First Word
From Chief Executive, Jo Pike
As we continue to celebrate the Trust’s 60th anniversary year, I am pleased to introduce another issue of Scottish Wildlife highlighting the incredible work being done across Scotland to protect, restore and raise awareness of the natural world around us.
Our feature on invasive non-native species underscores the challenges these species pose to local ecosystems and the ongoing efforts to manage and mitigate their impact. Meanwhile, our article on snorkel trails offers a unique glimpse into the underwater world just off our coastlines, showcasing the vibrant marine life that thrives there.
For those interested in new ways of monitoring and protecting wildlife populations, you can read about thermal drone surveys: a testament to the innovative approaches being adopted in wildlife conservation. And if this isn’t already enough to pique your interest, we have reflections on nature and language from the new Galloway Scots Scriever on page 38.
As part of our 60th anniversary celebrations, we also invite you to participate in our Words of the Wild competition, which you can read about on page 37. A series of supporting podcasts has been created as part of this initiative, covering a host of topics that give a flavour of the breadth and depth of our work.
As ever, this is an opportunity for all members to help spread the word about the wonders of nature, and the importance of taking action to protect and restore it.
It would be easy to underestimate the difference you can make simply by encouraging family and friends to make nature part of the conversation. Whether you have practical experience, specialist knowledge or simply a passion for nature, your voice is powerful. Helping people understand that nature is our life support system, that we are an integral part of it, and that, ultimately, everything is connected, is one of the most impactful ways to contribute to sowing the seeds of change.
Whether you have practical experience, specialist knowledge or simply a passion for nature, your voice is powerful.
As we look ahead to the National Members’ Day at the end of the summer (Saturday 7 September: mark your diaries!), I very much hope you will consider joining us at the National Museum of Scotland for what promises to be a special celebration. I am delighted that we will be joined by Liz Bonnin, wildlife and natural history presenter and President of The Wildlife Trusts, together with a line-up of other fantastic guests, including adventurer and ocean advocate, Cal Major. The event will be a chance to learn, be inspired
and spend time with like-minded people, remembering how much we can achieve for nature when we come together.
Full details of our AGM and National Members’ Day, including information on how to book, can be found on page 24. Online arrangements are in place for those who can’t be in Edinburgh but I look forward to seeing and speaking with many of you there.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to protecting Scotland’s wildlife for the future.
Inside this issue
32
16 20
34
Regulars Explore Features
Big picture
Kingfisher, by John Agnew News
News round-up from the Trust and the world of conservation Pioneers
Katie Harrower on the use of thermal drone surveys Viewpoint
Susi Briggs reveals how nature inspires her Scots language writing
Seasons
Natural spectacles and how to help wildlife this summer
Species spotlight
The life and times of the marsh fritillary
Reserve portrait
Lower Nethan Gorge
– a hidden Clyde Valley gem
Watch out for
Things to enjoy in the coming months, including our new podcast and nature writing competition
Drawing a line
Full details of this year’s National Members’ Day (and AGM) at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh 05 14 32 34 36 16 20 24 06 30 38
Front cover: A profusion of orange plumose anemones © Ben James/NatureScot
Scottish Wildlife is published by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, a Scottish registered charity (no. SC005792) and company limited by guarantee (no. SC040247). Registered office: Harbourside House, 110 Commercial Street, Edinburgh EH6 6NF. Tel: 0131 312 7765.
Patron: King Charles III. Chair: Kenny Taylor. Vice-Chairs: Tim Duffy, Ian Jardine, Bill Lambert. Chief Executive: Jo Pike.
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.
Rich Rowe examines the threat of invasive non-native species – a key driver of global biodiversity loss and a growing problem in Scotland
Breathe it in
Ida Maspero samples one of the Trust’s award-winning snorkel trails and learns more about the natural wonders of Scotland’s coastal waters
National Members’ Day
Scottish Wildlife is published three times a year –March, July and November – and is free to members of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
Managing Editor: Pete Haskell – editor@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk
Contributing Editor: Rich Rowe
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The Scottish Wildlife Trust is affiliated to The Wildlife Trusts, a UK-wide network of 46 Trusts with more than 2,000 wildlife reserves.
Kingfisher
John Agnew
There is a bird hide at the Heritage Loch in East Kilbride where two kingfishers overwinter from November through to February. The hide has perches in front of the observation windows from where the birds regularly hunt.
Sticklebacks are the staple diet, so I was rather intrigued when, as ever with no warning, one kingfisher dived from the perch and returned almost instantly with an insect in its beak –a common backswimmer.
It duly bludgeoned the insect on the side of the perch
before swallowing it whole. It then dived again and returned with a second one.
A recent blog on the Trust’s website discussed the diet of kingfishers through the analysis of regurgitated pellets. It showed that kingfishers do sometimes eat insects but, with the pellets so compressed, a positive species ID was not possible. But now, problem solved – photo evidence wins the day!
John Agnew
Camera: Nikon Z9; Lens: Nikkor
400mm f4.5 + 1.4 tele-converter; Shutter speed: 1/1250; Aperture: f6.3; ISO: 5,000
Latest news
News from the Trust, our projects and the wider world of conservation
Major funding award for red squirrel work
MORE than £1m in funding has been announced to aid red squirrel conservation in key areas across Scotland for the next two years. A total grant of £1,052,796 has been awarded by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot, which supports the restoration of wildlife and habitats across the country.
The funding will support the Trust-led Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) project to deliver vital conservation work to halt red squirrel declines, reinforce protection for the core red-only populations of the Highlands, and progress aims for population expansion in the North East and Central Lowlands.
Since 2009, SSRS has worked to protect Scotland’s native red squirrels, whose populations are under threat from invasive non-native grey squirrels. Larger and heavier animals, greys outcompete red squirrels for food and habitat. Greys can also carry the squirrelpox virus, which does not harm them but is deadly to reds.
Since first being introduced to the UK from North America by the Victorians, greys have displaced reds in much of England and Wales, with more than 75% of the UK’s remaining population now in Scotland.
Specifically, the £1m grant will facilitate efforts to eradicate the last remaining population of grey squirrels from North East Scotland, currently separated geographically from the rest of Scotland’s greys. If successful, this could result in the first mainland urban eradication of an invasive mammal worldwide.
It is an ambitious goal that will involve adaptive strategies, including the use of conservation detection dogs to survey for grey squirrel presence, and a new collaboration with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s WildGenes lab at Edinburgh Zoo that will help identify individual greys, improve trapping efficacy, and provide estimates of numbers remaining in Aberdeen.
Elsewhere, in the Central Lowlands, the funding will enable SSRS to create new
community rapid response monitoring and control networks made possible by increased year-round professional grey squirrel control activities.
These new networks will also help facilitate the project’s aim to eradicate greys from the islands of Loch Lomond with the support of partners and landowners and additional funding from the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority.
Additionally, separate limited funding from SSRS partners NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland has been secured to continue grey squirrel control in several target areas within the Priority Areas for Red Squirrel Conservation of South Scotland until September 2024.
For more, visit scottishsquirrels.org.uk or scan the QR code.
Red squirrel © Raymond Leinster
In brief
Frog pools
IN an effort to provide frogs with their preferred warm waters for spawning, six shallow pools have been dug at our Shewalton Wood Wildlife Reserve and a further five at our Oldhall Ponds Wildlife Reserve in Ayrshire. It is hoped that all will be brimming with frogspawn next spring.
Celebrating volunteers
OUR 2024 Trustees’ Awards for Volunteering are open for nominations until 31 July. Celebrating some of the incredible contributions that volunteers make to the Trust’s work, there are four categories for entry: Young Volunteer, Group, Species Champion and Lifetime Achievement. Winners will be announced at our National Members’ Day on Saturday 7 September. Nominate online at: scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/v-awards
Beaver genetic research
A NEW study involving both the Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland has confirmed a lack of genetic diversity in the beaver population in Knapdale, the site of the Scottish Beaver Trial. The study has recommended that further beavers from Europe should be translocated to help boost genetic diversity and ensure a healthy, longterm future for beavers across Britain.
Irish Sea Network
THE Trust has come together with nine other Wildlife Trusts, the Sustainable Water Network and the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force to join the Irish Sea Network – an advocacy group that is pushing for more coherent ecological management of a sea that is bordered by six different administrations (Scotland, England, Wales, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland).
Growing Gight Wood
MEMBERS of the Trust’s Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Local Group have built a tree nursery that will provide trees for our Gight Wood Wildlife Reserve. The tree nursery is part of the group’s Our Ranging for Nature project to restock woodland on the reserve.
Reedbed restoration regime
THE Trust recently introduced a new cutting regime to ensure the health of an area of reedbed at Montrose Basin Wildlife Reserve.
Efforts have focused on a 2.8ha area of the Millburn Reedbed, which is found at the west end of the reserve where the Mill Burn joins the River South Esk as it enters the estuary.
Working alongside Angus Council, which received funding from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund (managed by NatureScot), the new cutting regime is designed to ensure not only the dominance of common reed, but also diversity in the age and structure of the reedbed.
To achieve this, plots were cut at intervals to provide a mosaic of open areas for foraging and nesting habitat for a variety of species – with specialist amphibious reed cutting equipment used to remove dense stands of reeds from the plots.
Such an approach, which will be on a four-year rotation going forward, means that common reed will be able to develop to its peak growth, while the area still supports younger reed to create important structural diversity.
Once common throughout the UK, reedbeds form marginal habitat, occupying the transitional zone between water and land. As reedbeds age, the plant litter that dies off builds up and causes the habitat to become degraded as the area dries out.
Reedbeds are a UK priority habitat, with healthy reedbeds supporting rare breeding species such as marsh harriers and bitterns, as well as providing safe roost sites for many overwintering birds.
The cover provided by reedbeds often makes it difficult to see the wildlife within. While the keen-eyed may spot species such as reed buntings calling from high up on the reeds, other species such as warblers and water rails are more often heard than seen.
Reedbeds also provide habitat for a variety of mammals and invertebrates, many of which are reedbed specialists.
The area at Montrose Basin Wildlife Reserve, which is extremely popular with bird watchers, will be monitored closely over the coming months to determine the success of the restoration project.
Squirrelpox reaches Fife
IN April, the first identified death of a red squirrel from the squirrelpox virus north of Scotland’s Central Belt was confirmed near Dunfermline in Fife.
Squirrelpox is a virus carried by grey squirrels which, whilst not affecting them, can be lethal when passed to native red squirrels. Symptoms include ulcers, scabs and weeping lesions on the face, paws and genitalia, all of
which can prevent reds from eating, drinking or moving.
As a result, squirrelpox is usually fatal within two weeks and an outbreak can cause local populations to crash.
Fortunately, no further cases have been detected so far but Fife residents are asked to remain vigilant and to follow the advice on scottishsquirrels.org.uk
Cut reedbeds at Millburn Reedbed, Montrose Basin Wildlife Reserve © Anna Cowie
© Russell Savory
Nectar Network in full swing
TO help create and connect nectar and pollen-rich habitats in North and South Ayrshire, the Trust-led Nectar Network is working with a range of partners, including eleven golf courses.
Ayrshire is renowned for the quality of its golf courses, especially the links courses found along its coastline. While golfers expect their fairways to be immaculately groomed, there is also ample opportunity to grow wildflowers throughout golf course roughs and marginal areas.
Recently, rangers and volunteers with South Ayrshire Council planted kidney vetch
and sneezewort plants to supplement last year’s wildflower seed sowing on the councilmanaged Belleisle Park golf course. The plants had been grown by network partner West Kilbride Environmental Group.
In July, the world’s finest golfers will play at The Open on Royal Troon golf course where greenkeeper Calum Donald has built several bug hotels and grown wildflower meadows which will be scythed by Nectar Network volunteers later in the year and the cuttings removed.
In other news, volunteers at Pollinator Friendly Symington – a grassroots community
project in Ayrshire – have been recognised with a motion in the Scottish Parliament by MSP Elena Whitham for their considerable efforts throughout the village.
Pollinator Friendly Symington is one of six projects showcased on our Community Action site – visit community. scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk or scan the QR code.
Nurturing natural connections
CUMBERNAULD Living Landscape is developing its long-term ecosystem approach to land management thanks to funding support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and North Lanarkshire Council. Called Nurturing Natural Connections, this development phase forms part of a six-year project to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change throughout the town.
Access and habitat improvements include surveying wildlife reserve boundaries for garden plant escapees and invasive non-native plants for future removal. Closer working relationships will also be created with town planners to ensure that green corridors are maintained.
Training more people to record wildlife in Cumbernauld’s green spaces will also connect locals with nature and provide data on how wildlife is faring. The Nature Counts app, developed by Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, will be used to record the species spotted and enable real time data on species gains, losses and trends.
A wildflower meadow created as part of the growing Ayrshire Nectar Network © Lynne Bates
Assynt elms offer cause for hope
THE Trust’s Little Assynt Tree Nursery near Lochinver played host to an historic elm tree planting event earlier this year.
The Assynt area offers refuge from Dutch elm disease, which has devastated the species in many parts of mainland Britain as well as other parts of the world. For several years, the Little Assynt Tree Nursery has grown elm from local seed to restore woodland on community, crofting and private land.
Pupils from Lochinver Primary School planted a seedling grown by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s endangered plant specialists who are breeding elms from the few trees in southern Scotland that have survived the disease.
Further seedlings will be planted in Assynt along with local elm saplings in the hope that some of these home-grown trees will also show disease resistance.
Riverwoods planting projects
THE development phase of the Riverwoods Blueprint Project, led by the Trust and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, has enabled woodland planting along three Highland rivers.
The River Peffery Headwater Seed Islands initiative planted trees within and outside of fenced enclosures adjacent to a conifer plantation. The impact of deer grazing on tree survival and the potential for natural regeneration will be closely monitored.
To reduce riverbank erosion and channel siltation, the owners of Balliefurth Farm planted native tree species along the River Spey – work that will benefit aquatic invertebrates and fish spawning grounds
Finally, unplanted riparian strips are a common sight among the large conifer plantations in the Kyle of Sutherland. To counter this, the River Oykel Benmore Riparian Planting project planted 2,850 native broadleaf trees bordering spruce plantations to improve the habitat for wildlife.
Suspension of sandeel fishing
THE Trust has added its support to the UK and Scottish Governments’ decision to close Scottish and English North Sea waters to industrial sandeel fishing in the face of European Union (EU) opposition.
Sandeels are a vital food for the UK’s seabirds and also play a key role in the diet of seals, porpoises and whales, plus commercial fish species such as haddock and whiting.
The Trust is one of a network of 19 UK conservation groups and 16 EU environmental organisations who are
now calling on the EU to follow the UK’s example on sandeel fishery closures rather than attempting to block them. Commercial fishing for sandeel was carried out entirely by European vessels with no fishing quota for the species allocated to UK vessels since 2021.
The EU claims the closure significantly restricts access for EU vessels to this fishery and is questioning its legitimacy under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement that was established following the UK’s exit from the EU.
Pupils from Lochinver Primary School join staff at the Little Assynt Tree Nursery © Chris Puddephatt
Puffin with sandeels © Richard Steel/2020VISION
Riparian planting will help improve biodiversity alongside the River Oykel © Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust
Missing lynx?
THE Missing Lynx Project, a new partnership between Northumberland Wildlife Trust, The Lifescape Project and the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, is encouraging communities to discuss the possibility of reintroducing lynx to Kielder Forest in Northumberland.
Once widespread in Britain, lynx disappeared in medieval times following woodland habitat loss.
The Missing Lynx Project is currently touring an exhibition that will reveal more about this missing mammal and assess the views of local people about potentially returning lynx to woodland habitats in the area. The exhibition includes several Scottish venues, including in Moffat in August.
To find out more about the project, visit missinglynxproject.org.uk
admiral on flowering ivy © Vaughn
Protecting wildlife
SCOTLAND’S wildlife is set to benefit from increased protection after the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament earlier this year.
The Bill bans snaring, the use of glue traps to catch rodents (although they can be used in exceptional circumstances), introduces a new licensing framework for grouse moors, regulates the use
of muirburn (vegetation burning on peatland) and has provided greater powers for the Scottish SPCA to aid Police Scotland tackling wildlife crime.
Wildlife crime statistics in Scotland for 2022 show that while recorded wildlife crime was down by 7% year on year, significant increases were seen for birds and “other wildlife offences”.
Butterflies love wild lawns
TWO separate studies from Butterfly Conservation have highlighted the benefits of being a lazy gardener – both for butterflies and for personal health and wellbeing.
Sightings from more than 600 gardens across the UK, collected by members of the public over six years through the charity’s Garden Butterfly Survey, demonstrated that gardens with long grass had a significantly higher number of butterflies recorded, with a greater variety of species than those without.
The study also found that flowering ivy in gardens increased the number of certain butterfly species, including holly blue, red admiral and comma which all use ivy as a breeding habitat and nectar source.
Meanwhile, a separate survey of participants in the charity’s Big Butterfly Count in 2022 found that spending just 15 minutes observing and counting butterflies boosted feelings of nature connectedness, reduced anxiety and improved wellbeing.
Discover more about making gardens wilder at scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/activity
Red
Williams
Lynx in woodland © Christian Fiderer
Female hen harrier © Mark Hamblin/2020VISION
Summer
A time when wildlife is most active, we explore some of the natural spectacles and animal behaviours to look out for this summer and how we can all help wildlife in the coming months
Take action · Build a bee hotel
Many species of solitary bee begin nesting in summer, so now is a great time to offer a helping hand by building a bee hotel. Don’t worry if you feel your DIY skills are not up to the job – it’s much simpler than you might imagine (plus bees won’t mind if your angles aren’t quite perfect!).
For this job, you’ll need a length or two of untreated timber and some basic tools: a tape measure, saw, drill, screws and screwdriver.
Bee hotels need not be very big. To build a simple frame, saw four pieces of wood, each 20cms in length. Arrange them in a box frame, drill pilot holes at each corner and then screw the frame together.
Next, build the roof. Cut two further lengths of timber, one 22cms and the other 22cms plus the thickness of the wood you’re using. Place the end of the shorter piece at the edge of the longer piece, drill pilot holes and screw together to create an apex roof. Then secure the roof to the frame, again using screws.
Now for the slightly fiddly bit: filling the roof space and frame. For this, you’ll need an assortment of garden canes with stems that have different sized holes at the end. You can also mix it up by using bigger pieces of wood and drilling holes into the ends to create hotel ‘rooms’ of different sizes. All should be cut to the same length as the depth of the box frame.
Once cut to size, lay the bee hotel flat and insert the different lengths of cane and wood, packing them tightly together. At this point, some might prefer to fix a backing onto the main frame but if the pieces of cane and wood are packed in tightly enough, it’s not needed.
Once packed, stand the bee hotel upright, attach a fixing to the roof and then find a sheltered spot to hang your attractive new garden feature.
Nature will do the rest – with solitary bees and a whole assortment of other insects more than happy to move in over time!
To watch our ‘How To’ video, visit bit.ly/BeeBugHotel or scan the QR code.
A simple bee hotel with different sized ‘rooms’ © Pete Haskell/Scottish Wildlife Trust
Keep watch · Lesser butterfly orchid
One of our most colourful and fragrant wildflowers, orchids appear in many shapes, sizes, colours and smells – often employing complex strategies to achieve pollination by bees, wasps, flies and other species.
One of the rarer orchids found in Scotland is the lesser butterfly orchid, a delightful plant that flowers in June and July. Growing up to 30cm in height, its white/yellow flowers emerge from a single spike and emit a sweet smell at dusk to attract moths and other nightflying pollinators.
It is easily confused with the more common greater butterfly orchid, although there are a few ways to tell them apart. The lesser butterfly orchid is shorter, carries fewer flowers and, usually, flowers slightly later in the year. It can be found on damp heathland and moorland as well as deciduous woodland, while the larger species of orchid is found on deciduous woodland and chalky grassland.
Although you’ll need to know what you are looking for, the most reliable way to tell them apart is the positioning of the plant’s pollinia – the pollen-bearing structures of the flower. In the lesser butterfly orchid,
Experience · Seabird cliffs
An assault on the senses, there are few wildlife experiences more powerful than a visit to one of Scotland’s internationally renowned seabird colonies – with their location on towering sea cliffs only adding to the sense of drama.
Raw and raucous, at first these seabird cities appear chaotic, but there is a degree of order here, with each species occupying slightly different niches.
Along the grassy tops, puffins dig their nesting burrows – even ejecting rabbits from existing ones where they can. Listen carefully and you may be able to hear the soft growling sound of adult puffins below ground.
Much more audible is the cackling of fulmars that nest close to the cliff edge. This cousin of the albatross is able to convert food to lipids (a kind of oil) in its stomach, which it then uses as a source of energy for long fishing trips out at sea.
But beware: this foul-smelling substance can also be regurgitated and projected with impressive accuracy when threatened. While unpleasant for humans, fulmar stomach oil can be deadly to other birds as it destroys their waterproofing.
Further down the cliff walls and life becomes more communal. Razorbills and guillemots crowd the cliff ledges, their eggs somehow managing to remain
the pollinia are closer together and parallel to each other, while in the larger orchid the pollinia are further apart and slant inwards at the top.
A wonderful species, the lesser butterfly orchid has been recorded on several Trust reserves.
balanced, while kittiwakes – their distinctive calls echoing off the cliff walls – gather to build nests out of seaweed, feathers and mud on steep ledges.
Towards the base of sea cliffs, shags and cormorants breed in dense colonies, their nests made of piles of twigs and seaweed. Both are often seen perched with outstretched wings to help dry their only partially waterproof plumage.
With peak activity in June and July, seabird colonies can be enjoyed at a variety of Trust reserves.
Reserves to visit
Good for seabirds:
A Handa Island
B Longhaven Cliffs
C Seaton Cliffs
Good for lesser butterfly orchid: D Gordon Moss E Loch Ardinning
Spey Bay
Rahoy Hills
Guillemots on the sea cliffs of Handa Island © Pete Haskell/Scottish Wildlife Trust
The lesser butterfly orchid flowers in June/July © Philip Precey
A nesting fulmar © Amy Lewis
alarming rate – with semi-aquatic species often the biggest culprits. Some are obvious. Take a walk along a river this summer and there’s every chance that its banks will contain dense stands of attractive, head-high plants, their purple-pink flowers crawling with bees. At first glance, all might seem right in the world but it really isn’t. This is Himalayan balsam, a highly invasive plant, first introduced to the UK as a horticultural specimen, that chokes and shades the life out of native species, turning once rich habitats into impoverished monocultures.
And that’s not all. When the plant dies back in winter, its shallow root system provides little or no stabilisation for what have become bare banks, leaving large areas vulnerable to erosion.
Like many INNS, Himalayan balsam is exceptionally good at what it does. By producing large amounts of nectar, it draws
pollinators away from native plants. Its flowers then develop into seed pods that, when ripe, explode at the slightest touch, propelling seeds several metres from the parent plant. Those seeds then float downstream or are carried by attachment to animals to reach soils elsewhere.
Other riverside menaces include giant hogweed, an oversized member of the cow parsley family that produces a phototoxic sap that causes serious skin burns and blisters; American skunk cabbage; Gunnera (giant rhubarb); and Japanese knotweed, an especially pernicious plant with an extensive root system that can even damage house foundations.
It’s a similar story in woodlands where the non-native garden escapee Rhododendron ponticum has spread across much of Scotland. Native to western and eastern Mediterranean regions, Asia and China – areas where it is
neither vigorous nor invasive – it thrives in the understorey of temperate rainforest areas along the west coast of Scotland. In doing so, it overwhelms other plants, damages lichens and mosses that form botanical communities of international importance and prevents natural regeneration of native woodland.
Counting the cost
It has been estimated that the financial impact of INNS in Scotland is at least £200 million a year, while invasive species have cost the UK economy more than £5 billion over the past 40-50 years – one of the highest totals in Europe.
There are control efforts underway throughout the country, including by the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative, which works with local organisations and volunteers to control INNS along riversides in northern Scotland. In the south, Tweed
Trust staff surveying for invasive non-native species at Upper Nethan gorge
having sufficient vigilance or controls in place.”
Despite strict biosecurity measures in many countries, international trade – some of it with new partners as political climates change – remains the biggest culprit responsible for transporting non-native species across borders.
Among the principles set out by the LINK paper are the need to act early to combat the impacts of INNS, to be strategic in those actions and for them to be carried out at the correct ecological scale – across entire river catchments, for instance – to minimise the risk of reinvasion.
In addition, it emphasises the need to marry effective biosecurity measures with both prevention and eradication. This means acting on both an international scale – to prevent the introduction of new INNS to Scotland – and at a local scale to prevent further spread of species that are already established.
Eradication initiatives must also include plans for robust biosecurity measures to prevent reinvasion, with a particular focus on pathways of introduction, follow-up surveillance and monitoring – including around the impact of climate change on future INNS spread.
Job for all
The Trust is also keen to emphasise that the tackling of INNS can be everyone’s business. Volunteers already make an immense contribution but technology can help too, with the Trust now exploring the use of INNS Mapper, a new app and website for reporting sightings, surveys and management of problem species.
The app includes maps and identification guides that enable the public to report more than 60 types of INNS, including freshwater and terrestrial plants, freshwater invertebrates and mammals.
“At Upper Nethan Gorge in South Lanarkshire, we are now trialling INNS Mapper to map the scale of the Himalayan balsam problem and enable a targeted approach to removal work over the coming years,” notes Alan Anderson.
If the trial proves successful, then use of the app will be rolled out to other reserves around the country – serving as another tool to alleviate some of the growing pressure on native biodiversity. ■
For much more on INNS Mapper, visit innsmapper.org/home
Horizon scanning
A recent study by the Scottish Government that analysed pathways of spread of INNS into Scotland has highlighted those species with the highest likelihood of arrival, establishment and the extent of their potential negative impact over the next decade.
The study included a ranking of the ‘pathways’ of introduction of non-native species into Scotland since 1950 and likely pathways of introduction for non-native species over the next ten years. More than 50 experts contributed to an assessment of hundreds of potential species across freshwater, marine and terrestrial environments.
In all, a total of 30 INNS were agreed to have a high risk of arriving, establishing and impacting biodiversity and ecosystems during this time period. From this, a priority list of 10 species was extracted – with awareness raising seen as critical in preventing their arrival and spread.
This ‘top ten’ list includes five freshwater species: three molluscs (Asiatic clam, quagga mussel and zebra mussel - pictured); and two submerged plant species (floating pennywort and parrot’s feather). Freshwater environments are considered to be among the most vulnerable habitats to biological invasions.
The remaining five species within the top 10 comprised two terrestrial plants (highbush blueberry and pheasant’s tail grass), two vertebrates (Reeve’s muntjac and raccoon) and four species of flatworm (grouped together for ease).
The study revealed that horticulture and the cultivation of ornamental species are most associated both with the future arrival of INNS and the continued spread of what is a long list of established but not currently invasive non-native species in Scotland.
The results of this study will help inform the Scottish Government’s priority actions to prevent the establishment of new INNS going forward.
species from Spey Bay © Brian Tunnard
Japanese knotweed is one of the most pernicious of all INNS
©Pete Haskell/Scottish Wildlife Trust
Zebra mussel © Shutterstock
Take a
breath
This summer, why not discover the natural wonders of Scotland’s coastal waters on one of the Trust’s award-winning snorkel trails?
Ida Maspero finds out more on a pre-season plunge
mild afternoon in early May finds me wriggling into my wetsuit on a small, sandy beach in Fife. A pair of eider ducks bob in the cove before me while, in the distance, flashes of white catch the eye as gannets dive, dartlike, into the blue-grey waters of the Forth. At the water’s edge, I pull on a pair of neoprene booties and then fins. There’s time for a quick mask rinse, and it’s then gloves on and a cautious walk backwards into the water.
The shock of the cold against my face and scalp is intense – it’s still early in the season, after all. Since childhood I’ve loved being in the ocean and exploring underwater, though I admit to being a warm climate snorkeller. This might take some getting used to.
Beside me in the water is Elouise Dalziel, Policy & Engagement Officer for the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Living Seas Project, who has worked with local communities to create a network of snorkel trails around the Scottish coast. “People are often baffled by the idea of snorkelling in Scotland,” she had mused earlier. “Their reaction is usually one of two extremes
– they’re either really enthused and already ‘get it’, or they have no idea it’s even a thing.”
With a surge of interest in the wellbeing benefits of wild swimming and cold-water immersion, the appeal of snorkelling along Scottish coasts is now also gaining greater attention. “There is no doubting the mental and physical health benefits of being near or in the water – we now often hear the term ‘blue health’,” notes Elouise.
“Of course, snorkelling also brings that added benefit of a connection with underwater biodiversity. Donning a mask and dipping your head under is a portal to a world full of incredible colours and creatures.”
In many places, snorkellers may spot gem-like anemones, brightly-coloured starfish and urchins, an array of crabs and molluscs, plus swaying seaweeds and brain-like sponges. Darting among otherworldly kelp forests might be dogfish, wrasse and pollack.
If really lucky, cuttlefish, lobster or octopus may be lurking among the rocks too. And that’s not forgetting the life found on or near the surface, such as seabirds and seals.
Ocean connection
Our snorkel spot at Ravenscraig, Kirkcaldy, is one of five featured on the South Fife Snorkel Trail, which launched last year in partnership with The Ecology Centre. This joined ten other self-guided trails, from Lochaber, North Argyll and Torridon on the west coast to East Lothian, Berwickshire and the Moray Firth in the east. The network also features spectacular snorkel spots across some of Scotland’s islands, including Arran and Harris.
This summer, the network will be completed with the opening of three final trails: South Ayrshire, which launched at the Maidens Ocean Festival in early June; the Small Isles Trail in August; and the Orkney Trail, which will launch at the Orkney Science Festival in September.
The Trust’s Living Seas project has a wide brief, with a focus not just on marine policy and advocacy, but also community engagement and empowerment – which is where the snorkel trail network comes in.
“We see policy and community engagement as overlapping,” explains Elouise. “The project aims to involve coastal
communities with marine policy decisions so that they not only understand what’s happening but can be part of that process. It also ensures that government understands the desire of communities to be involved, and that it listens to their feedback.”
The overall ambition of the snorkel trail network is to make Scotland’s coasts and inshore waters more accessible to a greater range of people so that they can connect with marine life in their own way. “It also aims to promote sustainable ecotourism in coastal communities,” explains Elouise. “Every trail has been co-created with local people, and highlights outdoor guides, equipment hire, cafes and restaurants, encouraging visitors to linger.”
Even for those who’ve never dipped their
heads beneath the surface, the trails provide enough inspiration and helpful information to get exploring underwater. “They’re familyfriendly and suitable for competent swimmers of all ages,” adds Elouise. “For most locations, beginner and advanced zones are indicated and a few are even wheelchair accessible.”
Each trail is accompanied by a leaflet that offers a handy species checklist as well as tips on snorkelling safely and respectfully. “With these being self-guided trails, it’s important to be aware of tides and the weather forecast, and to never snorkel alone,” notes Elouise. “And of course, we ask that people respect all marine life by not touching, teasing or taking anything.”
Underwater surprises
Back in Fife waters, I find myself gradually acclimatising to the cold. The initial ‘ice cream headache’ gives way to a familiar sense of relaxed alertness that comes with immersion in the underwater world.
Settling into a rhythm, Elouise and I fin our way around rocky outcrops. Today’s ‘viz’ (visibility due to water clarity) is relatively poor, and there’s not much to be seen in the way of marine life. On clearer days, Elouise assures me, numerous crabs, colourful anemones, dab (a type of flatfish) and shoals of juvenile sandeel can be spotted here.
Nevertheless, the underwater landscape of colourful rounded pebbles and jutting sandstone ribs is fascinating. Drifting for a while, I’m mesmerised by the sway of seaweed in the swell – bright green, silky gutweed and knobbly bladderwrack in contrast to the smoothed curves of cream-coloured rock they’re attached to.
“Every stretch of Scottish coast and every spot has its own unique ecology,” notes Elouise. “The trails highlight the range of cold-water habitats found in Scottish seas, including kelp forests, seagrass meadows and, along the west coast and Arran, fragile maerl beds.”
Quite often though, like today, it’s the subaquatic geology that captures the imagination. “Scotland has some amazing geology – both above the waves and below. The new South Ayrshire Trail, especially, includes impressive sea caves and rock formations beneath soaring cliffs. Looking up when snorkelling under a clifftop castle is a jaw-dropping experience!”
Several trails touch on the area’s cultural heritage too. “The new Orkney Trail will feature well-preserved underwater archaeological sites and wartime shipwrecks, while we have seen Gaelic guided sessions and underwater artists’ residencies in North Argyll,” adds Elouise.
Anemones, seaweeds, brittlestars, sponges and a sea urchin jostle for space just below the surface © Ben James/NatureScot
Shared endeavour
Fostering community involvement and building partnerships are at the heart of the snorkel trail project. After all, no-one knows a stretch of coast better than the local people who live and work there, and use it daily.
The first to launch was the North West Highlands Trail in 2016 – with the concept developed from community work done in Ullapool by former Living Seas staff member Noel Hawkins. “It attracted a surprising amount of interest and soon led to other coastal communities getting in touch and making the case for a trail in their area,” explains Elouise.
Each trail has been developed with a key partner. The North Argyll Trail, for example, was developed in partnership with the Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-operative and involved input from many groups around the Argyll Hope Spot region. It was launched as part of a project called Above and Below, which highlights different ways for people to experience nature – including a sunset trail, dark sky trail, a wild swim trail and beach hunt trail.
Elsewhere, the Lochaber Trail was created in partnership with the University of Highlands and Islands’ School of Adventure Studies – a nod to the importance of ecotourism and ‘blue jobs’ to many coastal communities. And on Arran, the snorkel trail was created with the Community of Arran Seabed Trust – known to many as COAST – to complement the goals of the island’s community-led No Take Zone and Marine Protected Area.
New horizons
When it launches in September, the Orkney Trail will be the final addition to the network, while the Trust will also connect with the Ullapool Sea Savers, a local marine conservation charity for young people, to split the North West Highlands Trail in two. “That will then complete a network covering 14 trails and more than 80 snorkel sites across Scotland,” explains Elouise.
But the efforts won’t stop there. “We’re now
We’re now working towards a new ocean literacy project to support the snorkel trail network and the communities around it.
working towards a new ocean literacy project to support the snorkel trail network and the communities around it. The project will encourage under-represented groups to connect with local marine life as well as join the important marine policy discussions happening at local and national levels.”
Back on the beach at Ravenscraig, we peel off our wetsuits and wrap up warm. I’ve learnt a lot and leave the beach with a glorious tingle all over… plus a resolution to pack my snorkel gear wherever this summer takes me. ■
For more, visit bit.ly/ ScotlandSnorkelTrails or scan the QR code.
Snorkelling top tips
• Take time to research the sites best suited to you.
• Besides a mask, snorkel and fins, a good wetsuit will keep you warmer, and a tow float will make you more visible in the water.
• Always snorkel with a buddy. If you can’t convince a family member or friend to join you, look out for a local group or guided excursion.
• Check the tide times and weather forecast before setting off.
• Once in the water, pick a landmark on shore to find your way back.
• Know your limits – head back to shore if the swell or the cold begins to feel too much.
• Follow the Snorkeller’s Code: do not touch or remove any sealife.
Snorkel Trail locations
1. South Ayrshire
2. Isle of Arran
3. North Argyll
4. Lochaber
5. Small Isles
6. Torridon
7. North Harris
8. North West Highlands
9. Orkney 10. Moray Firth
11. South Fife
12. East Lothian 13. Berwickshire
Queen scallop with seaweeds and brittlestars © Ben James/NatureScot
Velvet crab on maerl © Howard Wood /COAST
Tue-Fri:8:30am-4:30pm Sat:10am-3pm
Join us at our 60th anniversary AGM and National Members’ Day
© Fergus Gill/2020VISION
On Saturday 7 September, join us online or in person at the National Museum of Scotland as we reflect on the Trust’s achievements from the past year and celebrate 60 years of championing Scotland’s wildlife
Special guests Liz Bonnin and Cal Major will join us for a celebratory National Members’ Day at the National Museum of Scotland on Saturday 7 September. The event takes place after the Trust’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), and in keeping with our 60th anniversary storytelling theme, we will hear inspiring stories about people and nature, from around the Trust and beyond.
President of The Wildlife Trusts, Liz Bonnin is a biologist and broadcaster known for her powerful documentaries and inspiring series, including Wild Caribbean and Blue Planet Live. She will join Scottish Wildlife Trust Chair Kenny Taylor for a conversation about her deep connection to nature with a focus on Scotland’s wildlife.
We will also hear from adventurer Cal Major, a record-holding stand-up paddleboarder who has paddled the whole of Scotland’s 800 mile coastline. Cal will share
stories of her wildlife encounters and what she learned about the ocean’s role in the climate and biodiversity crises.
We will also hold an engaging panel discussion where presenters will pitch their ideas for the contents of our 60th anniversary time capsule and share the inspiring stories behind them. Get ready to vote for your favourite on the day!
The event will end with the announcement of the winners of this year’s Trustees’ Awards for Volunteering.
You can attend the AGM (morning session) online or in person. Booking is easy, either online, by post or by phone.
Don’t leave the kids at home! In partnership with the National Museum of Scotland, free drop-in family activities will be taking place throughout the day. Members are welcome to come and go between various rooms to create a fun day out for all the family.
Event Programme
10:30 Arrival and refreshments
11:00 Annual General Meeting (see formal agenda opposite)
11:40 Presentation and questions 12:15 Lunch
13:15 Welcome to National Members’ Day – Kenny Taylor, Chair
13:20 Looking to the future – Jo Pike, Chief Executive
13:30 In conversation with Liz Bonnin
14:00 Ocean advocacy with adventurer and vet, Cal Major
14:30 Comfort break
14:45 Panel discussion: the Scottish Wildlife Trust time capsule
15:45 Trustees’ Awards for Volunteering
16:00 Close
AGM Formal Agenda
1. Apologies.
2. To approve the minutes from the 59th AGM held on Saturday 8 September 2023.
3. To receive the Council’s report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024. The Annual Report and Financial Statements can be downloaded from the Trust’s website. Copies are available on request from the Company Secretary.
4. To re-appoint auditors of the Trust.
5. To elect members to Council.
Venue Information
The Auditorium, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF. T: 0300 123 6789.
Given the central location of the National Museum of Scotland, we would strongly recommend that guests use public transport options when possible, as parking in the city centre is limited.
BY TRAIN: The Museum is a 10 to 15-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley train station.
BY BUS: A number of buses go via Edinburgh city centre and stop outside the museum on Chambers Street, or nearby on George IV Bridge and South Bridge. For more information, visit lothianbuses.com or call 0131 555 6363.
BY CAR: Follow signs to the city centre. There is pay and display parking available on Chambers Street.
ACCESSIBILITY: The auditorium entrance is on the pedestrianised walkway on Lothian Street at the rear of the museum. There is also level access to the Museum via the main doors to the Entrance Hall on Chambers Street and the Tower entrance on the corner of Chambers Street and George IV Bridge.
Our Guest Speakers
Liz Bonnin (left) is a wildlife biologist and natural history television presenter. She has degrees in biochemistry and wild animal biology and has presented programmes covering a wide range of topics, from penguins and dinosaurs to plastic pollution and the meat industry.
Cal Major (right) is a veterinary surgeon and world-record adventurer, having stand-up paddleboarded 800 miles around Scotland’s coastline in 2021. Cal has also set up a charity – Seaful – to help more people connect with our coasts and seas.
6. To approve the new membership subscription rates (effective from 1 April 2025) recommended by Council. Full details of these are available on the Trust’s website.
7. Any other relevant business. All other business must be notified to the Company Secretary by 31 August 2024.
Martin Cullen (Company Secretary)
Registered Office: Scottish Wildlife Trust, Harbourside House, 110 Commercial Street, Edinburgh, EH6 6NF
How To Book
The AGM is free for all members to attend in person or online, but booking is essential. National Members’ Day tickets are £18 (full price), £12 (early bird until 16 August), or free for children 12 years and under.
• To attend online (AGM only), please register at the web address below.
• To attend in person, please register at the web address below or by completing the postal form included overleaf (page 27). Book online at scottishwildlifetrust/agmbooking Registration closes Wednesday 4 September.
Liz-Bonnin © Andrew Crowley
Cal Major © James Appleton
Nominations for election to Council
Council, which has responsibility for the governance of the Trust, is made up of Trustees elected from the membership. To be an effective Trustee requires time and effort, and members of Council are elected on the basis of what they can contribute by way of knowledge, contacts, expertise and skill (including finance, conservation and science, administration, and land management). A Trustee must act in the best interests of the charity as a whole.
This year, as the number of candidates exceeds the number of
Standing for re-election (or election following co-option)
Chris Arnold
Proposer: Dr Kenny Taylor
Seconder: Dr Ian Jardine OBE
Having served three years on Council already, Chris is an active member of the Finance and Audit and the Nominations Committees. During this time, Chris’ passion for nature has been paired with his experience in the commercial sphere gained from his previous career in construction law. Additionally, Chris is a trustee of the Scottish Seabird Centre, secretary of his local church and the founding Chair of the Scops Arts Trust which makes grants to arts organisations throughout the UK.
Dr Julian Caldecott
Proposer: Dr Kenny Taylor
Seconder: Dr Ian Jardine OBE
Julian is an ecologist who has worked on wildlife, conservation, writing and consulting on solutions to problems of biodiversity, ecosystems and climate, meanwhile evaluating over £10 billion in official aid investment. His key interests lie in restoring peace with nature through environmental education and community action, and in reforming the climate emergency response to take Earth system tipping points into account. After three years as a trustee, Julian’s continuing aim is to promote globally aware and networked local actions in Scotland.
Alistair McVittie
Proposer: Dr Kenny Taylor
Seconder: Dr Ian Jardine OBE
Alistair was co-opted to Council in 2023 due to his experience in Scotland’s environmental and land use policy. This developed through over 20 years in environmental research and teaching. It includes working with the Trust and other organisations across the public, NGO, business and education sectors. Much of his work has focussed on Scotland, with European and international projects bringing a broader perspective. He is a yearround cyclist enjoying the opportunity this brings to experience and photograph nature throughout the changing seasons.
vacancies on Council, an election is necessary. Three of the candidates are already on Council and would like to continue (two seeking re-election and one who was co-opted and is now standing for election). Vacancies will be filled in accordance with the Articles of Association. Eligible members are offered the opportunity to vote for the nominees they would like to see elected to Council.
To vote, please visit scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/2024vote. Voting closes on Thursday 5 September 2024.
Standing for election
Dr Martyn Murray
Proposer: Dr Julian Caldecott
Seconder: Dr Tim Duffy
A scientist, conservationist and writer living on Lismore, Martyn worked on fig wasps in Malaysia and then ungulate grazing ecology in the Serengeti in the 1980s before working as biodiversity consultant for the EU. Travelling to remote areas of the world, he advised on conservation strategy, policy and the project cycle. He developed the EU’s ‘Key Landscapes for Conservation’ concept which led to his bioscape model of conservation to improve the effectiveness of protected areas whilst simultaneously enhancing rural livelihoods.
Stephen Metcalfe
Proposer: Anna Skinner
Seconder: Pat Monaghan
Stephen is passionate about the need to conserve, restore and enhance the natural environment. A birdwatcher since childhood, he volunteered as an assistant warden at several RSPB reserves in his youth. Since retirement, Stephen has volunteered for several wildlife charities including the Trust’s conservation team based in Dalkeith, as well as organising and conducting bird surveys for the BTO. He would bring to Council his experience as a solicitor, with expertise in risk management, governance and good working practices.
Andrea Tomečková
Proposer: Thomas Barclay
Seconder: Alison Barclay
A keen hiker and outdoor enthusiast, Andrea loves exploring local beauty spots and rugged areas in the North of Scotland. Having worked in finance for 15 years, she has gained experience across various sectors, focusing on charity accounting practices including leading on budgeting, forecasting, financial statements preparation and audit. Now looking to dedicate her time, skills and expertise to the Trust and the conservation of nature, Andrea is thrilled about the opportunity to help deliver this vision.
Jenny Law
Proposer: Dr Julian Caldecott
Seconder: Jane Stuart-Smith
Jenny is a Finance Manager at The Church of Scotland, with specific responsibilities for General Trustees and pension schemes. Prior to this, she worked in professional accounting practice for 16 years, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2009 and specialising in charity audit and accounting, working with a wide range of Scottish charities. Moving out of practice has allowed her the time to get involved in the wider charity sector, as a trustee and member of technical charity panels.
Aleksandra Hadden
Proposer: Dr Ian Jardine OBE
Seconder: Dr Julian Caldecott
With nearly a decade of experience as a Chartered Accountant specialising in the Third Sector, Aleksandra enjoys supporting charities in meeting regulatory standards and enhancing operational efficiency. Her tenure as a Financial Controller for Myeloma UK has allowed her to merge financial expertise with her passion for making a difference. Growing up with a deep appreciation for nature, Aleksandra is committed to understanding the intricate balance between societal needs and environmental preservation, particularly the crucial task of conserving biodiversity in Scotland and beyond.
Craig Bonthron
Proposer: Anthony Robson
Seconder: Bill Lambert
Following five years as a conventional investor, Craig’s passion and concern for the environment led him into the world of impact investing in 2007. Since then, his career has been focused on investing for positive impact, resulting in an investment philosophy rooted in transformational change. Craig believes that in the future, the most economic value will be created by organisations which disrupt and replace today’s unsustainable systems. He now advises, educates and invests in organisations which seek to make a transformational positive impact.
BOOK YOUR PLACE AT THE 2024 AGM AND NATIONAL MEMBERS’ DAY
10.30am - 4.00pm | Saturday 7 September 2024
(National Members’ Day begins at 12.15pm)
Please complete this form using CAPITALS and return to: Membership Department, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Harbourside House, 110 Commercial Street, Edinburgh EH6 6NF
Name of first Member
Membership number
Name of second Member (if applicable)
(by 30 August 2024 or, to benefit from the early bird rate, by 16 August 2024.)
Alternatively, call 0131 312 4700 or book your place online at scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/agmbooking
Telephone
Non-member guests (two max.)
Would you like to submit a question for our panel? A selection will be used on the day.
JOIN US FOR AN INSPIRING AND ENJOYABLE EVENT!
I/we wish to attend (please tick all appropriate)
AGM only (free to all members)
Members’ Day at £18 (full price) or £12 (early bird by 16 August) per person. Includes a vegetarian buffet lunch.
Members’ Day for 12 years and under (free). Please state how many in the box
Please use this space to let us know about any access or dietary requirements you may have
Thank you to our wonderful Wildlife Guardians
Wildlife guardians are members who choose to increase their regular giving to an average of £15 per month. Their generosity means we can put even more resource behind safeguarding Scotland’s wildlife. These special supporters help strengthen our work across the country, and we would like to say thank you, to each and every one:
GOLD Wildlife Guardians (giving >£50 per month)
John McMillan and Belinda Marr
Carol Pudsey
Rob Scoticus
John Scott
SILVER Wildlife Guardians (giving >£30 per month)
Ian Brander
Caroline Casey
Mrs S and Mrs H
Duncanson
Ian and Tracy Gardiner
Diane and Roger Guy
Kate Gwynn
Mr and Mrs Ian Hall
And one Gold Wildlife Guardian who wishes to remain anonymous
Dawn and Andrew Knight
Colin McCormack and Alison Gough
Tim Moulds
BRONZE Wildlife Guardians (giving >£15 per month)
Ms Frances Affleck and Mr Mark Jackson
Mr and Mrs Allan
Mark Aquilina and Rosie Briscoe
Phil Bland
Stan and Katie Calder
Ron Carthy
Tom Clarke
Sandy Cochran
Mrs Nancy Colman
David Cowan
Mr Graeme K Craig
Wildlife Guardians
Michael Dickson
Mrs S Evans
David and Linda Gibson
Nicholas and Wendy Gray
Lorna and Stuart Hastings
Mr G Hedley and Mrs I Thomson
Dr Jean Helling
Mr and Mrs J Hopkins
Barry Jarvie
David Jarvie
Robert Kerr
Andrew and Vicky Kilpatrick
Lesley King
Mr Ronald Kinnear
M Lancaster
Mr and Mrs McKechnie
Mrs Isobela Mellors
Ian Mirfin
Ms E Munro
C Murray
Pyott Family
Mr B Ritchie and Ms M Ritchie
Lawrence Robertson
Mr E and Mrs A Spearman
Ivan W. Reid
David P Riley
Mr John Strachan
Mr and Mrs Sturt
Elspeth Third
Miss B and HsN
Mr A Voas
Mrs Shona Wildi
Mr George Wood
Anne Wright
And 22 Bronze Wildlife Guardians who wish to remain anonymous
See a full list of our 309 Wildlife Guardians at scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/our-wildlife-guardians
Could you become a Wildlife Guardian?
If you are in a position to give a little extra each month and want to join this important community, we invite you to join us as a Wildlife Guardian. Just visit scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/guardians or call 0131 312 4700 today!
Heat
seekers
Katie
Harrower from
BH
Wildlife Consultancy
reveals how the use of thermal drone technology could potentially revolutionise the way that herbivore surveys are conducted over large areas
With woodland creation and habitat restoration gathering pace across the UK, the need for technology to assist and provide accurate survey data is becoming increasingly important. In particular, knowing how many browsing herbivores are in an area is key when making land management decisions – with the data helping to shape the course of future action.
Given their browsing habits, various species of deer are a particular focus. Unlike roe deer that are territorial and tend to stay in one area, it is known that red, fallow and Sika deer are all transient species that can range across large areas. Understanding the movement of these animals helps paint a better picture of population numbers and browsing habits.
Increasingly, we are being asked to carry out landscape-scale population counts, often involving multiple landowners, using thermal imaging drones. The biggest area covered to date has been 40,000 hectares and other landscape-scale counts are being planned across Scotland later this year, including a Scottish Wildlife Trust commission in Coigach & Assynt funded by the Scottish Government’s
This approach encourages neighbouring landowners to work together to understand deer population dynamics across a wider landscape.
Nature Restoration Fund (administered by NatureScot).
The drones used for these surveys are able to zoom in close to the animals using a powerful optical zoom when a heat signature is detected. The wildlife is then recorded accurately using a GIS-based programme. The resolution of the imagery allows the operators to identify the species, sex and even age class of most deer detected.
Such data can help to inform management decisions through highlighting an unnaturally high number of male or female deer, or show which species of deer are most abundant. Sometimes the findings even show different species living in herds together (such as red and Sika deer).
Such counts can be complex to organise, with many logistical constraints. It’s important, for instance, that surveys are carried out methodically and quickly to avoid deer
movement and double or under counting. This normally means that a team of operators need to be involved and that they survey the area in a tactical way to minimise deer movement.
And, of course, weather can also play a huge part in the success or otherwise of such landscape-scale surveys. If there are days when the weather is unsuitable to fly during the survey period, it can make the results less reliable and reduce confidence in the final figures.
Despite the challenges, there are clear benefits of gathering data over a large area. This approach encourages neighbouring landowners to work together to understand deer population dynamics across a wider landscape. It can also clarify on overall numbers and reduce conflict between landowners with differing objectives, be that forestry, farming, nature restoration or sporting.
The data collected can then support the need for more stringent herbivore control if numbers are high in an area where environmental objectives are not being met and can provide accurate evidence/data to back up claims if numbers are in dispute. Similarly, if numbers are lower than expected then control measures can be adjusted accordingly.
Repeating these controlled surveys can reveal trends and changing population dynamics over time. We often find changes in distribution, density and species breakdown when we return to the same areas. The increase of Sika deer in the north and west Highlands is of particular note.
On occasion we find new or uncommon species while conducting these surveys, including detecting populations of feral boar in locations that were previously not known to have them.
Another project we have been developing to aid the thermal drone surveys is the ability to integrate machine learning into the drones and have the machine identify animals automatically. The model is being trained to recognise all six deer species present in the UK, as well as all other native mammals.
This AI technology could be particularly beneficial if large herds of deer are encountered as it will identify and count them quickly, further reducing the risk of
deer being missed due to them moving.
We have witnessed a great appetite across government agencies, environmental NGOs and individual estates to obtain such accurate survey data on their land. Joined up thinking between different landowners and collaboration based on data can help smooth areas of potential disagreement and help to build trust between all parties.
Best of all, it’s positive to see how land managers are using the data gathered to help inform their decisions to improve the quality of habitat for all wildlife. ■
Katie Harrower is director of BH Wildlife Consultancy. bhwildlifeconsultancy.com
This pair of zoomed in (main) and thermal images (inset) demonstrate two of the ways that drone cameras can locate deer © BH Wildlife Consultancy
Marsh fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia
With its vivid checkerboard pattern of oranges, creams, browns and blacks, the marsh fritillary is the most colourful of Scotland’s species of fritillary. Sadly, however, it is also the most endangered, having witnessed a dramatic decline in numbers in recent decades.
The marsh fritillary is now extinct across the eastern half of Britain, with the colonies that remain in Argyll, Lochaber and other areas of western Scotland among the most important in Europe. Little surprise that the butterfly is now listed as a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority species.
The butterfly’s name is a little misleading as it is not really a marshland species. Instead, it prefers open areas of unshaded habitat, from grassland and moorland to damp meadows and heathland.
And all must have one key component: an abundance of devil’s-bit scabious – the caterpillar’s sole foodplant. Part of the teasel family, with the familiar pincushion flowers associated with this group of plants, the presence of devil’s-bit scabious is fundamental to the fortunes of this very particular butterfly.
In summer, females lay their eggs in batches on the plant’s leaves which then hatch within a few weeks. At first, the caterpillars live communally within a protective silk web which they spin themselves. Clearly visible, it is the counting of these webs between August and October that is often the most reliable means of monitoring population numbers.
Come winter, the caterpillars retreat to hibernate inside a smaller but much thicker web within dense grass tussocks that can provide protection even from temporary flooding.
The all-black caterpillars usually emerge from hibernation in March. At first, they bask and feed together in the spring sunshine – their dark colour enabling them to warm up and feed quickly – before becoming solitary, dispersing and pupating.
The adult butterflies emerge in May or June, although populations can fluctuate hugely from year to year. Poor weather as they emerge, degraded habitat with few nectar sources and parasitic flies and wasps whose grubs, rather gruesomely, feed inside the butterflies, can all take their toll.
Conversely, in a good year, populations can recover quickly. Although they rarely range far from where they first emerge as adults, where a number of colonies are located in close proximity, they sometimes come together to form a large population.
Overall, however, this is a species whose life cycle and very existence is determined by fine margins. Dispersal of colonies can be prevented by an obstacle as simple as a hedge or a river. Land management, too, can also have a significant impact on population health: while the marsh fritillary thrives in flower-rich grassland grazed by cattle and ponies, it is scarce in sheep-grazed environments as the herbivores actively feed on the butterfly’s precious larval food plant. ■
Further information
Marsh fritillaries have been recorded at a variety of Trust reserves, including Ballachuan Hazelwood, Shian Wood and Isle of Eigg.
© Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION
Lower Nethan Gorge, Lanarkshire
Sven
Rasmussen,
the Trust’s Reserves Manager for South Scotland, reveals some of the secrets held within this verdant Clyde Valley gorge
What makes a place special?
It can be many things. As its name suggests, Lower Nethan Gorge is steep-sided, with a footpath that weaves along the top of the northern edge of the reserve. When walking along it, there is a sense of peering into a hidden, undisturbed world despite the site being so close to the bustling village of Crossford.
As the Trust’s Reserve Manager for South Scotland for the past five years, Lower Nethan is on my patch. It’s a site that has changed even during this relatively short period. The woodland here was once dominated by elm and ash but, following the ravages of Dutch elm disease and now with ash dieback taking hold, these two key species are gradually being replaced by hawthorn, birch, hazel and sycamore.
In summer, the gorge is humid, fertile and tangled; in winter, it is serene, secretive and shadowed. Spring brings the sound of birdsong to the woodland canopy – chaffinch, wood warbler, long-tailed tit and more – while autumn sees spectacular colours and the gradual opening up of dramatic views through the gorge as the trees shed their leaves.
It’s a place of moments and vivid memories. A couple of years ago, a colleague
In summer, the gorge is humid, fertile and tangled; in winter it is serene, secretive and shadowed.
and I were walking through the reserve when we heard a distinctive tap, tap, tapping sound. It took us a while, but we eventually located its source: a nuthatch using its beak to hammer a nut into a fissure in the bark of an old oak tree. I knew they did this, and had heard the sound before, but this was the first time I’d actually seen one doing it.
As well as enjoying and monitoring many such species in and around the gorge this year, there is also remedial work to be done. Parts of a section of path leading from Crossford towards Craignethan Castle are so steep that we constructed timber board steps to make it possible to use the path all year round. We’ve noticed that some of these timber boards are now reaching the end of their life, so we’ll be replacing a few of them and repairing the steps over the coming year. ■
Plan your visit
One of the best examples of semi-natural woodland remaining in the Clyde Valley – and part of the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve – Lower Nethan Gorge is home to otters, badgers, bright yellowhammers and tawny owls. It’s also known for its displays of woodland flowers (April to June) and stunning autumn colours. Learn more by scanning the QR code or visit bit.ly/LowerNethan
Watch out for...
Some things to enjoy over the coming months
Book
Cull of the Wild: Killing in the Name of Conservation
Hugh Warwick
Published by Bloomsbury
ISBN 978-1399403740
Hardback £18.99
ECOLOGIST Hugh Warwick steps into the breach to examine the difficult and sometimes unspoken questions within conservation today. Are wildlife management activities and species culls ever justifiable? And if they are, under what circumstances?
In doing so, he explores the complex history of species control, revealing the global movement of species and the impacts of their presence.
A self-professed lover of all living things, with awareness of invasive non-native species’ (INNS) harm on ecosystems, the author delves into the debate with chapters focusing on INNS issues across the globe.
Among the challenges investigated are the outcompeting of red squirrels by greys here in the UK, bird predation by invasive mammal species in New Zealand, and the threat of invasive parasitic flies to Darwin finch nestlings in the Galapagos.
The author encourages readers to probe and examine individual issues and circumstances before making judgements. It’s an important and insightful read for those interested in conservation questions of the 21st Century.
Survey
Big Butterfly Count 12 July to 4 August
THIS summer is an opportunity to participate in Butterfly Conservation’s latest Big Butterfly Count, a nationwide citizen science survey – now the largest of its kind in the world – that aims to help assess the health of our environment simply by counting the amount and type of butterflies seen while out and about.
The data from this survey and other counts helps identify important trends in specific species that will assist conservationists in planning how to protect butterflies, as well as understand the wider impact of climate change on wildlife.
To get involved, visit bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org
Book
Tree Planting: How to Create a Woodland
Antony Mason
Published by Woodlands. co.uk
ISBN 978-1739549800
Hardback £20
THIS book is a valuable, user-friendly and practical guide to all aspects of creating a woodland from scratch.
After pumping readers into a frenzy to take action on behalf of the climate, it then offers a step-by-step guide to the woodland creation process. It is an easy read and the ample illustrations and easy on the eye page layout keeps the whole experience light and friendly.
However, this book is no lightweight; it is clearly written by practitioners and also covers topics that are fully up to date, including mycorrhiza, natural regeneration, carbon sequestration and nature restoration.
It is written with the whole of the UK in mind, so some aspects such as cost of land, tree species, rates of tree growth and the need for watering should be adjusted for the Scottish context.
A worthy addition to the books on woodland creation, but be warned: unless you already have (or can afford to buy) at least two acres of planting land in order to act out your dream, this book will just leave you revved up with no place to go!
Common blue © Jon Hawkins/Surrey Hills Photography
Podcast • Competition
Listen on the go
To celebrate 60 years of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, we’re launching our very own podcast. Join our hosts, Rachel and Ed, as they explore the stories of the Trust’s past, present and future across seven episodes, travelling the length of Scotland to give you an insight into saving Scotland’s wildlife like never before.
Released weekly from Tuesday 16 July, our Words of the Wild podcast features fantastic staff and volunteers who provide on-the-ground updates from our projects, tell the stories of some of our reserves and discuss some of the biggest challenges that Scotland’s wildlife is facing today, as well as looking back at some of the most historical milestones in the Trust’s history.
If you’d like to find out more about how your support is making a difference for Scotland’s wildlife, tune in by simply searching ‘Words of the Wild’ wherever you get your podcasts.
Tell your story
We would love you to share your #WordsOfTheWild. Have you witnessed a wildlife spectacle that took your breath away? Or had a wildlife encounter that stopped you in your tracks? How would you describe these experiences?
We are looking for creative submissions of inspiring, evocative and original pieces of nature writing up to 1,000 words long that focus on Scotland’s wildlife and wild places.
Your writing will be put before our panel of judges who will select one adult and one junior winner, with prizes generously donated by NHBS, Viking Optical and The Mainstreet Trading Company.
Entries are limited to one per person and must be submitted by 31 August 2024. For full details and to enter, visit the webpage below.
Over £1,200 in wildlife prizes to be won
Susi Briggs
Dumfries and Galloway Scots Scriever, author and poet Susi Briggs reveals how nature inspires her Scots language writing for weans and adults
Trysting Thorn poets Janette Ayachi, Morag Anderson and I were recently commissioned to write new poems inspired by Nan Shepherd. I was enthralled by the depth of her writing but was hard pushed to find my own voice to reply with.
As the deadline loomed, I pondered for a long time on how I was to approach this commission. It wasn’t difficult to find inspiration in Nan’s writing because she peers into the natural world with grace and deep philosophy. Even so, I was struggling to pin down my thoughts and write a response.
Reading The Living Mountain and Nan’s poems reminded me that nature is where balance can be restored. At the time of writing these poems I was overwhelmed with personal sadness. I was unbalanced after the loss of a dear friend. I almost gave up trying to write for this commission.
But I decided to make one last effort to find the words. I stepped away from my desk and went outside. I recognised that I usually only return to nature when my heart is broken or my mind is in a storm. It is there I find healing in the
stillness among the river stones and the trees. I wasn’t like Nan with her passion for climbing mountains. I prefer to look at them from the bottom!
Impulsively, in a bid to honour Nan’s spirit, I decided to walk up and sit on top of a local hill. It wasn’t the mountains she would have loved but it was the best effort I could offer at the time. In my solitude on that hill, I allowed myself to feel the ache in my heart.
There, I recalled Nan’s words in The Living Mountain when she writes about the mountain being a desolate and monstrous place at certain times of the year but that she would still visit it; she would go because there would always be something strikingly beautiful to witness. A graceful metaphor for life.
As I wiped tears from my eyes, I allowed myself to fully witness the nature around me and that was when I saw a white feather on a web strung between grassy tufts close by. The first of three poems came to me in that moment, including one called Brickle Signal (the word brickle means fragile in Scots).
Brickle Signal
Blinkin wind stung tears
I pullt a feather aff a web
It’s bricht white shone a brickle signal
In the desolate place o trauchle and triumph
My cauld hand cradles a whispered howp.
On a lighter note, Yum, my fourth picture book written in Scots was inspired by memories of playing in my garden as a child. Looking for hairy oobits (caterpillars) in the nasturtiums and feeding them lettuce fae my pieces! Nature, once again. ■
Susi Briggs’ Yum is illustrated by Charlotte Brayley and published by Foggie Toddle Books. Her debut poetry collection, Diva Blessin , will be published this summer by Drunk Muse Press. For more, visit susibriggs.co.uk
© Kim Ayres
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