Latest news with #CairngormsNationalPark
BBC News
19 hours ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Probe into Highland and Moray wildfires that burned for days
A joint police and fire service investigation has been launched into the causes of large wildfires that burned over four days in the north of fires on moors and woodland were first reported to Police Scotland at about 16:05 on of firefighters tackled the blazes, supported by volunteers and waterbombing by a helicopter. Police Scotland said incidents near Carrbridge, Grantown-on-Spey and Dava in the Highlands, and Upper Knockando were being investigated. Ch Insp Mike MacKenzie said: "Fortunately no-one has been injured but a large swathe of the countryside has been badly affected."I would like to thank all the emergency services and the public involved."Our inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and this includes the area around Lochindorb between Carrbridge and Dava and the area around Loch Allan near Dava."He added: "We are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious or has any information that could assist with the investigation to get in touch." One witness, who tried to put a fire out near Grantown-on-Spey in the Cairngorms National Park on Saturday, told BBC Scotland News it started south-east of Loch said the seat of the wildfire was a ring of stones where a camp fire had been lit and camping chairs had been Cairngorms National Park Authority has urged people not to light campfires and executive Grant Moir said: "The effects of these fires on our wildlife and land is devastating, and we will be working with partners and landowners to assess the damage and see how we can help the recovery." On Tuesday the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said that there was a "significant deployment of resources" to the affected from Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Highlands were local roads were closed as a living in Carrbridge, Grantown-on-Spey and Aviemore were advised to keep the windows of homes and businesses closed due to living 170 miles (273km) miles away in Orkney reported smelling smoke from the wildfires.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Police and rangers will target 'aggressive campers' in Cairngorms crackdown
It is a place of serenity where campers, hillwalkers and tourists take time out to admire the breathtaking views in peace. Burt this year Police Scotland officers are joining rangers and reserve staff to crack down on 'aggressive campers', fires and other abuses in the Cairngorms. Joint patrols will take place at weekends at Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve (NNR), Cambus O' May and Mar Lodge Estate this July and August. The aim will be to engage with visitors and campers, share information and advice on responsible access under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and tackle any instances of anti-social behaviour. The patrols are a joint initiative between NatureScot, Police Scotland, Cairngorms National Park Authority, National Trust for Scotland (NTS) and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). NatureScot's Muir of Dinnet NNR Reserve Manager Simon Ritchie said: 'The vast majority of visitors to Muir of Dinnet are very responsible and it's been wonderful to see so many people out and about enjoying the reserve this summer. 'Unfortunately, we have had a few instances of unacceptable behaviour over the past few months, including anti-social and aggressive campers, inappropriate fires and barbecues, and littering. 'This has a negative impact not only on the wildlife and habitats the reserve strives to protect, but also on other visitors and local communities. 'These joint patrols are a great initiative that will help to promote responsible behaviour and tackle any issues where they arise. We're very grateful to the police and our partners for their support.' Constable Ann Ashman said: 'Spending time outdoors is something we all value, but it's important that people treat these places with care and consideration. 'We've experienced problems in Deeside in recent months including fires being set despite a high fire risk warning being in place, vehicles parked dangerously when carparks are full, damage, littering and wildlife offences. 'These actions have a negative impact on the environment, local communities, other visitors, and wildlife. 'Our officers will be working alongside partners throughout the summer to encourage responsible behaviour - and anyone engaging in anti-social or unlawful activity can expect a robust response.'
Daily Mail
07-06-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Is this the world's toughest job... catching tiny ANTS at 1,700 sq-mile beauty spot?
IT'S a task that makes looking for a needle in a haystack seem easy – hunting down a tiny insect in a vast area of Scottish wilderness. Yet as part of a remarkable project to save one of the country's rarest creatures from extinction, trackers are now being challenged to scour the Cairngorms National Park in search of the narrow-headed ant. It may not have the same profile as other at-risk animals such as the rhino or panda, but conservationists believe the half-inch long ant deserves to be protected – as it plays a surprisingly large role in the well-being of our ancient pine forests. In Scotland, narrow-headed ants are known to nest in just a handful of places in the Cairngorms, while the UK's only other recognised population is found at a single site in Devon in the south-west of England. And despite previous conservation schemes, its numbers are declining at a worrying rate. Now the body which runs the 1,700 square-mile Cairngorms National Park wants to reverse the insect's fortunes by setting up a captive breeding programme. The park authority has set aside £50,000 to hire experts to carry out an 'ant captive rearing project' that will last for up to three years. The aim is to establish at least 50 'farmed' colonies and build up large populations of the creatures in captivity – before later releasing them into new sites in the wild. The first major hurdle, however, involves being able to track down and capture enough of the ants to start the breeding programme. Cairngorms conservation officer Hayley Wiswell said: 'This work is ground-breaking and could completely change the fate of the species in the UK. 'But finding the nests can be challenging. They're about the size of half a football, sometimes even as small as a fist. 'They're made with pine needles, twigs, heather, moss and grass, so they're really well camouflaged. 'And they're found in woodland among pine or birch trees, on lumpy, mossy ground with lots of hummocks, hollows and deep heather. Sometime you don't see them until you're on top of them.' To set up the colonies, the trackers will need to find queens and males from different nests. Ms Wiswell added: 'You have to sit by the nest early in the morning on a cloudy but mild day – and as they come out, you have to pick them off the surface really quickly. It's tricky because the queens in particular are really fast – you have to sneak up on them and grab them.' Caution is needed as the ants can deliver a sharp, pin-prick bite. The narrow-headed ant – scientific name Formica exsecta – is black and red, with a characteristic notch in the back of its head. It builds a distinctive domed nest typically containing around 1,000 individuals. Males are up to 10mm long while queens are slightly larger, at around 12mm. Queens and males from different nests will be put together in a netted cage to mate before being moved to 'ant modules' – purpose-made enclosures that replicate an underground nest's tunnels. The aim is for the queen to start producing eggs which will then seed the captive colony. The ants will be kept in their modules under close supervision for 12 months until they are self-sufficient enough to survive in the wild. Ms Wiswell added: 'Nobody's done this before – it's really experimental.' Despite the difficulties, she explained that the tiny ants offered huge benefits for the environment. 'They are a keystone species, doing all kinds of things in the ecosystem,' she said. 'They're highly predatory and prey on herbivorous insects like caterpillars which can defoliate plants. They also interact with the soil because their nests are largely subterranean – earthworms, for example, are significantly more prevalent around ant mounds. 'They also pick up and disperse plant seeds throughout the environment. And of course they provide a food source for lots of other animals, like badgers and pine martens.' Nests have been identified on the Mar Lodge Estate, a national nature reserve that covers 70,000 acres in the Cairngorms and is run by the National Trust for Scotland. The recruitment advert for trackers says: 'The species is considered to be vulnerable. Captive breeding is considered to be the next step to securing the future of this species at Mar Lodge Estate, near Braemar, and to expand the population on Deeside. 'This work is still very much experimental, and as such methods for captive rearing will need to be tested. ' Anyone taking on the task of tracking the narrow- headed ant is advised they should have access to a 4x4 vehicle, or be willing to mountain bike, walk and camp overnight in remote locations.
