News
2 Apr 08Tick Prevention Week, 7 - 13 Apr 08
The Tick Prevention Week is being organised by BADA-UK (Borreliosis & Associated Diseases Awareness-UK), which is a registered charity run by volunteers who have been affected by UK-acquired tick-borne diseases.
More information is available here or on the Tick Prevention Week website.
30 Mar 08General Licences in Scotland: BASC Scotland Information Sheet
General Licences are issued on an annual basis by the Scottish Government to permit activities which would otherwise be illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. These licences apply only to birds. Similar licences are issued in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the relevant statutory bodies. The guidance issued by BASC Scotland is available here.
New Licences, for the period 1 Apr 08 - 31 Dec 08, have just been issued by the Scottish Government and can be viewed on the SG website.
26 Mar 08Firebeaters Project
The FireBeaters project is back up and running for the next 3 months following an 8 month hiatus in funding. The project aims this spring and early summer to complete the work on the ignition potential of heather in relation to weather and vegetation structure and to continue with the programme of experimental fires.
VOLUNTEER FIRE OBSERVERS. The project thanks all those who contributed data on both management and wild fires, last year. This part of the project was a real success and more data is required this year. The information provided by managers using simple record forms was really helpful and played an important part in the final analyses.
Anyone burning this spring is invited to send observations to the project. Record cards are available from the project on request.
A copy of the report form can also be downloaded from the "Fire reporting" area of the Firebeaters website.
Anyone who witnesses a wildfire is asked to contact the project and if possible complete one of the forms.
It is hoped that all collaborators and partners will be closely involved in the project and the project would would welcome any suggestions about future research priorities.
For more information contact Dr Matt Davies (matt.davies@ed.ac.uk) Tel: 0131 650 5401
13 Mar 08The Heather Trust organised the relaunch of Scotland's Moorland Forum
The Minister for Environment, Mike Russell MSP, launched the Partnership for Delivery that sets out the objectives for the Forum for the next five years. The document had been drafted by the Trust with input from the new Chairman, Lord Lindsay, all Forum members.
The Minister was very supportive about the work of the Forum and a press release can be found on the Moorland Forum website.
27 Nov 07Lord Lindsay appointed as Chairman of Scotland's Moorland Forum
We were delighted to handover the Chair of the Forum to Lord Lindsay at a meeting of the Forum that took place on the same day as the meeting with the Minister. Simon Thorp had served as acting Chairman since Isabel Glasgow stood down in April and he had then organised the recruitment of Lord Lindsay. Lord Lindsay's costs are being covered by the Members of the Forum and this will give the Forum a completely independent voice.
At the same meeting, Simon Thorp was appointed as Secretary of the Forum in succession to Professor Des Thompson. Des may no longer be the Secretary but he will be continuing to support the Forum.
Border TV filmed interviews with the Minister, Lord Lindsay and Des Thompson and the film can be viewed here.
27 Nov 07Visit by the Minister for Environment to Scotland's Moorland Forum
Mike Russell, MSP attended the meeting with the Forum that started in The Lodge at Carfraemill, near Lauder. The meeting then moved out onto the Burncastle Estate, part of the Duke of Northumberland’s estates, and a range of issues were discussed that included: trapping & snaring, muirburn, sheep ticks and the Predatory Birds Report that had been prepared for the Scottish Executive.
This meeting took place at the third attempt and we were delighted that it passed off well in good weather. The Forum hopes that this will be the start of improved relations with the Scottish Government.
19-20 Nov 07Moors for the Future Project Research Conference
We attended the annual conference which has become very popular and brings together researchers, policy makers and practitioners. The main theme this year was Carbon & Climate Change.