BY CALUM CAMPBELL Let’s be honest—if you’ve been following the latest rewilding headlines, you’ve probably had that sinking feeling in your gut. The one that says: here we go again. Right now, there’s a huge push to release pine martens into parts of the country where they haven’t set foot for centuries—if they ever even lived there at all. And while the PR machine is working overtime, … Continue reading Have We Learnt Absolutely Nothing?
BY CALUM CAMPBELL The Scottish Government has made peatland restoration a cornerstone of its climate change strategy. Through the NatureScot Peatland ACTION team, and in close partnership with the Cairngorms National Park and the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, a major programme of landscape-scale intervention is underway. With over 20% of Scotland’s land area covered by peat, the stated goals are ambitious: improve water … Continue reading The Peatland Paradox: When Restoration Becomes Destruction
BY CALUM CAMPBELL A recent article by Jamie Mann in The Ferret—titled “Deer are damaging hundreds of protected areas across Scotland. Experts can’t agree how to stop them”—has sparked controversy among those familiar with Scotland’s deer management and conservation landscape. While the piece presents a dire picture of “rampant deer” causing widespread ecological harm, a closer examination of available data and official assessments reveals a narrative that … Continue reading Reverse, Ferret?
BY CALUM CAMPBELL The recent wildfires in Moray have left a trail of destruction, with stories circulating and facts still emerging. What’s clear is that lessons must be learned—and acted upon—to better handle such disasters in the future. While many are more qualified to speak on this, here are my thoughts. How the Fires Started The Coastguard, during an exercise near Carrbridge, fired a flare … Continue reading Wildfires in Moray: Lessons Learnt?
BY CALUM CAMPBELL Scotland’s forestry and woodland creation schemes are coming under scrutiny, with growing concerns about the harmful impact they are having on already endangered wildlife. This is your chance to push for change in the way these schemes are regulated and implemented, to protect our natural heritage for future generations. A case in point is the Muckrach Estate near Grantown-on-Spey, which recently received … Continue reading Forestry and Woodland Creation Regulation
BY CALUM CAMPBELL I photographed this magnificent cock capercaillie (below) a couple of years ago. I had mixed emotions: excitement and thrill but also sadness at their plight. Currently, the capercaillie population is so low it is hardly sustainable. Their numbers are alarmingly declining due to several reasons. Capercaillie chicks need June to be dry. About three-quarters of their energy is used for rapid growth, … Continue reading Capercaillie in Scotland
BY CALUM CAMPBELL On moving back to the Grantown area in 2020, I made it a priority to try and photograph Blackcock the following Spring. I got the chance on a sporting estate near the headwaters of the River Spey. On doing a little research, I discovered all is not well with the Blackcock population in the UK. Hence the reason they have been put … Continue reading Blackgame Dewilding
