By Ross Macleod, Head of Policy (Scotland)
Following the success of the guided walks over different grouse moors in early April, we were very pleased to organise a similar visit for Scottish Government Wildlife Management and Natural Environment Bill team members. Taking place on Burncastle Moor near Lauder in the Scottish Borders, it was a useful opportunity to discuss upland management, assess practicalities, and exchange thoughts on current legislative requirements.
GWCT Senior Adviser Felix Meister (second from left) outlining corvid trapping legislation and best practice.
Our moorland walk, taking in the full panoramic view across the Lammermuirs, provided a great backdrop to describe how the heather habitat and landscape is managed for economic and conservation benefits. It also allowed us to show how key aspects set out in the recent Wildlife Management and Muirburn Act are met. We outlined the importance of peat depth sampling both to refine the accuracy of deep peat mapping and ensure that muirburn is planned and carried out in line with legislation.
Burncastle Head-Keeper Craig Dickman (third from right) discussing the importance of gritting and clean water.
We saw practical examples of predator control aspects including rail, tunnel and Larsen trapping. We discussed when wildlife trap licensing will be introduced as a new legal requirement in Scotland following the extensive round of assurance training that GWCT has undertaken over the last 18 months. This is fully supported by GWCT's app-based predator control recording, which helps moorland keepers to demonstrate commitment to best practice. The discussion also afforded an opportunity to show that predator control is a conservation tool for all ground-nesting birds – well illustrated when Head-Keeper Craig Dickman was able to show our visitors a lapwing nest near to where they were standing.
The Duke of Northumberland and the Burncastle keepering team kindly hosted the walk and lunch for our Scottish Government guests, author Mary Colwell, and GWCT walk leaders Felix Meister and Nick Hesford.
We were fortunate to be joined on our walk by author and environmentalist Mary Colwell, who has written extensively about curlew in her books Beak, Tooth and Claw and Curlew Moon. She has drawn attention to the significance of predator control for their continued survival. Their evocative calling could be heard throughout our walk. Mary was on Burncastle as a guest of the the Duke of Northumberland. We are very grateful to the Duke and the keepering team at Burncastle for hosting the day and laying on lunch for all of our guests from Scottish Government.