Thursday, 18 July 2019
A surprise visit Tiny chaffinches on the tree above the right hand branch The young ospreys on the main nest were treated to a surprise visit from a delightful family of chaffinches this week. At least seven young birds flocked into the branches to the side of the nest and were busy preening, unphased by the presence of three young but large predators sitting in the nest next to them. The ospr...
Monday, 15 July 2019
It's ringing time again This time of year seems to come around so fast. It feels like only yesterday we were waiting for birds to arrive, then eggs, then hatching. Now we are six weeks into the young ospreys lives and it’s time to fit their leg rings and tracking devices. Expedition main nest ringing The team from Forestry and Land Scotland and the Raptor Study Group, consisting of Tony Light...
Friday, 12 July 2019
Meet Hannah Humphreys, one of four Careerwise placement students who will be working for Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) this summer, in partnership with Equate Scotland. While studying Environmental Biology at Napier University, about to start her final year, Hannah hopes to gain valuable experience working on a range of applied ecology projects, including surveying deadwood insects...
Thursday, 11 July 2019
With summer in full swing, our three Forest Drives showcase the best that Scotland’s forests and land have to offer, with breathtaking scenery, winding forest trails, glittering lochs and mysterious ruins and castles hidden amongst the whispering trees. Because they are accessible by car, you can see a lot of our Forest Parks on these drives in just one trip, without having to do more walking t...
Wednesday, 10 July 2019
Our peatlands can play an important role in tackling today’s global climate emergency. Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is doing its bit to reduce the impacts of climate change on a number of fronts – one of these is through restoring our precious peatland bogs. Formed from waterlogged carbon rich, dead and decaying plant material, peatlands are the largest worldwide carbon store. They are...
Wednesday, 10 July 2019
A forest adventure is often closer than you think. If you’re one of the over 1 million people that call Edinburgh or Glasgow home, you may be surprised to know there are several forests on the doorstep to your city, just waiting to be explored. With recent research suggesting that people who live near and relax in their local woodlands are three times less stressed than their less fortunate urba...
Monday, 08 July 2019
On 30 June the three osprey chicks reached five weeks of age and are looking very impressive with their feather-covered upper bodies. There is still some grey down, below their bellies, but the upper feathering has given them waterproof jackets; just as well with thundery downpours shaking the forest this week. Mrs O still does her best to shield them from the extremes of weather, but her protecti...
Monday, 01 July 2019
Copyright FLS by Skyscape Survey 2019 The Iron Age hillfort of Castle Hill above Glentress is probably around 2500 years old, give or take a few centuries. The site has never been excavated and is not the easiest to read on the ground. But from the sky you can see an unusual series of earthworks – an earlier settlement enclosed by two concentric rings of double palisades, followed...
Monday, 01 July 2019
25 days old 25 days old On 24 June, the osprey chicks in the main nest were 25 days old (based on the eldest chick, as they were born a day apart). The transformation from helpless grey downy chicks, which could barely stand or hold their heads up, to these strapping youngsters in such a brief period of time is an amazing sight to see. Development is both subtle but rapid. All body parts seem...
Monday, 24 June 2019
Home to the remains of the Antonine Wall, once the northernmost tip of the Roman Empire, Nethercroy Hill is now a World Heritage Site. It's a beautiful spot—a stunning nature spot where butterflies, bats, great crested newts and other species make their homes in lush, wildflower-strewn meadows and ancient woodland. One group of residents arrived more recently, and you are almost sure to meet t...
Monday, 24 June 2019
This week at the osprey nest we have witnessed the family feasting on fish until they look like they are about to burst. Father SS is bringing fish in with such regularity that the chicks are being fed to the point of being stuffed and have needed to back off half way through. Their mum, Mrs O, will then finish a meal herself, until even she has had enough. Finally, SS takes the remainder and fini...
Sunday, 23 June 2019
We see lichens all the times – in forests, on walls, even at the top of a mountain we’ve just clambered up – but how often do you actually notice them? With amazing names like Reindeer Moss and Old Man’s Beard, and amazing colours, there’s far more to lichens than meets the eye. They’ve provided us with a source for bright and beautiful dyes, and been used as components in traditional...
Wednesday, 19 June 2019
When you're a youngster, the holidays seem to last forever, stretching on and on in a sunlit haze of long evenings and bright, early mornings. The most important thing to do on your holidays, of course, is to make new memories with friends and family... but keeping the kids entertained is always a challenge, especially with the cost of indoor activities in towns and cities. Looking for so...
Friday, 14 June 2019
As the final weekend of Bike Week approaches, we’ve put together this handy guide to basic bike maintenance. Whether you’ve just bought a bike, if you’re looking for one, or just rescuing one from its winter hiding place, we’ll show you how to check it’s in shape for the summer season. These tips should ensure your bike is operating at its best, ready to get outdoors this summer.