Ecology/ Environment

Scottish Natural Heritage

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 Scottish Natural Heritage Information Service - SNHi - has sections which help you to find out about species and habitats around Scotland, sites designated for their natural heritage value across Scotland, what's happening to Scotland's environment, facts and statistics about SNH's work, data on Scotland's countryside and all about the National Nature Reserves (NNR). THere's also information for teachers on sites suitable for outdoor learning.

Findhorn Foundation

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.

SgurrEnergy

This is a leading independent engineering consultancy specialising in worldwide renewable energy projects. They can deliver every phase of a project, from the early stages of site selection, feasibility and design right through to project management of the construction phase and operation and maintenance. Multi-disciplinary consultants have extensive sustainable energy experience worldwide. Clients include utilities, financiers, developers and many other public and private sector organisations.

Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

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.

Sustainable Scotland

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.

Touch Wood on Skye

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.

Roslin Institute

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.

LIFE Peatlands Project

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.

manwithtwodogs

"Man with two dogs" isn't a website not just for dog owners and dog walkers but is a countryside diary which appears each Saturday in the Dundee Courier & Advertiser newspaper. It’s not just about the east coast of Scotland either but also about other parts of the country. The site covers articles back to 2003 - and that's a lot of ground to cover, with or without two dogs.

Forestry Commission Scotland

This is the government agency responsible for protecting and expanding Scotland's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment. There is a useful section with guidance on where to go to enjoy Scotland's forests - not just quiet forests but events ranging from arts and music to motor sport!

Water of Leith Conservation Trust

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.

Cove Conservation Park

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.

Vegan Family House

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.

Dark-Sky-Lighting

Supplier of power-saving GlareBuster sky-friendly floodlight fittings which provide safe, effective lighting of homes and small businesses without glare. They can also save you money as they use less energy than conventional halogen floodlights - and help you reduce pollution and unpleasant sky glow at the same time.

Centre for Inclusive Living in Glasgow

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.

Royal Scottish Forestry Society

The Society is a registered charity which seeks to advance forestry in all its branches; influence the government of the day in forest policy; educate the public in the benefits and principles of forestry in all its aspects and encourage liaison between all aspects of forestry and other land uses. The Web site is mainly aimed at its members but has news pages containing articles and stories related to forestry and a photo gallery.

John Muir Trust

The Trust is involved in conservation of wild places and education and is involved in a number of properties in Scotland including:



Knoydart Sandwood Schiehallion

Assynt Skye Ben Nevis

Glasgow Natural History Society

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.

Central Scotland Countryside Trust

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.

Wild Mushrooms in Scotland

Part of a large site covering mushrooms found in all parts of the UK, you can find out about the different types to be found (and whether edible or not) and meet up with other enthusiasts.

Gardens and Gardening

Essential British Gardens

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:

Achamore House, Isle of Gigha Ardkinglass Woodland Garden, Cairndow Arduaine Garden, Argyll Armadale Castle Armadale, Isle of Skye Crarae Garden, Argyll Crathes Castle, Banchory, Aberdeenshire Drum Castle and Garden, Peterculter, Near, Aberdeen Glen Grant Distillery Garden, Rothes, Near Elgin, Moray Inverewe Garden, Poolewe, Gairloch Inschriach Alpine Nursery, Aviemore, Highland Leith Hall & Garden, Kennethmont Pitmedden Garden, Aberdeenshire Branklyn Gardens, Perth Brodick Castle, Arran Broughton House, Kircudbright Castle Kennedy Gardens, Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway Cluny House, Near Aberfeldy, Perthshire Culzean Castle

Dawyck Botanic Garden Stobo, Near Peebles Drummond Castle Gardens, Crieff, Perthshire Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith, Edinburgh Falkland Palace and Garden, Fife Glenarn, Rhu, Argyll Glenwhan, Dunragit, Stranraer, Dumfies and Galloway Greenbank Garden, Glasgow Hill of Tarvit Mansion & Garden, Cupar, Fife Inveresk Lodge Garden, Musselburgh Kellie Castle & Garden, Pittenweem Logan Botanic Garden Port Logan, Dumfries and Galloway Malleny Garden, Balerno Mellerstain House, Near Gordon, Scottish Borders Mertoun Gardens Dryborough, Near St Boswells, Scottish Borders Monteviot House Garden Jedburgh, Scottish Borders Pitmuies House and Garden, Near Friockheim, Arbroath, Angus St Andrews Botanic Garden St Andrews, Fife Teviot Water Gardens, Eckford, Kelso, Scottish Borders Threave Garden, Castle Douglas

Ardkinglas Estate - Argyll

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.

Brin Herb Nursery

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.

Clear Cut Urban Forestry

Aberdeen-based tree surgeons who also provide photometric analysis and subsidence risk assessment.

Gardens Galore Landscape Design

Family-run and award-winning garden design company based in Perth but offering landscaping and services across Edinburgh, Glasgow and northern England.

Gardening Scotland

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.

Harry Hood Dry Stone Paving and Walling

Harry creates dry stone paving and dry stone walling, landscaping, granite sett paving design and natural stonework without cement. Using a range of materials, he can produce streetscaping or landscaping with a difference, including celtic knotwork patterns using granite setts. He has experience of working with many different types of stone in many different locations, including Caithness slate for paving and for a drystane dyke in the Beechgrove Garden, Yorkstone paving in Sheffield and on Ben Alder Lodge Estate etc.

Heather Society

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 also 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.

Isle of Skye Flora

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.

St Andrews Botanic Garden

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.

University of Dundee Botanic Garden

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.

Argyll Animal Aid

Formed over 20 years ago when a small group of animal lovers decided to do something about the lack of a local animal rescue shelter in Argyll. They look after animals in their own homes, and just rescue and rehome in surrounding areas. The charity now rescues and rehomes along the west coast of Scotland, inland, and the islands. Anywhere, in fact, where there is a need, providing they have the resources at the time.

Borders Animal Welfare

This charity takes in dogs, cats and small animals that are no longer able to be looked after in their present homes for whatever reason. They receive no funding and rely totally on donations from the public to fund their work. They have successfully rehomed thousands of animals over the past 25 years, both within the Scottish Borders and further afield. They employ staff trained in dog and cat care with experience in the assessment in both the health and training needs of the animals and provide training to all the dogs that come into their care so they ensure that they are homed as quickly as possible and with the best possible chance of success.

Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre

Opened in March 2003 on the site of rescue kennels formerly run by another charity this group of local people, supported by the local media and residents of Dumfries and Galloway, set out to raise sufficient funds to keep a dog rescue and rehoming facility in Dumfries and Galloway. Initially a registered charity the organisation later became a company limited by guarantee. The rescue centre services the whole of Dumfries and Galloway but, when space permits, they will take in dogs from pounds in England and from Northern Ireland to save them from being put down. They have a contract with the local council to look after stray dogs while they wait to be reclaimed by their owners and to rehome them if they are not claimed. They are licensed by the local authority for the care of dogs and take in around 350 dogs a year and have consistently rehomed about 300 during each year of operations to date. Their web site has enabled them to reach out beyond Dumfries and Galloway and we have rehomed dogs from Dorset to Orkney.

Help Fife Animals

This Scottish registered charity, founded in March 1994, promotes responsible pet ownership. They rescue, neuter and re-home unwanted domestic pets within Fife. When funds allow, they offer financial assistance to pet owners who are unable to meet the full cost of neutering. Animals are all looked after in foster homes, allowing experienced pet owners to assess their temperament and future needs. Help Fife Animals own the Dog Management Centre in Leslie, where they offer 7 different dog training classes each week. Dog Behavioural problems can be dealt with by appointment.

Mossburn Animal Centre

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. The attractive site has lots of illustrations of the creatures which have been rescued or are permanent residents.

Rescue Scottish Pets

This site aims to raise awareness of pets in need of rescue all over Scotland, to provide one place where people looking to rescue a pet can come to find those pets in need and provide a place where shelters can easily advertise pets in need at no cost, and very little effort to themselves.

North East Wildlife & Animal Rescue Centre (The New Arc)

Based just outside Ellon, Aberdeenshire, but covering the whole of the North East of Scotland New Arc have a ten acre site, with facilities for a range of animals from horses to guinea pigs, buzzards to foxes. They currently have several buildings which can be utilised in various way and are always striving to improve conditions for the animals in their care. Totally funded by donations, sponsors and membership, they take no wages whatsoever, and 100% of funds received are put straight into the Charity for the welfare of the animals in their care. They aim to refuse no animal, bird or reptile, whether it be domestic or wild, but with limited land it has become impossible to take every animal we are requested to help but they do try to find alternative accommodation with other local organisations if they cannot help.

Park Farm Animal Sanctuary

Based on a farm in South Ayrshire, the organisation has been rescuing animals for the past ten years. The majority of these stay with us for life due to the fact they have had issues, this meant they needed consistency and the love and appreciation that they can offer. Up to now we have been self funding the animals, offering them the best life possible, they are all well fed, happy and have the best in veterinary care. In order to expand and enable them to take in more animals they are putting some of the long term resident animals up for sponsorship. This will allow sponsors to have the enjoyment from them as well. They will receive quarterly updates and photographs of the chosen animal and can even come and visit them. There are a number of different animals that are available some of the more unusual ones include goats, lambs and calves and chinchillas which are rescued and will remain with us for the rest of their days.