Rampant Scotland Directory! Sites concerned with the environment and ecological research are located here. There is a separate section on Biotechnology and Animal Husbandry.
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The University of Edinburgh Ecological Society has set up a database of links to environmental pages related to Scotland. The site already has a large number of links and is growing fast! SNH promotes the care and improvement of Scotland's natural heritage, its responsible enjoyment, its greater understanding and appreciation and its sustainable use, now and for future generations. The site covers the mapping of Scotland's Peatlands and has an overview of Scotland's National Parks. Scottish Wildlife Trust is a conservation organisation which manages over 120 wildlife reserves, covering some 22,500 hectares of Scotland's finest landscapes. Top sites are listed and described in the 'See wildlife' section, including major visitor centres at Falls of Clyde (New Lanark), Jupiter (Grangemouth), Loch of the Lowes (Dunkeld) and Montrose Basin. The Trust runs an educational centre and a wide variety of courses in such fields as personal and spiritual growth, gardening, meditation, leadership, community living, and the arts. The Ecological Village Project promotes the use of Renewable Energy such as Wind Power and Solar Energy There is also an Educational Centre and a Trees for Life Project. Lying in the Spey Valley between the Cairngorms and the Monadhliath Mountains, the Highland Wildlife Park was opened in 1972 and presents the amazing variety of animals found in present day Scotland, and then those that roamed hundreds, even thousands of years ago. It is now part of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. Illustrations of some of Scotland's indigenous wildlife. The Consultation Paper on reintroducing beavers in Scotland covers the proposal, historical evidence for the European beaver in Scotland, the biology of the European beaver and an FAQ. And there is information on how you can express your views in the proposal.
The International Otter Survival Fund is based at Broadford, Isle of Skye where there is a visitor centre. The organisation covers worldwide activities to protect all varieties of otter. The site has news and success stories including the Wildlife Hospital serving the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and the Otter Survey of Barra. A resource for birders and wildlife enthusiasts in, or visiting, Scotland. Created in 1990, it is one of the longest running and most used web resources of its kind. Animals, plants, birds, fish, insects, flowering plants. Advice on where to go, what to see (with illustrations), local wildlife news, diary of events - and over 300 pictures of birds alone. This site covers a number of different aspects of wild cats, some domestic cats and wild animals in Scotland. The sections are divided into:
Located at Auchingarrich Wildlife Park, Comrie, Perthshire, the Centre to allows other people to share in the owner's enthusiasm and knowledge of these magnificent birds. The site has a brief introduction to all the activities available and the falconry training and hunting programmes provided. This site is dedicated to the conservation and care of Scotland's only remaining native wild cat, the Scottish wildcat, felis silvestris grampia. Persecuted over centuries to the brink of extinction, the wildcat now depends on human compassion and understanding to survive. The site covers the history of wildcats, hybridisation, their habits and care. And there is a large selection of wildcat images. Mossburn animal sanctuary is based in SW Scotland in Dumfries & Galloway near the town of Lockerbie. It is home to a wide variety of animals including cattle, horses, ponies, pigs, goats, poultry, rabbits, guinea pigs, sheep, raccoons, reptiles and wildlife ... and more ... They rescue misused, abused, unwanted and neglected animals and provide work placements for children and adults with problems who find working among animals very therapeutic. Visitors are made very welcome at Mossburn (though they had to close during the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001). The attractive site has lots of illustrations of the creatures which have been rescued or are permanent residents. Willows Animal Sanctuary provides a lifelong home for over 300 neglected and ill-treated domestic, farm and wild animals. They aim to take animals that are unsuitable for re-homing elsewhere and consequently represent their last hope. They are the only sanctuary in the north-east of Scotland and are totally dependent on donations from caring people.
Pet-Tacular is a non-profit making organisation run with the help of volunteers which take in and re-home almost all unwanted small pets, particularly rabbits, rodents and caged birds. There are no facilities for dogs or cats, but they can help people find new homes for these pets. There is also a small pet boarding service for amost all pets except cats and dogs. The organisation also offers advice to all pet owners
In addition to providing a photographic holidays in Glenfeshie in the Scottish Highlands this site has a great Photo Gallery of some of the animals seen on these trips in the Cairngorms.
The Agency works towards sustainable development in Scotland and their Web pages set out their objectives, how to contact them and makes available their recent press releases. Similarly Friends of the Earth Scotland list their events, publications and how to join the organisation. An interactive site where you can learn about sustainable development and the environment in Scotland on a national and local level. The site is designed to present integrated information about Scottish and local environmental initiatives to inspire people to care for the environment and their surroundings. This is wood recycling workshop based in Uig employs a number of people in the manufacture of small pieces of furniture using discarded pallets to create bespoke pieces of furniture. Their aim is to employ a significant number of people who may have disabilities or health problems, or who are long term unemployed. As the workforce and production has increased, so has consumption of pallets, helping to maintain a cleaner future for the area. The SRF supports the development and provision of a sustainable energy future for Scotland. It therefore promotes the sensible use of Scotland's abundant wind, wave, hydro, biomass, solar and landfill gas resources and provides information on these.
A PDF file outlining the main legislative and policy arrangements relating to renewable energy in Scotland, as well as examining the technologies and the opportunities they present. It was published in 2000 so is a bit out of date. The Roslin Institute and the company which they have created leapt to world-wide prominence when they issued their press release on the cloning of sheep for the first time.
The Garden is a centre for public enjoyment in addition to its principal function of supplying plant material for teaching and research within the University of Dundee. It has a wide range of plants, with fine collections of conifers and broad-leaved trees and shrubs, tropical and temperate glasshouses, water garden and herb garden. Located in 9.5 hectares of south facing, gently sloping land near the banks of the River Tay. About 8000 species of ferns, herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees are grown here. Some are native to Scotland but most grow wild in other regions of the world. All those outdoors are hardy and can be cultivated successfully in the climate around St Andrews. The site gives information on the local climate and a history of the garden. This attractively designed site describes the project aimed at restoring and enhancing an area of peatlands in Caithness and Sutherland - and why it is important. It is being promoted by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) in partnership with Forest Enterprise, Scottish Natural Heritage, The Forestry Commission and Plantlife Scotland. The Heather Society covers every aspect of heathers from the wild heathers of European heaths and moorlands to the rare splendours of South African heaths. It is the International Registration Authority for Andromeda, Calluna, Daboecia and Erica. You can even design your new heather garden on line. There is als a North American Heather Society. Handy Guide to Heathers has descriptions of more than 1000 cultivars including several hundred photographs. Many of the descriptions use the official Heather Society Colour Chart to describe flower colours. There is a Java interface to that allows you to search for cultivars depending on their flower or foliage colour, height, spread, flowering time etc. There are details of sources of supply worldwide. The pictures are taken from the Heather Society's slide library. There is also a printed version available for purchase. Described as a 'serious' look at the non-serious aspects of all things gardening, the Garden Blethers website is based on a book written by Patrick Vickery. The articles are written in a conversational style and are informative as well as humorous. The Brin Herb Nursery is in Flichity, Strath-nairn, Inverness-shire. They stock a large range of herbs and native plants and have a shop and small cafe, display gardens plus a range of unique Spoff - Highland Muesli. Aberdeen-based tree surgeons who also provide photometric analysis and subsidence risk assessment.
Situated within the Clyde-Muirshiel Regional Park, Lochwinnoch is one of the few remaining wetland sites in west Scotland. The visitor centre, with its viewing tower and telescopes, gives good views over the marshland and loch, where in the winter you may see a wide variety of wildfowl and goosanders. Based at North Berwick, opposite the Bass Rock with its 150,000 birds crammed onto it, the Seabird Centre is a major tourist attraction with remote cameras to allow you to view the birds. The site has information about the centre and the 360 degree panoramic cameras on the site have views of North Berwick
The Association is based at the Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory Oban, Argyll, where there is a world class research laboratory, employing over 110 scientists and support staff, who play a major role in many national and international scientific research programmes. The research covers a broad spectrum of issues from deep sea fisheries to biogeochemistry and climate change and ranges geographically from the South Pacific to Antarctica, from the shores of Loch Etive to the deep waters of the abyssal plains off the west of Scotland. Essential British Gardens is a digest of some of the finest gardens and arboretums throughout Britain and is based on the author's experiences and those of other keen gardening friends. The North of Scotland and South of Scotland sections have links to a wealth of Scottish gardens, including: Fishkey, based in Banff, is an e-information and service company for the fish and seafood industry. The site provides to subscribers up to the minute fish landings information and fish auction prices. Fishkey also provides the latest news, fish industry related jobs and trading opportunities.
The Water of Leith is a river which flows thirty five kilometres from its source in the Pentland Hills through the villages of Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green and Colinton into the heart of Edinburgh at Wester Coates, Dean, Stockbridge and Warriston and on to its mouth with the Firth of Forth in Leith. The site covers local history, wildlife and walks. There is a useful map with "pop-up" information. An innovative visitor centre, the Park covers 50 acres and is home to over 600 animals and birds, and features over 120 different species of plant life, rare breed animals, wildlife habbitats, solar power and wind power demonstrations.
Provides data on land use in Scotland and satellite maps of land cover. Details of the Gardening Show in 100,000 square feet of covered exhibition space at the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston, Edinburgh in early June. In addition to horticulture, the show features exhibitions of floral art, crafts, garden accessories and Scottish cuisine. Located on the A83 between Arrochar and Inveraray, Ardkinglas is a commercial woodland which has areas of arboretum as part of the Conifer Conservation Programme of the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. There are hill walks and woodland trails. Part of the site for the Aigas Field Centre this site gives an overview of the varied habitats found there, including mountains and moorland, Caledonian pinewood, lochs and glens. This site is introduced as a list of flowering plants and ferns recorded as growing wild on the Isle of Skye but it is much more than that as there are lovely photographs (often more than one) of more than 75% of the nearly 700 plants covered plus detailed descriptions. And the Nature Notes from Skye is a lavishly illustrated naturalist's diary of this lovely island.
The page on Scotland is part of a larger site covering the history and work of society. Auchterarder Ornithology provides a narrative description of what can be seen in that area. The Trust is involved in conservation of wild places and education and is involved in a number of properties in Scotland including:
The Web pages for the John Muir Centre are linked to his Birthplace Museum in East Lothian. The site includes links to the full texts of two of Muir's books, "My First Summer in the Sierra" and "Our National Parks".
The Society exists to encourage the study of natural history, principally in the West of Scotland. The site has information about the society and general information about the programme of events and meetings held throughout the year in Glasgow and district. The site has very few graphics but provides news, events and a "how to get there" for the Glasgow Zoo park. Visit The farm,Scotland/la ferme, Ecosse, a virtual farm in Dunino, Fife. See how the crops are doing, fun stuff, potato recipes. The site is in French as well as English so you can practice languages too!
CSCT is transforming the landscape in a huge swathe of Scotland's central belt between Edinburgh and Glasgow by creating the Central Scotland Forest between Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Pentland Hills and the Campsie Fells through the planting of millions of trees. Highland Connexion (their spelling!) is well worth a visit. It covers a wide range of subjects including Highland Environment and the Highland ECO Centre at Ullapool. This voluntary organisation maintains simple, unlocked shelters in remote country for the use and benefit of all who love wild and lonely places. It has about 100 unlocked shelters in some of the remoter parts of the UK.
Details of the many (and I mean MANY) departments in this large hospital. The hospital also encompasses scientific research subjects such as Urodynamics and Neuroimaging with some interesting graphics. Vegan philosophies, ideas and the alternative choices from the North East of Scotland for anyone who wants to learn about veganism and related subjects plus links for people who are already vegetarians.
The Centre for Independent Living in Glasgow provides services to promote Independent Living for disabled people. The Centre is run by disabled people and these pages describe the services provided, news and discussion. A wide range of disabilities is covered.
The Association has various community projects providing services to people throughout the city. Each project has a wide range of services on offer provided by professionally trained staff with additional input from sessional workers and volunteers. The web site sets out the aims, projects and services available to provide support. |
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
