I was extremely saddened earlier this week when I learned of the unexpected and untimely death of my former colleague Eric Meek who passed away on the afternoon of Thursday 16^th February after a very short illness. 

I first met Eric in 1980, and he then became RSPB Scotland’s Orkney Officer from early 1981 until retiring in 2012.  His encyclopaedic knowledge of Orkney, especially its wildlife and in particular…

Last year we blogged about the Court’s decision here to overturn Scottish Ministers' consent for four offshore wind farms off the east coast of Scotland and explained why we felt that the risk posed to thousands of seabirds every year from these projects was just too great. With reluctance, it left us with no option but to challenge the decision through the courts.

The Court’s decision has been appealed by…

Scotland’s rich and varied land and how it is used by us as a society has a big impact on the climate. Rural land use accounts for nearly a quarter of our greenhouse gas emissions, which as a sector, is only exceeded by electricity generation and transport. However, land uses, like forestry, and habitats, such as peatland, also have great potential to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in soils and…

Wild.  Atmospheric.  Rugged.  Natural. Special.  Just some of the words that may come to mind when you think of the Scottish uplands.  The mountains, moorlands and heath which cover half of Scotland contain 90% of the UK’s montane habitat and one of the largest areas of blanket bog in the world.  These iconic landscapes provide the water we drink and mountains to climb.  They are steeped in folklore, have a rich cultural…

Pictured above: RSPB Scotland's Skinflats reserve, near areas where unconventional gas applications have previously been considered.

It has been a busy week for energy policy and new developments in Scotland (and the UK), with reports and a consultation on fracking in Scotland, and a new funding round for renewable energy projects across the UK. The RSPB takes a keen interest in how our energy is produced because…

A little while ago, I highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the future of funding for wildlife friendly farming schemes in Scotland if we leave the EU in the next few years. Some assurances about short-term funding had been provided at UK level by the Chancellor, Phillip Hammond, but the devolved nature of agriculture policy meant we needed similar reassurances from Scottish Ministers. So much of our precious wildlife…

As the Brexit debate unfolds, some clarity at a UK level has been provided by the Chancellor, Phillip Hammond, on the short-term funding available to support farming and rural investment, including that for conservation management. The RSPB believes public funding should support the delivery of public goods or benefits, such as wildlife, woodlands and wetlands, clean rivers and carbon storage.

Leaving the EU will mean…

Commercial forestry plantation of pine and larch by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

Earlier this week I wrote about RSPB Scotland’s vision for forestry and the opportunities presented by Brexit to ensure that nature gets the best deal from future policy in this area. Whilst the bigger European changes are playing out, the Scottish Government is continuing to seek to make changes to the way forestry operates in Scotland…

Red squirrel by Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)

It’s an interesting time in the world of forestry, with a number of changes underway. Forestry is an important industry in Scotland, supporting jobs and investment in our rural areas. Home grown timber offers sustainable opportunities in construction, and more besides. Woodlands also provide valuable habitat for some of our most iconic species such as capercaillie and red…

RSPB Scotland Mersehead by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

Today we are launching an appeal to supporters to raise funds for an important piece of land on the Solway Firth.  Our reserve at Mersehead is already famous for its wintering geese and ducks, breeding waders like lapwing and its colourful array of farmland birds including yellowhammers and tree sparrows.  And it has a spectacular setting, with easy access trails…

Of all the areas of life that will be affected by Brexit, agriculture is unlikely to be the one that generates the most headlines. But it is vitally important. Not just for the food it produces but for the much wider range of wildlife, landscape and cultural benefits that agricultural land management delivers. Or should deliver.

Formal negotiations to leave the EU have not yet begun. Meanwhile, the Scottish Government…

The RSPB’s conservation projects are often carried out in partnership with a number of fantastic organisations and this extends to our corporate partners who support and sometimes fund key areas of our work.

We’re particularly proud of the partnership between RSPB Scotland and The Famous Grouse which I’m delighted to announce has now raised over £600,000 to support black grouse conservation since its establishment…

In one month's time tens of thousands of birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts will be flocking to Birdfair, the largest gathering of nature and bird enthusiasts in the world. It is also a meeting place for many wildlife focussed NGOs and all of the outdoor and nature associated industries – from optics and cameras, to wildlife artists, tour companies and clothing. This is truly the place to be in mid August!…

RSPB Scotland has always believed that, because nature transcends national boundaries, it needs cross-border co-operation to protect it and a common set of international standards that enable it to thrive. Regardless of the future governance options or constitutional debates that may arise in Scotland following the EU referendum, RSPB Scotland will continue to campaign for the best standards of environmental legislation…

Wildlife across Scotland continues to change, with serious long term declines now evident. So how do we have a greater positive impact on the fortunes of our species at a time when less government support is available? Protected areas for example have been essential to target corncrake recovery and blanket bog restoration in Scotland, but they’re not enough on their own to prevent wildlife declines. What’s more, other…

The election results are in and the new MSPs are gathering in Holyrood. How did nature and the environment do? They didn’t grab the headlines, but in numerous hustings across Scotland organised by RSPB Scotland, Environment Link and our partners, candidates were put through their paces. The Hustings were well attended, and unfailingly polite and respectful. But passions did shine through on occasion.

One of nature…

I had the pleasure of visiting our Mersehead nature reserve last week, where spring is in the air and we were lucky enough to spot the first handful of migrant birds that have made it back to our shores for the summer, including swallows and chiffchaff. Combined with the fresh burst of green on the trees, the displaying lapwings and buzz of pollinators in the air the day left me with a zeal for the summer ahead, but…

There has been some recent speculation in the media about the future of the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project (LMDP), and the results achieved to date. There is no doubt that restoring a large, relatively isolated ‘island’ moor has been a challenge, but to dismiss what has been achieved as a ‘failure’, as has occurred in some quarters, is wide of the mark,

Accordingly, I offered the Directors…

Egret feathers in a hat (photo credit: RSPB, rspb-images.com)

Over 120 years ago, our organisation came into existence when sixteen feisty Victorian ladies campaigned against the killing of exotic birds to trim fashionable hats. Their dedication and hard campaigning eventually resulted in the passing of the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Bill in Parliament, and we haven’t stopped since as the charity went on…

Seabirds are amazingly adapted to some of the harshest environments on earth, facing gales, huge seas and freezing temperatures. Some migrate vast distances, following currents and shoals of fish, or even plankton blooms. They fascinate us, and the more we discover the more we are intrigued by their strategies to survive and prosper. But one thing they cannot escape is our exploitation of the seas, and our thirst for…

Renewable energy remains well supported in Scotland, with 70% of people wanting to see more renewables such as wind, solar and wave according to a poll published last week.

At RSPB Scotland, we certainly share this view; we need more well-sited renewable energy to protect people and nature alike from the uncertainty and impacts caused by climate change. With worrying statistics like an 87 per cent decline in kittiwakes…

The power of volunteering

Volunteers fencing at Insh Marshes (Andy Hay, rspb-images.com)

Volunteers are a crucial part of RSPB Scotland, allowing us to deliver our day to day conservation helping to protect our country’s wonderful wildlife and habitats. But more than that, charities like the RSPB were founded by volunteers, and throughout our long history the role of volunteers, from every walk of life, age and background…

This winter has provided us with stark reminders of how important our relationship with the natural world is, not least the impact of floods affecting thousands across Scotland. Thankfully, we can do a lot to increase our ‘resilience’ to these events, by working with nature and harnessing what it can do for the rest of us.

Planting native trees upstream of towns to slow the runoff of water, creating coastal…

Farming is, and always has been, a regular theme in my working life. Whether I’m meeting those who lead Scotland’s National Farmers Union or challenging politicians and senior civil servants on the decisions they make on agriculture policy, wildlife friendly farming is at the heart of those conversations. And I proudly admit, I like being out on a farm with practical land managers who share my enthusiasm for wildlife…