BBC Scotland website
Mountaineering Scotland in partnership with OATS is launching a new upland path repair scheme in Spring 2023. It will run over 3 years and focus on 3 main areas:
We are all invited to make a donation to the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland
Following a survey by Mountaineering Scotland of 4,000 hill users of the use they made of mobile phones or GPS on the hill, fresh guidance has been issued as to their use. The results were that 87% of people used a device at some point on their walk and that 40% of those had experienced a situation where the phone had ceased functioning in some way. The guidelines indicate the following:
CHARGE - start with 100% battery charge and charge your device while you travel if you're using it for music or road navigation.
PROTECT - protect your phone from the elements and keep it close to your body when not in use to help it stay warm and dry and save battery life.
DOWNLOAD - download all the maps you might need so you don't need to rely on mobile data to be able to access maps on your walk.
EXTEND - Switching your phone to 'Flight Mode' makes your battery last a lot longer and take a fully charged power bank to re-charge on the go if needed.
TAKE A BACKUP - If your phone or GPS fails, you'll need another way to navigate, for example a map and compass, and the ability to use them effectively. Consider also carrying a simple backup phone for emergencies.
NatureScot has suspended the general licence of Millden Estate to control wildlife for three years - it can still apply for individual licences. NatureScot said it was taken this action following the finding in 2019 of three shot buzzards and ongoing concern about the Estate's compliance with the terms of the general licence.
Millden Estate said it was "extremely disappointed" at this decision and intended to appeal.
BBC Scotland website
The Growing Living Spaces initiative is currently running and works with community groups across Aberdeenshire to support biodiversity improvements through planting projects and changes to the Landscapes Services planting regime.
Community groups will be offered native trees, fruit trees, bulbs and wildflower plugs to plant on Council land subject to wider consultation with the local community.
Information can be obtained by emailing greenspace@aberdeenshire.gov.uk. Aberdeenshire Council has developed a Pollinator Action Plan to support the vital role that pollinating insects play in conserving our local biodiversity. Pollinating insects contribute about £43 million annually in Scotland by helping us grow crops like fruit, vegetables and oilseed rape.
In a recent issue of the Scottish Land & Estates magazine Land Matters, a Scottish Fire & Rescue Service officer outlines a new Foundation Muirburn Training Module, the first of several to include Muirburn Manager and Wildfire Support ones. The Foundation Module will comprise a 30-45 minute e-learning section and a 5-6 hour practical element that will cover equipment, PPE, site identification, weather, team safety, and extinguishing. The 2019 Werritty report on grouse moor management recommended more "regulatory control relating to the Muirburn Code", and it is likely that anyone carrying out muirburn will have to have successfully completed such Modules.
New guidance for land and recreation managers on how to manage public access in areas of wildlife sensitivity has recently been published by the National Access Forum: see "Guidance documents" in outdooraccess-scotland.scot/act-and-access-code/national-access-forum. "Key principles" are: least restrictive access, ie minimum area and duration; evidence-based evaluation of disturbance issues; targeted measures by visitor group; shared understanding with representative and governing organisations and the public; a flexible approach: and clear and effective communication.
Agents Strutt & Parker report that the Scottish market for non-farm estates cooled slightly in 2022, with fewer but larger estates put up for sale. Compared to 2021, the number of transactions fell by 18%, and expenditure to £188m, down from a record-breaking £247m. The average area was 6,000 acres (2428ha), and off-market sales accounted for 39% of transactions. 83% of buyers were UK-based and 17% were based overseas, with 39% individuals or families and 61% entities such as funds, charities or corporate bodies. Prices remained significantly higher than two years ago, and the market "remains incredibly strong", as "global pension funds, foundations, charities and corporate bodies ... focus on the natural capital investment opportunities presented by estates through the carbon accreditation markets for peatland and woodland".
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