SNH Area News
Argyll and Stirling Correspondents: Paul Roberts, Dave Pickett, Caroline Anderson
Anti-social behaviour
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Board have approved a new byelaw to ban camping on the east shore of Loch Lomond. It’s designed to tackle ‘irresponsible camping’, which has led to damage to trees, littering and anti-social behaviour (like the burnt-out car shown above). The ban would apply outside designated camping areas between Drymen and Rowardennan. This would be the first action of its kind and would make wild camping – permitted under the Land Reform Act 2003 – illegal along a 10 km stretch of the West Highland Way. But there’s also concern that it will simply move irresponsible camping to other areas of the park. SNH are supporting the byelaw
proposal as long as there’s provision for informal camping within the ‘restricted zone’. We’ve been working closely with key partners, including the park and Buchanan Community Council, on a £400,000 package of measures. These include developing a managed informal campsite at Sallochy Bay. We’ve also asked the park to monitor and manage any camping that moves to another part of the loch. Final approval rests with government ministers. If they give the go-ahead, then the park hopes to introduce the byelaw in April 2011.
Bird’s-eye view
The viewing tower at Flanders Moss National Nature Reserve has attracted many visitors since it opened last winter. But one couple of special note was a pair of redstarts that actually nested in the tower this summer. Numbers of visitors coming to see this fine peatland NNR near Stirling have gone up by about 50% since the tower opened. So it was quite a surprise when reserve staff found these beautiful birds had decided to nest a few centimetres below everyone’s feet, just under the platform itself. These brightly coloured members of the thrush family normally nest in holes in trees, but the tower and all its nooks and crannies obviously appealed more. These birds are listed as a species of conservation concern owing to their declining population, making it all the more special that they chose the tower to nest in. The parents continued to feed the young even when people were using the tower, and have now successfully fledged their youngsters. Reserve staff will be waiting to see if they return next year. Meanwhile, they’re giving some thought to how the tower might attract even more bird species.
African visitors
Author and journalist, Marian Pallister, is coordinator of the Mthunzi & Lilanda Initiative (MALI). This is a Scottish charity that’s working with children and young adults in Zambia who have been affected by HIV and AIDS. Most of them have also been street children. Marian brings a group over to mid- Argyll every second year, alternating with a group of local young people going to Zambia. It’s mainly a cultural exchange, and when they’re here they work closely with the Gaelic choir Coisir og Dalriada and the Mid Argyll Pipe Band. Each visit has a theme and this year it was climate change. We were delighted to be able to respond positively to Marion’s request for a group visit to Taynish National Nature Reserve. Local staff provided a reserve tour and delivered a talk to the group on the relevance of climate change to Scotland’s natural heritage. They also loaned the youngsters digital cameras for the day. Under the expert guidance of Lorne Gill, SNH’s professional photographer, they were able to document their visit and generate images for use in their own presentations in the future. Further information on MALI can be found at:
www.mthunzi.org/Mthunzi/ Home.html and
www.youtube.com/ watch?v=c-Fq0ilL4Zs.
www.snh.gov.uk
45
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68