Thursday, 21 September 2023
Our staff in North Region have been working all summer to grow a wide range of wildflowers that should help boost numbers of a rare species of bumblebee and other pollinating insects. The wildflowers, being tended by staff in polytunnels in Lairg, will be planted this autumn by volunteers from the Caithness Environment Volunteer Group. The group will be planting two meadows at Sibst...
Monday, 11 September 2023
People planning to head out to forests this autumn to try their hand at ‘foraging’ – to pick wild mushrooms – are being urged to ‘be sure what you’re picking and pick only what you need’. We're finding – increasingly – that inexperienced fungi foragers are clearing whole areas, damaging fragile ecosystems and potentially harming forest dwelling animals who depend on fungi as a v...
Wednesday, 30 August 2023
Our team recently recreated a historic photo of the Ryvoan Pass to document the impact of deer management over the Green Lochan. The Ryvoan Pass in the Cairngorms National Park is a trail that takes visitors from Glenmore Forest to Abernethy Forest past the Green Lochan, famous for its emerald, green waters. George Dey, the forester in the area, took this picture in 1984. His collection of fores...
Tuesday, 22 August 2023
That’s a wrap! We’ve had a blast hosting the 2023 UCI championship at Glentress, where across six days we saw almost 30,000 people visit the forest for the event. World mountain bike champion, Tracey Mosely, said; “Glentress was an outstanding venue that is set to become a beacon for everyone involved in promoting cycling by showing how the one destination can appeal to families, yo...
Monday, 21 August 2023
We've teamed up with the British Dragonfly Society to help protect and boost the population of some of the rarest dragonflies in the British Isles. The new conservation partnership will focus on improving dragonfly habitat as a whole, but with a particular focus on six endangered or vulnerable species: the Northern Damselfly, Azure Hawker, White-faced Darter, Brilliant Emerald, Northern Emerald...
Thursday, 17 August 2023
Did you know Scotland’s west coast is full of temperate rainforests? These vibrant areas are home to a range of flora and lichens, some which only exist in this part of the country…a few species don’t occur anywhere else in the world! Visiting rainforests is a great way to learn more about their biodiversity and history. So, we’ve drawn together information on some of our best examples...
Wednesday, 02 August 2023
Last year we posted a blog about a new trial using thermal imaging cameras to survey artificial den boxes in Galloway Forest Park. We're pleased to confirm this innovative method of monitoring pine marten boxes has been a success. This spring, our team checked over 100 artificial nesting boxes to assess the local pine marten population, and detected a number of baby pine martens (called kits) u...
Monday, 31 July 2023
Deer management plays a large part in how we will achieve our ongoing climate and biodiversity goals. It is estimated that there are now over 1 million deer in Scotland, a number that has doubled in the past 30 years. We are looking to the CivTech challenge for help to see if we can manage these numbers in a more efficient way and help us modernise how we transport venison from the forest to our ...
Thursday, 27 July 2023
An estimated 20 million birch seeds have been scattered on the hillside above the A83 thanks to the use of drone technology. We've been working closley with Transport Scotland in this latest phase of drone seeding, which is aimed to help reduce the likelihood of landslips on the notorious Rest and Be Thankful. The technique, that we first trailled last year, is being tested and evaluated by our...
Tuesday, 11 July 2023
Moray is a great place to escape for the weekend. With stunning beaches, a rich history, and expansive forests to explore. Check out some of our more popular spots and get inspired to head east this summer. Roseisle Cycle forest trails or relax on sandy beaches. Relax on the white sandy beach and explore the historic defence structures built during WW2. These concrete remnants were used...
Thursday, 06 July 2023
We are trialling new measures to promote access and keep the public safe during the next phase of storm damage clear-up at Kirkhill Forest. With work due to begin on 3 July and likely to take six weeks, we have put diversions in place to enable continued access to some areas of the forest. However, additional measures will be in place to encourage people to stay away from harv...
Thursday, 29 June 2023
Earlier this year one of our foresters discovered a huge jigsaw piece while surveying for an upcoming land management plan. The shape covers around 2 hectares and is one of three pieces found in the area. The irregularity was noticed during a desk-based assessment of all available aerial images and historic maps. This showed a distinct pocket of broadleaf trees inside a large plantation of pro...
Wednesday, 21 June 2023
We are using technology more and more to help us modernise forestry to make it safer and more efficient. Most recently we started to see how we can use drone to map out where rhododendron needs to be controlled. We have been working for over 25 years to turn back the relentless tide of invasive rhododendron that is smothering much of the west coast and threatening unique rainforest habitat. Rem...
Tuesday, 13 June 2023
We are urging members of the public to adhere to warning and safety signage to avoid putting themselves in danger from being crushed by trees, machinery or being ‘shot’ by broken chain links from chainsaws or harvesters. The call comes as the organisation records significant increase in reports from worried staff and contractors regarding incursions onto live harvesting sites b...