Wednesday, 24 August 2022
Tweed Valley Osprey Project Co-ordinator, Di Bennett, brings us the latest update from the nest. Update 26 August: All three juveniles start their migration As of Friday 26 August, all three juveniles have left the nest heading south. We've never seen all chicks leave at the same time, but they have in this case all left on Thursday. Currently (Friday morning): Kirk is at Loch Esk, near E...
Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Tweed Valley Osprey Project Co-ordinator, Di Bennett, brings us the latest update from the nest. There have been no sightings of Mrs O this week at the main osprey nest so it is most likely that she has started her migration and has left her family now. This season seems to have flown by so fast and it’s hard to think that we have to wait until spring to see if she will return safely again....
Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Felling large, diseased trees that pose a risk to the public is a very dangerous task, but it is all in a day’s work for our staff. Lesley Reilly, a expert chainsaw operator in our central region, has just felled a particularly large, diseased ash on the site of the former Wilsontown ironworks in Lanarkshire. The tree – some 25m tall and around 1m in diameter - was growing alongside a publi...
Tuesday, 09 August 2022
Tweed Valley Osprey Project Co-ordinator, Di Bennett, brings us the latest update from the nest. 9 August - Tweed Valley Osprey News The juvenile ospreys finally have names! The names picked relate to the local area. They were suggestions made by one of our longest-standing volunteers, Ella Muir, who has volunteered with Tweed Valley Osprey Project since the start. The chosen names...
Thursday, 04 August 2022
There is no better time to get out and explore Scotland. We're home to stunning landscapes, great picnic locations, and outdoor playgrounds fit for the whole family. So, grab your suncream and hat and check out some of our favourite places to explore this summer. Culbin A vast and varied forest that's perfect for a family day out. Culbin has a range of activities. Take the Gra...
Tuesday, 02 August 2022
Tweed Valley Osprey Project Co-ordinator, Di Bennett, brings us the latest update from the nest. The whole family at home All three chicks in the main osprey nest successfully fledged during the past week, each displaying varying degrees of confidence and skill. 20 July 2022 The first witnessed flight was on 20 July. We couldn’t see the ring number but the young osprey was wing flap...
Monday, 01 August 2022
Tweed Valley Osprey Project Co-ordinator, Di Bennett, brings us the latest update from the nest. The whole family at the nest – a rare scene now At the main Tweed Valley Osprey nest this past week we have witnessed the growing independence of the chicks as they become young adults. They are now adult sized and all three can fly. Daily honing of their take-off and landing skills provide e...
Tuesday, 26 July 2022
Most people don’t consider archaeology when they think about forestry, but it’s an important part of our stewardship of Scotland’s national forests and land. We manage many interesting and important archaeological sites across Scotland and are finding and protecting more each year. This can involve creating detailed records of significant sites, developing conservation plans to ens...
Thursday, 14 July 2022
Tweed Valley Osprey Project Co-ordinator, Di Bennett, brings us the latest update from the nest. On 12 July the osprey juveniles in the main nest were 44 days old and were fitted with their identity rings and satellite tags. Tony Lightley, an Environment and Heritage Forester for Forestry and Land Scotland, and David Anderson, an environmental consultant, visited the site to carry out the wor...
Tuesday, 05 July 2022
A unique arboretum on the west coast is helping foresters choose tree species that can withstand Scotland’s changing climate. Kilmun Arboretum was established in Dunoon in the 1930s as a living laboratory where forestry experts could test trees’ performance against the west coast’s weather. Over 260 tree species were planted there in very small plots. Some liked the Scottish weat...
Tuesday, 28 June 2022
Tweed Valley Osprey Project Co-ordinator, Di Bennett, brings us the latest update from the nest. On 20 June the young osprey chicks in the main nest were seen panting in the heat and indulging in a few sibling squabbles. Nothing serious but those sharp beaks are weapons not to be ignored. It seems that to disengage in battle, osprey style, is to put your head right down almost into the nes...
Monday, 27 June 2022
Rachel Orchard is one of our Trees and Timber Apprentices working from our base in Durris, Aberdeenshire. As a newcomer to the forestry sector she has hit the ground running by winning the Lantra ALBAS award for Learner of the Year. After almost a year in the role, we asked Rachel to give us her thoughts on modern forestry, the challenges faced, and how young people can thrive in this industry. ...
Tuesday, 21 June 2022
Tweed Valley Osprey Project Co-ordinator, Di Bennett, brings us the latest update from the nest. The Tweed Valley Osprey Project volunteers and staff from Forestry and Land Scotland held a celebratory get together for the first time since the pandemic began, on Friday 17 June. The reason for the celebration was the unveiling of a beautiful painting of osprey White Leg SS in the Glentress W...
Monday, 20 June 2022
They say you should plan your meals, but never a picnic - and this is doubly true in Scotland where, even during peak summer time, our weather can be changeable! Below, we've got suggestions for easy-to-access picnic spots near you, suggestions for snacks, main meals and drinks, and even some ideas for alternative activities and destinations in case it starts to rain cats and dogs. Find the per...