Category Archives: biodiversity

Tiny shells and hidden animals

Posted on February 15, 2019 by

Do you like snails? The gastropod molluscs commonly found in your garden are probably the first thing that spring to mind. Or maybe you smell garlic and see a yummy plate of l’escargot.  However, this small word covers an array … Continue reading →

Posted in biodiversity, climate change, Insects, SNH, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Short-eared owls dazzle at Forvie

Posted on February 13, 2019 by

Our guest blog this week is written by our SNH former colleague, Ron Macdonald. Now retired from the day job, Ron is still staying busy, chairing the North East Biological Records Centre and serves on the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Conservation … Continue reading →

Posted in biodiversity, Birds, Scottish Natural Heritage, SNH | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Inch Farm: farming and the environment in action

Posted on February 8, 2019 by

Kirsten Brewster, SNH Agriculture Officer, visited Inch Farm and met with farmer Andrew to discuss his Agri-Environment Climate Scheme. The farm, in Fife’s East Neuk, has views across to both the Isle of May and Bass Rock. On the day … Continue reading →

Posted in Agri-Environment Climate Scheme, biodiversity, Birds, climate change, conservation, Farming, Scottish Natural Heritage, SNH, sustainable farming | Tagged , , , ,

Peat bogs offer a solution to carbon storage

Posted on February 2, 2019 by

Today, along with others around the globe, we celebrate World Wetlands Day – and this year’s theme of climate change. In Scotland, peat bogs play a crucial role in tackling climate change.  We need to find ways to drastically reduce … Continue reading →

Posted in biodiversity, climate change, peatland restoration | Tagged , , ,

A ‘good story’ beats the facts

Posted on January 31, 2019 by

There’s been some media hype in Scotland over the last few days, claiming that beavers caused a suspected case of giardia. But giardia, the most common form of gut parasite infection in the UK and the world, has not been … Continue reading →

Posted in biodiversity, Scottish Natural Heritage | Tagged , ,

Monitoring the condition of our Marine Protected Areas

Posted on December 27, 2018 by

Almost 90 years after St Kilda’s last 36 residents were evacuated to the mainland, the islands remain hugely important for the wildlife they support.   The World Heritage Site hosts huge seabird populations, including the world’s second largest colony of North … Continue reading →

Posted in biodiversity, Birds, conservation, cowries, Marine, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, MPAs, photography, Priority Marine Features, Protected Areas, Scottish Natural Heritage, sea life, SNH, survey, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Cross-border partnership connects people and Marine Protected Areas

Posted on December 14, 2018 by

We’re really pleased to be part of a €6.4 million cross-border partnership project to improve the management and monitoring of several Marine Protected Areas between Northern Ireland, Ireland and the west coast of Scotland. Over the next four years the … Continue reading →

Posted in biodiversity, coastal, Community engagement, conservation, Marine, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, MPAs, Priority Marine Features, Projects, Protected Areas, science, Scottish Natural Heritage, sea life, SNH, Uncategorized, wildlife management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New leadership’s first annual report sees year of successes and looks to the future

Posted on November 23, 2018 by

2017/18 was a year of change for SNH.  We welcomed a new Chair and a new CEO; and we refreshed our Corporate Plan, with an eye to the future and a stronger focus on the benefits that connecting people and … Continue reading →

Posted in 25 years of SNH, active travel, biodiversity, climate change, coastal, Community engagement, conservation, deer, Green infrastructure, Habitat Map of Scotland, Land management, long distance routes, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, MPAs, National Nature Reserves, National Walking and Cycling Network, Natural Capital, Outdoor learning, peatland restoration, Planning, Renewable Energy, Scottish Natural Heritage, SNH, survey, sustainable farming, sustainable travel, Uncategorized, Volunteering, website, wildlife management | Tagged , , , , ,

Connecting people and plants

Posted on November 16, 2018 by

SNH’s Iain Macdonald was just one of around 175 people with a passion for wild plants at an unofficially record-breaking meeting in Edinburgh recently… Not long ago I was sitting in a room surrounded by botanists, probably the single largest … Continue reading →

Posted in biodiversity, conference, Flowers, plants, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, science, SNH, Uncategorized, wild flowers | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Biodiversity Beyond 2020 – Scotland’s Contribution

Posted on November 6, 2018 by

So what’s next for Scotland’s biodiversity?  Our CEO, Francesca Osowska took centre-stage to discuss Scotland’s contributions to biodiversity beyond 2020.  Here is her speech, in full, from the Business Breakfast at Scotland House, Brussels, 6 Nov 2018 as part of … Continue reading →

Posted in biodiversity, climate change, coastal erosion, Community engagement, conservation, Green infrastructure, Habitat Map of Scotland, Marine Protected Areas, MPAs, National Nature Reserves, peatland restoration, Scottish Natural Heritage, SNH, The Flow Country, urban nature, wildlife management | Tagged , , , , ,