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| August Glen - pastel on paper 20/8/23 |
This blog item describes two separate days on the hills .... one in an Aberdeenshire glen 22/8/23 and one in an Angus glen on 20/8/23 with the Angus glen photos at the end of the blog & sketch above ..... both days having a similar message.
I feel threatened .....
Fears that the glen landscape I have known for over half a century is being swallowed up by change niggles my worry conscience, and there seems to be little that anyone can do to prevent this. That march towards an unachievable 'net zero' is flaying the land of its beauty and integrity. 'Net zero' is making a mockery of Scotland's unique environments and nature. That feeling of threat comes after two moorland shooting estates in the east of Scotland have ceased sporting activities to facilitate forest investment.
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| In pursuit of 'net zero' 22/8/23 |
Doubts .....
Some would say that having doubts over landscape change is denying the need to address global climate change, but I have no trust in those marching behind the banner of climate change and 'net zero' that they love as I do, the untouchable landscapes of Scotland. On 22 August 2023 I travelled through a moorland glen that has been declared, rather optimistically, as a future forest and peatland restoration scheme that will play an important role in achieving a 'net zero' carbon emission balance in the future.
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| Glen Dye 22/8/23 |
Money talks .....
Glen Dye estate in Aberdeenshire was bought by Par Equity and Aviva Investors in 2021 to enable the Glen Dye Moor Project and they even created a finance company Par Forestry IV LP to finance the deal. Scottish Woodlands will manage the project therefore implementing Aviva Investors’ Climate Transition strategy and commitment to achieving 'net zero' across the entirety of its Real Assets platform by 2040. Previously the estate had commissioned a scoping survey into the possibility of siting a wind-farm on the deep peat moors of the glen.
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| Larches in Glen Dye 22/8/23 |
Deep peat moorland .....
Glen Dye has some of the deepest peat deposits in Scotland and I have seen depths of over 2 metres at some locations exposed by careless track excavations. Peat moorland can store roughly ten times the amount of Carbon Dioxide, a greenhouse gas, than any other ecosystem, so disturbing peat moorland to plant trees that are less efficient at absorbing carbon from the atmosphere than the peat forming process makes no sense ..... until, of course, the carbon offset cash register rings allowing carbon polluters to confess their sins by buying into forestry, or other 'green-washing' inventions.
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| Clachnaben and Scots Pine 22/8/23 |
The government's tongue is lashing everyone into 'climate crisis' panic in order to justify 'net zero' policies, even to the point where negative local council planning decisions on renewable energy or forestry are being reversed. Shooting estates consisting of vast areas of peat moorland are prime targets for change, with 'green' rewilding campaigners baying at the heels of politicians to rid the lands of Scotland from the entitled guffaws of tweedy grouse shooters.
Grouse blockade .....
Moorland where Red Grouse have traditionally been shot covers at least 10% of Scotland's land, and that in itself has created a development block in the past because of the prestigious value given to grouse shooting. In recent years grouse numbers have crashed, with the number of active grouse moors falling from 485 in 1991 to 304 in 2009 and detailed by The Gift of Grouse. So, in my opinion, to save the precious mountain and moorland landscape we need to prioritise the ecological, economical and visual amenity importance of grouse (deer stalking) moorland ..... the 'purple heather' pound!
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| Adder 22/8/23 |
A multi headed dichotomy exists between government with its enforced climate crisis agenda, and the overseeing natural heritage authorities, and traditional shooting estate philosophies ..... and, then to cap it all, the subjective or human notions within each division muddy the waters of what is actually good for Scotland; too many cooks spoil the broth. I wonder if the governing authorities on nature and the environment will help the species habitat crisis that is currently happening on grouse moors or, by ignoring that, are they endorsing a maligned, subjective agenda for more privately owned grouse moors to be swallowed up by 'net zero' carbon investments; conspiracy theories rule.
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| Sketching today 20/8/23 |
Well, here I sit doing my sketch in a 'virgin' Angus glen where, in the main, deer stalking takes place; it is a consequence of land owning traditions, handed down over generations between 'tweedy' lairds; many have diversified into commerce or renewables like hydro to support estates. Maybe, because of that tradition, the land is in safer hands than being owned by a mega company or hedge fund manager. Nevertheless, when the important income from driven grouse shooting wanes, just how long can an estate survive and how long can moorland jobs be supported?
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| Mid Hill wind-farm and forest plantation from Glen Dye 22/8/23 |
The shape of things to come .....
Views from the hills of Glen Dye are dominated by developments to the East; the huge Mid-Hill wind-farm stands in domination like a white satanic mill, and the striped conifer plantations dirge the landscape a monotonous green over the Kerloch area and away across into Drumtochty forest. Visually it is not a nice view to look at, and the raw soul of the land has been lost. Justification in suggesting that Scotland was a forest nation once and therefore should return to the way it was, is misleadingly inaccurate especially when considering the mega carbon sequestering value in untouched, peat moorland. Just how benevolent will moor owners be when gun sport fizzles out, or indeed will it be outlawed as being distasteful to public interest or opinions ..... most bought a grouse moor for one reason and that was not for the view.
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| Common Buzzard on hover |
As I cycled up Glen Dye, I met a couple of local walkers whose opinion of what will happen to the glen was sought. Forest planting was certainly not welcome, and the loss of open view moorland will be devastating to the feel of the place for walking and both had concerns for the wildlife being displaced. Online, many comments voiced the opinion that the loss of the estate is wrong and that destroying peat moor to plant trees in a carbon offset scheme is a negligent, irretrievable act. Many recall the amount of wildlife on the estate many years ago including breeding Golden Eagles, various raptors and plenty of Red Grouse.
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| Kestrel 22/8/23 |
Whose blame .....
This is the crux question ..... what has happened to a famed shooting estate when it ends up under forest? A European syndicate laterally shot over the estate as tenants, then the moorland sector was sold to an individual on the 'delicate' understanding by the heritable owners that it would be kept as a grouse moor and presumably the very enthusiastic owner, who started up Glen Dye Cabins and Cottages, could not justify maintaining an investment interest in a grouse moor that required constant upkeep. Until this owner picked up the restoration gauntlet, the whole estate was deeply in debt, with run down buildings and a disillusioned work team, so divesting part of the estate made economical sense. Seemingly the moorland sector was resold not long after the purchase to the current owners Par Equity and Aviva.
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| Glen Dye rifle zeroing range 22/8/23 |
So the moorland estate has had a shoogly past with some rather dubious handshakes taking place instead of a full-hearted commitment to maintain and improve the moorland for game sport. I did note quite a few old cage crow traps and snared bait enclosures along the glen so that would imply that keepering levels were adequate at one time and moorland tracks are well maintained, although I recall hearing that only two game-keepers had worked the moor which is probably the very minimum for 6000 hectares.
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| Wood Tiger caterpillar 22/8/23 |
The forest plantations that encroach on the moorlands of Glen Dye from the east just may be a factor in the reduction in grouse numbers due to predation by Red Fox and Pine Marten; dense plantation forest is a notoriously difficult habitat to control predatory foxes in. The use of cage crow traps, spring traps and snared stink pits seems to be higher than average on the estate and that might indicate problems with predation; previously game-keepers were deploying illegal rail traps detailed on The Sadness of Clachnaben.
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| Funnel crow trap 22/8/23 |
Raptors taking grouse or chicks would be minimal in that area as Hen Harriers and Short-eared Owls are rarely seen there nowadays. The whole marginal moor area from Glen Dye right down into the Angus glens is used as a settlement area for foraging young Golden Eagles, with a report that a tree in the glen may have been used as a roost site in years gone by, but I strongly doubt that this would decimate grouse numbers.
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| Merlin juvenile 22/8/23 |
Shooting too many grouse in one season without an adequate breeding recovery rate could have also led to the downturn in grouse numbers. The traditional count carried out by keepers before the shooting season tallies up how many grouse are available as a surplus to shoot but miscalculation and shoot greed might tip the balance into a poor recovery rate especially if over-winter predation is a problem.
In time would Red Grouse numbers improve to viable levels therefore justifying keeping on with moorland management for shooting ..... that question will be on a few moorland owners' minds at the moment, and they might have to wait a long time.
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| Charr bothy in Glen Dye 22/8/23 |
Popularity .....
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| Merlin over heather 22/8/23 |
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| Concept map of Glen Dye Moor Project |
Future look .....
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| Grouse of the Future? Red-legged Partridge 22/8/23 |
Glen Dye Moor Ecological Surveys Summary;
A series of ecological surveys were undertaken at Glen Dye Moor throughout the 2022 field season by Botanæco, Taylor Wildlife & Wildlife Consulting. This suite of surveys included: • Habitat & vegetation surveys • Peatland Condition Assessment • Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems • Ornithology • Protected species • Peat depth.
All of these surveys were undertaken in accordance with These field surveys were supplemented by desk studies to identify: • Nature conservation designations • Biological records held by the North East of Scotland Biological Records Centre (NESBReC) • Golden Eagle Topographical (GET) modelling.
The aim of the surveys & desk studies was to describe the habitat, peat & protected species baseline. A series of assessments is then undertaken to identify sensitivities.
The habitat survey identified that heath & blanket bog are extensive across Glen Dye Moor (respectively: 52 % & 41 % cover). Both habitats are highly modified from a legacy of grazing &/or muirburn, and the blanket bog additionally from a legacy of peat erosion. Peatland Condition Assessment identifies that 67 % (1,756 ha) of the peatland is impacted by erosion and that only 56 ha (2 %) remains in near-natural condition (the remaining 31 % is modified by grazing &/or muirburn). Otherwise, there are minor to moderate areas of: acid grassland, bracken, broadleaved woodland, flush, marshy grassland, open water, scree & swamp. Among the flush & marshy grassland habitat there are areas assessed to be Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems (GWDTE) of low species-richness.
Protected faunal species survey identified a moderate level of otter activity along the major watercourses. This activity is primarily identified by spraint that indicates repeat otter visits for short periods of time, to forage on birds or salmon. Scarcity of woodland cover predictably limits the occurrence of pine marten, badger & red squirrel, but evidence of the latter two species was located on & beyond the eastern boundary of the moor. Water vole were not recorded and habitat suitably along the small, fast-flowing watercourses is generally low. Bat habitat suitability is also low because of the scarcity of roosting opportunities in built or natural structures such as trees. The activity of wild cat is cryptic & not known but presumed to be low because of the sub-optimal habitat and general scarcity of prey.
The ornithological survey has identified a typical upland bird assemblage for the region, including species such as black grouse, common sandpiper, curlew, golden eagle, lapwing, merlin, oystercatcher & short-eared owl. GET modelling identified that “the benefits [for eagles] ... from extensive planting of native woodland are likely to outweigh the marginal negative impact”. Locally notable plant species include interrupted clubmoss that is widely scattered across the heath and an assemblage of distinctive peatland species associated with the minor areas of nearnatural blanket bog.
The desk study identified that the River Dee Special Area of Conservation is associated with the major watercourses in the east & southeast. In the Carbon & Peatland Map, extensive areas of nationally-important Class 1 & Class 2 peatland are mapped across the south & west of the moor. Ancient Woodland is not identified within the boundary.
Three hundred & sixty-six biological records were sourced from NESBReC for 17 designated &/or listed species of varied conservation importance. These records mirror & confirm the findings of the field survey.
Assessment of the habitat conservation importance identified that the blanket bog & heath are of Regional importance because of their extent; and because of the store of carbon within the peat of the former; and despite their modified to highly eroded condition. The other habitats are assessed to be of Local to Site importance.
Assessment of species conservation importance identified that the moor is of Local importance for otter; and that the plantation to the east, that crosses the boundary, is of Local importance for woodland species, especially badger & red squirrel.
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Photos from an Angus glen on 20 August 2023 .....
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| Golden Eagle 20/8/23 |
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| Peacock on Ling 20/8/23 |
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| Adder male 20/8/23 |
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| Dung Beetle 20/8/23 |
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| Black Adder 20/8/23 |
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| Common Mouse-ear 20/8/23 |
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| Adder male 20/8/23 |
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| Devil's-bit Scabious 20/8/23 |
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| Golden Eagles 20/8/23 |
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| Red Deer skull 20/8/23 |
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| Water Vole burrow 20/8/23 |
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| Hawthorn Fly swarm 20/8/23 |
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| Hawthorn Flies 20/8/23 |
All text, photographs and sketch done on 20 & 22 August 2023 (unless dated otherwise) and subject to copyright - no reproduction.
Canon camera 200D with optical zoom lens EFS 55-250mm used; please note that the zoom range ZR distance if given is calculated by OS map from subject location to camera.