The Strone Circuit is currently open: no sign of our 'friendly' neighbourhood capercaillie recently. But let us know if you do come across him please.

ACCESS INFORMATION

'Rogue' caper in the Glen.

This week, a capercaillie has been defending his territory.
This has led to stress on the bird, and injury to at least one visitor.
We have signposted the path, and ask you to avoid using it.

Mount Keen: perhaps 'beautiful hill', 'hill of meetings', or 'hill of difficulties'!

Beautiful, meetings, difficulties........
Sunday 16th saw mountain rescue teams from Aberdeen and Braemar out on Mount Keen, at the head of Glen Tanar, looking for 2 females stranded on the hill.
It was freezing cold, with a clear sky and full moon rising before they were found later that evening.
The call had come in just before 5pm, and after a brief scan of Mt Keen by the Ranger- good view of the shoulder, ridge, and summit from above Etnach- teams headed onto the hill. Trudging, using flares, and with tracked vehicle back up, a systematic search was mounted.
After several hours, with good collaboration between the two teams, the ladies were brought down off the hill.
Some doubt about location, and poor use of map and compass, seemed to be contributory factors leading to the call out. There's a good path up Mount Keen from the south: but in winter, like now, it's covered in snow, so good navigation skills are essential.
Thanks to the action of the Aberdeen MRT and Braemar MRT, all ended well. Later this year- June 7th- AMRT will be running a sponsored walk in Glen Tanar. Come and help raise funds: next time, it could be you we are looking for!  http://www.amrt.org.uk/walks.html

HANDS ON CONSERVATION
Our last work party of the year: mainly members of the John Muir Trust clearing brash from a popular area around the Chapel of St Lesmo. Brushwood can make habitat piles, or be chipped for path surfacing. Logs go to the Visitor Centre stove.
A poignant day: as well as last meet of the year, it was farewell to Elspeth and Ewen, off to the Border country.
And yet, everyone looking happy!

Junior Rangers get active

A mixed group took part in our recent 'hands on' conservation day.
Cairngorms Junior Rangers, John Muir Trust members, volunteers and Rangers worke dtogether to take down redundant fencing alongside the riverbank path.

ENDURANCE RIDERS IN THE GLEN: successful riders on a recent fundraising event in Glen Tanar.
The event raised funds for  Horseback U.K. Another riding event is planned for June 1st, 2014: a 'horseman's Sunday'. Let us know if you are interested, and we will send you details.

'Child "shoots" Wild'

FORESTRY ACTIVITY

We are starting to thin out the trees on the Knockie.

Please look out for vehicles in the forest, and along the tracks.

Easter in Glen Tanar

Out and about on a stunning Easter holiday monday. Lots of walkers and cross country skiiers enjoying the snow and the sun!

View from the Porphyry Bridge

Water of Tanar

What we do in our spare time....

Ospreys nest in Glen Tanar.

Usually 2 chicks make it: we check and ring them.

An osprey  feeding perch, on the Duoro estuary.

Each summer, ospreys nest and raise chicks in Glen Tanar.
In Autumn, they fly off to Africa: we heard of one from the Glen fishing in Guinea Bissau.
En route, they stop off to feed at the coast. This reclaimed reserve, at the mouth of the Duoro,sees osprey each autumn.
It was great to visit the site, and make contact with the folk who look after it.

NORDIC SKI-ING IN GLEN TANAR

WHERE CAN WE SKI?

....LET ME HELP...

 Today, conditions perfect in the Glen.

MAKING TRACKS

HOWS THAT?

Some track making by the Laird, Michael Bruce, himself a keen Nordic skier.












Into the white....













Into the blue....

Winter Facilities

Winter is here now, with 50cms snow in places.

We are keeping the Car Park clear: Mike Fifield a hero on the tractor. The Visitor Centre is open. 

Getting about is not easy, but fun: just allow more time.

Check the forecast before setting out: we find this one useful mountain weather forecast

Drive safely, park carefully, wrap up well, dont eat the yellow snow!

from Braeloine Bridge

NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Welcome back to the Ranger Service blog: and to this, the first post of 2013.
We are looking forward to a busy year: the Visitor Centre is now up and running; it's the 'Year of Natural Scotland'; and the 10th anniversary of National Parks in Scotland.

Today, its been a balmy 9 Centigrade, not a drop of rain, some snow lying above 2000ft., and the river subsiding after the recent floods. So no excuse not to come on our weekly Health Walks- Fridays, 10-11. Or our monthly 'hands-on' conservation day (19th January is next one).

We look forward to welcoming visitors to Glen Tanar throughout 2013- the Centre is open all year round (closed Tues/Weds in winter).

Bird Box Making

Bird Boxes

Today in Glen Tanar the junior rangers made bird boxes

We use some flat pack kits to save time and to save it even further we used nails insted of skrews. At the end of the day we all took our bird boxes home to put up in our gardens for the birds.

Junior Rangers- James, Adam, Hannah, Kate, Ailsa- with completed birdboxes

All of the junior rangers making their bird boxes

we tested cameras to see what wildlife they picked up. 



This is us setting up cameras near a badger sett.



This is a close up of the camera being tied to a tree.

Junior Rangers-The Fairy Lochan

Eroded ground by the river from last nights rain!



Kate horrified by the flooded path!

While having a walk by the river, we noticed that the path was unusually flooded from last nights terrentiual  rain. We have made some posters warning the puplic of the danger of the paths if they do not take care of theirselves and family.

This is the poster we made!

This post was created by Kate & Hannah - Junior Rangers



With short days and long nights we are turning our attention to updating websites/blogs.
Check out our history site.

GLEN TANAR VISITOR CENTRE OPENED!

On 21st August 2012 the Glen Tanar Visitor Centre was formally opened.
To commemorate the occasion, a rowan tree was planted by Clare Carson, assisted by her brother, Michael Bruce.
Michael is a Trustee of the Glen Tanar Charitable Trust. His sister Clare is owner of neighbouring Inchmarnoch Estate.
The Centre is now fully 'operational': so do drop in and see the changes we have made.Visitor Centre Interior
Also present at the opening was singer/songwriter Rachel Sermanni, who helped us to celebrate by singing a Burns song.

Glen Tanar Visitor Centre Shows Off Brand New Look Following £100,000 Refurbishment

Glen Tanar Visitor Centre is set to provide a much improved and more dynamic experience for the thousands of people who visit the popular Deeside glen every year following the completion of a £150,000 refurbishment. The new-look centre, which is more sustainable and accessible as a result of the renovation work, will be unveiled at an official opening on August 21, 2012 at 11.30am.

The centre, which is just a few miles outside Aboyne, has been completely transformed, with fascinating visual and audio-visual displays about Glen Tanar, its geography, wildlife and people. It is also the permanent base for the Glen Tanar Ranger Service.

The refurbishment has been made possible as a result of funding from the Glen Tanar Charitable Trust, Cairngorms Outdoor Access Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, Cairngorms National Park Authority and finance from the Scottish Government and the European Community Cairngorms Local Action Group LEADER 2007-2013 Programme.

The interior of the centre has been completely overhauled, with a bright and fresh open plan appearance which is much more suited to working with groups in a more sociable setting. Follow the link below to see how it looks:

 http://www.photographic360.com/studiolr/Glen_Tanar/Glen_Tanar.html

Junior Rangers in traditional dress, in Glen Tanar Ballroom

Bavarian Junior Rangers visited Glen Tanar recently.
After a short walk, we had lunch in Glen Tanar Ballroom. A quick change into traditional dress, and then off to Ballater Highland Games.
This was a return visit: last year, young folk from the Cairngorms National Park went to Bavaria.The Glen Tanar Head Ranger, Eric Baird, went along as a mentor to the group.