Summer 2009 - Scottish Natural Heritage

For instance, Loch Lomond & The
Trossachs run a natural heritage grant
scheme. Now in its third year, this
joint scheme with SNH has funded
more than 50 projects on the ground.
These include barn owl boxes, fi shery
survey equipment, workshops for land
managers, drain blocking to restore
wetlands and work to control nonnative
invasive species.
Work has also begun with RSPB
on a project to restore and enhance
the wading bird populations in Glen
Dochart. Surveys of the fl oodplains
will identify the main areas being used
by farmland wading birds, such as
redshank, lapwing, curlew and snipe.
This will be used to advise local farmers
and land managers where these birds
would benefi t from positive habitat
management.
Among recent projects in the
Cairngorms National Park, SNH and
the CNPA have worked together on
a study of what ‘wildness’ means to
people. The study will help the CNPA
identify, conserve and enhance the
sense of wildness in the park and, by
working with land managers and other
partners, safeguard these wonderful
places for the future.
Another area of close co-operation
between agencies and land managers
is the Cairngorms Wildcat Project (see
page 28), set up in response to the
decline of the wildcat’s population over
the past few years. The national park
is one of the remaining strongholds for
this iconic species.
And the CNPA have also been
working with partners like SNH,
RSPB and local estates to compile
descriptions of the nine national nature
reserves in or next to the park. These
have been brought together in The
Cairngorms Explorer, a booklet giving
visitors and residents all the information
they need to get around the park at low
cost.
“Much has been achieved in the
early years of the parks,” Mr Green
concluded. “But this is a long-term
approach that will continue to need
close co-operation. Scotland’s national
parks have an exciting part to play in
our future approach to managing rural
Scotland.”
4
River Dee on Mar
Lodge estate near
Braemar, Deeside.
5
Water lilies growing in
a lochan at Inshriach,
Strathspey.
4
50 The Nature of Scotland