SNH Area News


Grampian Correspondent: Ewen Cameron


New route to nature


Some time ago, we talked with Mental Health Aberdeen about the therapeutic value of the outdoors for those suffering from mental illness. However, we were aware that many charitable groups face practical problems in getting started. Other demands put this idea on


the back burner, but we now have a practical way to move forward. A local charity, called the Buchan Countryside Group (BCG), have often helped us turn an idea into reality. On our behalf, BCG operate a


grant – pictured being handed over above – that provides half the cost of bus hire. This helps community and voluntary groups get their clients to places such as nature reserves, where somebody can provide an introduction to the outdoors.With the confidence that comes from a ‘taster’ like this, many groups and individuals go on to explore and enjoy the outdoors on their own doorstep. All of Scotland’s people should be


able to enjoy our natural heritage. This grant will help those who have never really explored the outdoors, or who face more barriers than the rest of us, to make a start. Application details and other useful information can be found at www.outdoors4all.org.uk or www.buchancountrysidegroup.org.uk


Centre of attraction


We’ve now finished renovating and extending our base at the Burn o’ Vat on Muir of Dinnet NNR on Deeside. The new combined reserve centre and office brings us closer to our visitors.We also share it with the local Aberdeenshire Council’s countryside ranger, so both organisations save some money and are able to help one another more easily. The wooden- clad extension has attracted positive comments from visitors and has been checked out recently by a woodpecker! As we also share the building with


a colony of bats, we had to make sure that the new building suited them too. And with Dinnet growing steadily in popularity, we’ve also extended our car park a little to provide space for another 17 cars. Finally, we plan to update the displays in the centre in the next couple of years so that they give a better idea of the management for nature we carry out.


Nowadays, Dinnet rarely produces


the winter spectacle of 40,000 geese flying in to roost on the lochs (they overwinter in Orkney now), but there are lots of other wonders to behold. We’d be happy to show you, so why not call in for a visit?


Wildlife records


Many people assume that we know about wildlife in every nook and cranny of Scotland, but that’s not so.We know about sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), but that’s only 13% of Scotland and 6% of Aberdeenshire. In Grampian, we’re lucky to have


NESBReC, the North East Scotland Biological Records Centre. The information they hold is certainly of interest to wildlife watchers, but it also allows planners and developers to pick up natural heritage impacts at the earliest stage, making it easier to incorporate improvements and avoid delays. NESBReC carry out up to 1,500 searches a year for Aberdeenshire planners for some 1,000 planning applications. Lots of other people need to


know the whereabouts of wildlife, and NESBReC have accumulated over 680,000 records, which are publicly available on their website. This information is gathered from many sources, and NESBReC run training courses for ordinary people who want to improve their wildlife identification skills. Casual records – such as the dead pine marten shown above at the side of an Aberdeenshire road – are valuable in understanding the spread of wildlife. Check out their website www.nesbrec.org.uk to see how you could help. But if you’re watching the side of the road, please do so carefully!


www.snh.gov.uk 43


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