INCHMARNOCH SCOPING REPORT

The link below takes you to a pdf of the Inchmarnoch Scoping Report.
http://sites.google.com/site/glentanarinfosite/



Please feel free to comment.

Today the junior rangers were tree planting

STAG RUNS FREE

This Saturday, whilst up on the hill doing habitat management, Ranger Mike Martin came across a stag trapped by the antlers on an old wire fence.

Working with Colin McClean, Wildlife Manager, the beast was freed from the cables.

BIRCHCRAFT WITH BRYCE, VIDEO

This Sunday, 20th September, we are running Birchcraft sessions from 10-1, and 2-5pm.
Each session costs £20 for adults, £15 for children, to cover the cost of materials and instruction.
Contact the Ranger Service to book, on 013398-86072, ranger@glentanar.co.uk
The pic shows Bryce Reynard working here last year.

BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS DAY

Today, Sat 12th September, as part of the active aboyne week, http://www.activeaboyne.co.uk/ ,we invited folk along to a session on elementary botany.

A good crowd, a lovely day, an interesting topic.

BEGINNERS WELCOME IN GLEN TANAR
This Saturday, 12th September, is beginners day in Glen Tanar. The Ranger Service will be leading two walks to introduce folk to the natural heritage around us. The first walk, from 10 to 12, will be on ‘Botany for Beginners’, followed from 2-4 by a session on ‘Birds Butterflies and Bees’. All are welcome, but children must be accompanied. There is no charge for those events, but donations to Glen Tanar Charitable Trust are welcome.
The day is part of the Active Aboyne outdoor festival: you can find out more from the website http://www.activeaboyne.co.uk/

GLEN TANAR FOREST PLAN (3)

More maps: felling, harvesting, restocking, and woodland expansion.

GLEN TANAR FOREST PLAN (2)

More on the forest plan: if you click on the pic, it will enlarge in your browser. Let us know what you think by posting a comment.

GLEN TANAR FOREST PLAN

After consultation, we have produced a forest plan for Glen Tanar Estate. Hard copies are available from Brooks House, Glen Tanar, Aboyne, AB34 5EU
What we show here are maps of the proposals.
Please let us know what you think, or if you would like more information.

SMILE VISITORS

Ranger addressing delegates: Glen Tanar House and Ballroom in background, beyond pines.

Glen Tanar recently hosted a group of scientists from around Europe.



They are developing sustainability indicators as part of a European project (SMILE). The Macaulay (MLURI) is on the team- they are using the Cairngorms National Park as their 'case study'.



The visit to Glen Tanar gave the group an insight into land managers- and land owners- thinking: private estates are a key delivery mechanism, and their owners key decision makers, and so are crucial to the 'sustainability' debate.

Junior Rangers

Junior Rangers in Glen Tanar


Last year, 2008, we had the European Junior Ranger camp in Glen Tanar. It was initiated by the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association- SCRA- in particular Jane Evans, who was doing 'International Liaison' work with SCRA.
This sparked interest among local young folk. In response, the Cairngorms National Park Authority, together with local Ranger Services, organised a week long Junior Ranger programme on Deeside.

Junior Ranger is:

• Experiential, practical, fun and inspirational activities in Protected Areas, and managed by Rangers, according to the idea of “learning by doing”.



• a non discriminatory programme, which requires a professional approach and high quality standard (to be defined and eventually monitored / controlled by Europarc).



• Aspire to high environmental standards (to be defined and eventually monitored by Europarc);



• Addressed to promote international exchange, to develop positive, cooperative and social skills, and to encourage the active citizenship of youths (ex. ethos and natural respect).



• Connection between Europarc Protected Areas and “local” young people.



• Cooperation between Rangers – Parks – Europarc

In line with EUROPARC guidance and Cairngorm National Park objectives and priorities for action the Cairngorms National Park Junior Ranger Project follow on programme would be as follows –

Open to graduates of the 5 day initial programme.
Operate one day a month.
Achieve John Muir Explorer Award.
Develop skills, knowledge and understanding introduced during the initial programme.
Provide the opportunity to use new skills in meaningful and real situations.
Use climate change as a thematic strand.
Allow participation in International Camps and exchanges.

As a result we have held two Junior Ranger programmes here in Glen Tanar.


Last year the event was held for a week in Glen Tanar - this year pupils from Aboyne and Alford Academies went to and then here in Glen Tanar, where they were looking at Management and Access issues on the River Dee. Meeting with both ghillies and fisherman from the view of a canoeist.




















Kayaks and Canoes on the Dee let us study access/conservation issues first hand.
Jonathan Kitching and his team from Aberdeen City provided equipment and first class instruction.
Colin McClean, Glen Tanar Wildlife Manager, provided liaison with gillies and anglers.


A BBQ was held at Braeloine visitors centre for the Junior Rangers. The informal gathering of friends and family was also to witness the giving out of the John Muir Awards to all the Junior Rangers.




'First of all a huge thank you to you all for your hard work, enthusiasm and commitment to the programme, it has been a great success and this has been reflected in feedback from many people.' - Alan Smith, John Muir Award Manager, Cairgorms National Park

EAGLE CHICK LOCATION

Last year's Glen Tanar eagle chick seems to be enjoying the Loch Tilt area, more sedentary than of late. If you click on the pic, it should enlarge in your browser so you can see the dated location sequence. The 'updated' google sat image not too helpful though: wish they would spend more time on resolution, especially in rural areas, rather than 'streetview'.

ICELANDERS' VISIT

On 1st May, we received delegation from Iceland, including a municipal mayor from Hornafjardar, and the Chair and Director of Vatnajokull National Park.
They were particularly interested in how we link the natural and cultural heritage to the visitor experience.
Glen Tanar is particularly rich in heritage interest- with internationally important conservation areas- and so is a fantastic place for visitors to explore and enjoy.

Tree-planting students.

Last week, we were lucky to have help from a group of students.

They came to do some broad leaved tree-planting on the Juniper Trail. This trail is important habitat for butterflies and moths. We were planting oaks- food source for a wide range of insects, so adding to the bird life here.

The students are studying Countryside Management at SAC Craibstone, near Aberdeen.

Pic shows recent travels of the eagle chick hatched and raised in Glen Tanar last year.
If you want to see detail, simply click on the picture: it should then fill the screen, and you can scroll around it.

Paths in Glen Tanar: you can enlarge this map by clicking on it. And print off for your own use, but not for sale.

EAGLE NEWS

This shows recent movements of last year's eagle chick. Click on the pic to enlarge.
I understand the bird had been caught in a crow trap- and released unharmed.

FOREST SCOPING (2)

Today's meeting was main stakeholders, who shared their views on our forest scoping.
We plan to produce a report of both the public and agency meetings: we can put it on the blog.

FILMING IN GLEN TANAR

Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd. Calum Youngson completes his outside shots for the psychological thriller, using locations in Glen Tanar.

FOREST SCOPING

Busy now working on the Glen Tanar Forest Scoping exercise. The subject of this is the plan for the forest for the next 20 years.
First we prepare maps and pix to give people an idea of the sort of things we might be doing: planting, thinning, felling, etc. Then we take this out to consultation: locally, in the Victory Hall Aboyne on 21st March, thereafter in the Braeloine Visitor Centre for a week or so. We will also be meeting with agencies and major stakeholders. Once we get responses back, we will produce our scoping report- probably ready early June. If you want to know more, why not contact us?

Signs of Spring

The female eagle hatched and matured in Glen Tanar last year has moved into a nearby glen, and appears to have met up with a male from up the strath.

MIDWINTER IN GLEN TANAR

Candlemas in Glen Tanar brought fresh snow: in the valley, only a couple of inches, so no problem walking: further up the Glen, it gets deeper, so a bit of a trudge, unless you're on skis. And cold, even between snow showers: the sort of day where, if you're out, you dont want to lose sight of your rucsac.
I'm writing this as snow falls outside my window: flakes close enough to touch, but visibility down to 25metres, and the heavy snow filled sky resting on the tree tops.

The link above gives an indication of the many associations people have made to 'Candlemas'. One of the first I came across here on Deeside was the rhyme:

'Candlemas Day, gin ye be fair, The half o' winter's to come and mair; Candlemas Day, gin ye be foul, The half o' winter's gane at Yule.'

This, and more like it, can be got from 'The Silver Bough', by F. Marian McNeill.