Tag Archives: citizen science

Mapping the Birds of South East Scotland – A Celebration of Citizen Science in Action

This week’s blog is written by Mike Thornton, a NatureScot operations officer in the Lothians, and a keen volunteer citizen scientist. Mike has worked on a range of citizen science projects, including the Birds in South-east Scotland 2007-13, a Scottish … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, Birds, citizen science, conservation, Volunteering | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A quest to learn more about humpback whales in Scotland

As part of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters, Ron Macdonald, chair of the North East Biological Records Centre and an avid humpback whale watcher, introduces a blog by Lyndsay Macneill, a talented and enthusiastic citizen scientist who discovered a love of whales … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, citizen science, Year of Coasts and Waters, Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Celebrating Volunteers’ Week 2020 and Thinking Ahead

By Alison Matheson, SNH Policy and Advice Officer Today sees the start of Volunteers’ Week 2020.  Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the contribution that millions of people make across the UK through volunteering. Over the last few months, … Continue reading

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Moths on the move

Mike Thornton, SNH Operations Officer for the Forth Area, describes how integral moths are to Scotland’s biodiversity, and why it’s crucial to know how their populations are changing. I lift the egg cartons out of the moth trap, slowly revealing … Continue reading

Posted in Argyll National Nature Reserves, biodiversity, citizen science, climate change, conservation, Ecology, moth, science, Scottish Natural Heritage, SNH, survey, Volunteering | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sea-searchers recognised for 31-year contribution to marine conservation.

SNH has supported Seasearch in Scotland for many years now. The skills and enthusiasm of their union of marine life investigators has in turn supported our own research. Some of our marine team are Seasearch volunteers in their free time. … Continue reading

Posted in Awards, biodiversity, citizen science, coastal, Community engagement, conservation, mapping, Marine, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, MPAs, Priority Marine Features, Research, sea life, SNH, survey, Uncategorized, Volunteering, Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mapping our species-rich grasslands

According to UK charity Plantlife, Britain has lost 97% of its species-rich grassland in less than a century. Hundreds of plants, fungi and invertebrate species rely on these important habitats – which in turn support healthy populations of birds and … Continue reading

Posted in battleby, biodiversity, Cairngorms National Park, citizen science, Ecology, Flowers, Fungi, gardens, graduate placement, Habitat Map of Scotland, Land management, mapping, meadow, plants, SNH, Staff profile, Uncategorized, wild flowers, wild land, Young people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bringing butterflies and bees back to Skolie Burn SSSI

Since starting a Community Woodland group, Ian Records’ life has changed completely – dropping leaflets, knocking on doors, writing up woodland management plans and doing flower surveys.  Here, he tells how a protected area can galvanise a local community to take action to improve their local area for people and wildlife. Continue reading

Posted in Access, bees, biodiversity, citizen science, Community engagement, conservation, Ecology, Flowers, Insects, Land management, meadow, Orchids, plants, Projects, Scotland's Protected Places, SNH, SSSI, Uncategorized, Volunteering, wild flowers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Orcas, Warships and Seasearch

Today we have a further insight into the contribution volunteer citizen scientists make to marine conservation in Scotland. Our guest post today comes from Natalie Hirst, a coordinator for Seasearch Scotland. Seasearch is a project for volunteer sports divers who have … Continue reading

Posted in citizen science, coastal, Community engagement, conservation, mapping, Marine, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, MPAs, Priority Marine Features, sea life, SNH, survey, Uncategorized, Volunteering | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reviewing the biological recording infrastructure in Scotland

Scotland is famed for wildlife – bringing fascination and enjoyment on land, in our lochs and rivers, and surrounding seas. Our knowledge of wildlife distribution is founded on the skill and dedication of volunteer naturalists, recording plants and animals as … Continue reading

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Wester Ross Scenic Photo Project

As SNH’s Local Landscapes Officer I have always felt incredibly fortunate in my job, one of my favourite parts has always been encouraging people to get out and enjoy our landscapes and recognise what they mean to them. Since the … Continue reading

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