Scotland's Moorland Forum

Scotland: Black Grouse population increasing

2012-03-06T09:21:00.003Z

Photo: Ian Rutherford

See the article in today's edition of The Scotsman that describes how the population increase has been as high as 70% in the Borders with the birds doing well in other parts of Scotland. Excellent!

The article includes quotes from Forum members: Duncan Orr-Ewing and Adam Smith.

Moorland Forum - 10th Anniversary Meeting

2012-03-03T11:25:00.000Z

The Moorland Forum's meeting that took place yesterday, was 10 years to the day after the launch of the Forum at Hopetoun House in 2002. An excellent gathering of guests and Chairman, Chief Executives and representatives of the Forum's member organisations heard an address by the Minister for Environment & Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson, MSP. This was followed by views of the development of the Forum and the opportunities that are available in the future, from Colin Galbraith, who was instrumental in setting up the Forum, Stuart Housden (Director, RSPB Scotland) and Luke Borwick (Chairman, Scottish Land & Estates).

A press release from the meeting is available from the website and photographs can be viewed separately.

SNH: Wildlife Management Survey - more information

2012-02-25T14:19:00.000Z

SNH has commissioned Why Research to carry out some research to help the organisation gain a better understanding of wildlife management issues in Scotland, which remain hugely topical.

SNH now has many, and an increased number, of responsibilities in relation to wildlife management, including new roles on Deer and licensing, providing information on best practice, invasive non-native animals and species introductions. It is important that SNH provides a service that best meets the needs of its customers.

This survey is about determining understanding and awareness of SNH's roles and views on the services they provide. It is primarily aimed at individuals and organisations with a direct interest or involvement in wildlife management activities. This could include, for example, gamekeepers, farmers, stalkers and recreational shooters and their representative organisations, as well as national conservation bodies and their members.

As well as a survey, the work will involve a series of focus groups amongst members of these bodies.

The findings will also help SNH test and report to the Scottish Parliament on how successful the merger with the Deer Commission for Scotland in 2010 is judged to have been.

The survey will be live between 5-19 March 2012. The survey can be accessed at http://www.whyresearch.org.uk/SNHwildlife/

More information from: Sue Granville, Director, Why Research. www.whyresearch.co.uk

Tick Bite Prevention Week: 26 March - 1 April 2012

2012-02-25T12:02:00.001Z

For more information see The Heather Trust's Blog article.

JHI Newsletter

2012-02-25T10:45:00.004Z

The latest newsletter from the James Hutton Institute has been published.

Scottish Natural Heritage: Wildlife Management Survey - views required

2012-02-20T15:03:00.000Z

SNH has commissioned Why Research to carry out a survey designed to tell SNH what members of the public and those who deal with the organisation think of the way that wildlife is managed in Scotland. It is also designed to tell SNH what people who deal with the organisation think of the level of service they provide.

The aim is to capture the views of as many people as possible and anyone interested in this subject is encouraged to complete the questionnaire, which will only take a few minutes. The survey will be live between 5-19 March 2012. The survey can be accessed at http://www.whyresearch.org.uk/SNHwildlife/

Kyoto Protocol and National Accounting for Peatlands

2012-02-09T11:17:00.001Z

Work in progress on Exmoor (photo:ENPA)

The IUCN UK Peatland programme has published a briefing that describes the changes to accounting for peatlands introduced as a result of the conference in Durban, last year.

This information is not easy to digest, but the news is good in that drainage and re-wetting of peatlands can now be taken into account to meet emissions reduction targets.

This is recommended reading for all with an interest in peatland management, and especially for those attending the meeting of the Forum's Peatland Working Group on 21 February in Aberdeen.

Ten Years of Scotland's Moorland Forum

2012-02-09T07:25:00.000Z

The 10th Anniversary of the Forum's launch falls on 2 March 2012 and the Forum will be holding a special meeting at Battleby to mark the occasion.

We are delighted that the Minister for Environment & Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson, MSP, has agreed to provide us with his view of the unique support the Forum is able to provide to the Scottish Government.

Colin Galbraith, the former Director of Policy & Advice for SNH, was largely responsible for establishing the Forum in 2002 and he has agreed to provide a view of past successes and future opportunities & challenges.

Presentations by Stuart Housden, Director of RSPB Scotland and Luke Borwick, Chairman of Scottish Land & Estates, will provide views of how the Forum can help to deliver the objectives for the conservation and land managing communities, respectively, and the development of links to European and International issues will also be considered.

Thinking CAP: Upland Research & Management

2012-02-02T11:17:00.002Z

The online booking facility is now available from the GWCT website. For details see the earlier post, below.

Thinking CAP: Upland Research & Management - 13 March 2012

2012-01-31T22:51:00.000Z

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust in partnership with Scotland’s Moorland Forum will be holding an event on Tuesday 13 March 2012 between 09:30 and 15:00 at the Huntingtower Hotel, Crieff Road, Perth PH1 3JT

The Thinking CAP event is being supported by Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Government. It will consider the current state of evidence about upland management and how this relates to the funding available through the Scottish Rural Development Programme. The funding options in the SRDP are under review and in the afternoon delegates will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the relevance of the current options and discuss changes that they would like to see introduced.

Registration, coffee and lunch: £12 inc VAT per attendee

2 Feb 12 - the online booking facility is now available from the GWCT website

The Thinking CAP event has been kindly sponsored by Turcan Connell and PDG Helicopters.

Scottish Moorland Group - Newsletter

2011-12-22T06:46:00.006Z

The latest newsletter from the Scottish Moorland Group is published.

Woodland Expansion Advisory Group

2011-12-19T12:08:00.000Z

The Woodland Expansion Advisory Group (WEAG) has been established in response to The Scottish Government's wish to increase the amount of woodland cover in Scotland from 17% to 25%. The WEAG has established a consultation process which closes on 6 January 2012 and a copy of a letter that was sent by the Group to stakeholders can be downloaded from the FCS website.

The Forum will be submitting a consultation response and the intention is to base this on the paper that was prepared by a Forum task group in 2008. Some of the recommendations that related to the need for a coordinated land use policy have been addressed by the development of the Land Use Strategy, but most of the paper is as relevant now as it was in 2008.

The WEAG has announced a series of seven stakeholder events across Scotland between 21 February and 1 March 2012, and details can be found on the WEAG page of the website.

The success of the 2011 Scottish Grouse season

2011-12-19T10:49:00.003Z

The Scotsman has published two articles that describe how memorable this year's grouse season has been and how the income the sport has generated will be of benefit to moorland management, to biodiversity and to local communities.

The articles have been mentioned in separate posts on the Heather Trust's blog:

Grouse shooting season a flyaway success by Stephen McGinty
Shooting for the top prize of being the best by Andrew Hopetoun

The European Nature Trust

2011-12-17T19:38:00.001Z

The European nature Trust's latest newsletter will be of special interest to those with an interest in peatland management. There is a description of using voluntary carbon management to fund peatland restoration.

James Hutton Institute

2011-12-17T18:45:00.004Z

The JHI newsletter published on 16 December 2011 can be downloaded here. There is an option to sign up for future editions.

Mar Lodge Estate - Independent Review

2011-12-02T15:35:00.001Z

Mar Lodge is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is close to Braemar. The management of this estate has been controversial of late, particular over the deer management and muirburn policies. There has been concern about the reduction in deer numbers and the impact that this will have on stalking enterprises on neighbouring estates. The lack of a full muirburn programme has also left neighbours worrying about wildfire risk.

NTS commissioned an independent report and this is available to download. To quote from the report, it is interesting to note that, "part of the initial aspiration forthe Estate was to demonstrate that conservation and sporting objectives are not necessarilymutually exclusive, but that with sensitive management, both can be accommodated." The report considers different scenarios: two variants of the status quo, and then minimum and medium intervention policies; it then makes a series of recommendations.

Country Sports Tourism Group

2011-11-30T17:08:00.001Z

I recommend the short film on the home page of the CSTG's website. Some stunning aerial video of mountains.

The website also has a sign up option for the newsletter and details of the Wild Scotland conference that takes place in Perth next week (6 December).

James Hutton Institute Newsletter

2011-11-22T22:08:00.001Z

Follow the link to the latest newsletter from The James Hutton Institute.

Sustainable Uplands Project - Music Video

2011-11-22T09:26:00.001Z

This video produced by the Sustainable Uplands Project, captures the artistry of 20:20 Vision and presents some stunning images and video accompanied by compelling music. Recommended watching for all with a passion for moorlands, uplands or bogs. It serves to remind us of why we care about such areas.

The Peatland Working Group

2011-10-12T11:05:00.000+01:00

Fifteen representatives of organisations from both within and outside the Moorland Forum met on 11 October in Perth to discuss the formation of a Peatland Working Group to be operated as part of the Forum. The need for a coordinated approach to the management of peatland areas was recognised, and there was unanimous support for this Group.

The Group agreed that it would be useful to produce briefings on key topics as a way of harnessing the knowledge and experience available to the Group and increasing awareness of the issues. As an example of the potential of this Group, Clifton Bain, the Director of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, Mark Reed from Aberdeen University and Prof Stuart Gibb, Director of the Environmental Research Institute in Thurso, would be cooperating to produce the first briefing that will provide a route map for developing a Peatland Carbon Code.

Following the meeting, the 2020 Climate Group published an article on their website.

More information will be available on the Forum's website shortly.

Asulam - Letter to The Scotsman

2011-10-07T14:33:00.000+01:00

The Forum agreed the wording of a letter to the Editor of The Scotsman that was published today under the questionable title of 'Moor the Merrier'.

The full text of the letter can be viewed on the Forum's website and the published text can be viewed here.

GWCT - Grouse management training course

2011-10-06T12:37:00.000+01:00

The Grouse Keeper’s Course will take place 4-6 November 2011 on managed grouse moors in Glen Esk, Angus. The itinerary taps into the unique knowledge of well-respected grouse keepers and that of GWCT advisory and research staff to provide a solid understanding of these game birds and their needs.

Key topics will include: Heather burning, Tick and louping ill control, Grit and direct dosing, Strongyle worm counting, Heather beetle, Grazing management, Bracken control, Black grouse habitats, Latest developments (including legal) in hill predator control techniques, New methods of counting red grouse and shoot planning

The hands-on course will also explore the wider conservation benefits from managing these species.

The cost of the course is £362 per person, excluding VAT and accommodation. Good accommodation is available nearby.

For more information see the Flyer and to book a place, contact Lynda Ferguson, tel: 01425 651013; email: lferguson@gwct.org.uk.

Langholm Moor - Burning Under Licence

2011-10-04T16:09:00.000+01:00

This ITV video clip shows an interview carried out with the headkeeper, Simon Lester, while burning was taking place on Langholm Moor before the start of the main muirburn season on 1 October. The burning was taking place under an out of season licence granted by SNH.

The licensing option was introduced by the Wildlife & Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 2011 and this part of the Act came into force on 1 August 2011.

The Muirburn Group of the Forum is working with SNH and the Scottish Government to implement the licensing regime and the Group will also be advising on other possible changes (see the previous Post).

Muirburn Group News Release

2011-09-30T16:22:00.002+01:00

The Muirburn Group has issued a News Release covering the recent and possible legislative changes and giving encouragement to carry out muirburn. The release can be downloaded from the Forum's website.

Scottish Moorland Group Newsletter

2011-09-30T16:16:00.004+01:00

The Group's Newsletter can be viewed from this link.

Asulam - some good news

2011-09-30T16:14:00.001+01:00

A summary of the outcomes from a meeting held between representatives of the bracken control industry and UPL can be found on the Heather Trust's Blog.

Asulam for Bracken control - the appeal fails

2011-09-20T17:04:00.002+01:00

For information about this, see the post on The Heather Trust's Blog.

It is a major issue for Scotland as well as other areas of the UK with large areas of bracken cover.

Langholm Moor Demonstration Project

2011-09-14T18:41:00.002+01:00

Wildlife Extra.com has published an article summarises the 3 year review of the project and provides a useful summary of progress.

Meet the Minister at Glensaugh

2011-09-02T18:10:00.000+01:00

Lord Lindsay and Prof Iain Gordon, Chief Executive of the James Hutton Institute, jointly hosted a meeting at the Glensaugh Research Station for Stewart Stevenson, MSP, the Minister for Environment and Climate Change. This gave representatives of both organisations a chance to discuss upland issues with the Minister in an informal, practical setting. The weather was fair and some interesting discussion too place. The JHI communications team issued a press release which can be viewed here and the Press & Journal published a short article which can be downloaded here.

This was a good chance to impress on the Minister the role that the Forum has in generating consensus. It linked well to the JHI message about the need for partnership and engagement with the end users of the science. The proposal to establish an annual research exchange meeting at Glensaugh received all round support and the aim will be to set this up as soon as possible.

Upland Solutions

2011-08-24T15:21:00.001+01:00

The final versions of the three reports produced by the project are now available on the Forum's website. This project is an important output from the Forum.

The press release issued to announce the publication of the final report is also available from the website and this resulted in an article in the Press & Journal on 23 August 2011, which again can be viewed from the website.

The project and the report have highlighted many issues and the Forum will be considering these to see how the lessons learned can be applied in the future.

Peatlands and the 2020 Climate Group

2011-08-24T15:16:00.004+01:00

Building on a briefing I prepared for the Forum, I wrote an article for Scotland's 2020 Climate Group that has now been published on the group's website.

Muirburn Licensing

2011-08-02T17:01:00.002+01:00

The licensing scheme introduced by the Wildlife & Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 is now live and the guidance and application form can be downloaded from the SNH website.

Other muirburn provisions introduced by the Act are likely to be implemented prior to the start of the Muirburn Season on 1 October. The Forum's muirburn group will be assisting the Scottish Government with the preparation of additional guidance about these issues - mainly changes to the season to remove the extension above 450m to 15 May, and changes to the neighbour notification requirements.

Asulam - a further update

2011-07-08T13:02:00.002+01:00

Follow this link for details of an update provided by the NFU

The Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape partnership

2011-07-02T09:14:00.001+01:00

The John Muir Trust has announced the launch of the Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape, the largest project of its kind in Scotland.

It is a partnership project between the John Muir Trust, Assynt Foundation, Culag Community Woodland Trust, Eisg Brachaid Estate, Tanera Mòr and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The aims of the work include the restoration of woodland and peatland habitat and the creation.

See the press release for more details.

WNE Act - first enactment orders

2011-06-30T21:49:00.000+01:00

The first orders of the new Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 come into force this week, Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson announced today. Amongst other issues the orders will cover: game licences, the transfer of wildlife licensing to SNH and muirburn licensing.

More details are in the SG press release.

SEPA View No 51: Breathing spaces

2011-06-28T17:27:00.001+01:00

The latest magazine from SEPA can be downloaded here. Of relevance to the Forum are the articles about 'Managing Flood Risk' and 'Forests for the Future'.

Back to the Future: State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets 2011

2011-06-27T16:26:00.000+01:00

This is a relevant report of the US experience that builds on the issues discussed at the IUCN UK Peatland Programme Conference held in Stirling on 20-22 June 2011. See the Heather Trust's Blog links & more details.

Asulam for Bracken Control - the latest

2011-06-24T13:28:00.000+01:00

Follow this link for the latest information about Asulam.

National Ecosystems Assessment

2011-06-16T10:50:00.000+01:00

For more information about this important work see the Heather Trust's Blog.

Scottish Land & Estates

2011-06-14T10:59:00.000+01:00

Welcome to Scottish Land & Estates that has been spawned from the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA) and the Scottish Estates Business Group (SEBG). For details of the new organisation see yesterday's press release. There are two articles in the press today that give a view on the challenges facing the new organisation:
More than just a new name..., Andrew Arbuckle in The Scotsman

SRPBA: Landowners' 'new voice' has a lot of catching up to do, Alan Cochrane in The Telegraph.

Looking to the Hills published

2011-06-06T12:06:00.000+01:00

The latest and last edition of this publication can be downloaded from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee's website. There are many good articles and reports that are relevant to members of the Forum.

Wildfire on the BBC

2011-06-02T22:28:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow, Friday 3 June 2011, the BBC is likely to broadcast a series of articles on wildfire issues on: Good Morning Scotland, Reporting Scotland and a slightly longer piece on BBC Landward at 7pm. The participants are likely to include Chief Fire Officer Trevor Johnson, Chairman of the Scottish Wildfire Forum, Tom Aldridge of Central Insurance Services, Drew Macfarlane-Slack SRPBA and Michael Bruce. The material was recorded by the BBC Landward team last week.....in the rain.

Fair Game: Scotland's Sporting Estates

2011-05-25T15:05:00.001+01:00

See the earlier post that provided details of this BBC2 TV programme. Note that it is no longer available on the BBC iPlayer.

The SRPBA has responded to the programme and Doug McAdam has asked that I make the response that was circulated to SRPBA members available more widely; it can be viewed here. A letter from Doug was also published in the Scotland on Sunday paper on 22 May.

Code of practice on deer management: Draft for public consultation

2011-05-24T15:20:00.001+01:00

A consultation on the draft Code has been launched and responses have been requested by 1 July 2011. Public meetings are being held in Inverness, Perth & Moffat. More details are available from the SNH Website.

I am taking soundings from members of the Forum about whether the Forum should submit a response to the consultation and I would welcome any views.

Minister for Environment

2011-05-20T14:11:00.000+01:00

Stewart Stevenson, MSP has been appointed as the new Minister for Environment and Climate Change. See the BBC report.

We will be considering how best to brief him on the Forum's activities.

Highlands wildfires could cost landowners £26m

2011-05-17T15:33:00.002+01:00

See the BBC News article and an article in The Scotsman that are based on a press release issued by Highlands & Islands Fire & Rescue Service on 16 May. If anyone would like to see the original press release, which has more facts and figures, leave me a comment.

Fair Game: Scotland's Sporting Estates

2011-05-16T22:27:00.000+01:00

For anyone who missed the live broadcast of this TV programme, it is available on the BBC iPlayer, although I am not sure how long for. See the Moorland Forum's Doug McAdam and Duncan Orr-Ewing in action!

I would welcome any comments about how the programme portrayed sporting estates and the raptor-grouse conflict.

Asulam - the latest

2011-05-05T16:13:00.000+01:00

The background and the latest news is available here.

Wildfires

2011-05-04T10:52:00.000+01:00

Willie Fraser,
National Trust for Scotland

I am running a commentary about the current spate of wildfires on the Heather Trust's Blog. To avoid duplication please follow this link to the Blog.

Wildfire Risk is High

2011-04-28T17:55:00.000+01:00

Caution is required in upland areas this weekend. See the Heather Trust Blog for details of recent wildfires.

The Muirburn season

2011-04-16T12:20:00.000+01:00

See the post on the Heather Trust's Blog for an update on the Muirburn Season following the passing of the Wildlife & Natural Environment Bill.

Asulam: The loss of effective bracken control?

2011-03-21T11:23:00.000Z

For a view on the debate surrounding the re-registration of Asulam, and the potential threat to effective bracken control in the uplands, see the post on The Heather Trust's Blog.

Getting the best from our land: a land use strategy for Scotland

2011-03-17T16:25:00.000Z

From the Land Use Strategy Team:

Scottish Ministers today laid Scotland’s first Land Use Strategy and an accompanying consultation report before the Scottish Parliament. The Strategy signals a change in the ways that we approach land use across the country, and will influence a wide range of land-use decisions. To find out more or to view the Strategy, please visit our web page at the above address.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the Strategy’s development. The response to our consultation in the autumn was excellent, and helped build on the views received at our public workshops last spring.

The full suite of documents, including the Strategy itself, is available as follows:

Getting the best from our land: a land use strategy for Scotland

Getting the best from our land: a guide to Scotland’s first land use strategy

Getting the best from our land: a report on the consultation process undertaken to produce a land use strategy for Scotland

Applying an ecosystems approach to land use: Information Note

Analysis of Responses to the Consultation on “Getting the best from our land: a draft land use strategy for Scotland”

Analysis of responses to the consultation on “Getting the best from our land: a draft land use strategy for Scotland” [summary findings]

Getting the best from our land: A draft land use strategy for Scotland: Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report: Consultation Analysis Report

Wildlife Management - SNH's role and priorities

2011-03-11T11:24:00.000Z

SNH has published feedback to those who responded to the consultation on Wildlife Management in December 2010. The Board paper can be downloaded here. Is there a role for the Moorland Forum here?

The covering e-mail message is repeated below:

Our role in wildlife management: discussion on our future priorities
Our Board met on the 22 February and discussed the attached paper which outlined our proposed future wildlife management priorities. This was prepared following our recent consultation looking at this new programme of wildlife management work.

The Board were very supportive of the general approach laid out in the paper and the priority areas identified for early work. They recognised that this was an important area for SNH and complemented our existing activities very well. It was recognised that there is a desire for greater co-ordination and leadership in wildlife management work, but that clarity was needed on where SNH's influence would be most beneficial.

It was noted that animal welfare was an important aspect of this work and that a more objective approach to animal welfare issues would enable more transparent decisions to be made by SNH and other public bodies on wildlife management work. It was also felt that more could be done by SNH and others to promote a more informed and balanced public debate on the welfare matters.

Our Board also recognised that this work needed to be underpinned by sound science and this should build on existing work and data collection by other bodies. It was recognised that SNH Board and Committees had limited expertise in areas of social science and this expertise may need to be supplemented to enable effective support of this programme of work.

Finally, the Board noted that staff and financial resources were limited and asked staff to develop the identified priorities into a realistic programme of work that would enable tangible progress to be delivered within the next 2 years.

We will be developing our wildlife management programme along these lines and look forward to working with you as this work is progressed.

If you have any queries about any of the details within the paper please contact one of us: eileen.stuart@snh.gov.uk, roger.burton@snh.gov.uk orrobbie.kernahan@snh.gov.uk.

SG's Report - 'Our Rural Future'

2011-03-11T09:44:00.000Z

This report is the Government's response to the Speak Up for Rural Scotland consultation carried out, last year. It contains many themes that are similar to the recommendations contained in the report from the Forum's Upland Solutions project. A thought for the Moorland Forum is that we could offer a task force approach, building on our experience with Upland Solutions, for the development of plans for communities where there are upland or moorland interests. This would allow the Forum to work in partnership with other organisations to produce plans for the future of the community area that connected with upland interests.

The report can be downloaded from the SG Website and is well worth a look. For the Forum, the sections on Land Use Priorities and Community Participation Priorities are of particular relevance.

England - Farming in the Uplands - Select Committee Report

2011-02-17T16:40:00.000Z

Although this report only relates directly to England, there are many issues that are relevant to Scotland and the other parts of the UK. I recommend it to anyone with an interest in the future of the Uplands. Many of the recommendations tie in closely with the findings coming out of the Forum's Upland Solutions Project.

More details and links are available from The Heather Trust's Blog.

UHI Millennium Institute becomes the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)

2011-02-05T11:11:00.000Z

The University of the Highlands and Islands comprises 13 colleges, specialist institutions and research centres spread across the area. It uses information technologies to link together students and staff to bring access to higher education to dispersed communities. More information.

Trends in Corvids & Mountain Hares

2011-01-28T10:32:00.000Z

A link has been added to the website to give access to the GWCT's update about the National Gamebag Census. This contains interesting information on 'Trends in Corvid Species' and 'Mountain hare bags and distribution in Scotland.'

The James Hutton Institute - Chief Operating Officer

2011-01-15T11:11:00.000Z

The James Hutton Institute’s Chief Operating Officer has been named as Dr Karen Shaw. Currently, she is working at the University of Manchester as Head of the University Research. Dr Shaw (46) will start work in Aberdeen and Invergowrie at the end of January. More details

Professor Iain Gordon has been appointed as the Chief executive and the new Institute will take over the work of the Macaulay and SCRI Institute on 1 April 2011. More details about the Hutton Institute

The Culling of Mountain Hares

2011-01-12T16:08:00.001Z

As a result of the concerns amongst some Forum members about the content of the articles about culling of hares that appeared in recent newspapers, (see the post on 11 January about the 'Scotland on Sunday' article published on 9 January), the following letter has been sent to the editors of the papers that carried the story:

Dear Sir,

Your article relating to hare culls in Scotland is inaccurate. Scottish moors can continue to harvest hares without fear of compromising their European conservation status.

Over the years mountain hares have become an important asset for many estates in Highland Scotland. This is because management for red grouse, notably improving habitat and controlling predators, has allowed mountain hare populations in Scotland to build densities up to 10 times greater than seen anywhere else in Europe. Indeed, some moors need to do so in order to enhance and protect the very moorland management hares have come to depend on. This issue has been discussed by Scotland’s Moorland Forum without major concerns being raised.

When sheep treated with tick killing (rather than attracting) chemicals are present and there are few deer to support the tick population, hare densities have sometimes had to be reduced to suppress viral disease of sheep and red grouse. This ultimately protects the investment in heather moorland which both hares, grouse and tourism depends upon. Similarly, some suppression of hare population densities may be necessary on some occasions to allow woodland regeneration.

Of the reported 25,000 hares culled per year it has to be considered in the context of a national population of around 350,000. In real terms, any cull representing less than 10% of a population is entirely sustainable. Allegations of local ‘over-culling’ have never been quantified and given the range over which eagles hunt are unlikely to have consequential impacts on raptors. Recent research by Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, SNH and the Macaulay Institute it was found that the range of mountain hare had not changed – a sign of a healthy population.

We recognise it is good practice for moorland managers to consider the impact of their actions on their own and neighbouring hare populations. Therefore we welcome, with some adjustments, the hare closed season in Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill. But moors must also take account of the need to secure the future of the key driver of the hare population, investment in red grouse shooting.

Yours faithfully,

Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust

Scottish Rural and Property Business Association

Scottish Gamekeepers Association

British Association of Shooting and Conservation (Scotland)

Scottish Countryside Alliance

Scottish Estates Business Group

The Heather Trust

Speak Up for Scotland

2011-01-12T15:58:00.000Z

The Analysis Report of the consultation, which generated 131 written responses, has now been published and can be accessed from the SG website. It is available as the full report or in an abbreviated version.
Some highlights from a Forum perspective:

encouragement of rural partnerships in the context of land use
co-operation between local communities, land managers, planners and developers to identify appropriate sites and opportunities with potential for renewable energy development
planning and regulation: the need to reduce regulation and bureaucracy
respondents stressed the need for skilled and informed community organisations
the importance of evidence gathering and sharing good practice
a need for an action plan/strategic guidance from the Scottish Government relating to implementation

Landscape Issues

2011-01-11T08:56:00.000Z

Read the John Muir Trust news release on landscape issues and the European Landscape Convention.

The Culling of Mountain Hares

2011-01-11T08:46:00.002Z

See the article from Scotland on Sunday on 9 January 2011.

To cull or not to cull?

(see the response from some Forum members in the post on 12 January)

BTO/SOC/BWI Bird Atlas 2007-11 – The final winter

2011-01-10T12:52:00.000Z

Bittern by Ron Marshall

Chris Wernham (BTO Scotland) has provided the following information and appeal:

This massive project to document the current distribution of birds, by 10km square blocks, throughout Britain and Ireland is coming to the end of its fourth and final year of winter fieldwork. Data collection ends on 28 February.

Although moorland habitats only tend to support low densities of birds, in mid winter they do hold important populations of many species such as Red and Black Grouse and raptors like Golden Eagles. Having experienced two severe winters in a row now, our volunteers have had difficulties in accessing moorland areas. Many Moorland Forum members are out and about on the moors throughout the winter and are no doubt seeing birds. Your records could be really useful to help us produce accurate distribution maps. Look at the map of Red Grouse distribution. Are there any gaps you could fill?

The project website allows you to enter “Roving Records” for any square in the country. Log in to the website and click onto the Submit Roving Records button. A handy Google map (top right) allows you to zoom in to your recording site and informs you (below the map) which 10km square you are in. It is then easy to add records using the submissions sheet.

The Any Square Summary button allows you to see which birds have been recorded so far in any 10km square in the country. Any species not on the list that you know to be present in a square should be added as a Roving Record.

It is also worth checking out “Bird of the Day”. Each day a different species is picked at random and a map appears of its current distribution as shown by Bird Atlas 2007-11 data so far. Join the thousands of other volunteers that click on it to find out which species is highlighted each day.

For further information please contact Bob Swann, Scottish Organiser, Bird Atlas 2007-11.

Wildlife Management - MF Views

2011-01-05T15:13:00.000Z

Following the merger with DCS, SNH has taken on a larger wildlife management role. In response to a request, views about this expanded role were submitted to SNH on behalf of the Forum in late December. For members of the Forum, details can be downloaded from the member's section of the website. I would be pleased to provide non-members with a copy on request.

Helping a Changing World

2011-01-05T14:53:00.000Z

The Forum's website has a link to this initiative that lists 25 key questions and answers about issues that affect rural areas all of which are relevant to the work of the Forum.

Land Use Strategy Consultation

2010-12-22T10:05:00.000Z

For Members of the Forum: a response was submitted to the consultation on behalf of the Forum and this is available to download from the members section of the Forum's website.

Nagoya - Key Outcomes

2010-12-21T12:00:00.000Z

Extracted from the Scottish Biodiversity Newsletter.

The 10th Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity took place from 18 to 29 October 2010, in Nagoya, Japan.

Key outcomes agreed by parties included:

To at least halve and where feasible bring close to zero the rate of loss of natural habitats including forests;
To establish protected areas to comprise 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10 per cent of marine and coastal areas;
Through conservation and restoration, Governments will restore at least 15 percent of degraded areas;
Parties will make special efforts to reduce the pressures faced by coral reefs; and
Parties agreed to a substantial increase in the level of financial resources in support of implementation of the Convention.

Carbon in the Uplands- Conference Report published

2010-12-21T11:49:00.000Z

More detail and a link to the report available here.

Discussion Paper on Carbon-Rich Soils

2010-12-15T11:22:00.000Z

This discussion paper has been published by the Scottish Government at the same time as the announcement of research funding of £200,000 (£50,000 to SNH and £150,000 to RSPB) that derives from a fine on Exxon for emission statements under Emission Trading Scheme.

The funding will be used to research peatland restoration. SNH are developing an inventory of Scotland's carbon-rich soils and RSPB are continuing their restoration work at Forsinard.

The paper has been prepared by the Scottish Government with support from SNH, SEPA & FCS. It is intended for discussion and it appears likely that it will be developed in the future. For further details and a link to the discussion paper, see the Forum's website.

Phytophthora Ramorum found on Japanese Larch in Scotland

2010-12-08T22:50:00.002Z

Read the post on the Heather Trust Blog that links to the press release on the FCS website.

Windfarm Guidance

2010-12-03T14:25:00.001Z

The Heather Trust Blog has details of the award given to SNH for this guidance and has a link to download it.

Wildlife Estates Scotland

2010-12-02T09:43:00.000Z

Details of this important initiative have been circulated to members of the Forum. Links to the press release and the Concept Briefing are available on the Heather Trust's Blog

IUCN Peatland Programme - Open Inquiry - Written Evidence

2010-12-01T10:16:00.000Z

See the post on the Heather Trust Blog

Upland Solutions - draft report

2010-11-24T18:01:00.000Z

The latest version of the draft report has been circulated to the members of the Forum and to those who attended or supported the workshops that were held in the Muirkirk & Tomatin study areas earlier in the year. Feedback on this version has been requested by 1 December with a view to finalising the Report by mid-December.

The intention is to produce a Summary Report that will cover the key findings but not include a lot of the detail that explains how the project was run. This will be drafted at the same time as the final, full report and both versions will be available to download from the Forum's website.

A Moorland Conference for Scotland?

2010-11-18T09:45:00.000Z

Should the Moorland Forum be holding a conference to bring together research and practical issues. See my comments from the conference held by the MFF project 15-16 November 2010 on the Heather Trust's Blog.

The Pack Inquiry - The NFUS View

2010-11-08T15:28:00.000Z

I would like to thank Jonnie Hall for providing this summary.

The final report from the ‘Pack Inquiry’ into the future support for agriculture in Scotland has now been published. The Inquiry’s key messages to the Scottish Government are contained in two sets of recommendations. The first set is 18 ‘Negotiating Points’ for the Scottish Government to pursue in its negotiations at UK and EU level regarding the future of agricultural and rural development support. The second is a set of 22 ‘Recommendations’ providing advice to the Scottish Government on matters where the Inquiry expects that the Scottish Government will have discretion in shaping the future system.

This business guide update provides a brief summary of the final report. A full copy of the report can be downloaded.

It must be remembered that we remain several years away from the EU political agreement on CAP reform and while there will be a tendency to concentrate on the detailed proposals of the Pack Inquiry Report, the critical aspect is the direction of travel proposed.

Background

The Report gives a strong robust defence of why agricultural support is necessary. It argues that a change from the historic approach to distributing payments will be necessary and that a move away from historic payments should occur one-year post reform with the new schemes adopted in one step. In the event of a phased transition it is stated that a National Reserve should be created to give payments to new entrants who have started a business since 2003.

The Inquiry takes the view that future support must be about maintaining a vibrant and productive agricultural sector. Although the goal should be a simple support regime, the geographical variation in Scotland means that a broad ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach is unlikely to be justifiable and meet the needs of the industry. Dealing with the different sectoral requirements introduces a layer of complexity and a balance needs to be struck between a regime that is simple but lacks targeting and one that is more complex, but is able to deal specifically with a number of targets for support.

The Future Support Regime

The Inquiry suggests that the LFA designation provides one way of distinguishing between types of farming with different needs, opportunities and choices. The LFA is proposed because it is a recognised designation across Europe and because the area is already mapped and the boundaries already established. Whilst an European Commission-led review of the LFA area across Europe is to be undertaken in the coming years, it is not expected that Scotland will face significant redesignation.

The Inquiry believes that dividing Scotland into LFA and Non-LFA land provides an appropriate approach as it recognises the different opportunities, needs and challenges of farmers in these areas. Due to the dominance of rough grazing and permanent pasture, farmers in the LFA face limited choices about what to produce. The risk of land abandonment, and associated negative economic, social and environmental consequences, in these areas is high. The Inquiry believes that farmers in the LFA should be supported by three mechanisms:

An area payment on eligible land (defined by the Inquiry, including land in an approved environmental scheme but not woodland) as a low base payment thus minimising the disruption to the land market. Extensive grazing is paid on the equivalent area to a stocking rate minimum of 0.12 Livestock Units (LU) per hectare.

A Top Up Fund to encourage delivery against the global challenges which recognises the ability of a business to contribute by using Standard Labour Requirements (SLR) to determine the individual fund per business.

Headage payments designed to stabilise cow and ewe numbers on this marginal land thereby securing the basis for the provision of public benefits. Money would be paid out on lambs and beef calves. The annual budget for each would be set at the outset.

The Inquiry proposes that farmers in the Non-LFA land, who have a range of options as to what to produce, will be supported in two ways:

An area payment making up two thirds of support.

A Top Up Fund payment making up one third of support, paid on an area basis.

The Future of the Less Favoured Support Scheme

The Inquiry’s proposed method of delivering direct payments in Scotland in the post-2013 period relies on dividing Scotland into two regions, namely LFA and Non-LFA. It is not surprising therefore that the Inquiry suggests a radical change to the current LFASS.

The Inquiry recommends that €45 million of the total LFASS budget is paid as a supplement to the Top Up Fund in the LFA region. This would add approximately €1,800 to the current Top Up Fund of €6,400 per standard labour unit. This leaves €25 million to remain in Pillar 2 where it is suggested that it should be directed at the areas suffering extreme handicap and therefore the areas at greatest risk of land abandonment.

Obviously, there's a lot more to the Report than this brief summary, but this is the main thrust - and remember the health warnings...it's not Brian Pack that decides the future of the CAP!

Jonathan R Hall

Head of Rural Policy

NFU Scotland

Rural Centre - West Mains

Ingliston

Midlothian

EH28 8LT

Mobile: 07770 934 898

Direct Line: 0131 472 4002

www.nfus.org.uk

What do the UK Uplands Mean to You?

2010-11-08T13:20:00.002Z

Photograph: Richard Wheeler

The Sustainable Uplands project has published a new website to capture comments from people across the UK about the uplands. This builds on the work carried out by the Project that included workshops in Galloway, the Peak District and Nidderdale. Feel free to add your comments, and other media to the Wall!

Upland Solutions - feedback on draft report

2010-11-05T11:40:00.000Z

The Forum has been working with two rural communities in Scotland: at Muirkirk, East Ayrshire; and Tomatin, Inverness-shire as part of a project we have called Upland Solutions. The project set out to apply the experience available through its members to investigate the two study areas. A workshop was held in each area to gather information about the view that local people had of the area, their aspirations for the future and what support they needed to achieve these aspirations. The Forum was also keen to establish what were the perceived blockages to progress, whether these were regulatory, financial or for other reasons. This work is nearing completion and the final report is being drafted.

Forum Members are reminded that comments on the current draft version of the report have been asked for by Monday, 8 November. Feedback will be incorporated into a further draft that will then be circulated to the Forum and to those who attended or supported the workshops. Feedback will be used to produce a final version of the report and a short summary of the key findings by mid-December.

This is an interesting and important piece of work for the Forum and I look forward to be able to circulate the final report.

Langholm Moor Demonstration Project

2010-11-02T22:11:00.000Z

At last week's meeting, the Forum received an update about this important project from the Project Manager, Graeme Dalby.

For those wanting to know more about the ongoing work on a monthly basis, may I recommend the Monthly Diary run by the Headkeeper, Simon Lester. There is much interesting and relevant information in it that relates to the challenges of running a grouse moor anywhere. The October entry has just been added to the site.

IUCN Peatland Programme - Open Inquiry 3 November

2010-11-02T14:56:00.000Z

The Peatland Programme is holding an Open Inquiry in Edinburgh on 3 November to allow expert witnesses to give their views 'for the record' in a non-confrontational manner. The aim is to obtain evidence and views from the managers of peatland and to gain an understanding of the motives for peatland restoration from a practitioners viewpoint. End users and regulators will be asked what are the drivers for peatland conservation and what opportunities exist for improving delivery. A wider public audience will also be able to provide their views.

I will be appearing in front of the panel, with Tim Baynes, to provide a landowner / land manager perspective. We had to prepare a statement in advance and this can be downloaded.

In view of the relevance of this event to the work of the Moorland Forum, with input from Clifton Bain, the Peatland Programme Director, a press release has been issued to promote the programme and this event.

Four ways to cost-effectively protect the uplands

2010-11-01T17:08:00.000Z

The Sustainable Uplands project, led by Mark Reed from ACES, presented a submission (available here) to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s inquiry into Farming in the Uplands, in London, last Friday. It highlights the top four ways that the project team thought would most cost effectively protect the uplands.

Do you agree with the four ways that have been selected? Would your choice have included other issues?

Opening Words

2010-10-30T15:34:00.000+01:00

Welcome to the Moorland Forum's blog. This is intended as a place for the exchange of news and views about the moorlands and uplands of Scotland, and beyond.

Anyone can add comments to the posts and are encouraged to do so. I will add posts of relevant(?) information from time to time, but I would welcome input from members of the Forum - I will be pleased to publish their information. The more exchange of information we can attract, the more useful will be this Blog and the better informed we will all be.

May I suggest that all members of the Forum 'follow' this Blog so that you will receive a notification when it is updated. I will also publish 'tweets' on the MF Twitter account (@moorlandforum) when I have added important information to the Blog.

While this may appear to be a bit 'nurdy' for some, I hope by using this Blog and Twitter we can encourage a greater flow of information between us.

Scotland's Moorland Forum

Scotland: Black Grouse population increasing

Moorland Forum - 10th Anniversary Meeting

SNH: Wildlife Management Survey - more information

Tick Bite Prevention Week: 26 March - 1 April 2012

JHI Newsletter

Scottish Natural Heritage: Wildlife Management Survey - views required

Kyoto Protocol and National Accounting for Peatlands

Ten Years of Scotland's Moorland Forum

Thinking CAP: Upland Research & Management

Thinking CAP: Upland Research & Management - 13 March 2012

Scottish Moorland Group - Newsletter

Woodland Expansion Advisory Group

The success of the 2011 Scottish Grouse season

Grouse shooting season a flyaway success by Stephen McGintyShooting for the top prize of being the best by Andrew Hopetoun

The European Nature Trust

James Hutton Institute

Mar Lodge Estate - Independent Review

Country Sports Tourism Group

James Hutton Institute Newsletter

Sustainable Uplands Project - Music Video

The Peatland Working Group

Asulam - Letter to The Scotsman

GWCT - Grouse management training course

Langholm Moor - Burning Under Licence

Muirburn Group News Release

Scottish Moorland Group Newsletter

Asulam - some good news

Asulam for Bracken control - the appeal fails

Langholm Moor Demonstration Project

Meet the Minister at Glensaugh

Upland Solutions

Peatlands and the 2020 Climate Group

Muirburn Licensing

Asulam - a further update

The Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape partnership

WNE Act - first enactment orders

SEPA View No 51: Breathing spaces

The latest magazine from SEPA can be downloaded here. Of relevance to the Forum are the articles about 'Managing Flood Risk' and 'Forests for the Future'.

Back to the Future: State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets 2011

Asulam for Bracken Control - the latest

National Ecosystems Assessment

Scottish Land & Estates

SRPBA: Landowners' 'new voice' has a lot of catching up to do, Alan Cochrane in The Telegraph.

Looking to the Hills published

Wildfire on the BBC

Fair Game: Scotland's Sporting Estates

Code of practice on deer management: Draft for public consultation

Minister for Environment

Highlands wildfires could cost landowners £26m

Fair Game: Scotland's Sporting Estates

Asulam - the latest

Wildfires

Wildfire Risk is High

The Muirburn season

Asulam: The loss of effective bracken control?

Getting the best from our land: a land use strategy for Scotland

Wildlife Management - SNH's role and priorities

SG's Report - 'Our Rural Future'

England - Farming in the Uplands - Select Committee Report

UHI Millennium Institute becomes the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)

Trends in Corvids & Mountain Hares

The James Hutton Institute - Chief Operating Officer

The Culling of Mountain Hares

Speak Up for Scotland

Landscape Issues

The Culling of Mountain Hares

BTO/SOC/BWI Bird Atlas 2007-11 – The final winter

Wildlife Management - MF Views

Helping a Changing World

Land Use Strategy Consultation

Nagoya - Key Outcomes

Carbon in the Uplands- Conference Report published

Discussion Paper on Carbon-Rich Soils

Phytophthora Ramorum found on Japanese Larch in Scotland

Windfarm Guidance

Wildlife Estates Scotland

IUCN Peatland Programme - Open Inquiry - Written Evidence

Upland Solutions - draft report

A Moorland Conference for Scotland?

Grouse shooting season a flyaway success by Stephen McGinty
Shooting for the top prize of being the best by Andrew Hopetoun