16/03/2023
Undoing the Silence of the Uplands.
We have been starting to work with The Southern Uplands Partnership and the RSPB alongside other partners across South Scotland as part of the development phase of a bid to NatureScot Nature Recovery Fund. This project is all about restoring habitats at a landscape scale with a particular focus on the recovery of black grouse populations from Langholm, Galloway Forest Park to the Moffat Hills.
In the Tarras Valley, we have a small population of black grouse which is isolated from others in the region. They are a red list species and are declining nationally but in areas where suitable habitat has been restored, populations have started to bounce back.
Through this project, we are starting to look at ways we can increase the habitat mosaic and connectivity in the valley with interventions like wetland scrapes, ditch blocking and scrubby woodland patches which will benefit this iconic species as well as many others. The final funding bid for the works is due to be submitted this May.
We have a woodland creation workshop on the 20th April 5-7pm at the Buccleuch Centre, Langholm where we’d love to get your feedback about this work while it is in the early stages as well as wider woodland creation activity. Please pop by for as little or as long as you like!
Photography by Laurie Campbell (http://www.lauriecampbell.com)
