His hypocrisy knows no bounds

The First Minister commissioned Dame Elizabeth Blackwell to produce the image for the First Minister's 2012 Christmas card and the art work will be auctioned next year in aid of good causes. Fine, but be prepared to throw up now:   

Mr Salmond said :"Throughout 2013 we will celebrate the outstanding and diverse beauty of this country in the Year of Natural Scotland, where we encourage people to get out and enjoy what the great outdoors has to offer".

  

Areva factory in Scotland

Read this and weep.

This makes me livid

Courtesy BBC Scotland website

This golden eagle died a lingering death after its legs were broken in an illegally-set trap. This is disgusting and make no mistake it is the landowners who should be prosecuted. Imprisonment should be automatic if found guilty, together with massive financial penalties. The full, distressing story is here.

Hen harrier decline

The numbers of hen harriers in Scotland has declined by a fifth according to new research, the RSPB blaming this on illegal persecution on managed grouse moors. There are thought to be about 500 pairs in Scotland but they are near extinction in England.

Estate managers claimed the accusation was unfair but Stuart Housden, RSPB Director in Scotland, claimed there was 'systematic and illegal persecution' particularly in the central and eastern Highlands and Southern Uplands of Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament will debate the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill soon and Mr Housden has urged that amendments be adopted which would remove the sporting rights from landowners where there has been a history of illegal activity. The Bill, if passed, could also see the use of snares banned or at least regulated. "Vicarious liability" could also see estates criminally liable for the actions of their employees.

Various rural and land management organisations such as The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (Scotland), the Scottish Gamekeeprs Association and the Scottish Estates and Buisness Group said the statistics were flawed, their spokesman Tim Baynes saying " All of our organisations condemn the illegal killing of any bird of prey".

There has been only one recorded incident of hen harrier persecution in the last 6 years according to RSPB figures.

(Source - BBC Scotland News)

JMT Petition to the Scottish Government

The John Muir Trust is calling for a new national environmental designation for wild land and has submitted a 3,500 signature petition to the Scottish government amid fears that some of the best landscapes in Scotland are at risk.

The JMT is particularly concerned about the impact of "badly sited, industrial scale wind farm development proposals"

Scottish National Heritage does not apparently advocate a specific wild land designation and is preparing a new assessment of wildness across Scotland.

The Scottish government said a review of the situation was underway and all organisations with an interest in conservation would be consulted.

Source: BBC Scotland News

Charities in wild landscape call

Another interesting development. See here and go to 'More news from around Scotland' at the bottom of the page - Highlands and Islands - although it concerns Northern Ireland and Wales also. Edited: now in 'Tayside and Central' not 'Highlands and Islands'

Dunmaglass update

Multi-millionairess Sigrid Rausing, who owns Coignafearn Estate in the Monadhliath mountains, is seeking a judicial review of Highland Regional Council's decision not to oppose the proposal for a 33 turbine wind farm on neighbouring Dunmaglass Estate. (see post 26 February this year). More than 1500 people and three community councils objected. (Source: Scottish Mountaineer)

The first hearing was scheduled for November although, as yet, I can't find any reports on the proceedings.

Lammermuir Hills and Highland Perthshire wind turbines

Yesterday I posted good news about sea eagles. Today it's bad news, at least from my perspective. The Duke of Roxburghe has won a seven year battle to establish 48 wind trubines at Fallago Rig in the Lammermuir Hills, south of Edinburgh. He stands to earn £2.5m a year from the project.

There has been fierce local opposition (supported by David Bellamy) to the turbines, but the Scottish Government continues its obsession with on-shore wind farms. I believe the local community are determined to continue the fight against this decision.

In Highland Perthshire 27 wind turbines south of Aberfeldy were recently approved by the Scottish Government, again against local opposition. To add insult to injury, Perth and Kinross Council, who opposed the development, have been handed the bill for the developer's legal costs.

I suspect the people of East Lothian and Highland Perthshire will not forget all this when the Scottish Election takes place next May.

Edit: Don't buy a house in upland Scotland. You won't like what will, in time, arrive on your doorstep.

Sea eagles

It has been reported that 46 young sea eagles fledged this year in Scotland - 10 more than last year- and that there are now 52 adult pairs, up 6 on 2009. Last year one was spotted over Cumbria and Dumfries having flown from Fife. Excellent news. (see also post of 21 August 2010)

However, the planned introduction of this beautiful bird in southern England has been cancelled because of budget cuts.

Sea eagles

I've just heard that 19 Norwegian sea eagles have been released into the wild from a secret location in Fife. This is wonderful news and I wish them well in Scotland. This is the third phase of the reintroduction of these birds by East Scotland Sea Eagles, a partnership between RSPB Scotland, the Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage. The programme commenced in 1975 on Rum.