Nature In June

Wildlife & Nature In June
This month look out for:

Animals:
*Roe deer are born this month
*Common seals are giving birth this month
*Fox cubs are out and about

Birds In June*Sea bird colonies - great time to visit with lots going on
* Birds and baby birds are about everywhere!
* Bittern - probably the best time to try to spot these birds as they are out and about, busy gathering food for their chicks

Flora In June
*Moorland heather is in bloom from now until August
*Elderflowers
*Foxgloves
*Ragged Robin
*Poppies
*Wild Cornflowers
*Orchids

Find nature, eco and wildlife watching events and activites on the Wild & Green Escapes website

Osprey Chicks For Tweed Valley

First osprey chick in Scotland hatched in Tweed valley

The Tweed Valley ospreys have hatched what is believed to be the first osprey chick in Scotland.
The first egg was laid around the 9th of April and a second one soon after.  It is not clear if there are other eggs because the nest is piled so high with twigs and branches. 

The osprey family can be viewed on high definition cameras at Forestry Commission Scotland’s Glentress Forest and at Kailzie Gardens, both close to Peebles.


As part of the Tweed Valley Osprey Project, the chick will be ringed so that its movements can be monitored over its lifetime.

Glentress Forest’s wildwatch room is situated within the new Peel visitor centre development and is part of the wider Tweed Valley Ospreys Project.  The project is a partnership between Forestry Commission Scotland, Kailzie Gardens and RSPB Scotland.  

The project not only offers close circuit TV footage of ospreys at Glentress Forest and Kailzie Gardens, but also of other birds too. For more information on the Tweed Valley Osprey Watch project log on to www.forestry.gov.uk/tweedvalleyospreys.

Call To Help With Red Kites

Public encouraged to help monitor Grizedale Forest’s red kites

Wildlife lovers are being asked to keep an eye out for red kite chicks, released as part of a Forestry Commission-led reintroduction programme in Cumbria’s Grizedale Forest.

A dedicated Facebook page has been created to help people report sightings, get updates on the birds’ progress and to share photographs.

A dispersal map has been produced by Forestry Commission wildlife rangers at Grizedale. It shows that most of the red kites that were released in the first two years of the reintroduction programme have been spotted in the North West – particularly Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Lancashire. However, other birds have travelled into Scotland and as far south as London and over the English Channel.

Iain Yoxall, the Forestry Commission wildlife ranger who has led the red kite reintroduction programme in Grizedale, said: “The birds appear to be faring as well as we expected and are adapting to life in the wild.
The birds from our first release, in 2010, should start looking for nesting sites in the South Lakes area between April and July this year. Although we do not expect any successful mating attempts this year we should see displays of courtship behaviour such as hunting for nest sites in woodland, pairing up and building nests.

"We would really like the public to help us monitor the progress of the red kites. The more information we can get back from people the bigger the picture we will have on how the kites are faring. We would like people to let us know if they see any of our birds, which are marked with distinctive tags, by using our new Facebook page or by sending us an email.”

All of the birds released in Grizedale carry an orange tag on their left wing. The red kites released in 2010 have a blue tag on their right wing, and last year’s birds carry a white tag on their right wing.
People can report sightings of the Grizedale birds by visiting the newly created Red Kites Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/GrizedaleRedKites or by emailing red.kite@forestry.gsi.gov.uk


For more information about the Forestry Commission in the Lake District please visit http://www.visitlakelandforests.co.uk/.

Inland Beach Wins Top Award

Inland beach wins award for third year running

One of Scotland’s best kept secrets – a beach that is 300m above sea level - has won a prestigious national award for the third year running!

Loch Morlich in the heart of Glenmore Forest Park in the Cairngorms is managed by Forestry Commission Scotland and is the first and only fresh water loch to ever have received the Rural Beach Award in Keep Scotland Beautiful’s (KSB) Seaside Award campaign.

Graeme Prest, the commission’s manager of the Inverness Ross and Skye District, said: “Having recently moved up to Inverness to take on this role I was expecting a few pleasant surprises…but never dreamed that a beach award would be one of them! Glenmore contains some of the best preserved areas of ancient Caledonian Pine Forest in the country and also offers great opportunities for outdoor activities like walking, cycling, orienteering and bird-watching, but it must be one of the few Commission sites where you can also go sailing!"


2) Loch Morlich is only 10km west of Aviemore. For more information visit  http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/recreation.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/ScotlandHighlandGlenmoreForestParkGlenmore

Green Holidays In Dorset

Marston Holiday Flats, Swanage, Dorset

www.marstonholidayflats.co.uk
Welcome to Marston, a green holiday business, committed to providing excellent accommodation for families, groups of friends, or couples who wish to enjoy the fantastic Dorset countryside and famous Jurassic coastline.

 The three apartments are maintained to a high standard and can accommodate up to six guests.

Marston are members of the Green Tourism Business Scheme and are proud to currently hold a silver award.

Find eco friendly holidays on the Wild & Green Escapes website

Eco Holiday Cottages in Forest of Bowland

Caldertop Cottage, Higher Landskill Farm, Calder Vale, Forest of Bowland, Lancashire

www.caldertopcottage.co.uk

Welcome to Caldertop Cottage 3 star self catering Green Tourism Gold holiday accommodation on the edge of the Forest of Bowland, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The cottage adjoins the owner's farmhouse on a working sheep and stock rearing farm, with spectacular views over open countryside.

The cottage has a fully equipped kitchen, cosy lounge with open fire, colour TV, DVD player and CD player. There are three bedrooms sleeping 5 persons plus 1 baby. Outside is an enclosed garden with garden furniture, barbecue, swings, slide and trampoline. All bed linen, towels, electricity and central heating included.

Garstang, the world’s first fair-trade town, is 5 miles away where there are supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants.

Find eco friendly cottages on Wild & Green Escapes

Wildlife Watching - On TV!

It's that time of year again - Springwatch returns to our TV screens from next Monday, 28th May!

Springwatch brings us loads of great wildlife watching opportunities (plus flowers, trees and great scnerey!)  from the comfort of our own homes!

Find out more on the Springwatch website including the latest Tweets and blogs