Communities To Find Out About Local Wildlife
Community groups across Easter Ross and the Black Isle are finding out about the plants and animals that live on their doorstep through a new project run by the Ross and Cromarty (East) Biodiversity Group. The project is providing training, information and survey equipment to encourage local groups to carry out wildlife surveys in their area.
24 people took part in a Badger Workshop run in Contin last November led by Elaine Rainey of Scottish Badgers. After a classroom session looking at tracks and signs, participants visited a badger sett to practice some of the skills they had learnt.
This training has boosted the number of badger sightings and records in the area. Despite having arguably the greatest biodiversity in the UK, The Highland Council area is still under-recorded and the Highland Biological Recording Group is looking for new records of all species.
A Great Crested Newt was discovered by Wendy Sanders in a previously unrecorded area on the Black Isle whilst out walking around Monadh Mor. Great Crested Newts are rare in the Highlands and the discovery of this female may lead to another breeding population being found, as the location is well out with the normal range of the nearest newt population.
Councillor Isobel McCallum, Chairperson of the Highland Biodiversity Partnership and Vice Chair of the Council’s Planning, Environment and Development Committee said: “Wendy’s find just shows that there is plenty out there still to be discovered if you have the knowledge and training.
“I’m delighted the Biodiversity Group is providing this opportunity for people to find out more about their local wildlife. There is plenty of training and support available, so why not get your community group involved in a survey and find out what lives on your doorstep. You never know, you might just find another rare Great Crested Newt.”
The Project is led by Martin Hind, the Easter Ross Countryside Ranger. Martin has arranged a number of new workshops looking at amphibians, reptiles, red squirrels and bats during April and May. The first event is focusing on surveying frogs, toads and newts, and will take place on Saturday 12 April in Muir of Ord. As numbers are limited anyone interested in taking part in this or any of the other events should contact Martin on 01349 868563, e-mail martin.hind@highland.gov.uk.
Future talks and workshops:
• Saturday 12th April:
Amphibian Surveying Workshop, 12 - 4pm, Ord Arms Hotel, Muir of Ord with David O’brien HCT
• Saturday 19 April:
Reptile Survey Workshop, Crannoch Field Centre, Garve with Martin Gaywood HCT
• Thursday 1st May:
Bat Survey Workshop, 7.15 - 10.15pm, Strathpeffer Community Centre with Anne Youngman of Bat Conservation Trust Scotland
• Saturday 17th May:
Red Squirrel Survey workshop, 2 – 5.30pm Contin Village Hall with Juliet Robinson Red Squirrels in the Highlands Conservation Officer
• Saturday 24th May:
A Bog woodland near you - Monadh Mor, 11 - 2pm Visit this rare habitat for Scottish Biodiversity Week and learn how bog woodland supports a varied and unusual group of flora and fauna including white faced darter dragonflies. FC Monadh Mor carpark off the A835 between Tore and Maryburgh NH579526
This project is one of 24 being undertaken in Highland with assistance from the Highland Biodiversity Partnership. It is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Highland Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and RSPB Scotland.
ENDS