RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION FARMS - AUCHNERRAN |


Our monitoring has shown abundant wildlife with more than 60 pairs of wading birds nesting, including lapwing. © Marlies Nicolai/GWCT


As well as demonstrating good practice this is a research farm. The research is being led by Dr Dave Parish – who has been with the GWCT for 20 years as head of lowland research in Scotland. Monitoring a baseline and tracking the effect of modernising our farming is central to our research activity. Two years of baseline monitoring confirm that the apparent interaction of abundant semi-natural habitat and low predation pressure has led to abundant wildlife. In 2016 we recorded 18 roding woodcock, suggesting a very high breeding density, and over 60 pairs of other wading birds nesting, notably lapwing, snipe and curlew. As well as lapwing chicks, there are significant numbers of brown hare in the clover-grass leys, both tribute to the collaborative work of the farm and research teams spotting the wildlife and then working around it with machinery. We know sparrowhawk, barn and tawny owl, kestrel and buzzard nest on the farm, with red kite and goshawk present. Camera traps have recorded red squirrel, pine marten, otter, many rabbits but no wild cats yet. This baseline monitoring has described a farm rich in game and wildlife. We expect


to develop our lowland shoot on the farmland (another party is responsible for the grouse shooting on the moorland area) without needing to manage much habitat specifically for the farm shoot. Game crops have been so far restricted to small areas, and no hopper feeding in these two baseline monitoring years. Ultimately the shoot aims to be typical for a farm of this size, relatively small, focused on the season’s available wild game. The first let day was sold to a team of four guns at the Scottish Auction, and they had a small mixed bag of pheasants, snipe and woodcock. Since November 2014 we have created a secure base from which this project


can now develop. The interest is substantial: as well as our Patron, we have hosted our member-supporters, Members of the Scottish Parliament and 15 organisations including Scottish Natural Heritage staff, the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Scottish Wildlife Trust and Scotland’s Rural Colleges. Demonstrating the challenges of renovating a hill farming operation, integrating it with a grouse moor, and creating a lowland shoot contributing to both income and biodiversity, as well as recording baseline information has been a full-time job. We would like to thank all the staff and Trustees involved in getting this project to such a promising stage.


Setting an ink track tunnel to detect small mammals such as stoats. © Marlies Nicolai/GWCT


We are already hosting groups of visitors who are interested in the challenges we face. © Marlies Nicolai/GWCT


www.gwct.org.uk GAME & WILDLIFE REVIEW 2016 | 73


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