Highland Biodiversity Action Plan 2015 – 2020 Projects and case studies Contents Highland Biodiversity Action Plan Projects 18.MaximisetheWildlifeValueofSuDSPonds22 1.PromotingLandManagementforWildlife4 19.Greater Biodiversity Input to Renewable Installations23 2.Develop&TrialtheEcosystemApproach6 20. Local BiodiversityAction Plan Updates & Delivery23 3.DeveloptheAtlanticHazelwoodsProject7 21.ImproveVolunteeringInformation25 4.TheLonesomePine–&otherlonesomespecies8 22.HighlandGreenGyms26 5.RiparianWoodland&WoodlandBiodiversity10 23.UrbanBiodiversityProject26 6.DevelopNaturalTreelines11 24.WildlifeGardeningProject26 7.PeatlandRestoration13 25.NatureConnections27 8.SurveyIn–byeLandAdjacenttoPeatlands13 26.EcoSchoolsCo–ordinator27 9.HighlandPAWGroup15 27.MarineHeritageProject28 10.WildfireAwarenessRaising15 28.HighlandRhododendron28 11.MarineLitterProject16 29. Highland Invasive Non–Native Species Projects28 12.ImproveProtectionforSeabedHabitats18 30. Rapid Response Pathway for new invasive species31 13.Aquacultureforwardplanning18 31.SpecialistSpeciesAdvice32 14.SpeciesReintroductions19 32.HighlandBiologicalDatabaseProject33 15.ManageRoadVergesforWildlife20 33. Data Collection from planning/ new developments33 16.WildflowerCreation&Management20 Appendix 1: HiBAP 2015 to 2020 Partner projects and commitments 34 17. Improve ecological input to the local planning process22 Appendix2:Partners 42 DDRAFT Highland Biodiversity Action Plan Projects 2015 – 2020 The Highland Biodiversity Action Plan 2015 - 2020 set 33 goals for partnership action, which are summarised in appendix 1. Not all the actions were completed as originally envisaged, but there was related biodiversity action for the majority of proposed projects. Much of this is thanks to the work of small wildlife/ nature and community groups across the Highlands, individual action, conservation organisations and other NGOs. This document focusses on positive action, and does not consider biodiversity loss in the Highlands; it is intended to demonstrate that good results can be achieved through optimism, determination and having a long term view. The following pages summarise the actions known to the editor to have taken place, based on information received from action plan partners, Forum events and personal knowledge. It will therefore be incomplete. Any further information/ corrections will be welcomed. Email Caroline [email protected] 1. Promoting Land Management for Wildlife Nature friendly farming at Culfoich Project suggestions – Training events, monitor farms, citizen science work. The Nature-friendly farming website has a number of case studies including Bruce McConachie, who farms at Culfoich on the banks of Training and advisory services the River Spey, where wading birds now flourish. There are a number of training and advisory services that The family farms 1900 acres organically, rearing cattle and sheep, and include courses promoting land management for wildlife. practising rotational grazing, using as few external inputs as possible. For them, a healthy wader population is a sign that the soil is in good Lantra Scotland worked with Scottish Land and Estates, Scottish heart. Natural Heritage and others to develop new estate management and estate maintenance qualifications. A Modern Plants play their part too, with buffer strips to reduce water run-off Apprenticeship in Rural Skills has been developed and is and clover to fix nitrogen. And introducing wiggles has been a great currently being delivered by Rural Skills Scotland and SRUC asset - with now meandering drainage ditches providing damp (Scotland’s Rural College. margins and plenty of invertebrates. The Scottish Farm Advisory Serviceincludes practical advice in Being a member of the Strathspey Wetlands and Waders group means its onlinebiodiversity section and and also offers support for that Bruce can borrow specialist equipment to open up rushy areas for Integrated Land Management Plans and complementary cattle and birds to enjoy. specialist advice, including biodiversity and woodland management. Lapwing, curlew, snipe and oystercatcher all appreciate Bruce’s farming methods, and hundreds now breed on the farm. Soil Association Scotland’s programme includesFarming for the Future, which aims to use grassland and water management, agroforestry, building soil health, non-chemical pest control and farming organically to help to mitigate climate change and restore wildlife.The Association hosts some biodiversity related events, such as ‘Buzzing about Grassland’ which was a demonstrationevent (July 2017) in Caithness in partnership with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Speakers focussed on the benefits of species-rich grassland for twite and great yellow bumblebees, grassland management and support for SRDP-AECS applications. Soil association Scotland also run Landscape Leadership jointly Curlew at Culfoich. Photo byTom Marshall (rspb- with Scottish Land andEstates. This provides training for images.com) selected participants who want to ‘work collaboratively towards a sustainable land management movement in Scotland’. Conservation land management partnerships RSPB Scotland runs various land management courses each year There are a number of Highland land management partnerships that across the Highlands on peatland restoration, grassland management involve joint working between nature conservation organisations, and forestry planning for birds. community trusts and private land managers. Plantlife’s Cairngorms Wild Plant Project ran a number of training • Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape events including for UHI Forestry School, the Mountains and the People SVQ training scheme and volunteers. • Peatland Partnership Volunteering and Citizen Science • Wester Ross Biosphere High Life Highland rangers are involved in a number of community- • Skye Crofting and Corncrake Partnership led habitat management projects, such as tree planting, beach • Caithness Wetlands and Waders Initiative footpaths, non–native species removal. In some instances this is done by the local ranger via the local biodiversity group. Rangers also give • Strathspey Wetlands and Waders Initiative advice to communities and wildlife groups on opportunities for citizen science, wildlife recording and habitat management projects. The Strathspey Wetlands and Waders Initiative is a partnership In Caithness the rangers work with the Countryside Volunteers and between RSPB, CNPA, SRUC, SNH and landowners, running since Caithness Biodiversity Group with a range of projects such as those 2009. Following the most recent surveys in 2015 there has been a for juniper, and small blue butterfly. Rangers have also been involved programme of advisory work and an equipment loan system. The with carrying out dune stabilisation using marram grass replanting at 2020 surveys have been delayed to 2021 due to covid. Working for Gruinard, Gairloch and Mellon Udrigle. waders A number of private companies also provide training and advice. For Working for Waders was set up in 2017 as a collaborative project example, Speyside Wildlife runs an identification training course bringing together a wide range of organisations, government bodies registered and approved by Lantra as 'customised provision’. Cairngorms Outdoor Access Trust delivers a Scottish Vocational and individuals which has funded a wader advisory officer in the Qualification in environmental conservation. Cairngorms to deliver Wetlands and Wader Initiative work. This includes working with volunteers to get more information about Deer Management Plans have a commitment to undertake citizen wader hotspots and declines, and the habitat and land management science through Habitat Impact Assessment work. associated with these. The long term aim is aid wader recovery, focussing on the most promising areas and with appropriate support and advice. The Caithness,Thrumster Wader Recovery project has also been supported by Working for Waders. The Woodland Trust Croft Woodland Project aims to protect and enhance croft woodlands. The Forestry Development Programme million from Arcadia. contributed financially toward the Croft Woodland Project. By March The project officially 2020 there was supported submission of 80 woodland creation started in January 2019. applications, with a further 18 in development. A total of 478ha has been planted. Advice on woodland management totalling 1007ha • Peatlands Partnership provided. 30 training events delivered to date for 678 attendees, including the Croft Woodland Conference in May 2019. • Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape The John Muir Trust worked with Scottish Natural Heritage and Woodland Trust in Sutherland to organise conservation grant • Wester Ross Biosphere schemes for crofters. • Nevis Partnership The Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms project works with land managers to share techniques that will benefit the species covered by • John Muir Trust - Wild the project. These are Kentish glory, northern silver stiletto fly, pine Waters - Funds are being hoverfly, shining guest ant, dark bordered beauty moth, and small raised throughout 2020 scabious mining bee. The project has a group of active species forTrust’s ‘Wild Waters’ champions and over 40 volunteers have got involved with the appeal that will project. contribute to funding beach cleans, coastal 2. Develop & Trial the Ecosystem Approach habitat and species monitoring, path Project suggestions – Develop a demonstration project, establish a maintenance, and a Highland database. riparian planting