www.snh.gov.uk Scottish Natural Heritage Spring / Summer 2016 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Earrach/Samhradh 2016 The Nature of Scotland Nàdar na h-Alba Contents Features 10 Norwegian wood South-west Norway’s woodland regeneration 4 10 16 Celebrating Hugh Miller A geology trip with a difference 24 Tagged Sharks basking in Scottish waters 16 28 28 How can we help nature cope with climate change? Helping nature to adapt 32 Scotland’s outdoors Our natural health service 44 55 Regulars 40 2020 vision Scotland's Biodiversity – 2 Where we are a route map to 2020 SNH contact details 60 44 Stoats in Orkney 3 Welcome Small predator, big cause for concern 4 Wild calendar What to see this spring and 55 Do not disturb summer The issue of wildlife disturbance 20 News 58 Counting mountain hares The hare necessities 34 Scotland’s Great Trails The West Highland Way 60 Drawing inspiration Dramatic landscapes and the 48 Area news island way of life Reports from around the country 56 Dualchas coitcheann /Common heritage Linking language and environment 64 Keep in touch Scotland’s nature blog Our Scotland’s nature blog covers a wide range of subjects, and recent posts have featured Glasgow’s water voles, climate change, Brandt’s bat and capercaillie counting. Follow the blog using the link near the foot of the homepage on our website. www.snh.gov.uk 1 Credits Where we are… Area offices Welcome Welcome to the Spring/Summer edition of The Nature of Scotland. After one of You can contact SNH by Argyll & Outer Hebrides the wettest winters on record it’s a pleasure to move into spring and summer, and letter, telephone or email. 32 Francis Street, in this issue of our magazine we give you some ideas on how to get the most from The Nature of Scotland Eileen Stuart The magazine of Scottish Natural Heritage The following details Stornoway, Head of Policy & Advice our natural heritage. Issue Number 23 — Spring / Summer 2016 should enable you to find Isle of Lewis HS1 2ND your nearest main office, Tel. 01851 705 258 Scottish Natural Heritage On a personal note I’m delighted to see some of my favourites appear in this Published twice per year but bear in mind that we edition. I always feel a particular thrill when I stumble upon the dappled shade of © SNH 2016 also have a number of Argyll & Outer Hebrides aspen trees in woodland and there is nothing like the sheer delight of spotting ISSN 1350 309X offices smaller than those Cameron House, listed. Albany Street, an Artic tern hovering over the sea in search of a small sandeel. When I think Editor: Jim Jeffrey Oban PA34 4AE about these two species it occurs to me that I am attracted to them by their rich Tel. 01738 458528 A full list of our offices Tel. 0300 244 9360 appears on the SNH sound; the aspens trembling leaves – described aptly as ‘old wives tongue’ and Cover photo: Frogs website: www.snh.gov.uk Forth the harsh ‘kee-errr’ of the Artic tern. I hope when you next get out there in our Photographer: Lorne Gill/SNH Silvan House, Corporate 3rd Floor East, beautiful Scottish countryside you will find time to stop, listen and let the natural Inside cover photographer: Lorne Gill/SNH 231 Corstorphine Road, noises stir your imagination. headquarters Edinburgh EH12 7AT Welcome page photographer: Lorne Gill Tel. 0131 316 2600 Comparing and contrasting our natural heritage is the theme in a guest article Great Glen House, Photography – all images by Lorne Gill/SNH other than Niall Benvie/ Leachkin Road, kindly provided by Duncan Halley of the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. imagesfromtheedge p6; David Whitaker p6 image 1 in strip, p9 image 3 in Forth Inverness IV3 8NW Duncan recently spoke to colleagues in the Edinburgh office we share with strip; p51 centre; Danny Green/2020 VISION p6 image 2 in strip, p38; Mark Strathallan House, Tel. 01463 725 000 Hamblin p6 image 3 in strip, p20 right; Ted Benton p6 image 4 in strip; Chris Castle Business Park, Forestry Commission Scotland, and his talk about woodland regeneration was Email: [email protected] Gomersall/2020VISION p7; Graham Saunders/SNH p9 image 1 in strip, Stirling FK9 4TZ extremely popular and relevant to our work in Scotland. Laurie Campbell/SNH p9 image 4 in strip, page 26 and p27 (both upper Tel. 01786 450 362 images); Adam Burton/Alamy Stock Photo p10; Blickwinkel/Alamy Stock Other offices We also include an article from the James Hutton Institute and The Game & Photo p12; 914Collection/Alamy Stock Photo p13; Vario images GmbH and Northern Isles Wildlife Conservation Trust which takes a look at our critical work to trial methods Co.KG/Alamy Stock Photo p14, Markus Varesuvo/Nature Picture Library Battleby, Redgorton, & North Highland p15; Elizabeth Pickett p17; Dr Kevin R. Butt p20 left; Richard Shucksmith/ Perth PH1 3EW The Links, of estimating mountain hare numbers to better inform wildlife management. SNH p23; Alex Mustard/2020VISION p24, p26 main image; Becky Duncan/ Tel. 01738 444 177 Golspie Business Park, After 22 issues of our magazine we have replaced our National Nature SNH p32, p42; Laurie Campbell p39 top; Cathy Mayne/SNH p39 bottom; Golspie, Andy Rouse/2020VISION p34; Mark Hamblin/2020VISION p46 bottom; Silvan House, Sutherland KW10 6UB Reserve regular feature with what we trust will be a popular new series on Colin Preston/Nature Picture Library p47 right; Sue White, Shetland 3rd Floor East, Tel. 01408 634 063 Scotland’s Great Trails – and first up is an article on the West Highland Way. Amenity Trust p48 left; Angus Laing p49 left; Kevin McCulloch p49 centre; 231 Corstorphine Road, David Genney p50 left; p52 left; Julie Young p50 centre; Linda Ferguson, p51 Edinburgh EH12 7AT Climate change is one of the most urgent problems of our time and in an left; Adam Murphy p51 right; Clare Brown p52 centre; Peter Sandground/ Northern Isles Tel. 0131 316 2600 inspiring article by Anna Brand we look at how conservation managers are SNH p52 right; Craig Nisbet p53 left; Peter Cairns/2020 VISION p53 centre, & North Highland John Black, Ecologist, Beith Defence Munitions p54 left; Peter Kelly p54 Ground Floor, helping nature by following climate change adaptation principles. We also take centre; Caspian House, Stewart Building, Mariner Court, Alexandra Wharf, a look at Scotland’s Biodiversity through ‘the lens’ of our Route Map to 2020, an Illustrations on pages 16 to 19 courtesy of Elizabeth Pickett (this article first Clydebank Business Park, Lerwick, initiative where the focus is very much on collaborative working. appeared in Earth Heritage magazine), and illustrations on pages 60 to 63 Clydebank G81 2NR Shetland ZE1 0LL courtesy of Liz Myhill Tel. 0141 951 4488 Tel. 01595 693 345 Add to the mix articles on Orkney stoats, basking sharks, a voyage celebrating the role of geologist Hugh Miller and I’m confident that no matter what your taste To share your views about The Nature of Scotland or suggest articles for South Highland you will find something in our magazine to interest you. future issues please contact the editor: Fodderty Way, I hope you enjoy reading the articles in this issue of The Nature of Scotland SNH Magazine Dingwall Business Park, Battleby, Redgorton, Perth PH1 3EW Dingwall IV15 9XB and that some of them inspire you to get out and enjoy our fabulous natural Email: [email protected] Tel. 01349 865 333 environment. The views expressed in this magazine do not South Highland necessarily reflect those of SNH. Torlundy, Fort William PH33 6SW Printed by: J Thomson Colour Printers, Glasgow Tel. 01397 704 716 JTCP15.5k0416 Southern Scotland Greystone Park, When you’ve finished with this magazine, please recycle it. Pass it to another 55/57 Moffat Road, reader or dispose of it at your local waste-collection point. Dumfries DG1 1NP Tel. 0300 067 3200 Strathclyde & Ayrshire Caspian House, Mariner Court, Clydebank Business Park, Clydebank G81 2NR Tel. 0141 951 4488 Tayside & Grampian Battleby, Redgorton, Perth PH1 3EW Tel. 01738 444 177 Tayside & Grampian Inverdee House, Baxter Street, Torry, Aberdeen AB11 9QA Tel. 01224 266 500 2 The Nature of Scotland Kenny Taylor gives some seasonal tips for Wild calendar savouring Scottish wildlife and landscapes Listen as the first blackbird sings, full-fluted from a rooftop. When will the new leaves of birch and sycamore, beech or hazel unfurl enough to catch the wind? Will oak break leaf before ash this year and bluebells blossom before the first osprey eggs are laid? Spring is a great time to notice change and renewal, not only through cuckoo calls, but more in many small shifts revealing the freshness of life; bringing surprises each day, for many weeks to come. Tree of many tongues Sleepers awaken Fowl play? When it comes to brilliance of leaf They might be dusty. They could When is a goose not a goose? When colours, autumn rightly steals the have ragged wings, frayed from close it’s a barnacle? That brace of questions broadleaved tree show. But there’s one encounters with predatory birds. They might seem downright odd nowadays. native tree whose splendour in spring is may seem drowsy at first, fluttering But in the Middle Ages, arguing the a match for its autumnal glory: aspen. briefly before resting in patches of case for a bird being both shellfish and Often late to break into leaf, aspen sunlight. Yet they are heralds of the fowl could make a difference to your makes up for this tardiness in sheer changed seasons – true harbingers of diet.