Issuu

Number 93 | November 2017

NOCTURNAL NEIGHBOURS A closer look at Scotland’s badgers

INFOGRAPHIC: Find out what goes on in Scotland’s inshore waters

Welcome from the Chair

FIRST WORD From our new Chair, Linda Rosborough

shall never forget my first visit to the Trust’s Montrose Basin Wildlife Reserve. The tidal lagoon was awash with pink-footed geese, the sound was incredible and the sight of tens of thousands of birds was awe-inspiring. It’s a marvel many people have enjoyed again this year, thanks to the work of the dedicated and passionate staff and volunteers who recognise the importance of safeguarding this internationally important habitat. Passion and dedication are themes that run throughout the Trust. It is an amazing organisation with a strong strategic vision, championing nature and wildlife internationally as well as in Scotland. Through all of this work, there is an aim to help people connect with nature, whether they are in a town, a city or on a remote Hebridean island. As the new Chair, I am looking forward to building on Robin Harper’s excellent legacy and helping to sustain and champion the Trust’s achievements in the coming years. Having spent the first half of my career as a researcher and lecturer on environmental and planning issues, I went on to spend 20 years as a civil servant in Scotland and Northern Ireland, covering a broad range of issues from social inclusion to farm payments. Recently, I retired as Director of Marine Scotland, the body responsible for managing the sea, including fisheries management, marine

Passion and dedication are themes that run throughout the Trust.

planning and Marine Protected Areas. My role as Chair started at the Annual General Meeting in Glasgow in September, and I was very pleased to meet many of the Trust’s members from Glasgow and further afield. The presentations highlighting the range of work that the Trust delivers were truly impressive, from engaging young people in ways to improve coastal green infrastructure to reintroducing beavers, saving red squirrels, carrying out practical work on the Trust’s 120 reserves and leading large, landscapescale restoration projects.

The next few years will be crucial for Scotland’s wildlife, as the framework for our environmental policy becomes clear. Now, more than ever, we need to engage and mobilise our strong membership base to ensure that the value of our natural world is never forgotten. I am honoured to have been entrusted with this responsibility at such a critical time. I hope to have the opportunity to meet with many members, either in local groups or in other ways over the coming years. And I hope, like you, to be spending more time enjoying Scotland’s amazing wildlife. NOVEMBER 2017 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 3

Contents

Inside this issue

06 RIPARIAN WOODLANDS

Find out where to go to discover the wildlife-rich woodland habitat that grows along the riverbank.

08 NEWS

News round-up from the Trust and

the world of conservation.

INSHORE FISHERIES

Discover what goes on in Scotland’s

inshore waters and what the Trust is calling for in its new policy.

25 CHRISTMAS CATALOGUE Choose from a range of gifts to

treat a friend or loved one, and support the Trust at the same time.

30 SCOTLAND’S BADGERS

One of our most iconic mammals

faces a number of challenges, from persecution to threats to its habitat.

34 THE BIG PICTURE

Wildlife photographer Philip Price

shares one of his favourite shots of the Knapdale beavers.

38 VIEWPOINT

Barrie Williams shares his

experience of volunteering for the Trust.

WIN LUXU A BREA RY TWO K FOR O FIRT N THE H FORT OF H SEE P AGE 3

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). Scottish Wildlife is published three times a year: March, July and November.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is affiliated to The Wildlife Trusts, a UK-wide network of 47 Trusts with more than 2,000 wildlife reserves. 4 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

Deadlines for news: 1 January, 1 May, 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) £40 (£18); Joint (concession) £47 (£24); Family £57; Watch £18; Life (joint) £900 (£1,300); World/Overseas £45. Patron: HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay. Chair: Linda Rosborough. Vice-Chairs: Jon Barnes, Amanda Forsyth, Karen Chambers. Chief Executive: Jonny Hughes. Editor: Jo Pike editor@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk Production Editor: Pete Haskell. Design: Connect connectcommunications.co.uk Advertising: Elliot Whitehead 0131 561 00212, Clare Stebbing 0131 561 0024. Printing: LexPlus. Cover photo: © Vaclav Sebek, Shutterstock

Spotlight

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT:

ASPEN (Populus tremula)

40m The species name tremula comes from the word tremble, referring to the way the leaves move in the breeze.

The leaves of a mature aspen are relatively round with an irregularly-toothed margin, but juvenile trees have much more triangularshaped leaves.

As well as producing seeds, aspen can create interconnected clones of itself by producing suckers that can be up to 40m away from the parent tree.

Aspen is a very hardy species, and according to the pollen record it was one of the first trees to recolonise Britain after the end of the last Ice Age.

Aspen is relatively scarce throughout Scotland but can be found growing alongside birch on the banks of rivers where it is a preferred food plant for beavers.

NOVEMBER 2017 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 5

Spotlight: Riparian woodland

TALES OF THE RIV Occurring on the banks of rivers, burns and lochs, riparian woodland is an ecologically-rich habitat, important for a wide diversity of plants and animals both above and below the water’s surface. As well as providing refuge for many different birds and invertebrates, the woodland canopy benefits fish such as trout and salmon by casting shade over the water, keeping it cool in the height of summer. Leaves, twigs and insects that fall into the water form an important food source for aquatic species, themselves hunted from above by birds and bats. The roots of trees help to prevent the banks from eroding while also providing protection for small fish and aquatic invertebrates. In addition, this type of woodland can create important corridors of habitat, allowing wildlife to move between patches of forest. Although currently sparse and fragmented across Scotland, riparian woodlands are managed on some Trust reserves, several of which are listed here.

ASPEN A deciduous tree growing up to 25m high. Leaves change from being coppery-coloured in spring, to green in the summer and finally yellow or red in the autumn.

DAUBENTON’S BAT Typically feeding within 6km of its daytime roost, this nocturnal species flies along rivers at speeds of up to 25km per hour hunting midges, caddisflies and mayflies.

6 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

EURASIAN BEAVER Growing to about the size of a tubby spaniel, beavers are most active around dawn and dusk. During the day, look out for freshly-gnawed tree stumps and trails leading down to the water’s edge.

MAYFLY Mayfly nymphs spend up to two years feeding on algae and plant matter before emerging from the water as adults. On warm summer days, they can sometimes be seen “dancing” over the water’s surface.

Spotlight: Riparian woodland

ERBANK

C B

RESERVES A PEASE DEAN

OS Landranger 67, NT790704 A beautiful, ancient semi-natural woodland supporting a thriving habitat. The river running through the reserve provides perfect hunting conditions for dippers during the day and bats at night. In spring, the woodland floor is cloaked in bluebells, primrose and wood anemones.

Medium-sized ducks that nest in holes in large trees next to water bodies. The best time to spot Goldeneye is winter, when birds come to Scotland to breed, although there is a small resident population in the Highlands.

B AYR GORGE WOODLANDS

OS Landranger 70, NS457249 A steep, wooded ravine that provides important habitat for an impressive community of invertebrates, plants and fungi. Several rare spiders and beetles can be found here, as can Daubenton’s and brown long-eared bats.

C CARRON GLEN

OS Landranger 57, NS785835 Carved by the River Carron, this steep-sided gorge is covered in native oak and ash woodland. A path through the reserve provides impressive views of the gorge where you can often see dippers and kingfishers.

D LOWER NETHAN GORGE

OS Landranger 72, NS824470 Rich in ash and elm, this reserve provides one of the best examples of semi-natural woodland in the Clyde Valley. A path (steep in places) takes you through the woodland, where you might be able to spot woodpeckers, otters and signs of badgers.

E SPEY BAY

BROWN TROUT Closely related to Atlantic salmon, brown trout can live for up to 20 years and are found in a wide variety of habitats, preferring cold, clean rivers and lochs. Many brown trout return to their natal area to spawn in early winter.

OS Landranger 28, NJ325657 Although primarily known as a great place to spot bottlenose dolphins, this reserve also encompasses a healthy stretch of riparian woodland. During the winter, look out for ducks and divers. In spring and summer, enjoy the wildflowers, butterflies and dragonflies. For full reserve information, visit scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves

NOVEMBER 2017 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 7

Carron Glen © Lisa Evans, Falkirk Council Image Library; Mayfly © Jon Hawkins, Surrey Hills Photography, Eurasian beaver © Philip Price

GOLDENEYE

Scottish Wildlife Trust news

Latest news

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

KEEP UP TO DATE

Visit our website for regular updates at scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk

Boost for Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project THANKS to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Dumfries and Galloway LEADER programme, Trust members and supporters, and a number of charitable grant-makers, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels has embarked on a mission to mobilise community action in areas where red squirrels are most under threat. Over the next five years, the project will focus on inspiring and training members of the public to help protect their native red squirrels by monitoring the local populations and controlling the spread of invasive grey squirrels. To help make this happen, five new members of staff have joined the project team. They will focus on a range of activities such as engaging with communities across the country, enlisting volunteers, providing a range of high-quality training and building a web-based community hub to provide easy access to training materials, information, squirrel chat and data management.

There are many things you can do to help protect red squirrels. To find out more, vis it scottishsquirrels. org.uk

8 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

Boost for Knapdale beavers IN October, three Eurasian beavers were on the River Tay. released into Knapdale Forest as part of “Before the beavers are released, they a new project to boost the existing go through a screening process at population in the area. Edinburgh Zoo to ensure they are Following the Scottish Government’s healthy and disease-free,” said Ben decision last year to allow beavers to Harrower, Conservation Programme remain in Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Manager at RZSS. Trust and the Royal Zoological Society “They are then carefully of Scotland (RZSS) formed transported to Knapdale and a new partnership called released at sites that we have Scottish Beavers. inspected and determined In September, the to be suitable for beavers Please partnership was to live. y to a d to te a don ’s successful in acquiring “Our hope is that, le a d nap support K a licence from Scottish by the end of the three it is V beavers. Natural Heritage to org. years, some dlifetrust. reinforce beaver of the newly scottishwil acknumbers in Knapdale, introduced beavers uk/bring-b where the Trust and will have paired up beavers RZSS had previously led with some of the existing the Scottish Beaver Trial. population and had kits. Over the next three years, up “That way we can to 28 beavers will be released to increase guarantee a mixing of genes which the genetic diversity of will make for a much healthier the population and give it the best population going forward.” chance of thriving in the long-term. The reinforcement is being The reinforcements may come from a carried out with permission from the range of sources including private landowner, Forestry Enterprise collections and the population living Scotland.

Scottish Wildlife Trust news

Nature of Scotland Awards

TWO projects led by the Trust have received recognition in the Nature of Scotland Awards. Cumbernauld Living Landscape’s work to engage volunteers and young people has been nominated for the Community Initiative and Youth and Education categories, and our North West Highlands Snorkel Trail is a finalist in the Innovation and Tourism categories.

New members of Council

AN innovative beachcleaning station installed near Ullapool as part of our Living Seas project has proven to be a success. The station is designed to allow walkers visiting Dun Canna beach to safely remove a small amount of litter each time they visit.

A month after installation, 18 bags and several other larger items weighing 130kg had been placed in the cleaning station by visitors. The Trust would like to thank Ledmore & Keanchulish for hosting the station, and Highland Council for allowing the waste to be disposed of for free.

For more information, visit naturalcapitalforum.com

Busy summer at Johnston Terrace

JOHNSTON Terrace Garden Wildlife Reserve experienced a transformation as part of the 2017 Edinburgh Art Festival. The reserve was home to Palm House, a timber-framed studio workshop created by artist Bobby Niven, which hosted a series of artist residencies and environmentally-focused events for families and local community groups, including a weekly Forest School.

Four artists took part in a week-long residency in the workshop, exploring ideas relating to the reserve, the structure and the ideas of Patrick Geddes. Johnston Terrace Garden was established by Geddes at the close of the 19th Century as part of a network of green spaces in Edinburgh’s Old Town designed to bring light, air and contact with nature into the lives of residents.

THE Scottish Wildlife Trust, in association with UN Environment, International Union for Conservation of Nature, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Natural Capital Coalition and the Green Economy Coalition, will hold the third World Forum on Natural Capital in Edinburgh on 27-28 November. The event will bring together business leaders, government representatives and environmental experts from around the globe to explore how integrating natural capital principles into decision-making can help to secure better environmental, social and economic outcomes.

TWO new members have been appointed to the Trust’s governing Council. Professor Anna Meredith, Chair of Zoological and Conservation Medicine at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, and marine conservationist Andrew Binnie were elected to serve for three years at our AGM. Dr Kenny Taylor was re-elected to serve for a further three years. The Trust thanks outgoing Council members Tony Cameron and Robbie Mann.

Highland litter clean-up success

World Forum in Edinburgh

Meet the mammals

THE secret life of small mammals at Cambus Pools Wildlife Reserve has been uncovered by our Stirling and Clackmannanshire Local Group thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery. One of the Trust’s People’s Postcode Lottery Impact Awards was awarded to the group to allow volunteers to purchase and use camera traps to record the presence of animals on the reserve, including hedgehogs, bank voles, field voles and shrews. One camera recorded 370 visits during one night, including wood mice building up their winter store by taking away the hazelnuts that were used as bait.

NOVEMBER 2017 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 9

Scottish Wildlife Trust news

Continued support for FAWN

OUR Fife Local Group is delighted to have been pledged a further five years’ support towards the production of its Fife Area Wildlife News (FAWN) newsletter from the Robertson Group. The newsletter is sent to all Trust members in the area and contains articles and news of Local Group activities as well as features on general wildlife themes.

Mixed year on Handa

THE Handa Island seabird survey produced mixed results this year. Arctic skuas had their most successful breeding season since 2009, but fulmars, guillemots and great skuas had less success than in recent years.

Lives of migrating ospreys revealed DATA gathered by the Trust from young migrating ospreys has been used to learn more about their lives outside Scotland. A number of osprey chicks were fitted with small GPS trackers by the Trust between 2012 and 2015. This allowed their movements to be traced as they migrated across Europe to West Africa. An analysis of this data, published in the British Trust for Ornithology’s Ringing and Migration journal, has confirmed that ospreys prefer to spend time close to lakes, rivers and the ocean where they can hunt for fish. However,

individual ospreys’ preferences for forest or open land varied. The juvenile ospreys avoided towns and cities and did not show a preference for protected areas. This highlights the importance of ensuring that suitable habitat is preserved in areas where they rest and overwinter.

Ducklings take a bow

A DUCK nesting tube erected at Montrose Basin in 2016 by Ranger Anna Cheshier with the help of Countryfile presenter Anita Rani welcomed its first ducklings this summer. A number of female mallards showed interest in the artificial nest, which is easily visible from our visitor centre, so we’re optimistic it will be used in future seasons.

Woodland initiative

THE Trust has joined five partners including Forest Enterprise Scotland and the John Muir Trust in the new Heart of Scotland Forest Partnership. This ambitious project aims to create a thriving 3,000-hectare native woodland corridor stretching between Schiehallion and Loch Tummel in Highland Perthshire.

10 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

IN BRIEF

Support from young fundraisers PUPILS at Campie Primary School in Musselburgh raised £300 for the Trust by squirrelling away their spare pennies. The school’s pupil council asked each class to save up loose change in jars. They

used this money to help wildlife by adopting a number of iconic species, including puffins, otters and seals. People and Wildlife Officer Catherine Leatherland visited the school with Sandy the Squirrel to

present them with their adoption certificates and cuddly animals. “Inspiring school children is a vital part of the conservation work we do,” she said, “so it was fantastic to see how interested the pupils were in wildlife.”

Scottish Wildlife Trust news

Volunteers hard at work on sites VOLUNTEERS have been helping to manage several types of vegetation on Trust reserves over the past two months. At Bawsinch & Duddingston Loch Wildlife Reserve, volunteers have cut around 150 bales-worth of hay from the meadow, helping to maintain the diversity of plants and wildflowers at the site, as well as providing food for the Trust’s hardy Shetland cattle. At Jupiter Urban Wildlife Reserve in Grangemouth, volunteers and Trust staff have been using Austrian scythes for the meadow’s

annual cut. Annual cutting is essential as it maximises diversity and wildflower interest. While the scythes are slower than using a strimmer, they are much quieter, use human power rather than fossil fuels and allow animals to move out of the way.

Meanwhile, up at our Ben Mor Coigach reserve, reeds have been cut back from Achlochan Loch at Rhubha Dúnan, a site of Special Scientific Interest. By reclaiming areas of open water, birds such as corncrake, sedge warbler and

reed bunting will benefit, as well as a variety of insects and amphibians. Taking place as part of the Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape Partnership, the Achlochan Coastal Heritage Project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Pilgrim Trust and EB Scotland, will now work on excavating a number of shallow pools and building a wildlife hide overlooking the loch. A big thank you to our volunteers for all their hard work.

Growing concern over Coul Links A PLANNING application has been lodged for the development of an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse and associated infrastructure at Coul Links near Embo in Sutherland. The Trust is concerned that there could be significant impacts for protected species including terns, geese, waders and a rich variety of plants, as well as the loss of important coastal wetland habitat. Coul Links was previously managed by the Scottish Wildlife

Trust as a reserve under a management agreement with the landowners, Cambusmore Estates and is a beautiful and wild stretch of coastline, which includes an internationally important dune system. Part of the proposed golf course is within the Loch Fleet Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet Special Protection Area. To find out more about the Trust’s campaign, visit our website and see how you can help.

Peter Chapman MSP (right) with Rab Potter and Tom Edwards

Raising awareness with MSPs DURING the Scottish Parliament’s summer recess, the Trust’s policy team met with ten MSPs from the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee, and the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee. Meetings took place on

reserves within the MSPs’ constituencies, providing a good opportunity to discuss our recently published blueprint for land stewardship, as well as showcasing some of the practical conservation work that takes place on our wildlife reserves.

Membership subscription rate change SUPPORT from our 40,000+ members is vital to the Trust’s ability to protect Scotland’s wildlife for the future. Our basic minimum subscription rates have not changed in the last eight years and at this year’s Annual General Meeting there was overwhelming support for Council’s recommended amendments. The table on the right shows the new minimum subscription

rates, valid from 1 April 2018. There will be no change to Concessionary and Child rates, nor for the many members who are already voluntarily paying more than these minimum levels. Life Membership will be simplified by the removal of the Senior Citizen rates in this category. Over the next few months we will be writing to you if the changes affect you.

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY

IF PAYING BY DIRECT DEBIT

ONE-OFF PAYMENTS

£36.00 (£3 per month)

£40.00

Joint

£45.00 (£3.75 per month)

£47.00

Family

£54.00 (£4.50 per month)

£57.00

World/Overseas

N/A

£45.00

Life

N/A

£900.00

Joint Life

N/A

£1,300.00

Individual

NOVEMBER 2017 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 11

Scottish Wildlife Trust news

Call for urgent protection for mountain hares © Steve Gardner

New funding for Nectar Network THE Irvine to Girvan Nectar Network is providing extra support for golf courses to become better places for pollinators this year thanks to funding from The R&A. Keen golfer and ecologist Tracy White has been appointed to help course managers make their roughs better places for insects including bees and butterflies. She said: “One of the reasons I enjoy golf is the wildlife that you can see during a round. “There are lots of ways that courses can support pollinators, including ensuring that roughs are cut occasionally and sowing wildflowers. These measures help to create a mix of plants that suit different insects.” The Nectar Network is a partnership including golf courses, local authorities and other organisations led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. It aims to create a mosaic of nectar-rich habitats along the Ayrshire coast. Steve Isaac, Director for Sustainability at The R&A, said: “This project demonstrates how golf can work in partnership at a local level to benefit the environment and we are delighted to support it.” For more information, visit nectarnetwork.org

THE Trust has joined a number of conservation charities to renew an appeal for urgent protection for mountain hares. Alongside organisations including the National Trust for Scotland and RSPB Scotland, the Trust believes that there should be a temporary ban on mountain hare culling on grouse moors until there is more information on hare numbers as well as the effect of culls on local populations. At the end of 2014, Scottish Natural Heritage announced a three-year study to trial methods of measuring mountain hare numbers to help inform their future management. A call for restraint on large-scale culls issued at the same time has been widely ignored on many grouse moors. Our Director of Conservation Susan Davies said: “Mountain hares are an iconic indicator of the health of

SEVERAL Moai statues have been installed at the Trust’s Forest Wood Wildlife Reserve in Cumbernauld alongside hidden pine marten sculptures to add points of interest within the reserve. The artworks have been installed as part of a series of improvements to the reserve including upgraded paths and

12 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

new information boards kindly supported by WREN. Forest Wood is part of Cumbernauld Living Landscape, a partnership which has recently received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop a fouryear initiative aiming to make the town’s woods, parks and open spaces better for wildlife and people.

rk Cla an nc

Moai to Forest Wood than meets the eye

our uplands and grouse moor managers have a duty of care for these animals. “Continued culling throughout a period of supposed voluntary restraint while research was carried out to help identify a suitable method of monitoring hares suggests that some grouse moor managers have no concern for the long-term viability of mountain hare populations.” The mountain hare is Britain’s only native hare and plays a vital part in the complex ecosystem of our uplands and moorlands, including acting as an important source of prey for golden eagles; however, relatively little is known about its conservation status. Mountain hares are understood to spread very slowly from one area to another, meaning large-scale culls may have significant impacts and cause local populations to disappear.

Wider news

Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation firmly lodged in Knapdale! A NEW wildlife visitor centre opened its doors this summer in the heart of Argyll’s beautiful Knapdale Forest, home of the Scottish Beaver Trial. Oly Hemmings and Pete Creech have combined their knowledge of natural history to provide a face-to-face visitor information and wildlife interpretation service. Housed in a 400-year old farm, Barrandaimh is a base for walks and events,

a source of information on the area’s wildlife and an education centre. The centre is a window into the wildlife of Argyll’s temperate rainforest, home to red squirrels, pine martens and beavers, as well as a vast variety of plants, lichens and bryophytes. For more information visit heartofargyllwildlife.org

First white-letter hairstreak recorded for over a century THE white-letter hairstreak butterfly has been recorded in Scotland for the first time since 1884. It was spotted feeding near Paxton in the Borders in August. Butterfly Conservation Scotland is working to find out if the butterfly has established a breeding colony, which would bring the total number of resident butterfly species in Scotland to 34. White-letter hairstreak caterpillars feed on elm and the species declined dramatically as a result of Dutch elm disease. Its population has slowly spread north in recent years, most likely as a result of the warming climate.

Removing rhododendron is not enough

A SURVEY of Atlantic oak woodlands has found that more work is often needed to help restore rich understoreys of wildflowers and grasses in woods that have been cleared of Rhododendron ponticum, even 30 years after its removal. While the study by the James Hutton Institute, the University of Aberdeen and Scottish Natural Heritage shows that removing rhododendron results in richer biodiversity, it also recommends that consideration is given to clearing dense mats of moss to allow more light in and reseeding the forest floor with wildflowers and woodland grasses.

14 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

New look for updated marine code A BEST practice code for watching marine wildlife around Scotland’s coast has been revised and updated by Scottish Natural Heritage to reflect changes in legislation, advances in technology and updated contacts. The Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code has been developed in consultation with groups including

wildlife organisations and tourism operators. It aims to raise awareness about the best ways to watch animals including dolphins, seabirds and basking sharks, and provides guidance on how to avoid disturbing or harming them. The Code and the Guide to Best Practice are available at snh.gov.uk/marinecode

Scottish Wildcat Action sharpens its focus SCOTTISH Wildcat Action, in which the Scottish Wildlife Trust is a partner, has announced that its five-year project to save Scotland’s wildcats is to concentrate on five key areas where evidence suggests that at least 19 wildcats are roaming free. This increased focus comes after extensive survey work across Scotland. In the five priority areas, work is underway to neuter and vaccinate feral cats and raise awareness among

land managers of what can be done to protect wildcats. The project team have also launched the successful ‘Supercat’ campaign to encourage pet owners to neuter, vaccinate and microchip their own cats to prevent cross-breeding. Scottish Wildcat Action is a partnership of 20 organisations led by Scottish Natural Heritage and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

On Wednesday, Jean helped protect osprey chicks.

On Thursday, she helped plant trees for red squirrels. On Friday, she helped change the law to safeguard our land and seas.

On Saturday, it was five years since Jean passed away.

Make your wishes live on by writing us into your Will. Jean’s gift to the Scottish Wildlife Trust in her Will was a simple yet powerful way to keep her wishes alive. You can do the same.

To find out more call us on 0131 312 4772 or visit scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/legacy Scottish registered charity (no. SC005792)

©Colin Prior

Once you’ve taken care of your loved ones, please consider including a gift to the Scottish Wildlife Trust in your Will. No matter how big or small, you can be sure it will make a difference to Scotland’s wildlife.

Inshore fisheries

INSHORE WATERS

f you were to head straight out to sea from Scotland’s coast, you would at some point cross an invisible line that marks the boundary between Scotland’s inshore and offshore waters. That line sits 12 nautical miles from the nearest shoreline and continues around the entire country and its many islands. This zone of inshore waters is highly active, with a variety of industrial, recreational

and wildlife activity occurring both at the surface and under the water. Almost two thirds of Scotland’s fishing fleet focuses its efforts on these inshore waters, using several different methods to catch a variety of fish and shellfish. The impact these activities have on the health of the marine environment depends largely on the scale and method used, some of which we explore below…

What goes on in inshore waters?

Recreation Thousands of people use inshore waters for recreational purposes every day, from snorkelling and scuba diving under the water, to sailing, surfing and fishing at the water’s surface.

Static fishing The most common form of static fishing is creeling. This involves the use of creel pots which are placed on the seabed in order to catch shellfish such as langoustines, crabs and lobsters.

What are the impacts of inshore fishing?

Overfishing occurs when the number of fish being caught is more than the fish population can replenish naturally, causing the population size to decrease.

Bycatch refers to the capture of non-target species, which is of particular concern for indiscriminate fishing practices such as trawling.

What is being done to protect the marine environment? Marine Protected Areas Of Scotland’s 30 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), 17 are found within 12 nautical miles of the coast. Each MPA has been designated to protect one or more Priority Marine Features, which can result in the restriction of certain types of activity within that MPA.

16 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

For example, two of the features of the Wester Ross MPA are maerl beds and flame shell reefs, and because these are both fragile seabed habitats, a total ban on dredging activity has been imposed in the area.

Priority Marine Features There are currently 81 habitats and species considered by Marine Scotland to be of conservation importance. Any development or activity within Scotland’s territorial waters should not threaten their national status. Some of these features are shown on the right.

Inshore fisheries

Marine renewables A rapidly growing industry which is supported by the Scottish Government as part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Marine renewables include static and floating windfarms, wave energy sites and underwater tidal arrays.

Mobile fishing The primary form of inshore mobile fishing is trawling, which includes beam trawling and dredging. Both involve pulling heavy equipment across the seabed in order to catch shellfish such as scallops, and whitefish such as cod, haddock and plaice.

Damage to fragile seabed habitats such as maerl beds, coral reefs and seagrass meadows can result from dredging activity.

Maerl beds

Ghost fishing refers to fishing gear that has been either lost or abandoned but which continues to catch fish and other species indiscriminately and unmanned.

Seagrass beds

Spiny lobsters

Marine litter comes in all shapes and sizes, and includes items that have been thrown or washed overboard from fishing vessels.

Basking sharks

Minke whales

NOVEMBER 2017 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 17

Flame shell beds

Entanglement of large marine animals, such as cetaceans and basking sharks can occur in the ropes attached to creel pots.

Fish farming The vast majority of aquaculture in Scotland’s inshore waters is for marine finfish including salmon, rainbow trout and sea trout. These species start life in freshwater hatcheries before being moved to open-cage farms in coastal waters.

Inshore fisheries

ALL AT SEA The Trust’s new Inshore Fisheries Policy proposes a raft of measures to improve the sustainable management of Scotland’s coastal waters. Given the multiple demands now placed on the marine environment, the need has perhaps never been greater, writes Rich Rowe.

vibrant underwater world seen by only a fortunate few, Scotland’s territorial waters are home to an astonishing variety of marine life. Luxuriant seagrass meadows, abundant corals, spiky maerl beds, dense kelp forests and other specialist habitats together support an ecosystem that extends from the tiniest of shellfish to an impressive array of marine mammals. Such diversity of marine life, in turn, feeds an inshore fishing industry that remains as culturally relevant and economically important as ever. A vital source of income for many coastal communities, fishing remains the most widespread human activity in Scottish waters, with much of it taking place within 12 nautical miles of the coast. Although much reduced today, Scotland’s fishing fleet still stands at around 1,400 vessels, with almost two thirds of those fishing in inshore waters. The fleet is dominated by smaller vessels that use static fishing gear such as creel pots, although some also use mobile gear for trawling and dredging. Scottish inshore waters contain a range of mixed fisheries, meaning multiple species are caught at the same time, but the vast majority of what is caught consists of shellfish. Nephrops

18 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

(langoustine) are the most profitable shellfish species, although lobsters, edible crab and scallops are all commercially important. Conservation bodies are increasingly pointing to an apparent disconnect between the economics of maintaining a productive inshore fishing industry and the long-term health of the marine environment on which this economic activity depends. It is also fair to say that there are significant differences of opinion within the inshore fishing industry, including between static and mobile fisherman (see infographic on previous page), about how Scotland’s inshore fishing should be managed. The need for change is evident from the most recent Scotland Marine Atlas – an expert assessment of the condition of Scotland’s seas – which highlights how many areas of inshore water are badly denuded, with fishing activity very much a factor. Overfishing, poor fish stock management, technological advances in vessel size and power, and physical damage to the seafloor through dredging and bottom trawling have all contributed to the negative environmental picture. In an incident earlier this year, a scallop dredger - a vessel that pulls heavy metal rakes and chain bags along the sea

bed - fished through the middle of a flame shell reef in outer Loch Carron, which only served to highlight the damage that can be caused. The incident also emphasised the impact that some forms of fishing can have on the wider habitat. The unintentional capture of non-target species (or bycatch), as well as the death of animals caught up in lost or discarded fishing gear and marine litter, all take their toll to a greater or lesser extent. Add the many other demands now placed on inshore waters, including fish farming and marine tourism, and the stakes have perhaps never been higher for Scotland’s marine environment or the coastal communities that make their living from it. It’s a worrying situation, believes Alistair Sinclair, National Coordinator for the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation (SCFF), which is now calling for creelonly fishing in some areas. “As a federation, I think we all agree that the inshore sector has been mismanaged to the detriment of a broad spectrum of Scottish wildlife … from birds to fish stocks, corals and the marine environment as a whole,” says Sinclair. The removal in the 1980s of the three-mile limit for mobile fishing, in

Inshore fisheries

particular, has proved disastrous, he believes. “The opening of inshore waters to unrestricted bottom trawling and dredging together with the proliferation of fish farms [and associated chemical use] has broken the marine food chain,” he adds. “We also think that the overall reduction in seabird numbers since the late 1980s is directly related to the opening of inshore waters to bottom trawling.”

LONG-TERM HEALTH

In August, the Scottish Wildlife Trust published a new Inshore Fisheries Policy that serves as a rallying call to the fishing industry and government to work together

on the sustainable management of Scotland’s inshore fisheries. It’s a response to two contrasting pieces of fisheries legislation: one that is dated and appears no longer fit for purpose, and another that might be just around the corner. Scotland’s inshore fishing industry is currently governed by various pieces of rather ageing legislation, central to which is the Inshore Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1984 that focuses on managing fishing activities to conserve fish stocks. What it doesn’t do, however, is take into account how the management of the wider marine environment has changed over the subsequent 30 years.

“We now approach the marine environment more from a spatial planning perspective, looking at all the different activities that take place, and the potential conflicts,” explains Dr Sam Collin, the Trust’s Marine Planning Officer. “There is now a move to include fishing within this approach, but the legislation that supports the fishing industry is out of step with the modern way of managing the marine environment.” This holistic approach is reflected in more recent marine environmental legislation, not least the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, which introduced a broad framework of

NOVEMBER 2017 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 19

Inshore fisheries

measures covering everything from marine planning and licensing to conservation and enforcement. More recently, the Scottish Government has recognised the need for a fresh legislative framework, with the publication in 2015 of its Inshore Fisheries Strategy and subsequent manifesto pledge to work on a new Inshore Fisheries Bill. Now, with the prospect of Brexit and leaving the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, there is debate over whether this will ultimately morph into a broader Sea Fisheries Bill that includes all fishing out to the 200 nautical mile limit of Scottish waters. “Our policy has been written with both eventualities in mind,” says Sam. “What’s important is that the ecosystem-based management approach outlined in Scotland’s Marine Act is implemented.”

Maerl beds are home to a wide variety of marine life

BESPOKE PLANNING

20 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

One key product of the Marine Act has been the development of a National Marine Plan for Scottish waters out to 200 nautical miles. This includes the creation of 11 Regional Marine Plans for inshore waters that see partnerships between key industries including fishing, local councils, tourism bodies and other stakeholders to ensure they are tailored specifically to the needs of particular areas. For now, Shetland is home to the first and only Regional Marine Plan, with the Clyde – a much more complex proposition – next in line. “It will likely be an evolutionary process, but I believe that this kind of joined up marine planning will be of help,” comments Bertie Armstrong, Chief Executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF). “There are knotty questions to come in terms of what is given precedence … is fish farming better than creeling or better than mobile in a particular area? These are difficult questions but at least we now have the structure and planning framework in place to talk about them.” In addition to providing a platform for regional marine planning, the Marine Act also led to the identification and designation of a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that, together with areas already designated under EU and UK conservation legislation, cover about 20% of Scotland’s inshore waters. Within the fishing industry, Scotland’s MPAs are considered a force for good, with both the SFF and SCFF contributing significant input into their creation. However, while a positive step, MPAs alone are not designed to deliver the kind of spatial management of fishing activity which the Scottish Wildlife Trust and others are calling for. Much more is

Flame shells are small and beautiful bivalve molluscs

Legislation that supports the fishing industry is out of step with the modern way of managing the marine environment.

needed to embed inshore fisheries management into this wider marine planning. It’s a point again illustrated by what happened in Loch Carron – an incident that also saw the fishing industry throw up its arms in disbelief, says the SFF’s Bertie Armstrong. As the law stands, all marine developments such as fish farms and wind farms have to undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment, while all activities also require a Strategic Environmental Assessment. Fishing, however, does not require either and so can take place wherever the vessel operator chooses, unless there are specific

Inshore fisheries

Dense kelp forests provide habitat for many other species

says Sam. “This would help ensure better outcomes for the marine environment, the economy and fishing communities.” This is not to suggest that the industry hasn’t made significant strides in sustainability measures. From new trawl designs that facilitate the escape of non-target species to the Fishing for Litter scheme – an industry-led project designed to reduce the amount of marine litter in our seas by physically removing it – much has been achieved in recent years. And, as Alistair FIND Sinclair at the SCFF OUT MORE makes clear, the creel sector “is always Read the full Inshore prepared to try Fisheries Policy measures such as creel on our website: scottishwildlifetrust.org. collected and used, number restrictions, uk/advocacy transparently, in decisions landing size increases, about how fisheries are and methods of protecting managed. This, in turn, would cetaceans from entanglement help the industry operate within to help improve stocks and environmental limits. The Trust is also protect wildlife”. calling for increased monitoring, The will, it seems, is there, and while compliance and enforcement by Marine some friction exists between sectors of Scotland, the body responsible for the industry, there is general agreement controlling the activities of all fishing that effective, sustainable management is vessels within Scottish waters. “As well required to ensure the long-term health as an increase in manned monitoring of a marine ecosystem on which so much effort, we’d like to see the use of new depends. technologies, including on-board video Rich Rowe is a freelance outdoors writer based cameras, vessel monitoring systems and in Innerleithen, Scottish Borders. the tagging of static gear such as creels,”

]

Creel pots are used to catch shellfish such as crabs and lobsters

access restrictions (such as an MPA with a ban on dredging). “So, while the dredging of flame shell beds in Loch Carron was highly damaging, the vessel operator was within his rights to fish there,” explains the Trust’s Sam Collin. “But if someone wanted to put a fish farm there or build a dock, they could be refused because of the presence of this Priority Marine Feature.”

FURTHER WISH-LIST

In addition to adopting a spatial planning approach within the fishing industry, the Trust would like to see more data

NOVEMBER 2017 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 21

Fish Tracker

FINANCE AND FISH

Aligning capital markets with sustainable fisheries management

The oceans are the world’s most important source of protein. Were this supply to collapse, the effects would be huge. Ben Metz explains what is being done to address this risk through the Fish Tracker Initiative.

t’s unthinkable – yet it’s happening. Natural cataclysms punctuating the planet’s history have caused collapses in the past. This time though, it’s not as a result of asteroid strikes or the activity of supervolcanoes, but through human action. Some 80% of the world’s fishing stocks are now fully or overfished. Overfishing can, and has in places, led to collapses in fishing stocks. What was episodic, threatens to become generalised. Our current model of finance continues to operate a slash-and-burn relationship with the planet that sustains us, failing to recognise critical ecological limits. This is leading to declines in fishery productivity; if 22 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

fisheries were managed optimally, they would generate around $80 billion more each year, according to the World Bank. One effective way of addressing this is through financial markets. Those who invest in the sector can act to ensure it stops depleting our natural resources. The Fish Tracker Initiative is dedicated to aligning the world’s capital markets with the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. Fish Tracker was established in 2016 to highlight the connections between capital markets and the state of the world’s fisheries. Until now, such links have not been clearly drawn. The new

report, available at fish-tracker.org, presents the first-ever quantitative assessment of the exposure to seafood among the companies listed on the world’s stock markets. The report found that 218 business groups on the world’s stock markets have exposure to seafood production, with seafood revenues totalling $70.6 billion. Only 17% of these listed seafood companies provide sufficient information for investors to understand sourcing and product mix. Worryingly, 12 out of the 19 companies with the most significant fishing exposure, have direct links to fisheries where there is overexploitation.

Fish Tracker

adequately assess risk related to these companies. Investors, for good reason, do not like undisclosed risk. Fish Tracker has identified stock exchange listed companies generating revenues from fishing, fish farming and seafood processing-related activity, and tried to establish whether these companies are breaching environmental limits. Such interpretation of company activity is now providing the analysis required to ensure that investors are better able to correctly price risks associated with fishing activity, identifying the companies, regions and fisheries where banks and investors should exercise caution. The initiative aims to reach people across the finance sector to begin to redirect the flows of capital away from exploitative or poorly-managed publiclylisted wild catch fisheries, fish farming and fish processing businesses. These

include institutional investors in, and the banks for, listed fisheries companies, alongside engaging with stock exchanges and other investment professionals. This provides the opportunity for sustainable investors to work together with fisheries policy makers to build the policy and regulatory framework needed for healthy fish stocks. Time is not on our side. To avoid the impending catastrophe in our marine environment, we need to re-wire our financial system at a scale and speed not experienced to date. We hope the Fish Tracker Initiative provides both the practical insights and the inspiration to finance and fisheries professionals alike, so that each of us can play our part in this essential transformation. Ben Metz is the Project Lead for the Fish Tracker Initiative. For more information, visit fish-tracker.org. NOVEMBER 2017 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 23

Fishing float © Alex Blăjan

In addition, only 10% of companies provide assurance to investors and customers through a publicly-disclosed sustainability policy. Through this research, a picture is emerging of a fisheries financial universe which is in urgent need of reform. The report raises a number of key issues. Firstly, that there is little information on the quality or management of fish stocks, the health of species or their decline. Secondly, that there are direct links between listed companies and overfishing activities, putting the sustainability of fish stocks as well as the profitability of these companies at risk. And thirdly, that there is currently little if any demand from financial regulators for transparency about the resource, despite this sector being known for widespread illegal fish landings and overexploitation. Such failures mean investors and other stakeholders are unable to

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Christmas gift ideas

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS

FR UK de EE for or liver y d £40. A ers over from C ll profits h help f ristmas sa protec und our wo les rk ting wildlif Scotland’s e for future the .

Exclusive to the Scottish Wildlife Trust, our Christmas cards and 2018 Wildlife Calendar feature stunning images of some of Scotland’s most iconic species and landscapes. Not only will your friends and family love them, but by purchasing them, you are helping to support our conservation efforts across the country.

2017 CHRISTMAS CARDS This year’s winter wildlife Christmas cards feature a cheeky red squirrel, an inquisitive mountain hare, a red-breasted robin and a great spotted woodpecker in the snow. Cards are sold in packs of eight (two each of four designs) with envelopes. The message inside reads “Season’s greetings – Beannachdan na h-Aimsire”.

£3.99

IAL SPEC RS OFFE of cards

packs l Two st £6.99 for ju s and of card st k c a p ju lA dar for a calen 1.99 £1

2018 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE CALENDAR Packed with stunning imagery throughout, this year’s wildlife calendar is a must have for any nature lover!

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NOVEMBER 2017 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 25

Christmas gift ideas

COMMON SEAL

PUFFIN

ADOPT AN ANIMAL! Our adoption packs make the perfect Christmas gift. Choose from a range of iconic Scottish animals and make a real difference to the conservation of your chosen species. Your adoption pack will include a personalised certificate, a fun-filled fact sheet, a selection of wildlife stickers and either a superb wildlife print, a cuddly toy (beaver, otter, red squirrel, puffin, seal) or a hardback book (osprey). What’s more, all profits go towards protecting Scotland’s wildlife for the future. Please ensure you complete both sides of the payment form.

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NOCTURNAL NEIGHBOURS A closer look at Scotland’s badgers

26 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

OSPREY

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RED SQUIRREL

GIVE THE GIFT OF MEMBERSHIP

Number 93 | November 2017

INFOGRAPHIC: Find out what goes on in Scotland’s

BEAVER

inshore waters

By giving the gift of membership to a friend or family member this Christmas, you can make a real difference to Scotland’s wildlife. New members receive a subscription to Scottish Wildlife magazine, free entry to our visitor centres and 120 wildlife reserves across Scotland, a free copy of our Exploring Reserves guide and more. For further information, visit scottishwildlifetrust.org. uk/giftmembership or call 0131 312 4700.

Christmas gift ideas

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ORDER ONLINE at scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk

By ordering online, you will reduce our administration costs, meaning even more can go towards conserving the wildlife you love. Alternatively, please complete the order form below.

ORDER FORM

Please complete the form and return by post to: Christmas Orders, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Harbourside House, 110 Commercial Street, Edinburgh EH6 6NF

CARDS AND CALENDAR

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Wildlife Christmas cards

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2 packs Christmas cards offer

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2018 Wildlife Calendar

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ADOPT AN ANIMAL £19.99

Six species to choose from

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Please choose a gift: Toy (or book for osprey adoption) Print Digital certificate only (please provide email address)

If you are adopting an animal for yourself, please fill in the ‘My details’ section overleaf and leave this blank. If your adoption is for someone else, please fill in their details below. For multiple adoptions, please write these on a separate sheet of paper and enclose with your order.

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DELIVERY INFORMATION: Orders must be received by Sunday 10 December 2017 for Christmas delivery in the UK. We

cannot guarantee delivery before Chrsitmas after this date. Potage costs £3.49 on all UK orders up to £40; FREE over £40; Europe £5.50; Rest of World £8. For large quantities, please email enquiries@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk. Allow 10 days for delivery. NOVEMBER 2017 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 27

Christmas gift ideas

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GIFT AID Increase the value of your eligible donations by 25% at no extra cost to you. I would like the Scottish Wildlife Trust to Gift Aid my donations and subscriptions and any I make in the future or have made in the past four years. I confirm that I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current tax year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all of my donations, it is my responsibility to pay any difference.

28 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

Advertising feature

Preparing for winter How you can help garden birds to survive

lthough we can’t alter the weather or day length in winter, we can help birds by providing foods that are high in energy and offering a reliable source of clean water. It’s also important to minimise disturbance when the birds are preparing for the night to come, or recovering from the night just gone. Foods rich in calories, such as sunflower hearts, energy-rich seed mixes, and peanut cakes are vital for a range of garden wildlife. But in late autumn and early spring hedgehogs will be very hungry and readily take to good quality bird food or a specially produced hedgehog food. Mixes that contain lots of cereals are primarily of benefit to house sparrows, pigeons and doves. More acrobatic birds

such as tits and finches need foods richer in energy. A garden with a well-stocked feeding area and mature shrubs to shelter in can easily attract more than 20 species of birds, but evena new garden that is just a lawn bordered by fence panels can attract birds such as goldfinches and greenfinches, two of our most attractive species. Some of the birds that visit during winter will be residents that are present throughout the year, but there will also be individuals from thousands of miles away. By providing good quality foods that contain the energy-rich ingredients birds require we can encourage them to share our gardens with us. www.birdfood.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2017 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 29

Badgers

UNMASKING SCOTLAND’S BADGERS Badgers have been pushed to the edge of extinction in parts of Scotland and even today persecution continues. As the species recovers, it is time to appreciate one of our larger mammals, says Louise Gray.

adgers are surprisingly quiet and fleet-footed for such stocky-looking animals. Waiting in the dusk for these mustelids to emerge from their setts at the Trust’s Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve, a blur of grey emerging out of the dark is often what gives their presence away. There are no badger hides here. Instead, the rangers guide guests just before dusk to benches by the setts, asking them to sit quietly and wait. As your eyes begin to adjust, you start to be

30 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

able to pick out the agile bodies of the badgers in the failing light and those striking masks of black and white stripes over the face. Sometimes the badgers will even approach and have a sniff around the curious visitors’ feet. Every visitor has a different experience. Some can’t believe how silent and stealthy these creatures are as they dig holes in the ground with their powerful claws. Others smile as they watch cubs learning how to forage for the first time while the adults go about their

“housework”, replacing old bedding with fresh grass. Laura Preston, Falls of Clyde Ranger, says it’s not just about watching the badgers, but also about the experience of being so close to a wild animal. “It’s a very immersive experience, sitting in a peaceful setting in the woods waiting for the badgers to emerge,” she says. “People enjoy spending time tuning into the nature around them. “When they see the badgers it’s always an enjoyable experience and

Badgers

everyone says the same thing – badgers are never quite what you expect, but are always a thrill to see in their natural setting at close range!”

THE SILENT NEIGHBOUR

For many people, a dead badger at the roadside may be the only sighting they have ever had of these iconic animals. Yet badgers are all around us, even in cities. The latest surveys suggest there are 11,000 setts across Scotland, each with an average of seven badgers living in the family “clan”. The population was not always so healthy. For centuries, badgers were seen as pests and killed for their pelts (used for shaving brushes and sporrans) and occasionally for their meat. Badger baiting, in which the badger is set against dogs in a pit, was common. Such brutality

led to a ban in Britain as early as 1835, but still the “sport” continued. It wasn’t until 1992 that the Protection of Badgers Act, which also outlaws interfering with the sett of a badger, allowed the police to crack down on the crime. The badger population has been growing ever since, helped by mild winters that mean more cubs in the spring. Today, badgers are back in most areas of Scotland where there is soft enough earth to dig a sett, from the suburbs of Edinburgh to the Highlands. Catherine Cumming, Project Officer for Scottish Badgers, says we are surrounded by badgers in Scotland – we just don’t see them. As largely nocturnal animals, they travel several kilometres each night to search for earthworms and beetles, as well as berries, fungi and fruits.

It’s a very immersive experience, sitting in a peaceful setting in the woods waiting for the badgers to emerge.

NOVEMBER 2017 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 31

Badgers ce An entran a hole into tt badger se

Sadly, this is the only badger sighting many people have

“When you think of Scottish mammals, many people don’t think of badgers,” she says. “But they are all around us. Chances are they’re in many people’s local neighbourhood!”

OUR SHARED LANDSCAPE

In England and Wales, the growth in the badger population has caused controversy in recent years because the animals are susceptible to a disease called bovine tuberculosis (bTB) that also affects cattle. Despite scientific evidence suggesting that it is not an effective control measure, the UK Government has allowed badger culling in certain areas because farmers believe it will stop the disease spreading via badgers between dairy herds. In Scotland, outbreaks of bTB are limited to a small number of cases that are primarily caused by importing infected cattle. Thankfully, there is no similar argument for culling badgers due to disease here. But farmers do need to take note of the animals living in the landscape in order to live side by side. Andrew Bauer, Deputy Director of Policy at the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS), says land managers must be aware of badgers to ensure safety for other animals and the public. For example, when setts are built by fields or pathways, walkers, horse riders and even tractor drivers need to be aware of them so there is no danger of injuries from falling into holes. There is also anecdotal evidence of badgers attacking livestock, particularly young lambs or sheep that stumble into a sett, so farmers must be aware of where badgers are in order to keep vulnerable young animals away. They must also be

noted as a predator on farms that are taking part in environmental schemes to boost the population of groundnesting birds. In Scotland, the NFUS, Scottish Badgers and other environmental organisations are already meeting regularly to discuss how badgers, food production and wider goals for protecting wildlife can occur simultaneously.

A FUTURE TOGETHER

Finding a way to live alongside badgers in our modern landscape may take some time, but there is one area that almost everyone can agree on – that badger baiting must stop. Shockingly, badger baiting still exists in Scotland today. The barbaric sport not only sees badgers ravaged to death, but can also leave dogs badly injured and without recourse to a vet. Vets who do see these injuries will usually recognise them and will report the case to the authorities. Since 2006, the police have prosecuted more than 15 people for the crime. “It’s terrible to know that such a

We encourage anyone that comes across possible signs of badger baiting, such as a disturbed sett, to report it to the authorities immediately.” 32 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

horrendous thing still goes on in Scotland today,” says Catherine Cumming of Scottish Badgers. The charity organises school visits to teach children about the issue and provides training days for adults to recognise signs of badger baiting. “The general public is key to putting a stop to this cruel practice. As well as recording any badger setts or road deaths in their local area, we encourage anyone that comes across possible signs of badger baiting, such as a disturbed sett, to report it to the authorities immediately.” Members of the public are also key to a new Badger Hub recently formed at the Falls of Clyde by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and Scottish Badgers. The Hub will allow volunteers to work together to raise awareness of this much loved species. It’s also an opportunity to introduce more people to the joy of watching badgers at the seven setts on the reserve. As Lyndsay Mark, Visitor Experience Manager at Falls of Clyde, says, “once you get to know badgers, you often want to come back to see them time and again. “Badgers used to be just an elusive nocturnal creature, but people are coming round to the realisation that they might actually be living on their doorstep!” For more information on our Badger Watching Safaris, please visit the events section of our website: scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/events

Badgers

Become a part of Scotland’s Badger Hub There are many volunteering opportunities to help protect this iconic animal

rom reserve managers and rangers to volunteers and members of the public, protecting Scotland’s badgers is all about team work. The Trust has recently joined forces with Scottish Badgers to launch a national hub for badger conservation, based at the Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre. The hub will be a focal point for badger information, news, training, events and volunteer opportunities. Volunteer roles at the visitor centre include assisting rangers during our regular badger watching safaris, and helping to collect and process footage from trail cameras on the reserve. There are also opportunities to get involved in field research by taking part in badger

sett surveys in South Lanarkshire. Finally, for social media-savvy people further afield, there is the opportunity to become an online ambassador for badgers, helping to raise awareness to the wider public. Scotland’s Badger Hub at Falls of Clyde is a place where all these volunteer activities can come together. It is hoped that in the long-term, the hub can help to build a better understanding of badger activity across Scotland, as well as encourage more people to take action to conserve this special animal. To find out more about the Badger Hub and current volunteering opportunities, please visit scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk

NOVEMBER 2017 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 33

Q&A

Philip Price

Passionate about the wildlife of Scotland, Philip Price is an award-winning photographer based in Argyll. He has more than a decade of experience of running photography workshops and has spent a huge amount of time photographing beavers in Knapdale.

34 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

How did you get into wildlife photography? In my final year studying product design engineering at university I designed a telemetry system for tracking great white sharks and that was it, I knew I had to work with wildlife. Following my degree, I did some work in a portraiture studio which I also really enjoyed. Wildlife photography and running workshops was the obvious route to combine two things that I was passionate about into a viable career. You’ve taken some incredible photos of the Knapdale beavers. What’s the secret to photographing these elusive animals? Time, time and a bit more time! My first two weeks of beaver photography involved sitting on a hill away from the loch just watching. I would clock when

Q&A

Having spent a lot of time in the field during the Scottish Beaver Trial, what changes to the landscape and wildlife have you seen in the area? Wow! I could write a book on the subject. They are simply mind-blowing animals and what they have done is incredible. What’s interesting is that to the casual observer, beavers disappear into the landscape. But if you take an interest in wildlife, the changes are wonderful: more wetland habitat for insects, fish and

dragonflies; more standing deadwood for birds like woodpeckers; the islands created by beavers are brilliant for ducks and waders...the list goes on. More and more people are taking photos using their smartphone. What top tips can you give to getting the best results when shooting with a phone? Smartphones are excellent photography tools. My best tip is to get really close to insects and flowers. If your phone allows you to focus manually, focus at the closest point you can and then move the phone in until the insect or flower is sharp. This stops the phone searching around for focus and enables some stunning images. It’s also worth turning HDR (High Dynamic Range) on – this is a great tool and can make photos look more professional.

What’s the story behind your featured image? I was running one of my beaver photography workshops when I saw an island float down from the far end of the loch. It was luminous green and was moving quicker than the current. Eventually the penny dropped and that floating island was indeed a beaver carrying an enormous mouthful of bracken. People perceive bracken as a nuisance so the fact that beavers eat it is yet another wonderful reason to make space for them in our landscape. To find out more about Philip’s photography workshops, visit lochvisions.co.uk. Camera: Canon 6D, Lens: Canon 500m F/4, Shutter speed: 1/800; Aperture: F4

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they came out, where they would eat and how often they would visit different areas to try to gauge patterns of behaviour. Once I’d worked out those patterns, I could come up with a plan of where and when to be. It takes a long time, but the rewards are amazing.

Watch out for

Watch out for... Some wildlife highlights to enjoy over the coming months Mobile

Mobile

Whale Track App

Clyde Walkway App

A new app created by the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, Whale Track allows members of the public and boat operators to submit their sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises off the west coast of Scotland. Designed to work at sea and in remote coastal communities where there is often no cellular coverage, the data collected will be used to assess the current populations and locations of species in our seas. As well as being able to quickly report sightings, the app has a live sightings map and a whale and dolphin ID guide. The app is free to download from

This new app allows walkers and cyclists to explore one of Scotland’s Great Trails. The Clyde Walkway is a long-distance walking route that stretches 65km between the vibrant city of Glasgow and the Trust’s Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve. The app breaks the route into five manageable stages, with information on transport and parking as well as the many points of natural, cultural and industrial heritage interest along the way. Developed as part of the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership, the app is available to download for free from the App Store or Google Play.

the App Store and Google Play. For more information, visit whaletrack.hwdt.org

Reading

Television

The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris Published by Hamish Hamilton ISBN 978-0241253588 Hardcover RRP £20 When renowned author Robert Macfarlane came across a study from Cambridge researchers that discovered that eight-year old children were better at identifying Pokémon characters than species of plants and animals, he was understandably horrified. Nature words from acorn and adder to weasel and willow are lesser known and lesser used by today’s young people as the disconnect between nature and our lives becomes greater. In an effort to address this, Macfarlane has teamed up with acclaimed artist Jackie Morris to bring these words back to life through cleverly scripted ‘spell-poems’ and beautiful illustrations. While this celebration of nature and language is designed to enhance the lives of children, it is equally likely to enchant adults. 36 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

Blue Planet II

October-December 2017 on BBC1 Technology has moved on a lot since the original awe-inspiring Blue Planet documentary series was broadcast back in 2001. In the much anticipated second series, Sir David Attenborough takes us once again into the least known part of the planet – our oceans.

The show’s crews spent more than 1,000 hours in the deep sea and filmed across every continent and ocean to produce this new seven-part series. New cameras and filming techniques ensure a view of the marine realm in a way never seen before, so sit back and prepare to be amazed!

Watch out for

Competition

A night of luxury in a room with a new view

in an overnight stay for two at the Doubletree by Hilton Edinburgh Queensferry Crossing, and enjoy views of the Firth of Forth’s latest icon. The prize for one lucky couple will include an overnight stay in one of the hotel’s King River View rooms, a three-course dinner at The Shore Grill and Fish House, and breakfast for two. Situated within 10 acres of peaceful parkland between the iconic Forth Road Bridge and the new Queensferry Crossing, the hotel offers panaromic views over the Forth.

To enter, simply tell us: What is the name of the new crossing over the Forth? Send your entry, along with your name and contact details, 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 Trust Competition’ in the subject line before midnight 31 January 2018. This data will be used by Connect Communications solely for the purpose of managing the competition.

NOVEMBER 2017 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 37

Viewpoint

Viewpoint Your stories from around Scotland

WE’RE INTERE ALWAYS STE YOUR O PINIOND IN OBSER VATIOSNAND S

Speak to us o Twitte n r: @Sc otWild Faceb life ook: fa scottish cebook.com / or ema wildlifetrust il us: e nquirie @scott s ishwild lifetrus t. org.uk

THE VIEW FROM... BARRIE WILLIAMS, COMMUNICATIONS VOLUNTEER

IN 2015, my photograph of a bird’s-eye view of nesting gannets was selected as the overall winner in the British Wildlife Photography Awards. Since then, as well as continuing my love of photography, I have built wonderful partnerships with several conservation organisations through volunteering. These partnerships have allowed me access to some fantastic reserves across Scotland, including the Isle of May and the iconic Bass Rock, photographing seals, puffins and yet more gannets! What I found is that the more time I spent in the field snapping images of wildlife, the more I wanted to write and share stories about my experiences. My first foray into the world of science and nature communications was through a volunteering opportunity with Scottish Wildcat Action. Working with a fantastic mentor, I soon developed experience co-ordinating social media platforms, drafting blog articles and writing press releases, as well as gaining close-up access to wildcats at both Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park. While they are only slightly bigger than a domestic cat, when you’re in an enclosure with a growling wildcat, you soon realise why it is also referred to as the “Highland Tiger” – its attitude and vocalisations certainly match those of its larger cousins! An added bonus was collaborating with the team to produce a video about the “Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Release” part of the project. This resulted in some of my footage being broadcast on BBC One’s Countryfile, which made for a more exciting Sunday night in than usual.

Eager to build on my communications experience, I also seized a chance to get involved with the Edinburgh Living Landscape team. Through this, I learned about the exciting initiatives going on within the city and along its coastline. These include a project to raise awareness of coastal climate change and development, another to maintain and improve wildflower meadows within the city, and the exciting work taking place to encourage people to help create new habitats for pollinators as part of the #PollinatorPledge campaign. While I was based at the Trust’s office in Leith, I gained a wealth of experience

I have developed important new skills, had fantastic close-up encounters with wildlife and built strong relationships with mentors. 38 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2017

in communications. Working independently, I was able to really make my mark and help the project expand its reach across social media. I also got to learn about the many other exciting projects run by the Trust and the teams behind them. From my internships, I have developed important new skills, had fantastic close-up encounters with wildlife and built strong relationships with mentors. They have also helped me to gain paid work, as the Trust has commissioned me to produce several videos about the Save our Magnificent Meadows project. I would thoroughly recommend volunteering to anyone thinking about getting involved. I have found it to be a rewarding and invaluable experience over the past couple of years. To see Barrie Williams’ award-winning photography, visit barriewilliams.com

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