NORTHERNLIGHTS
W !
E
N GN
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IN THIS ISSUE
Wildlife Crime
Reader survey
Stoats
Aspen
The newsletter of SNH Grampian Area
Issue 31
EDITORIAL
CONTENTS
Editorial
2
Who we are
2
Wildlife Brief: Stoatily Amazing!
3
Reader Survey
4
Species Focus: Aspen
5
Competition to name a Red Kite
6
How to look good naturally!
6
SNH and wildlife crime
7
The wheels on the bus go ground!
8
Grants snippets
9
NNR News
10
All change at Northern Lights
10
Highland Naturalists
11
Introducing - Fiona Cruickshank
12
Publications
12
Northern Lights is produced on 100% post
consumer recycled paper.
Regular readers will have noticed a change to the cover of this Northern
Lights. We’ve had a bit of a revamp, which is explained in our article
on page 6.
As well as making changes ourselves, we’ve decided that it’s time to
give you all a chance to let us know what you think of the newsletter.
Our reader survey has only ten questions and should only take
five minutes to complete. It’s your chance to influence the future look
and content of Northern Lights. We hope you can find the time and we
look forward to receiving your comments.
Despite the weather not being able to make up it’s mind, there’s lots to
do in the countryside. Whether you decide to go out for a walk yourself
or fancy joining in with an organised activity, there’s something for
everyone. To help you find somewhere to go, SNH produces a handy
booklet, Go Wild with your Child in and around Aberdeen. If you
would like a copy please give us a call on 01224 642863.
We will return with a winter issue. Till then, we hope our articles will
inspire you to get out and about.
E-asy linking - another green option
Please email [email protected] and
title your email 'Link me to Northern Lights' and
we'll make sure you receive copies
electronically. Please include the details on
your address label so that we can amend our
list. Don't worry if you're not on our current
mailing list - we would be pleased to include
you; please email us at the above address and
title your email ‘New to Northern Lights’, and
include your name and nearest town.
The Northern Lights team
Who we are ...
Your guide to your local staff
Scottish Natural Heritage is a government body
responsible to the Scottish Government and the
Scottish Parliament.
Acting Area Manager
David Bale
Our mission statement:
Working with Scotland’s people to care for our
natural heritage.
Operational Managers
Ewen Cameron
Paul Timms
Our aim:
Scotland’s natural heritage is a local, national
and global asset. We promote its care and
improvement, its responsible enjoyment, its
greater understanding and appreciation and its
sustainable use now and for future generations.
Please send any feedback, suggestions and
ideas to
The Editors, Scottish Natural Heritage,
17 Rubislaw Terrace, ABERDEEN, AB10 1XE.
Tel: 01224 642863. Fax: 01224 635020.
e-mail: [email protected]
Photography Credits
Doug Barnett page 8, Ewen Cameron/SNH
page 4 top left and right, page 10, page 12 top,
Laurie Campbell front page, page 3, page 6 top
right, Mark Farquhar/Grampian Police Media
Unit page 7 bottom right,Lorne Gill/SNH page
5 right, page 7 top, top left, bottom left, Maggie
Laws page 4 bottom left, Iain MacGowan/SNH
page 5 top and bottom, Northern Scot 2007
page 9, Catriona Reid/SNH page 4 bottom
right, page 12, RSPB page 6 left and centre,
SNH page 11, Sandy Sutherland/SNH page 7
second top right.
2
Area Administrator
Dave Rust
Aberdeenshire Central
and Aberdeen City
Fiona Cruickshank
Sue Lawrence
Fiona Mutch
Aberdeenshire South
Finlay Bennet
Elizabeth Clements
Lynne Farquhar
Isla Martin
Aberdeenshire North
Ewan Lawrie
Ann O’Leary
Moray
Jennifer Heatley
Shirley Reid
Tel: 01343 541551
Dinnet NNR
Catriona Reid
Forvie NNR
Annabel Drysdale
Daryl Short
Tel: 01358 751330
Area-wide
Gavin Clark
Gillian Forbes
Maggie Laws
Kelley Miller
Mike Smedley
Administration
Christina Anderson
Dominique Brunning
Linda Campbell
Jim Dey
Wilma Fielding (Moray)
Martin Hacket
Patricia Mutch
Janice Ritchie
St Cyrus NNR
Andy Turner
Alison Couch (Seasonal)
Tel: 01674 830736
The Grampian staff are here to help you, please contact them on
01224 642863 unless another telephone number is shown above.
Our Aberdeen office is at 17 Rubislaw Terrace, Aberdeen, AB10 1XE
Our Elgin office is at 32 Reidhaven Street, Elgin, IV30 1QH
NORTHERNLIGHTS
BRIEF
WILDLIFE
Stoatily
amazing!
Stoats are one of the most misunderstood animals we have here in the British Isles. A perfectly
adapted carnivore, stoats and their close relatives the weasel, are often unfairly thought of as the
villains of the animal world.
Ye
ta
ji s
’r e
Stoats belong to the same family as badgers and otters, the Mustelidae,
which take their name from the scent glands found beneath their tails.
They have a long, slender body and short legs – an ideal shape for
getting into small places after prey. This is usually small mammals,
especially rabbits and small rodents but they will also eat eggs, fruit
and earthworms when other prey is scarce.
Like a lot of our wildlife, stoats are quite secretive and it can be difficult to see
them. They also move very quickly so sometimes all you get to see is a brown
flash moving past. There is a trick you can use to get their attention though, as
they are very curious wee beasties, who are very interested in squeaking
noises. If you suck hard on the back of your hand, which should make a
squeak, you might just manage to attract the attention of a hungry stoat!
Stoats have no legal protection in Scotland, apart from that given to all
wild animals under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002.
Although they are trapped legally by gamekeepers and farmers, their
numbers don’t seem to suffer as they have naturally high rates of mortality.
Further reading:
www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/billspassed/b10bs1.pdf
www.abdn.ac.uk/mammal
Stoat (left) and
weasel (right)
r
at e
st o
Stoats were once prized by the fur trade, especially in their white winter coat.
This fur is known as "ermine" and was used to trim the robes of royalty and
members of the House of Lords, this practice has stopped now and artificial fur is
used instead. The ermine was also considered a symbol of purity in Europe.
e
we
One of the most common questions about stoats and weasels is, what
is the difference? One of the easiest ways to tell is to remember that a
stoat is larger and has a longer, black-tipped tail. They both have a
dividing line between the upper and lower body colour but a stoat’s line is
straight while a weasel’s is not!
...
NORTHERNLIGHTS
READER SURVEY
Complete the survey on line at www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=rcQ4b0gu_2fnkjl0UPPFjGZg_3d_3d
maximise the money
that’s spent on
Scotland’s natural
heritage. By moving
to two 12 page
issues instead of
three 8 page issues
we can reduce our
postage costs.
Although the total
number of pages in
a year is the same,
there is also a bit of
a saving in staff time,
which can then be
spent on other environmental work. If more of you read
Northern Lights online, we can also reduce the amount of paper
we use. Remember the maxim - Reduce, Re-use, Recycle.
We also want to know whether we are communicating with you
as well as we could, or if we could do better – we’re sure we
could and we want to hear from you. Even when we produce
three issues a year, Northern Lights didn’t have the hottest and
most up to date news. We know that not everyone has easy
access to the Internet, but we want to know whether you would
be interested in a more regular update being emailed to you. It
wouldn’t be a glossy like the newsletter, but we could have more
current information in it.
As Northern Lights has now reached its 31st Issue, we thought it
was time to get some feedback from you, our readers, to find
out what you do and don’t like about the Newsletter. We also
want to find out if there are some new things you would like to
see added. Although we put in things we hope you find
interesting, we need to be sure – and if not, we want to do
something about it.
So, please get your thinking caps on. Return the card or respond
online. If you need another copy of the questionnaire, you can
give us a ring on 01224 642863 and we’ll send one. This is
your chance to influence the future style and direction of
Northern Lights and we’re waiting to hear from you.
To make your views known, you can either fill in a questionnaire
online, or complete the card inserted within the newsletter and
return it to us, postage paid.
We’ve also made some
design changes to Northern
Lights, partly to make it more
attractive, but also to make it
easier to read. Although
you might not think it from
some things you read in the
papers, SNH is always
trying to make savings to
our running costs and
4
NORTHERNLIGHTS
Species Focus
ASPEN
Following last year’s hot summer, we have been fortunate to
witness a rare event this spring – the flowering of aspen trees in
the North East.
Aspen (Populus tremula) was one of the trees to colonise
Scotland after the retreat of the ice sheet 10,000 years ago;
along with birch, sallow and rowan. Today aspen occurs at low
levels in native woodland throughout Scotland tolerating a
variety of soil types, but is locally common in the river valleys of
the Dee, Spey and Deveron.
It is known by most people for its attractive foliage, with leaves
that tremble even in the slightest breeze, turning a striking bright
yellow or occasionally red colour in autumn.
Aspen supports some unusual and specialist flora and fauna such
as hoverflies, the dark bordered beauty moth, fungi, lichens and
mosses. This includes a number of species with critically low UK
populations in need of emergency “first aid”. Aspen’s ancient
history in Scotland’s woods, as well as the large number of
specialist species associated with the tree, have led many experts
to suggest that the presence of aspen today is strongly linked to
ancient woodland sites.
Aspen usually spreads asexually through the growth of suckers
from the roots of the parent tree. If there is enough light and
provided they are not grazed by deer, rabbits and livestock,
these grow into young trees that are genetically identical to
the parent.
Unlike trees such as birch, oak and ash which have both male
and female flowers on the same tree, aspens are single sex (i.e.
dioecious), forming separate male and female trees. Aspen
rarely flowers in Scotland and the last flowering widely reported
before this year was in 1996.
Over the last couple of months Scottish Native Woods has been
checking North East woods with aspen for the signs of flowering
to distinguish males from females. This research will enhance
knowledge of the ratio of males and females occurring in the
Scottish population and, importantly, ensure that both sexes are
propagated for woodland expansion programmes in the future.
Male catkins fall to the ground in their hundreds once they
have shed pollen in March/April. The female catkins remain
on the tree through May to June when the “cotton-like" seeds
are released.
How you can help:
Protect and regenerate all existing aspen stands or trees
Plant aspen (of both sexes) from local stock in new native
woodland planting schemes, forestry restock areas or
degraded semi-natural woodlands where it is missing.
Look for trees with female catkins and report to Carol
Robertson, North East Manager Scottish Native Woods
(01464 821070).
Additional info at:
www.scottishnativewoods.org
www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.aspen.html
NORTHERNLIGHTS
5
COMPETITION TO NAME A RED KITE
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Aberdeen Countryside Project,
SNH, the Stewart Milne Group and Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace, are in the early stages of reintroducing red kites to the
north-east, 30 of which are now on the wing. As project partners, SNH staff have selected the name Sirius, for one of the
birds and Northern Lights readers have the chance to suggest a name for another one. It may seem odd releasing a bird of
prey close to a city like Aberdeen, but the countryside around here is just what they need. We also think that people living in
cities should have the chance to enjoy spectacular wildlife too.
Once widespread, the last known breeding records are from the mid 1800s. As scavengers, they feed on dead animals and
probably spent some time hanging around battlefields during Scotland’s more turbulent and gory past!! Persecution played
a major part in their decline and although some do still die as a result of poisoning, in these more enlightened times, local
farmers, landowners and local people have been very supportive.
About the size of buzzards, red kites have a distinctive forked tail and are very graceful in flight. They will be radio tagged
so that their movements can be tracked after release.
So – send your suggestion for a name to the Northern Lights editors at [email protected] or 17 Rubislaw Terrace,
Aberdeen AB10 1XE and say in not more than 12 words why you chose the name. We will be delighted to receive
suggestions from individuals, schools, community groups – anyone. The winning suggestion will be passed on to the RSPB.
More info at www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/projects/aberdeen_kites/index.asp
NORTHERNLIGHTS - how to look good naturally!
Welcome to your re-designed newsletter. To some of you this may reflect
the ever-changing natural phenomenon of the aurora borealis! The
improvements to your newsletter are far wider than the design: Northern
Lights will be issued twice yearly from now on, but with more pages and
new features, so you won’t miss out on your favourite articles and news.
Our face-lift will improve the content and presentation of it and also
make it more eye catching. The first change you will have noticed is the
front cover but the revamp includes new articles, such as the editorial, as
well as smaller things, such as a change to the style of page numbering.
We hope this new style of newsletter will increase your enjoyment of it.
Please send us your comments using the enclosed reader survey and we
look forward to receiving your feedback.
Northern Lights was first published in the winter of 1994, now a
teenager like SNH, it has had several changes over its life. Originally, a
simple four page newsletter it has grown into what you are reading now.
6
our first
This issue is
100%
printed on
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post co
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NORTHERNLIGHTS
SNH and Wildlife Crime
Every so often SNH gets a call from a member of the
public who is concerned about the welfare of wild animals.
We hope that this article will give you an idea of what
SNH’s role in fighting wildlife crime is, and also how you
can help.
Scotland’s most important habitats are protected by designated
sites, but there are some animals and plants that are so
vulnerable to our everyday activities that they need extra
protection across the whole country. To put it simply, for these
species it is an offence to kill or capture birds and animals or to
uproot plants.
As with other crime, enforcement of the laws designed to protect
wildlife lies with the Police and the Procurator Fiscal. Once a
possible crime has been reported to the Police, they will often
approach SNH for our specialist advice. In recognition of the
seriousness of wildlife crime, Grampian Police have a full-time
Wildlife Crime Officer (WCO), PC Dave MacKinnon. PC
MacKinnon is also supported by a team of ten part-time WCOs.
Examples of wildlife crime include egg theft; disturbance;
poisoning; illegal trapping, shooting and snaring; poaching of
deer, game and fish; hare coursing; crimes against fresh water
pearl mussels, badgers, bats; and damage to protected habitats.
Believe it or not, Scottish law has been dealing with wildlife
crime since around 1427, although the main aim at that point
was to rid the country of wolves, which were regarded as a pest.
At the same time, our ancestors recognised the need to regulate
the hunting of other species.
To help people remember, SNH produces leaflets which detail
specially protected species and how they are protected. Links to
these are included in our publication Scotland’s Wildlife: The
Law and You, which can be viewed here:
www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/wildlife/law/default.asp
In addition to protecting species that are native to this country,
wildlife legislation also aims to control the release of non-native
species into the wild. This includes species such as grey squirrel,
Sika deer and American mink.
If you encounter what you believe to be wildlife crime, remember
to look after your own safety and DO NOT try to intervene
yourself. Instead, call Grampian Police on 0845 600 5700 and
ask for your call to be passed to the WCO.
Additional info:
www.defra.gov.uk/paw/report/default.htm
www.snh.org.uk/licences/li-policecontacts04.asp
NORTHERNLIGHTS
7
THE WHEELS ON THE
BUS GO GROUND!
School Grounds
Portlethen Primary pupil, Jodie McGovern at St Cyrus with her “wee
beasties” jars
SNH School Travel Grant
For the last fourteen years, our school travel grant has been
contributing 50% of the travel costs for day visits so that children
can work on environment-related parts of the curriculum. So far
schools from across Grampian have benefited, visiting places
like the Natural History Centre at Aberdeen University, Culbin
Sands and the Bennachie Centre, as well as reserves managed
by SNH.
People know that SNH looks after wildlife and the environment
but another important part of our work is helping people get out
and enjoy it. Judging by the comments we have received from
teachers over that time, the grant has been a great success as it
has sparked the interest of both children and teachers in their
natural heritage. The amount of money we set aside each year
for this has grown steadily and has now reached £15,000 and
has taken 60,000 pupils to about 50 different locations each
year to study about 100 different topics.
It has proved so popular that the Buchan Countryside Group, a
small environmental charity, now runs the project on our behalf
and money is available to all nursery, primary and secondary
schools in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray. Kath
Hamper of the Buchan Countryside Group said "We are
running the scheme again next year and any teachers interested
in applying should look at the website
www.bcgroup.freeserve.co.uk or phone me on 01771 637394.”
Looking for ideas to improve/enhance your school grounds? Or
indeed ideas for working with pupils in the outdoors? Then why
not borrow the School Grounds Resource Boxes that are
available for lending to all schools in the SNH Grampian area.
There is no set period for the loan, how long you keep the
Resource box depends upon the demands on your time.
First brought out in the mid 1990s by Grounds for Learning, the
Scottish school grounds charity, the aim was to compile a listing
of resources that incorporated a range of materials. The
selection in each box is intended to allow something relevant to
each school category from nursery through to secondary. Now
we are delighted to announce that these boxes were recently
revamped and
updated with
revised contents, to
present an even
more
comprehensive
selection of
materials. The
boxes contain
books, CD’s,
posters and videos
categorised into
Portlethen Primary pupil, Lewis McDonald
at St Cyrus
three sections:
Improving your school grounds
Learning and teaching in your school grounds
Developing play opportunities in your school grounds
Each section is further split into subject areas making it easier to
find the right resource to suit specific needs.
Further information on either the contents of the boxes or how to
request them on loan can be had by contacting Jim Dey
([email protected]) at our Aberdeen office or Wilma Fielding
at our Elgin office ([email protected]), you can find their
address and telephone numbers on page 2. In the Grampian
area further boxes are held by Tracey Lloyd, the Grounds for
Learning co-ordinator ([email protected]) or 01224
492345 and by the Buchan Countryside Group. More
information, including other locations where you can borrow the
boxes from can be found on the Grounds for Learning website at
www.gflscotland.org.uk
60,000 pupils have benefitted from the SNH and Buchan Countryside
Group’s Travel Grant Scheme
8
Buchan Countryside Group was founded in 1979 with the aim of
working to protect Buchan’s wild and beautiful places.
NORTHERNLIGHTS
£
G R A N T S
Grants Snippets
As part of our work, SNH funds many and varied projects in the Grampian Area; last year alone
saw £750,000 given out in grants. We welcome applications from the entire Grampian Area,
which includes the local authority areas of Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils. In
this edition we focus on two projects in Moray.
Enchanted Woodland Event
In 2002, SNH supported Forres Community Woodland Trust’s acquisition of Sanquhar Woodlands,
to the south of Forres. The aim was to bring the 117 acre area of highly attractive woodland, which
is well-loved and used by generations of local residents, into permanent community ownership and
management. Since then, there have been ongoing improvements to the footpaths – including all
abilities access – car park provision, signage, interpretation and replanting of native species. The
Trust, with further financial support from SNH, decided to stage special anniversary celebrations.
The format for marking the event involved Findhorn based charity, Wild Things, working with local
schools groups for two special performances of “unique procession of magic and wonder” held at
the woodlands.
N
I
£
£
P
P
E
T
£
£
S
River Improvements
The Deveron, Isla and Bogie Rivers Trust are planning, with support from SNH, a programme to
eradicate giant hogweed.
A non-native and invasive species, hogweed is a major nuisance that can cause serious
infestations. Despite previous eradication treatments, the plant has re-emerged on the Bogie and
Isla tributaries. Work to remove hogweed is labour intensive and usually ongoing as the seeds
can lie dormant in the soil for up to fifteen years. Apart from the danger to humans – physical
contact can leave painful blisters on the skin – hogweed shades out native vegetation on river
banks. This can result in bank erosion and silt loading, causing smothering of redds and loss of instream juvenile fish habitat.
NORTHERNLIGHTS
£
£
9
NNR NEWS
While digging on Forvie NNR, Daryl Short, our Site
Management Officer, excavated some bits of human bone. At the
time Daryl was putting up some interpretive panels to explain
Forvie’s history. Medieval Forvie began to get buried in a sand
storm in 1413 and had completely disappeared 180 years later.
The village is a scheduled monument so SNH sought permission
from Historic Scotland to install five posts. They asked us to
employ an archaeologist to inspect the work for anything of
interest. Local archaeologist Charlie Murray was with Daryl and
saw the fragment of bone, thought to be part of a human skull,
being discovered.
Charlie said "When we found the bone, we stopped work and
when I took a closer look at the fragment, it was obvious that it
wasn't a recent burial. I followed procedure and contacted
Grampian Police to record the remains as historical.
"We decided to move the post but a second hole revealed more
bone fragments and being so close to Forvie Kirk, we realised
that we were dealing with a cemetery and probably one that is
contemporary with the building. It is quite interesting because
we didn't know there were graves outside the Kirk until now."
The Forvie Village Trail was finally completed away from the
graves. The new trail follows ten posts around the village site
and each interpretative panel features a different character from
Forvie's past. These include a medieval priest; an 18th century
smuggler; a World War II soldier and a medieval farmer. As
you can probably tell, Forvie has a colourful past! Why not find
out more by coming along and using the Trail?
www.nnr-scotland.org.uk
Al
l change at
ights
L
n
r
e
h
Nort
Northern Lights’ editors are usually a shy, retiring bunch who prefer to stay behind the scenes. We’ve recently had some changes and we
felt that it was time to draw them out into the light.
Martin was our longest serving editor but with other commitments and a desire to give some other members of SNH staff a chance to
hone their communications skills, he has now stepped aside. Both as a writer and editor, Martin was behind many of the stories you have
enjoyed reading. As an Aberdeen loon, it is also thanks to Martin’s efforts that Northern Lights has kept its down-to-earth, informal, and
humorous feel.
Viv is leaving Aberdeen and returning closer to her roots to work in SNH’s Dalkeith office. Although not an editor for as long as
Martin, she kept up the tradition of helping out at all stages in producing the newsletter, having a good feel for words and a great sense
of humour.
For an organisation like SNH, nothing stands still and Martin’s boots
were filled earlier this year by Jim, another north-east loon who also
has – you’ve guessed it – a great sense of humour and is also our
Doric expert.
Before Viv was out of the door, Fiona volunteered to take up the
soon to be vacant co-editor post. As a relatively new member of
staff here in Aberdeen, we had already planned to write about
Fiona in our “Introducing” feature, so you can find out more about
her on page 12.
Northern Lights is also undergoing a period of change at the
moment. We hope you like these, but feel free to get in touch with
us to let us know what you think. We are always pleased to hear
from our readers.
10
Editors! Viv Gray, Martin Hacket, Fiona Cruickshank and Jim Dey
NORTHERNLIGHTS
A young visitor admires the collection
Ewen Cameron (left) and Pete Moore at the exhibition
As part of SNH’s contribution to the 2007 Year of Highland
Culture celebrations – www.highland2007.com - staff produced
The Highland Naturalists.
Pete Moore, East Highland Area Officer and key player in the
Highland Naturalists Project said, “For the time being the
exhibition is in our Inverness headquarters at Great Glen House
and open to the public between 10am and 2pm. Group visits
can be arranged by telephoning Thea Harris-Douglas on 01463
725022. Later we hope to move the exhibition to some other
locations. The website - www.highlandnaturalists.com - is up and
operational but still being added to. We encourage people to
check it out and get involved. We can always add more people
to the website.”
As SNH “champion” for this project, Grampian Operations
Manager, Ewen Cameron is very clear on why this project is
important and why it’s relevant to the whole of Scotland
“We had three clear aims in commissioning this project. Firstly,
to acknowledge and celebrate Scottish natural history, those who
studied it in the past and those who study it in various ways
today.
“Secondly, we wanted to explore the spirit, innovation,
determination, enthusiasm and motivation which is demonstrated
through many of the lives and studies featured in both the exhibit
and on the website.
“Thirdly, the ‘naturalist’ is a declining species … and this
concerns us. The study of the natural world is not just for
bearded men and expensive television documentaries. Our
natural heritage is under our noses wherever we are and nature
study is one of most inclusive “clubs” in Scotland – with room for
many more members”.
Three Naturalists view the exhibit
INTRODUCING
Fiona Cruickshank
Fiona is a local lass, in fact as she says – a Turra quine!, a country background
which has stimulated a life long passion in natural history, evolving from a
childhood interest in identifying flowers and birds to working for SNH as an
Area Officer.
Back home in Turra, her parents run a long established pharmacy business and
Fiona is a regular visitor to the family home.
Along with her three sisters Fiona was educated at Turriff Academy before going
on to study Zoology at Aberdeen University, after which she took on a very
challenging role working as a teacher. However, not content with staying in the
UK, Fiona travelled to Africa and spent time teaching English and Maths in Ghana.
When she eventually returned to the UK, she completed her studies at York
University, earning a Masters degree in Ecology.
After completing her studies Fiona went on to gain practical experience by working as a volunteer at Forvie National Nature Reserve.
After a successful spell there Fiona managed to gain full-time employment with SNH, first in a specialist role working with farmers and
management of designated sites. In 2006 she began her current role as an Area Officer with a beat covering the City of Aberdeen and
Central Aberdeenshire.
As an Area Officer no two days are the same for Fiona, carrying out SNH’s work acting as a front line contact both to organisations and
the general public, with a territory stretching from the urban setting of Aberdeen to the farming belt in the Garioch and upland area’s
such as some of the land around Strathdon. She also gives specialist advice and deals with enquiries on protected species such as bats
and badgers, comments on planning proposals, and assesses grant applications.
When asked what she enjoys most about her job, Fiona replies – “When I see something we have done that really makes a difference
both to people who live and work in the Area and also for the many visitors that Grampian welcomes”.
Publications ...
and much more besides
SNH produce a range of free and priced publications on a wide variety of subjects
relating to the environment, these are continually being updated and added to.
SNH publishes a catalogue which lists all our current publications and this is
available from the Grampian Area office at 17 Rubislaw Terrace, Aberdeen
AB10 1XE, or our publications section at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth PH1 3EW
Tel: 01738 458530 who also stock a full range of the listed publications.
You can also order via the SNH web site at www.snh.org.uk/pubs. There are a
range of slide-shows, games and puzzles to accompany many of our publications
and most of our publications are available to read on-line too.
If National Nature Reserves are your thing then we can supply leaflets
explaining what you can expect to find at each reserve. We also have large
print, braille, audio and on-line version of our leaflets on our web site. Why
not visit nnr-scotland.org.uk and give them a try?
www.snh.org.uk/pubs
www.nnr-scotland.org.uk
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NORTHERNLIGHTS