SNH Area News
Dumfries and Galloway Correspondents: Trevor Godden, Barry Dunne, Vicki Warren
BiG launch
A new project is under way across the region to try and get a better picture of the health of our insect population. Environment minister Roseanna Cunningham (pictured above) launched ‘Bugs in Gardens’ (BiG), which aims to involve as many people as possible in recording sightings of species from bumblebees to beetles. Free training and handy identification guides are on offer to give people the practical skills to identify a range of garden bugs, so even complete beginners can take part. The focus is on easy to recognise creatures such as ladybirds, bumblebees and garden snails. The minister said how appropriate
the project was during this International Year of Biodiversity, and noted the important role that insects play in pollinating fruit and crops, as well as keeping our soil healthy. The project will also advise on how to help bugs thrive, given concerns about declining numbers.
Dumfries and Galloway Environmental Resources Centre (DGERC) set up the two-year project, which is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, LEADER, SNH and Dumfries and Galloway Council. If you’d like to find out more about the project, or are interested in taking part, please contact DGERC on 01387 249 207.
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Wild walks
We’ve long been involved in supporting tourism and the rural economy across the region. Our latest tourism grant is for a new walking guide, 12 Wildlife Walks in Dumfries and Galloway, which is a partnership between ourselves and VisitScotland. It features a variety of family walks from across the region, ranging from a half-hour stroll to a more energetic 10 km. Each walk provides details of how to
get around the route, but also focuses on some of the wildlife highlights to look out for along the way. With lots of colour photographs throughout, the guide includes interesting ‘Did you know?’ facts about the species you’re likely to come across. So whether it’s the mallards of Moffat, the dragonflies of Kirkconnel, or the mussel-munching eider ducks of Loch Ryan, we have a great walk for everyone. Dumfries and Galloway is the
perfect place to experience nature’s finest sights, sounds and scents, whatever the time of year. So get your walking shoes on and enjoy one of our fantastic wildlife walks. You can download a copy of the guide at www.
visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk/ sitewide/brochurerequest/12wildl ifewalks, or pick up a copy at a local tourist information centre.
Supporting Seasearch
We’re helping a local diving club gather information about a special place in Dumfries & Galloway. Divers from Newton Stewart Sub Aqua Club were keen to join the ‘Seasearch’ project but lacked funds for equipment. Seasearch is a programme run by the Marine Conservation Society to train volunteer sports divers to identify and record the underwater environment around Britain’s coasts. An SNH grant provided the
club with an underwater video and stills camera, as well as the special equipment needed to record the marine life in Luce Bay, a special area of conservation off the coast of West Galloway. The local divers will complete at least 25 Seasearch surveys this year, helping to locate the richest sites for marine life and areas that may need protection. This information will complement our recent survey of seabed habitats in Luce Bay and help in the future management of this special site.
We plan to display the video footage
and a selection of the still pictures at local visitor centres, such as the Mull of Galloway RSPB reserve. You can see a photo gallery of underwater images from the project at
www.nsdivers.co.uk.
The Nature of Scotland
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