Category Archives: National Nature Reserves

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 , , , , ,

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 , , , , ,

Mìos nan Damh / Month of Stags

Posted on October 25, 2018 by

Tha an Dàmhair sònraichte do na Gàidheil, a’ comharrachadh dlùth-cheangal eadar ar cànan is dualchas, agus àrainneachd nàdarrach na h-Alba / October might simply be the ‘eighth month’ (later elevated to tenth) for English speakers, but to Gaels it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Gaelic, National Nature Reserves

Isle of May welcomes record visitor numbers – again!

Posted on October 15, 2018 by

It’s been a fabulous year on the SNH-owned Isle of May National Nature Reserve in the Firth of Forth. Famed for its large puffin colonies, the island welcomed a record number of visitors again this year – the fourth consecutive season … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, coastal, Marine, National Nature Reserves, sea life, seals, SNH, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

#CycleForNature – 6 legs down, one to go!

Posted on August 17, 2018 by

We left Francesca midway through leg 6 with the sun in her eyes, as she sailed west towards Islay on ferry number three of the week…. Thursday dawned bright and breezy; first stop was SNH’s office in Bowmore where I … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, active travel, Argyll National Nature Reserves, Community engagement, Cycle for Nature, cycling, Flood management, Flooding, Fossils, Geology, History, National Nature Reserves, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , ,

#CycleForNature leg 6 — west as far as Islay

Posted on August 16, 2018 by

Leg six of #CycleForNature started at the beautiful Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve, where the dramatic scenery includes Munro summits, an exposed whaleback ridge and ice-carved gullies. It’s been another packed schedule for Francesca, as she describes below. I spent … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, active travel, Argyll National Nature Reserves, Creag Meagaidh NNR, Cycle for Nature, cycling, deer, MPA, National Nature Reserves, National Walking and Cycling Network, Natural Health Service, Priority Marine Features, SNH, SSSI, Staff profile, Uncategorized, Volunteering, wildlife management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A hard day’s fun on Caerlaverock NNR

Posted on July 26, 2018 by

After frequently commenting that they never get out of the office, the Dumfries Admin Team (both called Susan) were finally let loose for the day on Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve. Susan Hepburn tells us what they got up to …  … Continue reading →

Posted in coastal, National Nature Reserves, SNH, Staff profile, Uncategorized, Volunteering | Tagged , , , , ,

Fascinating Gaelic-named islands of Loch Lomond

Posted on June 25, 2018 by

Ruairidh MacIlleathain guides us through the fascinating ‘Inches’ – the Gaelic-named islands of Loch Lomond. The English summary can be read underneath the Gaelic. Loch nan Innsean Tha am facal innis a’ nochdadh ann an grunn riochdan ann an ainmean-tìre … Continue reading →

Posted in Folklore, Gaelic, National Nature Reserves, Uncategorized | Tagged , ,

Achlasan Chaluim Chille / Columba’s Armpit Package

Posted on June 25, 2018 by

Tha lus a tha ceangailte ri meadhan an t-samhraidh cuideachd a’ cuimhneachadh Naomh Ceilteach ainmeil / A plant connected to midsummer also recalls a famous Celtic saint … Tha Lus Chaluim Chille co-cheangailte ri Naomh Eòin ann am Beurla (‘St. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beinn Eighe NNR, Flowers, Folklore, Gaelic, National Nature Reserves, SNH, Uncategorized, wild flowers | Tagged , ,

#CycleForNature – an inspiring week!

Posted on June 15, 2018 by

Another three offices and three National Nature Reserves visited this week and 147 miles cycled. Now with four legs completed, #CycleForNature will soon look forward to pushing off again from Aviemore on 16 July. Today, following on from Wednesday’s post, … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, active travel, biodiversity, citizen science, Community engagement, Cycle for Nature, cycling, Flanders Moss NNR, National Nature Reserves, SNH, Staff profile, sustainable travel, Uncategorized | Tagged ,