COUNTRYnews
ON THE NATURE TRAIL Scottish Natural Heritage is launching a new self-guided trails leaflet to help visitors enjoy Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve in Sutherland. It covers trails over the dunes, highlighting areas in which the reserve’s plants and animals may be spotted. Walking trails to Balblair Wood also explains about rare pinewood flowers and birds.
An important feature of the new leaflet, which went into circulation in April, is the self-guided car trail which is ideal for those who want to watch wildlife but feel unable to tackle the walking trails. It covers north and south shores of Loch Fleet and takes in excellent viewpoints for wildlife watching, particularly the ever-popular common seals which haul themselves out onto sand banks close to the southern shore near Skelbo Castle. The free leaflet can be picked up from leaflet boxes at
Award for Blair
Horse Trials Hot on the heels of winning the Joules equestrian event of the year award at the BETA gala dinner in Birmingham, earlier this year, Blair Castle International Horse Trials has won another prestigious prize, the Scottish Equestrian Association’s Trade and Industry Award. SEA believe that Blair is a
glowing example of the impact sports events can have across political agendas. Not only is the competition of an exceptional standard so that it attracts major international eventers, but it also promotes tourism and has a significant economic impact in a rural community. This year’s Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair takes place from 26- 29 August.
Above: Blair Horse Trials Assistant Director Hannah Wilkinson receives a prestigious award from Ash Avshad of Flame Mutimedia. Right: The new trail leaflet for Sutherland’s Loch Fleet reserve. Bottom: Think twice about dead wood.
Littleferry and Balblair Woods on the reserve, local tourist information centres, the SNH office at the Links in Golspie, or downloaded from the SNH website
www.snh.org.uk
RAVENS UNDER FIRE Landowners are demanding the right to shoot the flocks of juvenile ravens whose numbers have increased since the species became protected. Gamekeepers claim that they are swooping on new born lambs. and the young of moorland species such as red grouse and curlew. The Scottish Rural Property Business Group (SRPBG) is urging the government to issue licences. However, the RSPB says there is not enough evidence.
PROTECT DEAD WOOD Ecologists at the National Trust for Scotland’s Mar Lodge near Braemar are urging campers and hill walkers to think twice before using wood from fallen trees to light campfires this summer. As the camping season starts in earnest, staff on the sprawling
estate, which is situated in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, are keen to highlight both the dangers posed by campfires and the crucial role played by dead wood in the life of the forest. ‘While a campfire may seem like a harmless way to relax after a long day’s hike, it can have a devastating impact on the surrounding environment’ said Sheila Rao, an ecologist at Mar Lodge. She added that there had been at least seven vegetation fires on the estate as a result of campfires. As well as the obvious risks posed by fires, fallen wood in
the forest such as dead twigs, branches and logs, provides an important habitat for wildlife, including reptiles, mammals, plants and birds.
34 WWW.SCOTTISHFIELD.CO.UK
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