Category Archives: Protected Areas

Ardnamurchan’s unique day-flying moth

Each year in early summer, volunteers from various parts of Scotland travel west to survey a rare, striking and elusive day-flying moth – the New Forest burnet, at the only site it occurs in the UK.  Since becoming extinct in … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, citizen science, climate change, conservation, Ecology, Flowers, Insects, Land management, moth, Projects, Protected Areas, Research, Scotland's Protected Places, Scottish Natural Heritage, SNH, Species Action Framework, SSSI, Uncategorized, wildlife management, woodlands | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Monitoring the condition of our Marine Protected Areas

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 , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cross-border partnership connects people and Marine Protected Areas

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Great skua behaviour and Fair Isle’s lifeline

Fair Isle is Britain’s most remote inhabited island, 38 km from the next nearest island and 125 km from the northernmost tip of the UK mainland. A boat runs from the island but most visitors and most of the 60 … Continue reading

Posted in Access, biodiversity, Birds, coastal, conservation, graduate placement, gulls, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, MPAs, Protected Areas, SNH, survey, sustainable travel, Uncategorized, Young people | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unlocking the secrets of connectivity in our seas

In partnership with Heriot-Watt University we’ve been exploring the genetic connectivity of selected horse mussel beds. The results of this work will help to inform our advice on management of Scotland’s Marine Protected Areas (MPA) network and understanding of the … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, climate change, coastal, conservation, Ecology, Marine, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, MPAs, Protected Areas, sea life, SNH, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

#CycleForNature – The final stretch: Ullapool to Kinlochewe

Blessed mostly with fantastic weather, Francesca cycled 252 miles last week, sailed on six Ferries and visited five SNH offices (with a wave to Portree). The final part of #CycleForNature leg two took Francesca from Ullapool to Kinlochewe. Let’s hear how … Continue reading

Posted in Access, active travel, biodiversity, citizen science, Community engagement, Cycle for Nature, cycling, Land management, machair, National Nature Reserves, National Scenic Areas, Natural Health Service, Protected Areas, Scotland's Great Trails, Scotland's Protected Places, SNH, Staff profile, sustainable travel, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

#CycleForNature – A journey through a changing landscape

Days seven, ei‎ght and nine of #CycleForNature saw me journey from Mallaig, through Skye to North Uist, down to South Uist, back North and then through Harris and Lewis, and finally the ferry from Stornoway to Ullapool. The most notable … Continue reading

Posted in Access, active travel, biodiversity, Community engagement, Cycle for Nature, cycling, National Nature Reserves, National Scenic Areas, National Walking and Cycling Network, Natural Health Service, Protected Areas, SNH, Staff profile, sustainable travel, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Under the boardwalk – Braehead Moss

Braehead Moss Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) beside the village of Braehead, is one of the best remaining examples of raised bog in central Scotland.  Raised bogs, an important habitat, are now restricted in their range within the British … Continue reading

Posted in Access, biodiversity, climate change, Community engagement, Land management, mosses, peatland restoration, Protected Areas, SSSI, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

SNH divers assess Loch Carron flame shell bed damage

Images of bright orange, dead flame shells strewn across the seabed in Loch Carron received widespread social and mainstream media coverage recently. Recreational divers had reported that the flame shell bed – a rare and ecologically important habitat – had … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, conservation, Marine, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, MPAs, Priority Marine Features, Protected Areas, Research, sea life, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Deer Management on the Assynt peninsula

Nationally and internationally important woodlands on northwest Sutherland’s Assynt peninsula are being seriously damaged by high numbers of grazing red deer. Over several years now our attempts to get the key landowners to agree a plan to manage the deer … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, Community engagement, Land management, Protected Areas, trees, Uncategorized, wildlife management, woodlands | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment