 500 children have taken part in pine marten and habitat workshops run by the Cumbernauld Living Landscape project. Over the past five months, the workshops have helped

raise awareness of the abundance of wildlife found in Cumbernauld and given young people a chance to suggest changes they would make. The workshops have been delivered to five

primary schools and seven local groups. This year looks to be just as productive, with eight schools booked in already. The pine martens in Cumbernauld highlight the importance of wellconnected green spaces. Once hunted to near extinction, they are now making a comeback thanks to the expansion of their woodland habitat and full legal protection as of 1988.

IN November, the Scottish Beaver Trial published its final report on the UK’s first official trial reintroduction of a mammal. Commencing in spring 2009 in Knapdale, mid-Argyll, the scientific monitoring period of the Trial ended in May 2014. The report documents the full life of the project, from the initial licence application through to the release of beavers and the end of the monitoring period. It also

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captures a number of learning points which might benefit future reintroduction projects. Scottish Natural Heritage is due to publish its own independent findings from the Trial in May, also drawing on experience from the Tayside Beaver Study Group and other European beaver populations. A ministerial decision on the future of beavers in Scotland is expected shortly afterwards.

The monitoring phase of the Scottish Beaver Trial ended in May 2014

Final report released

AN Experts for Nature graduate has taken the first step towards becoming the next David Attenborough by taking up a volunteer role for the Trust as a presenter on STV Edinburgh’s The Fountainbridge Show. Originally from Achiltibuie, Lizzie Drake has lived in Edinburgh for the last six years and completed her ecological training at the end of last year. Appearing on the show most weeks, Lizzie is passing on her knowledge and enthusiasm for wildlife to viewers in Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians. STV Edinburgh is broadcast on Freeview channel 23, Sky channel 117 and Virgin channel 159 and is available to watch live on the STV Player. The Fountainbridge Show is broadcast live Monday to Friday from 7pm to 8.30pm.

MAGGIE KEEGAN Head of Policy & Planning

The view from Ben Mor Coigach

Landscape partnership plan is starting to take shape COMMUNITIES in Coigach and Assynt are helping to decide the future of their area after a series of consultations for the Coigach – Assynt Living Landscape project. Originally presented with a list of 30 projects, this has been whittled down to a top five, with ‘The Path Project’ coming in first place. This will include an upgrade of the Suilven Path and the Postie’s Path, the

EDINBURGH Living Landscape – a partnership project which aims to make Edinburgh the best European city to live in by 2050 – was launched at the end of last year. The project brings together the Scottish Wildlife Trust, the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust, GREENSURGE and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Edinburgh is known for its fantastic parks, gardens and cycle routes but the Edinburgh Living Landscape aims to take this a step further. We want to ensure that high-quality, nature-rich and connected places exist across the city.

latter of which passes along the dramatic coastline beneath Ben Mor Coigach (pictured). The projects are set to run from 2016-2020, assuming our Stage 2 submission – currently being produced for the Heritage Lottery Fund – is successful. For further information on the developing projects, visit coigach-assynt.org

The red squirrel is making a comeback across Aberdeen

Edinburgh Living Landscape

Simple measures will be promoted – such as the use of window boxes, increasing the number of wildflower meadows and planting more street trees – but more innovative examples of urban design such as green roofs and walls will also be considered. Our plans also include a citizen science project to measure air quality using lichens, mapping Edinburgh’s green spaces, and creating a ‘natural capital standard’ to encourage developers to design high quality commercial and residential schemes with nature in mind. By working together, we’re hoping to create a city fit for the future, with healthy and beautiful areas that are resilient to climate change as well as being highly valued and accessible to Edinburgh’s citizens. Keep an eye on our website for all the latest updates.

Championing the red squirrel SAVING Scotland’s Red Squirrels has been recognised for its successful work in Aberdeen and surrounding areas. The project plays a key role in supporting Aberdeen City Council’s conservation programme, which was chosen as joint winner in the

coveted ‘Species Champion’ category at the Nature of Scotland Awards. Phase three of the project has recently received a funding boost of £40,000 after the People’s Trust for Endangered Species and the Gannochy Trust both donated £20,000 to help safeguard red squirrels for the future.

For more information on the Edinburgh Living Landscape, visit scottishwildlifetrus t. org.uk/edinburgh

MARCH 2015 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 7

Scottish Wildlife Trust news

European Voluntary Service FIVE long-term volunteers have recently joined the Trust to work with Reserve Project Officers in Tayside and south west Scotland. Júlia Nogués Boira (Spain), Klemen Kamenik (Slovenia), Stefan Van Damme (Belgium), Arne Lück (Germany) and Marion Janczyszyn-Le Goff (France) will be with us for between 10 and 12 months, carrying out a variety of practical conservation tasks.

Great response MORE than 100 Trust members have completed our ‘50 for the Future’ survey, identifying key priorities for the Trust and nature conservation in Scotland over the next 50 years. We are collating all the responses and will publish our final 50 by our next birthday in April.

Planning workshop success THE Trust’s annual planning workshop took place in December at the offices of Architecture and Design Scotland. The day featured speakers from Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Government and the Highways Agency, with topics ranging from how to protect biodiversity through planning policy to how the redevelopment of the A9 will affect wildlife. If you would like to get involved as a planning volunteer, please contact John McTague on 0131 312 4771 or email jmctague@ scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk

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IN BRIEF

A delegation from the Trust celebrate winning Scottish Tree of the Year with Annemiek Hoogenboom of People’s Postcode Lottery

Loch of Lowes pine wins Tree of the Year I n October, the Trust was delighted to find out that a Scots pine at Loch of the Lowes had been named the first ever ‘Scottish Tree of the Year’. The winning tree is home to the famous female osprey, affectionately known by many as ‘Lady’, which has returned to the site for the last 24 years. During this period, the bird has laid an astonishing 71 eggs and fledged 50 chicks, while

also developing a global following of more than 600,000 people via its dedicated webcam. ‘Lady’s Tree’ was the overwhelming winner as Scottish Tree of the Year, taking almost half the total votes, although the six other entries presented stiff competition. Having won the Scottish prize, the tree was entered into the European Tree of the Year competition. At the

Wanted – new board members DO YOU have a passion for wildlife conservation? As a diverse and inclusive charity, the Scottish Wildlife Trust is looking for new Board members whose expertise includes business management and conservation – particularly landscape-scale conservation. To discuss the appointment contact Susan McKenzie, Director of Finance and Resources, on 0131 312 7765, or email smckenzie@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk Elected Trustees will take office from this year’s AGM (which takes place on Saturday 19 September in New Lanark) for an initial term of three years. The appointment is not remunerated. Further details of the AGM will be published in the next issue.

time of writing, the tree was in 9th place. The Scottish Tree of the Year competition was run by Woodland Trust Scotland and supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Members can see the tree from the viewing hides at the Trust’s Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre, which also offers the opportunity to see red squirrels and a wide variety of woodland birds.

Peat extraction plans opposed THE Trust has opposed plans for commercial peat extraction at a site near Mossmorran in Fife. The proposals for peat extraction over the next decade are contrary to the Scottish Government’s plans to reduce and phase out the use of peat in horticulture. The Trust strongly believes there should be no new peat extraction sites and that existing sites should be restored to as near favourable condition as possible. Our Planning Assistant, John McTague, said: “At a time when peatlands are recognised as an important natural capital asset, it is disappointing to see companies still wanting to extract peat for horticulture. “Many gardeners and allotment owners have used peat-free composts for years, showing that the archaic practice of destroying peat for horticulture is not needed for the production of quality compost.”

Scottish Wildlife Trust news

Magnificent maerl beds discovered AN EXPLORATION of the Wester Ross seabed in November uncovered several new areas of maerl, an unusual, hard seaweed that forms one of Scotland’s most colourful underwater habitats. The survey, in the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area (MPA), was organised by the Trust alongside Fauna & Flora International and used Scottish Natural Heritage’s specialist drop down video system. Maerl beds are found in clear, shallow waters off the west coast of Scotland and form extensive purple-pink carpets of twig-like nodules on the seabed. Maerl is extremely slow growing and fragile but is an important habitat for a range of marine wildlife, including scallops, urchins and anemones. Locally known but previously unmapped maerl beds were identified off the coast of the Trust’s Ben Mor Coigach Wildlife Reserve, as well as off Isle Martin and at

Montrose Basin gets new ‘neigh-bours’ MONTROSE Basin will soon be getting new neighbours thanks to a programme of work funded by Angus Environmental Trust through the Landfill Communities Fund. Works include replacing the damaged fence along the shore of the saltpans, which will allow a new grazing regime to be undertaken by three Highland ponies from April. It is hoped that this will enhance

the habitat for waders on site. An artificial bank, which provides a breeding habitat for sandmartins, has also benefited from some much needed maintenance, with the aim of boosting breeding numbers at the site. Elsewhere on site, a new and exciting project to create a wildflower meadow has been given the green light, with our children’s education programme a likely beneficiary. To see the habitat improvements for yourself, pay a visit to Montrose Basin Visitor Centre – entry is free to all members.

the mouth of Loch Broom. Further discoveries have increased the known extent of maerl beds in the Summer Isles. The fragile nature of this habitat was also evident as the survey failed to find previously recorded maerl beds in an area of the Summer Isles that has seen the largest amount of scallop dredging in recent years. The new discoveries strengthen the case for larger areas of the Wester Ross MPA to be closed to potentially damaging fishing activity, such as scallop dredging and bottom trawling. In a bid to ensure MPAs receive the management they require, the Trust joined forces with other environmental NGOs in February, urging the public to tell the Scottish Government – ‘Don’t Take the P out of MPAs’. Thank you to all those who responded to the consultation – keep an eye out for updates on the Trust’s website in the near future.

Birds and Habitats Directives campaign

THE European Commission has announced a review of the current Birds and Habitats Directives, which are central to achieving the European Union’s target of halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity by 2020. The Trust does not want to see these directives weakened as they are key to ensuring high levels of environmental protection and restoration across Europe. We will launch a campaign in April to oppose any weakening of the implementation of this legislation. Visit our website for further updates.

MARCH 2015 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 9

Scottish Wildlife Trust news

IN BRIEF

Capitalising on natural assets

THE Scottish Forum on Natural Capital, in which the Trust is a founding partner, held a successful event attended by over 100 people at the University of Edinburgh Business School at the end of October. The Scottish Forum aims to bring together senior representatives from the public, private and voluntary sectors to protect and rebuild Scotland’s natural assets. Progress will continue with the second World Forum on Natural Capital, which will take place in Edinburgh in November.

Annual General Meeting

THE Trust’s 51st Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 19 September in the Bonnington Room, New Lanark World Heritage Site. Further details will be included in the next magazine.

Saving our meadows VOLUNTEERS from People’s Postcode Lottery and the local community took part in a ‘Saving Our Magnificent Meadows’ activity day at Carlingnose Point recently. A huge amount was achieved, with scrub cleared to increase the area of species-rich grassland on the site.

Name changes FOLLOWING discussions at last year’s Members’ Centre Day, the Trust’s Council has recently agreed to change the name of our Members’ Centres to ‘Scottish Wildlife Trust Groups’. There have also been a few changes to the areas covered by some of these – please see our website for updates.

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The award-winning Newcastleton Wildlife Watch Group with leader Wendy Patterson (right)

A big win for Wildlife Watch THE Trust’s Newcastleton Wildlife Watch Group scooped second place in this year’s Wildlife Watch Group of the Year competition. The judges were thoroughly impressed with the children’s dedication to the natural world, with weekly meetings taking place on subjects including birdwatching and owl ringing. The group of six to 12-year-olds also took part in an exciting ‘survival night’ in the woods, made beautiful leaf art and clay animals, and baked delicious bread over a

Wild camping across Scotland MANY of us talk of a desire to ‘get closer to nature’ but it is unusual to find someone taking the phrase quite so literally. Cerys Trayner – a keen supporter of the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the John Muir Trust – plans to eschew the comforts of her home for a whole year, hiking the length and breadth of Scotland and wild camping everywhere she goes, all to raise funds for the two charities. Cerys explained: “I have always been passionate about Scotland’s nature and its wildest lands. My hope is to enthuse and inspire others to have greater involvement in our natural world, and to take action to protect it.” You can support Cerys’ efforts by visiting uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CerysTrayner

campfire. At the turn of each season, the children surveyed what had changed in their landscape, identifying trees, sowing spring flowers and learning about frog life cycles. They even appeared on Border Life TV after being filmed planting wildflower beds in their village and playing games in their local woodland. Group leader Wendy Patterson said: “I’m extremely proud of all the members for their hard work, care for nature and dedication to the group. They are truly an inspiration.”

Enthusiastic cyclists needed AS the long, dark days of winter near an end, many of us resolve to improve our fitness. Cycling is one of the easiest ways of doing so and the Trust is now looking for enthusiastic cyclists to help raise much needed funds by taking part in Pedal for Scotland. The event will take place on Sunday 6 September and there are three rides to choose from, including a nine-mile Family Fun Route in Edinburgh. To register for any of these great cycling events, please visit pedalforscotland.org Once registered, the Trust will help you find sponsorship and promote your participation in the event. If you are interested in helping, please call 0131 312 4772 or email whill@scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk and ask for a fundraising pack.

Leaving a gift in your Will

Jean’s story... © Colin Prior

Jean Bartlett’s lifelong interest in the natural world was reflected in her decision to include a gift to the Scottish Wildlife Trust in her Will. It is two years since Jean passed away peacefully at the age of 83 but her legacy lives on.

ean spent her early childhood on the Channel Island of Jersey but in 1940 – as German occupation loomed – she escaped with her grandparents and her sister to Edinburgh. After boarding at St Margaret’s School, she went on to read science at the University of St Andrews, where she developed a lifelong interest in the game of golf. Jean began married life in the south of England but soon returned north to spend over 50 years living in Galloway, where she and her husband set to

renovating their new home overlooking the nature reserve of Wigtown Bay. Jean loved gardening and spent countless hours of hard labour hauling seaweed from the beach to create a green oasis capable of withstanding buffeting winds and a mist of sea-spray. In many ways they were self-sufficient, living the ‘Good Life’ long before it was fashionable, growing their own vegetables, eating locally caught fish and game birds shot by her husband, Ken. She was a lively person who played a full part in the community, always willing to help with older people and supporting many village initiatives. She was an enthusiastic golfer and loved walking the Galloway shore and hills

Jean’s gift in her Will was a simple yet powerful way to keep her wishes alive.

with her dogs (‘Ross’ and ‘Cromarty’). Jean held a lifelong interest in the countryside and was a member of the Scottish Wildlife Trust for more than 40 years, over which time she supported a range of the Trust’s conservation projects. Jean was particularly enthused by the idea of recreating native woodlands and, in consultation with her family, we will be using part of her legacy gift to support our ambitious woodland creation project in the Coigach – Assynt Living Landscape. We are sure Jean would have been delighted to play a part in this groundbreaking initiative to re-establish wild woodland in the Scottish Highlands.

Make your wishes live on by writing us into your Will. To find out more call Wendy on 0131 312 4777 or visit scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/legacy MARCH 2015 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 11

Wider news

Wildlife adventure on the Isle of Eigg THE Earth Connections Eco Centre on the Isle of Eigg is offering new wildlife adventures. You can hear the eerie siren call of the common seal, experience wild camping, watch whales, dolphins and soaring golden eagles, and delight in spring flowers and rare orchids. The Earth Connections Eco Centre also offers a variety of eco-courses and holidays to help people learn about eco-living and discover the natural world in a fun, relaxed way. Founders of the Centre, Norah and Bob Wallace, are human ecologists and passionate about the wonders of our planet. Eigg is a Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve with stunning scenery and wildlife, along with important archaeological and geological features, a fascinating history and a worldrenowned renewable energy system. The Trust was a major partner in the famous community buyout in 1997 and continues to be involved in conservation management on the island. For more course information, visit earthconnections.co.uk and isleofeigg.net © Ross Cowan

How did the squirrel cross the road? COUNTRYSIDE Management student Cheryl Murray from the Aberdeen campus of Scotland’s Rural College wants to find out how squirrels cross the road and is looking for help from the public. For her fourth-year project, she is researching the effectiveness of squirrel bridges, such as those erected by the Ellon Biodiversity Action Group. Although there have been reports that the rope bridges are used by local red squirrels, it is not known how often squirrels use the bridges instead of running across the road. Cheryl said: “I am trying to assess how often squirrels cross roads and, if they use squirrel bridges, how often they choose them. I have been

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monitoring squirrel bridges in Ellon, Banchory and near Oldmeldrum. The locals in Ellon have been particularly helpful but I can’t be everywhere and wonder if I could ask bright-eyed members of the public for assistance.” To get in touch with Cheryl, email squirrels@student.sruc.ac.uk

Beavers on the River Otter ENGLAND’S first wild colony of breeding beavers is to be allowed to remain on a Devon river for a five-year trial, led by the Devon Wildlife Trust. Using the experience gained from Devon Wildlife Trust’s existing captivebred beaver trial in the west of the county, the River Otter Beaver Trial will monitor the population, range and health of the beavers, and the effect they have on the local landscape and people. The project follows in the footsteps of our very own Scottish Beaver Trial, the UK’s first trial release of a mammal into the wild. Harry Barton, Chief Executive of Devon Wildlife Trust, said: “The beavers of the River Otter are the first breeding population in the English countryside for hundreds of years. We believe they can play a positive role in the landscapes of the 21st Century through their ability to restore our rivers to their former glories.”

Urban conservation

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More than 1,500 school children from across the Falkirk area attend a mix of education sessions each year at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre near Grangemouth

Urban conservation

Turning over a

NEW LE F Working with a range of like-minded partners, the Trust’s efforts to restore urban ecosystems demonstrate that landscape-scale conservation is not just for rural areas, writes Richard Rowe. Amenity grassland has been replaced by wildflower meadows in Figgate Park, Edinburgh

It’s about developing an urban environment where people and nature thrive side by side. an urban environment where people and nature thrive side by side. “Edinburgh is already known for its many green spaces but not all are of the same standard – that’s one of the things we’d like to change,” explains Maggie Keegan, Head of Policy and Planning and the Trust’s lead on the project. “But it’s not just about the quality of green

spaces – it’s also about what those areas give people in terms of health and wellbeing, and the value that communities place on them.” Comprehensive in its reach, the project will promote relatively simple measures – such as planting more street trees and the increased use of window boxes – but will also push for bigger-picture change: more innovative urban design

enowned for its worldclass festivals, striking architecture and sheer, rugged beauty, Edinburgh is already a city with an embarrassment of riches. But Scotland’s capital could soon add another string to its bow following the Trust’s launch last November of the Edinburgh Living Landscape – an initiative that aims to make it the best European city in which to live by 2050. As many residents will testify, Edinburgh is already a very liveable city, but the project looks set to take this to another level. Working closely with key partners – the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust, GREENSURGE and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – the intention is to improve, create and connect high-quality, naturerich areas of green space throughout the city. Edinburgh is the Trust’s third Living Landscape project, after Cumbernauld and the rather more rural Coigach – Assynt in the north west Highlands. At its heart is a very clear message: investment in green spaces and infrastructure not only creates healthier urban ecosystems but also makes sound socio-economic sense. It’s about connectivity, accessibility and developing

that incorporates green infrastructure; encouraging developers to transform areas of derelict land for the benefit of local communities; working with flood prevention teams on nature-based solutions; and increasing the number of schools with access to top-quality green space for outdoor learning. Thanks to the proactivity of the council, much is already taking place to naturalise Edinburgh’s green spaces and enhance its wider natural capital, which provides benefits from carbon capture to pollination, improved air quality and more. MARCH 2015 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 15

Urban conservation

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infrastructure features are included in future town planning and, in perhaps the most visible project to date, the Trust provided input into the design and location of a series of sustainable urban drainage system ponds constructed by Scottish Water. These will not only greatly improve the water quality of the burns that flow through Cumbernauld Glen but also create habitat for a range of wildlife around the ponds themselves. Often, however, it’s community groups that have led the way on specific projects. One particularly active local volunteer group has been instrumental in reclaiming Cumbernauld’s historic Langriggs – strips of croft land once typical of early Scottish villages – turning them from unloved, overgrown areas that attracted antisocial behaviour into real community assets. For Ian Mackenzie, Project Development Manager for Cumbernauld Living Landscape, reclamation of the Langriggs is just one more measure of the pride felt locally in what the town has to offer. It’s a pride that was emphasised last summer during the Living Window project, an arts-led initiative that saw the Trust transform empty shop windows at two shopping centres into vivid artworks inspired by six of

In many ways, Edinburgh Living Landscape is an extension of the work taking place some 40 miles to the west in Cumbernauld, where a multitude of projects are combining to marry the town’s built and natural heritage. It’s a surprise to many that Cumbernauld is one of the greenest urban areas in Scotland, with the Living Landscape project helping join the dots between its many green spaces. Launched in April 2013, in partnership with North Lanarkshire Council, Forestry Commission Scotland and Central Scotland Green Network, Cumbernauld Living Landscape has already made great strides – with the sighting of a pine marten caught on a Trust camera trap in Seafar Wood serving as an ideal chance to deliver wider messages about habitat quality and networks. More than 500 children from local primaries have since attended pine marten and habitat workshops developed by a Natural Communities apprentice, on secondment from The Conservation Volunteers. Elsewhere, access to and connections between local parks, reserves and other green spaces has been greatly improved; there has been co-ordination with the council to ensure that green

Play Scheme

Urban renaissance

One fascinating initiative is the Urban Pollinators Project, a collaboration between the council and the University of Edinburgh that has seen areas of grassland converted to wildflower meadows in a trial effort to boost numbers of pollinating insects within the city. Part of a longer-term ambition to increase the area of wildflower meadows on council-owned land by 10%, the project aims to demonstrate how pollinator populations can thrive in urban environments, benefiting not just public parks but also allotments and gardens.

From pond dipping to minibeast hunts, Jupiter has been inspiring the younge generations since 1992 r

the town’s green spaces and the community groups that care for them. Viewed by thousands of people, the windows not only highlighted the town’s green spaces to a wider audience, they also enabled those who care for such places to express why they love them so much. “I think the windows really captured some of the feelings that people in the town have for these places,” says Ian.

Coastal connections

This sense of community involvement is mirrored on the Ayrshire coast in and around the Irvine Greenspaces – a network of nine wildlife reserves that the Trust inherited from the Irvine Development

Corporation almost 20 years ago. Ranging from areas of woodland to grassland, bog and flushes, the sites have become a valuable natural resource for local communities. “Some of the areas are high in wildlife value and are well used by runners, dog walkers and photographers,” explains Gill Smart, the Trust’s Reserve Manager for south west Scotland. “Because Irvine is a new town the sites are well connected, with many

Urban conservation

A child enjoys one of the Cumbernauld ‘Living Window’ workshops

record the wildlife that is attracted by them. The Trust’s role is to survey some of the ground within the network, plus advise on what is required to establish flower-rich areas. “This is our version of a Living Landscape project,” says Gill. “It’s a true ecosystem partnership, led by local businesses.”

Demonstration project

Top left and main picture: Cumbernauld Village Action for the Community leases the Langriggs from North Lanarkshire Council, creating community allotments and a vibrant local resource

of them integral to the daily commute by bike.” In what is a perfect example of both community involvement and ecosystem thinking, Dundonald Links Golf Course was inspired by the work of the Trust on the adjacent Gailes Marsh Wildlife Reserve to rally other local businesses to take action for wildlife in the area. The resulting ‘Nectar Network’ is an effort to boost numbers of pollinating insects by creating areas of

wildflowers in connected parcels of land along the coast from Irvine to Girvan. Those businesses that own land, such as the golf course and factories, have set aside space for wildflowers and flowering trees, while those without land contribute in other ways. Local branches of Greggs, for example, offer their support in the form of lunches for project volunteers. All promote volunteering among their staff to implement the planting schemes and

One of the most striking examples of what can be achieved in an unpromising urban environment is the Trust’s Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre, which sits in the shadow of the Grangemouth oil refinery overlooking the Firth of Forth. Once a lifeless strip of industrial wasteland, Jupiter first opened in 1992 and has since become an urban haven of woodlands, meadows, ponds and wildlife gardens. “It is remarkable what has been achieved here,” says Rosie Black, Jupiter Ranger. “It’s a landscape transformed.” With a year-round programme of events, the centre serves as a valuable recreational resource for local communities, while more than 1,500 schoolchildren from across the Falkirk area attend a mix of education sessions each year. Again, the Trust co-ordinates closely with a range of partners, including landlord and major local employer CalaChem, which charges a princely annual rent of £1 for

the site. Thanks to funding from the Big Lottery Fund, the centre has begun work with Under the Trees, a local outdoor learning company, on Forest School sessions for primary-aged children. “Children come once a week for six weeks and we really see them grow in confidence and knowledge over that time,” comments Rosie. In fact, visitors of all ages will benefit from significant changes at Jupiter this year. Following a generous grant from The Veolia Environmental Trust, the centre has seen a full upgrade, including a complete overhaul of its wildlife gardens which now better illustrate how even the smallest spaces can incorporate wildlifefriendly features. “One of the initial aims of Jupiter was to inspire people by demonstrating what can be achieved at home and the upgrade has helped us get back to those roots,” says Rosie. For so long an isolated plot of green space in a landscape of heavy industry, Jupiter now has some welcome company in the shape of the Helix eco-park development between Falkirk and Grangemouth. Such developments demonstrate that even here, in Scotland’s industrial heartland, valuable areas of green space can be created and connected. “Hopefully, other urban communities will see what can be achieved and think along the same lines,” comments Rosie. n MARCH 2015 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 17

THE PRICKLY ISSUE:

Hedgehogs have been part of our urban landscape for generations, even earning the moniker ‘the gardener’s friend’ thanks to their diet of common garden insects. Unfortunately, however, this much loved creature has been in sharp decline over the past 70 years, so much so that the hedgehog featured on a recent list of the 10 most endangered species in the UK. In this feature we reveal some of the more unusual facts about this diminutive mammal and ask a host of experts why hedgehog numbers continue to fall.

DID YOU KNOW? There are

5TO6 THOUSAND quills on the average hedgehog

1950

Hedgehogs can roam an average distance of

2km in one night

ON THE ISLAND OF NORTH RONALDSAY

25% OF HEDGEHOGS ARE ‘BLONDE’

THE TIMELINE OF DECLINE 1995 2015

30 million

1.5 million >1 million

ROAD COLLISIONS

Modern life has ganged up against an ancient animal, I’m afraid. We think around 15,000 hedgehogs are killed on roads in mainland Britain each year. Road casualties are an additional cause of death for which the hedgehog has not adapted – cars represent a predator that wasn’t there when hedgehogs evolved. Dr Pat Morris, retired hedgehog expert

HABITAT FRAGMENTATION

Hedgehog populations can become isolated from each other because new roads and buildings act as barriers to easy and safe movement. Local populations become stuck where they are and are vulnerable to extinction. The solution is to create an ecological network so that all wildlife can move safely across the landscape. Dr Maggie Keegan, Scottish Wildlife Trust

WHY ARE THEY IN TROUBLE? CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change can affect hedgehogs because warmer winters may lead them to come out of hibernation too early when there is little food available. Hedgehogs and badgers are then competing for the same food source, and their relationship can change from competitive to predatory. Hugh Warwick, author and ecologist

INTERNAL PARASITES

Last year we had 115 hedgehogs in our centre but a few years ago we had 300. An awful lot that come in don’t survive now. Internal parasites are an issue and hedgehogs come in with various types of worms including lungworm, which can result in a dry, rattling cough. Now it’s a case of finding affected hedgehogs and getting them treated for it. Sandy Boyd, Wormit Hedgehog Care Centre

 YOU CAN HELP There are lots of simple things you can do to help hedgehogs in your garden. If you have a pond, try to ensure it has sloping sides as this will help prevent hedgehogs drowning when they come to drink. Avoid slug pellets as they are poisonous to hedgehogs and, come the end of autumn, try to leave piles of leaves and twigs around for them to nest in. For more top tips, visit hedgehogstreet.org

Basking shark and wildlife tours in the Hebrides, marine biologist staff, fast boats and shore based accommodation

www.baskingsharkscotland.co.uk 07975-723140 - info@baskingsharkscotland.co.uk

20 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2015

The green city of the future

Greyfriars Garden in Glasgow’s Merchant City is part of the Council SAGE – Sow And Grow Everywhere – project

SHAPING the city of the

FUTURE

For the first time, the number of our planet’s citizens living in towns and cities exceeds those living in rural areas. Richard Baynes investigates how green design ideas – from street trees to green roofs – can help transform our urban environment.

MARCH 2015 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 21

The green city of the future

22 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2015

an Mackenzie laughs as he recalls people’s reaction to the Trust’s Cumbernauld Living Landscape initiative: “You do that where?” Cumbernauld, though, with its widely derided concrete shopping mall, is remarkably green. The people who created the new town in the 1950s designed in ‘green fingers’ mixed with houses, shops and industry. Ian says half the land within a 15-minute walk of the centre is green. We’re in Carbrain Gully, a pleasant open valley with mature trees, two minutes from the centre. It was overgrown and uninviting but in recent years has been cleared. More than ten species of wildflowers are growing right beneath our feet, including cowslip and forget-me-nots: an oasis among dense housing. The next improvement phase could involve opening up the burn culverted beneath the track. It’s a process known as ‘daylighting’ and is an important way of greening towns. In Seoul in South Korea, the re-exposed Cheonggyecheon stream, once buried beneath a raised highway, is now an attractive riverscape in the heart of the city. Similar plans are afoot in Vancouver, with plans to expose 50 streams running through the city. Open banks are good for wildlife and absorb and disperse run-off. In Carbrain Gully, Ian enthuses: “We could have a pond or a bog area, both great for biodiversity.” As of this year, more than half the world’s people live in urban areas and compact cities are good for the planet. Urban dwellers travel less, they have fewer children and it is easier to provide them with basic services like water and electricity. But we also know green space is good for us: woodland walks lower blood pressure, parks increase people’s perceived wellbeing. Green spaces in cities provide other services, too: any open ground slows rainwater run-off. Vegetation, green walls and roofs help prevent overheating in cities and absorb pollutants.

Green cities are places we human beings instinctively want to live in. They reconnect people with nature in their daily lives. What we have to do is get that greenery and space into our cities, either designing them into new developments, or ‘retrofitting’ them – which is sometimes tricky but worth it in the long run, explains Jonny Hughes, Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

“Green cities are places we human beings instinctively want to live in,” he says. “They reconnect people with nature in their daily lives. Think back to what it was like being a kid with green space where you could hide from grown-ups. “We need to create places that are

The green city of the future

Once a raised highway, the Cheonggyecheon stream is now an attractive riverscape in the heart of Seoul, South Korea © Jonny Hughes

In Viikki, Helsinki, woodland areas rub shoulders with high-density housing

With good design, conventional parks can be combined with nature-rich areas

successful for the future. It’s critical for Scotland’s economy and environment. We must avoid creating failing places where people don’t want to live.” In Viikki, a suburb of Helsinki, a new development has incorporated features such as swales – low wet areas to handle run-off – and woodland to produce a patchwork of greenery and high-density housing. Jonny has visited and his feelings about it are telling: “I loved it, I absolutely loved it,” he says. “It was the most pleasant place to be in and yet there were blocks of flats everywhere.”

I loved Viikki, I absolutely loved it. It was the most pleasant place to be in and yet there were blocks of flats everywhere.

A blank site such as Viikki is easy to work with. Similarly, Freiberg in south west Germany – which has a reputation as one of the world’s greenest cities – was heavily bombed in the Second World War, leaving plenty of scope for environmentally friendly features such as the tram system, cycleways, walkways and woodland. Cumbernauld was something of a blank canvas too when it was built. Mackenzie takes me to Seafar where, in contrast to the Carbrain district, more woods and green space mingle with houses. We walk MARCH 2015 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 23

The green city of the future

The costs of creating and enhancing green infrastructure may seem high but there is an increasing awareness of the economic benefits a high-quality natural environment brings.

doors and Opportunities to play outg boost pin hel are ure nat explore llbeing children’s health and we

along another green finger and the woodland embraces the neat homes. The area shows greening of towns working from the domestic level up, from a climber on the porch or window boxes through street corner spaces, right up to the network of large green spaces. With Seafar Wood Wildlife Reserve (owned by the Trust) on their doorstep, Seafar householders seem inspired to make it feel green. But there are obstacles, says Jonny. While he praises Scottish Government policy on street design and architecture, he says big housebuilders are often slow to adapt, sticking to standard layouts that don’t make best use of green space. “Or it is driven by road engineers,” he adds, “saying you can’t break the rules over sightlines so the whole development ends up being designed around a road system.” In older cities with established layouts, the problems are different. In Edinburgh, the Trust’s Edinburgh Living Landscape project is working with developers to use empty land for local communities. That’s something I saw in Glasgow recently, when I stumbled upon the Greyfriars Garden in the bustling Merchant City one Saturday morning. It’s an oasis of calm, with large square containers full of vegetables and flowers. Gardeners enthuse about it to me: many have flats with no outside space and with seats and tea mugs. It’s a social place too. The garden is part of the city council’s SAGE – Sow And Grow Everywhere – 24 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2015

project, using areas undesirable to developers. The local community council leases the plot and if the owner wants to develop it, the containers go to another site. But retrofitting green features to a city is not always cheap. At Camlachie in Glasgow’s east end, modern housing has been developed with little green infrastructure. Celtic Football Club’s old coach park took up a hectare among the homes and the city council is turning it into a park – including a wild area with rock-climbing boulders – with other unused local land getting the green treatment next. The costs of creating and enhancing green infrastructure may seem high – the Camlachie park will cost £500,000, much of it for cleaning and decontamination – however, there is an ever-increasing awareness of the economic benefits a high-quality natural environment brings. Improved mental and physical health, a more attractive place to live and work, and better flood protection are just a few examples of these benefits. “When we calculate the real contribution

that green infrastructure makes to the economy and society, the case for investing in urban nature becomes clear,” says Jonny. Green walls and roofs could help clean areas such as Glasgow’s Hope Street, a building canyon where pollution pools. This kind of greenery could play an important role in mitigating the city’s heat-island effect, giving a psychological lift to local people and slowing stormwater run-off. The last site Ian shows me is one of six ponds created with Scottish Water recently above Cumbernauld Glen for sustainable drainage of industrial areas. Scottish Water bought into the scheme because the ponds filter out pollutants and prevent run-off from roads and concreted areas flooding the Red Burn. The area is also managed as a nature reserve by the Trust and, although it’s a little stark now, new trees and wildflowers are beginning to sprout on the bank. The site showcases both sides of the greening coin: the water company gets a valuable service and the community gets a green place to enjoy.

The people who created Cumbernauld designed in ‘green fingers’ mixed with houses, shops and industry

Header by nature Inspired

BRINGING BACK THE

BUZZ 26 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2015

Inspired by nature

Parks, gardens and urban green spaces account for nearly 40% of our towns and cities but they are rarely designed with wildlife in mind. Jamie Grant travels to meet a landscape gardener who aims to change all that.

dinburgh-based landscape gardener John Frater (left) could hear the new wildflower meadow he had designed in Portobello long before he saw it. The air was thick with the contented buzz of bees, hoverflies and wasps, all feeding on a profusion of tall prairie flowers. Gone was the monotone of mowed grass that we usually expect from our urban parks. In its place was a riot of colour on a tiny strip of urban land that was “literally humming with life”. For John, who has dedicated his life to gardening and planting design, this small transformation exemplifies a sea change in thinking about its adine M chunas our urban green spaces. ©N Until recently, the countryside had been seen as the main preserve for wildlife and the primary focus of efforts to improve biodiversity, yet private gardens make up as much as 25% of the footprint of our towns and cities. Throw public parks into the mix and you have a huge patchwork of interconnected green spaces. Of course, urban spaces are unlikely to be truly wild again but the vast swathes of collective green land within them could be returned to a less developed state. This doesn’t mean simply stepping back to let nature take

The pressure is on with the demand for more homes and offices. We need to keep pace by building more ‘green infrastructure’.

its own meandering course, either – rewilding our cities demands thought and commitment. No one knows this more than John. Born and raised in Edinburgh, his most formative experiences of the natural world were spent digging his father’s vegetable patch and cutting back the hedges in his grandparents’ garden. Spurred on by a growing concern for the general state of the planet, he went on to study ecology at Edinburgh University. Ecology is a hard science and John spent four years immersed in Latin classifications, statistics and lab work to get through the course. “By the end my sense of wonder in the natural world had been hammered out of me,” he jokes. “I would look at a beautiful waterfall and think about how many cubic metres of water were flowing over it per second.” Nonetheless, he enjoyed the theory and came away with a profound understanding of how complex organic systems such as plant communities interact. For the past ten years, John has blended this learning with his love of gardening in his planting design business, Plantforms. At its heart is an ‘ecologically informed’ approach to horticulture. This means choosing species that are best suited to the soil and climate that grow together to form resilient communities, requiring minimal maintenance. His hardy perennials, for example, are able to offer up a rich bounty of flowers for pollinators once they are established. The key to this approach is planning. John compares the art of bringing a verge, park or garden back to life with composing music. You can’t just throw together a whole load of random notes: they have to work together in harmony. Structure is everything and John’s designs typically combine a mix of habitats with open ground, borders, shrubby patches and, if possible, a high canopy of trees. He also looks at how the network of surrounding green spaces complement the one he is working on. For example, if there is a pond or woodland nearby he might choose to plant up a wildflower MARCH 2015 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 27

Inspired by nature

John’s wildlife gardening tips

Street planting using mixed perennials brings colour and life to Rodney Street in Edinburgh

meadow rather than double up. John’s biggest challenge is encouraging councils to move away from the Victorian assumption that our parks should be swathes of mowed grass, bordered by gaudy bedding plants such as begonias. Quite apart from the maintenance required on upkeep, they have limited scope for wildlife. John would like these spaces managed rather than designed, allowing natural plant colonies to re-establish themselves. “You can have a wild picture if the frame is tidy,” he comments. “People will accept a more natural space if they know it is being cared for.” These are the parks of the future, a vision of our cities rewilded that includes helping nature to reclaim derelict, post-industrial land. Brownfield sites such as old bridges and factories could be turned back into new green spaces for the 21st Century. “The pressure is on with the relentless demand for more homes and offices,” John warns. “We need to keep pace by building more ‘green infrastructure’

28 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2015

2. Reduce the amount of hard paved surface in your garden 3. Increase the volume of foliage and the diversity of structure: borders, shrubs and trees 4. I f you can, plan your garden in light of what already exists in your area. Our gardens are tiny parts of an extensive habitat 5. Remember the mantra, ‘right plant, right place’ and only combine plants from similar habitats 6. Don’t assume your garden has to be messy, although don’t be overly tidy either © John Frater

There is a lot of work to be done but every garden is already making a contribution to the natural world and can quite easily be enhanced.

into our cities or risk them being swallowed up forever.” The stakes couldn’t be higher. Green spaces in our towns and cities have a huge contribution to make to our natural capital and our wellbeing. Patches of lawn in front of terraced houses help prevent water run-off and flooding. Planting trees in streets with heavy traffic cleans the air and filters out carcinogenic particulates. Then there is that indefinable ‘vitamin green’ factor – the soothing effect that being in natural surroundings has on frenetic city lives. Our towns and cities also have a real contribution to make to the health of the wider environment. With the countryside under more pressure from intensive agriculture and development, the vast network of allotments, gardens and parks in urban centres can help encourage biodiversity back into an increasingly fractured landscape. “There is a lot of work to be done,” John admits, “but every garden is already making a contribution to the natural world and can quite easily be enhanced.” n

1. Avoid using pesticides and herbicides wherever possible

An example of John’s traffic island planting in Mansfield Place, Edinburgh

MARCH 2015 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 29

Q&A

Dr Aileen McLeod MSP

Connecting and protecting wildlife

e asked Dr Aileen McLeod MSP – who became Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform in November last year – about red squirrel conservation, the impact of land reform on the environment and her childhood experiences of Scotland’s wildlife. 1. What are your childhood experiences of Scotland’s wildlife? I grew up in East Kilbride, where I was fortunate to live not far from Calderglen Country Park. We spent a lot of time as a family going for walks down the glen and along the River Calder and, with my aunt living in Balerno, we spent much time up in the Pentland Hills. I loved wildflowers and butterflies and would take my illustrated guidebook with me to tick off all the flowers and butterflies I could identify. 2. Fewer than 1 in 10 children now play regularly outdoors. How can the Scottish Government address the growing disconnect between children and nature? We are taking action with partners through initiatives including a Play Strategy, Grounds For Learning and Go2Play to ensure children reap the benefits of outdoor play. The Play Strategy seeks to improve play facilities and enable children to have the space and time to play. Good quality outdoor surroundings are crucial. This is why we fund the Grounds For Learning programme to help schools and nurseries transform their grounds. We have also provided £1.9 million for Go2Play, which supports development and expansion of free play in disadvantaged communities. 3. How do you think land reform legislation (which will be going through Parliament this year) will help secure environmental sustainability? The debate on land reform places public interest centre stage. While the drivers for

30 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2015

Dr Aileen McLeod is the species champion for red squirrels

land reform are different, environmental sustainability is a key part of the public interest debate about how land in Scotland is used and managed. The debate on land reform will add strength to the debate on improving Scotland’s environmental sustainability. 4. You are the species champion for red squirrels. What are your long-term aspirations for Scotland’s only native squirrel species? I have ambitious aspirations for the red squirrel. I would like to see this charismatic animal return to our woodlands and the gardens of those lucky enough to live in or near the countryside. We need to ensure that we have the right sort of woodland habitat and that those woodlands are sufficiently connected to allow red squirrels to move between them. We also need to control the grey squirrel as this nonnative species can out-compete our native reds for food and habitat, especially in the broadleaved woodlands that we are working

to restore. I look forward to playing my part in working to safeguard the future of this muchloved species. 5. How do you think Scotland can further its leadership role in the protection and enhancement of Scotland’s natural capital? The success of the World Forum on Natural Capital highlighted the interest in this area of work and its potential to make a significant contribution to the way we take account of natural capital in decision making. The Scottish Wildlife Trust and its partners are to be congratulated on raising the debate and I look forward to the second World Forum in November. Our Biodiversity Strategy, The 2020 Challenge, highlights the need to recognise, manage and invest in Scotland’s natural capital. Our world class environment is one of Scotland’s greatest assets. It has a vital role in our prosperity as a country and underpins many of our most important industries. I am determined to improve our biodiversity, not only in terms of protecting and enhancing our wonderful natural environment but also ensuring that we fully appreciate the benefits it provides. 6. What would you like your legacy to be as Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform? It is perhaps a little early in my appointment to be thinking about legacy but I want the Land Reform legislation to be successful, I want to make progress on our ambitious climate change commitments, and I am keen to increase the recognition given to the value of Scotland’s natural heritage and its contribution to the health and wellbeing of those who live and visit our country. n Dr Aileen McLeod MSP is Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform. She is also the species champion for red squirrels.

Top spots

Visit Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre Explore the ‘Buzzing Back Gardens’ and the ‘Wild Wild Wood’ at this hidden gem

Hazlehead Wood

The Miley Jupiter Possil Marsh

Seafar Wood

estled in the heart of the Central Belt, Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre is a hidden gem among the factories and housing of Grangemouth. It started life as railway sidings before being taken over by the Scottish Wildlife Trust in the early 1990s. Over time, it has evolved from an industrial brownfield site to a lively nature reserve with a wealth of habitats and species.

32 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2015

The route 1 Start off your visit by popping into the classroom

Getting there Jupiter is sited in the west of Grangemouth, just off Wood Street. If travelling on the M9, take Junction 5 from the east or Junction 6 from the west. Once you are off the motorway, keep an eye out for the brown VisitScotland signs leading the way to Jupiter. There is plenty of parking available by the main entrance. If arriving by public transport, the closest train stations are Falkirk High and Falkirk

area in the wildlife centre. Here you can learn about Jupiter’s unusual history and see some pictures of how it looked back in the early 1990s. The spotters’ board will let you know what wildlife to look out for on your walk and will give you somewhere to leave a record of what you see yourself.

Grahamston, which are approximately four miles away. There are regular buses from both of these to Grangemouth, stopping just a few minutes’ walk from Jupiter.

3 1

2 On leaving the classroom, follow the path up the side of the building to the wildlife gardens directly behind it. There are three for you to explore, the first one being the ‘Rubbish Garden’. It is exactly as the name suggests – a load of old rubbish transformed into a wildlife haven! We’ve reused and recycled as much as possible to help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, from planters made out of an old toilet or a chimney pot to our raised pond, with a recycled wall around it made of reclaimed stone, old boots, gloves and wine bottles. 3 Next door to the Rubbish Garden are the ‘Buzzing Back Gardens’. Here you will find two example gardens – both the size of the average UK plot – specially adapted for wildlife. Have a look around and hopefully you will see a number of ideas that you can use at home, from putting in a pond to growing your own

Top spots

TOP SPOTS THE MILEY, OS LANDRANGER 54

Part of the disused Newtyle to Dundee railway, The Miley is within walking distance of Dundee city centre. It was Grid ref: NO384315 originally an impassable, mile-long rubbish tip, but now supports grassland, tall-herb communities, scrub and trees, making it a haven for birds, mammals and insects. The path offers a relaxing stroll, particularly in the summer when the reserve resonates with birdsong and the wildflowers are alive with butterflies.

OS LANDRANGER 64

Seafar Wood is a relatively young strip of woodland west of Cumbernauld Village. The woodland habitat is still developing, and clusters of bluebells Grid ref: NS759754 and other woodland flowers are already established. Areas of scrub and remnants of agricultural hedgerows provide habitats for birds and the autumnal colours of the trees are stunning. A path, which can sometimes be muddy, winds through the woodland.

6 Follow the path past the pond for about five minutes until you come to the entrance of the ‘Wild Wild Wood’. While the rest of Jupiter has been carefully managed and planted with wildflowers and trees, this area has been left to its own devices. The resulting woodland that has grown is not only a fantastic habitat but an incredible example of how nature can reclaim an ex-industrial site. Collect a minibeast hunting kit from a ranger in the classroom to discover the huge variety of invertebrates that can be found, or watch woodland birds such as chiffchaff, great tit and song thrush going about their daily business. Continue along the path as it loops around the woodland then doubles back on itself to lead back to the classroom.

POSSIL MARSH, OS LANDRANGER 64

Possil Marsh near Glasgow has a shallow freshwater loch surrounded by marsh, swamp and fen, with areas of willow scrub and grassland. The fen and Grid ref: NS585700 swamp areas support locally rare plants and the reserve is also an important staging post during the spring and autumn migration for warblers and waterfowl. Breeding birds on the reserve include reed bunting, moorhen and the secretive water rail. HAZLEHEAD WOOD, OS LANDRANGER 38

A journey around Hazlehead and Countesswells in Aberdeen will take you through a mosaic of woodland communities, from the predominantly pine and birch woods of Hazlehead and Den Wood through to Foggieton with its rich broadleaf areas. Red squirrels can often be seen in Hazlehead and Den Woods – look out for their nests (called dreys) of twigs and needles. Also look out for treecreepers and garden tiger moths.

5 Follow the path round from the meadows and you will soon find yourself by Jupiter’s biggest pond. There are 12 in total here, all of which are man-made and bursting with life. If you would like to take a closer look at what is swimming below the surface, collect a set of pond-dipping equipment from a ranger in the classroom. Look out for tadpoles slowly turning into frogs and for the colourful aerobatic displays that are put on by dragonflies and damselflies. On a quiet

SEAFAR WOOD,

4 Leave the Buzzing Back Gardens by either gate and follow the path until you cross a small bridge over a natural ditch. On either side of the path, you will be treated to the sight of our wildflower meadows. Full of pollen-rich species such as clover, meadowsweet, ox-eye daisy and cranesbill, these meadows provide a fantastic food source for many of Jupiter’s invertebrate species. On a sunny day, keep an eye out for green-veined white, peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies, as well as bumblebees. There are six species that can be seen here regularly.

day, other visitors to the pond can include a heron and a kingfisher.

fruit and vegetables or even planting a grass-free lawn. Whatever your gardening style, there will be something to interest you here.

Grid ref: NJ893053

MARCH 2015 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 33

Viewpoint

Viewpoint A selection of your thoughts and opinions THE VIEW FROM...

Liz checks new planning applications in Clackmannanshire for any that could impact on wildlife

Liz Albert, Planning Volunteer

I’VE been a Planning Volunteer for four years, part of a small team who are a joy to work with. Our aim is to protect important habitats and wildlife from inappropriate development. We each have a particular role, but sometimes work jointly to learn from each other and to use the best informed person for each task. I am the ‘scanner’ for Clackmannanshire, pictured right, checking new planning applications each week, picking out any that may have wildlife implications, alerting a naturalist in our wider network with local or habitat knowledge, and helping with any response that is required. Another volunteer does the same for the Stirling Council area. It takes time to learn how to use the planning system but advice from the team and experience certainly help. I’ve signed up recently to a mini Open University course, ‘An Introduction to Ecosystems’,

JOIN OUR PLANNING VOLUNTEERS: To find out more, please contact John McTague on 0131 312 4771 or email jmctague@ scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk

to help me keep up with my extremely knowledgeable co-volunteers! I also scan all the new planting and felling applications to Forestry Commission Scotland in our area each week and respond to these, when relevant, using information from the wider team. As we were all new to this system when we started, we’ve had to work from a standing start, but the first signs of progress are now starting to emerge. Support from the ever-helpful Maggie Keegan (Head of

Policy and Planning) and her policy colleagues at headquarters has proved invaluable. Qualities needed for a Planning Volunteer: some IT skills, some mapping skills and a large helping of perseverance. Also, as with many things in life, a dark sense of humour can help during the hard times! Interested in volunteering? Contact John McTague on 0131 312 4771 or email jmctague@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk

THE VIEW FROM THE WEB We asked our Facebook friends: ‘What do you think needs more attention during the next Scottish Parliament?’. Below are the results: Urban wildlife

Wildlife in our seas

On Twitter we asked: ‘What one thing would most help Scotland’s #wildlife in the next 50 years’. Below are the results: 8%

45%

MCSUK @mcsuk · Feb 18 @ScotWildlife A network of Marine Protected Areas that protect substantial amt of our seas and seabed from damaging trawling and dredging!

11%

RSPB Scotland @RSPBScotland · Feb 18 @ScotWildlife Inspire people to create a world richer in nature & boost support for positive political change for #wildlife by @scotgov

Our uplands

27%

WWF Scotland @WWFScotland · Feb 16 @ScotWildlife Delivery of Scottish #Climate Act and a strong international climate deal agreed in Paris this December.

Our lowlands

Peatlands

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John Muir Trust @JohnMuirTrust · Feb 16 @ScotWildlife A major cultural shift to a position where society values, respects and lives alongside wild nature.

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WIN AN OVERNIGHT STAY FOR TWO PEOPLE, INCLUDING BREAKFAST, AT THE SPECTACULAR KENMORE HOTEL

e’re giving you the chance to win an overnight stay at the Kenmore Hotel in beautiful Highland Perthshire, including accommodation in a classic room and a full Scottish breakfast in the morning. Set in breathtaking scenery overlooking the Tay, The Kenmore Hotel is Scotland’s oldest inn and the perfect base from which to explore the countryside, enjoy an outdoor adventure sport, or simply relax. As well as 40 delightful rooms, the hotel features a Grill Room restaurant, offering stunning views and an extensive menu with some delicious grill specialities; or you can dine in the Boar’s Head bar, after which you can relax in a cosy spot in the Poet’s Bar with its open fires. There’s also an outside terrace – perfect for al fresco dining when the weather allows – and just next door is a collection of five-star luxury self-catering lodges, some with private balconies, gardens and hot tubs. For further information visit kenmorehotel.com To enter our prize draw, simply tell us how many rooms the Kenmore Hotel has. Send your entry to: Scottish Wildlife Trust Competition, c/o Connect Publications, Studio 2001, Mile End, Seedhill Road, Paisley PA1 1JS. Or email hello@connectcommunications. co.uk with “Scottish Wildlife Competition” in the subject line before midnight on 31 May 2015. Subject to availability and non-transferable. Terms and conditions apply and are available on request. Reader offer: Enjoy an overnight stay at the Kenmore Hotel for just £99 per room, per night including accommodation in a classic double or twin room, three course dinner in the Grill Room and full Scottish breakfast the following morning. To book call 0844 800 4000 and quote Scottish Wildlife magazine (bookings cannot be made online). Valid until 30 April 2015, subject to availability & allocation; allocation of £25pp for dinner. Terms and conditions apply.

Answer Name Address

Postcode Telephone Email

Fair Isle Bird Observatory

Experience the magic of Fair Isle with a stay in the Observatory Guest House. Comfortable, spacious en-suite, full-board accommodation in a stunning location. Get up close to puffins, explore the spectacular scenery or just relax and take in the views.

Open April to October

Tel: 01595 760258 Email: fibobooking@btconnect.com

Web: www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk

MARCH 2015 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 35

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Reading list A selection of some of our favourite recent releases Polly Pullar

A Drop in the Ocean Published by Birlinn Limited £12.99 RRP ISBN: 978-1780272368 THIS is the latest offering from Polly Pullar, an author and former sheep farmer who has worked with animals all her life. A Drop in the Ocean is the very first book to have been written about the Isle of Muck, a tiny island off the north west coast of Scotland. In it, Pullar tells the story of Lawrence MacEwen, whose family has owned the Inner Hebridean island since 1896. Portraying the ups and downs of island life, this true-to-life book is based on conversations Pullar had with Laird

MacEwen who, despite his wealth and fame, is still a working farmer on the Isle. When a young Lawrence first came to the island, his arrival was, as Pullar writes, “a little unceremonious. It was in 1941, when Mrs MacEwen was returning from hospital to Muck with the latest addition to her family. She travelled as usual from Mallaig on the Loch Mhor, skippered by the well respected and fearless West Highlander Captain ‘Squeaky’ Robertson. “He descended from the bridge with aplomb and greeted her whilst peering into the Moses basket, where the new infant was lying peacefully. ‘Ah, Mrs MacEwen,’ he said smiling broadly, ‘he

looks chust like a boiled lobster.’” As well as humorous tales about island life, the book also benefits from photographs that capture the natural beauty of the Scottish landscape. Scottish Field says this “must-read for those interested in Scottish history” is “unique and often amusing”. Those who have read ‘A Drop…’ would recommend this book to anyone, particularly those who have visited western Scotland. One reviewer enthused: “If you have not visited this part of the world, it will surely make you want to, at the first opportunity. Once I finished reading, I started again.”

Helen Macdonald

Matt Sewell

Natural History Museum

H is for Hawk

Owls: Our Most Enchanting Bird

Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Portfolio 24

Published by Ebury Press £10 RRP ISBN: 978-0091959999

Published by the Natural History Museum £17 RRP ISBN: 978-0565093426

THIS is a picture book with a difference. A collection of 50 drawings of “our most enchanting bird”, it showcases the work of street artist Matt Sewell. A followup to Our Garden Birds, Our Songbirds and Our Woodland Birds, this book “expresses the individual characters of owls as never before” and is a visual feast exploring this “all-seeing, all-knowing species”. One reviewer describes Matt’s book as “outstanding, superb” before adding: “I just love the way Matt captures the essence of the birds in simple brush strokes, wonderful, I look at it and always smile.” The talents of the ornithological artist have been featured in The Guardian and he has become known as “the Banksy of the bird world”.

This is the 50th year of the competition and world-famous exhibition that invites entries from amateur and professional photographers across the globe. An international judging panel receives around 50,000 submissions each year in a range of styles, before whittling entries down to the final selection contained in this book. Each image includes a caption with the author’s own story and message. It’s the 24th portfolio from the photographers honoured in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2014 Award. Be amazed and stunned by the breathtaking photographs that showcase creative talent and technical skill. These images have been carefully selected from the 41,000 entrants from 96 countries. The book is already a number one bestseller on Amazon.

Published by Jonathan Cape £16.99 RRP ISBN: 978-0224097000

BASED on the real life experiences of author Helen Macdonald, H is for Hawk has earned her both the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction 2014 and the Costa Biography Award 2014. When she was young, Helen dreamed of becoming a falconer. Years later, grief-stricken by the death of her father, she tames and trains a goshawk called Mabel. This is her record of her spiritual journey. The Guardian’s review said: “She has written her taming of Mabel like a thriller, slowly and carefully cranking the tension so that your stomach and heart leap queasily towards each other.”

36 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE MARCH 2015

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Bird life springs back AS winter blends into spring the return of hazel catkins, lesser celandines or frog spawn can feel like a series of minor victories. The bird life in our gardens also reacts to the lengthening days and rising temperatures, with an obvious increase in song and general activity. Winter visitors such as redwings, fieldfares and bramblings become harder to see as the birds start to head back to their breeding territories in north west Europe but our resident birds will soon be busy defending territories, attracting mates and nest building. Mistle thrushes and robins are usually incubating eggs by early March and by the end of the month they, and many blackbirds, song thrushes and perhaps some early dunnocks, will all have hungry young chicks to feed. It’s a frantically busy time for parent birds

that are still recovering from the effects of winter and there are some simple ways that we can help the adult birds to find suitable food to feed to their young. By giving the adults ready access to sunflower hearts and peanut cakes they will be able to quickly feed themselves and then concentrate on finding natural food for their chicks, and we can also help by providing mealworms to supplement local sources of invertebrate food. Mealworms are packed with the protein and calories that growing chicks need and, once discovered, many birds find them hard to resist. Once the young birds have left the nest it’s useful for them to have a ready source of insect food available as they learn to forage for themselves and, in the first few days after fledging when they are dependent on adults for food, it also eases the pressure on the parent birds, at least some of which will already be incubating their second clutch of eggs ready to start the process all over again! n For more information visit birdfood.co.uk/SWT15 Martin George, Wildlife Advisor at CJ Wildlife

In our last issue, we included advice that a good source of nutrition for birds in winter is peanut butter for birds. This is a specific product with salt removed. Conventional peanut butter is harmful to bird life due to its high salt content. We apologise for any confusion this may have caused.

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