The Heather shieldbug Rhacognathus punctatus

Details
Written by Gus Jones
Category: Insects
Published: 05 January 2012

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The Heather shieldbug Rhacognathus punctatus on lowland heath woodland transition habitat with birch in Strathspey.

This is a local species that BSCG has since 2009 photographed on this threatened An Camas Mor site. In 1994 Stewart Taylor - whose contributions to conservation in the North of Scotland have been recognized by an MBE honour this year - recorded this bug  in a clearing in Anagach wood. Currently Stewart Taylor's record is the only one for this bug available on the NESBReC website or on the National Biodiversity Network for the Cairngorms area.

AGM and Highland Wildcats Talk

Details
Written by Tessa Jones
Category: Meetings
Published: 01 November 2011
Illustrated Talk and Annual General Meeting
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Carrbridge Village Hall
(in the smaller room)
AGM 7.00-7.45pm
Talk:   ‘Helping the Highland Tiger – the Cairngorms Wildcat Project’ by Dr David Hetherington, 8.00pm
I am writing to invite you to attend the AGM on Tuesday 29th November at 7.00pm in the small hall of the Village Hall, Carrbridge. The AGM is for members only, but after the AGM we have an illustrated talk on that is open to anyone on the Cairngorms Wildcat Project starting at 8.00pm.  The talk will be given by Dr David Hetherington who has been leading the project since it started a few years ago. The wildcat project  now only has a few months to run and David will be telling us about the work of the project as well as future prospects for wildcat conservation.
The existing committee automatically stand down at the AGM, and can then be re elected. New nominations are welcome for all posts and a nomination slip is enclosed.
All the present office bearers are willing to stand again, and we are looking for additional members. So if you would be willing to help on the committee in any way please let me know.
The present office bearers are:
Convener                                 Gus Jones
Vice Convener                        Roy Turnbull
Secretary/ Treasurer                Tessa Jones

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Photo: © Laurie Campbell

Illustrated Talk and Annual General Meeting
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Carrbridge Village Hall (in the smaller room)
AGM 7.00-7.45pm
Talk:   ‘Helping the Highland Tiger – the Cairngorms Wildcat Project’ by Dr David Hetherington, 8.00pm 

The AGM is for members only, but after the AGM we have an illustrated talk on that is open to anyone on the Cairngorms Wildcat Project starting at 8.00pm.  The talk will be given by Dr David Hetherington who has been leading the project since it started a few years ago. The wildcat project  now only has a few months to run and David will be telling us about the work of the project as well as future prospects for wildcat conservation.

More details to follow.

First in the UK Supreme Court

Details
Written by Gus Jones
Category: Resources
Published: 27 October 2011
Friends of the Earth Scotland are understood to be the first Scottish NGO to intervene in a case at the UK Supreme Court. The organisation took the decision to intervene in a case involving pleural plaque sufferers. This case   provided an opportunity to challenge the restrictive interpretation that courts in Scotland have sometimes placed on 'title and interest', which is the Scots Law test of standing: the right to have your case heard by the court. Despite supporting the involvement of the pleural plaque sufferers, the Scottish Government opposed Friends of the Earth Scotland's intervention.
Significantly the court ruling upheld the right of campaign groups to have cases heard in a Scottish court soley on public interest grounds.
Title and interest' has been an issue in a number of high-profile environmental cases in recent months such as when local resident, Molly Forbes, was deemed not to have 'title and interest' in her judicial review against Donald Trump and Aberdeenshire Council.
In championing access to environmental justice Friends of the Earth Scotland have called on the Scottish government to make it easier for breaches of environmental law and poor decisions to be challenged. Friends of the Earth Scotland is part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 77 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups - covering every continent. BSCG welcomes support from Friends of the Earth Scotland for our fight for environmental justice in the Cairngorms National Park.

Access to environmental justice is featured in the 2011  Autumn/ Winter issue of the Friends of the Earth supporters magazine 'What On Earth'

Friends of the Earth Scotland are understood to be the first Scottish NGO to intervene in a case at the UK Supreme Court. The organisation took the decision to intervene in a case involving pleural plaque sufferers. This case   provided an opportunity to challenge the restrictive interpretation that courts in Scotland have sometimes placed on 'title and interest', which is the Scots Law test of standing: the right to have your case heard by the court. Despite supporting the involvement of the pleural plaque sufferers, the Scottish Government opposed Friends of the Earth Scotland's intervention.

Significantly the court ruling upheld the right of campaign groups to have cases heard in a Scottish court soley on public interest grounds.

Title and interest' has been an issue in a number of high-profile environmental cases in recent months such as when local resident, Molly Forbes, was deemed not to have 'title and interest' in her judicial review against Donald Trump and Aberdeenshire Council. 

In championing access to environmental justice Friends of the Earth Scotland have called on the Scottish government to make it easier for breaches of environmental law and poor decisions to be challenged. Friends of the Earth Scotland is part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 77 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups - covering every continent. BSCG welcomes support from Friends of the Earth Scotland for our fight for environmental justice in the Cairngorms National Park.

Illustrated Talk: What Disturbs Capercaillie?

Details
Written by Gus Jones
Category: Meetings
Published: 17 September 2011

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Cock capercaillie displaying in Strathspey

Illustrated Talk by Dr Robert Moss

Church Hall, Nethybridge, Wednesday 5th October  7.00pm

All welcome.  Admission Free.

Please download, print and display event poster.

Groundhoppers of Badenoch & Strathspey Leaflet

Details
Written by Tim Ransom
Category: Leaflets
Published: 16 September 2011

Groundhopper Leaflet

We have produced a new leaflet on Groundhoppers of Badenoch and Strathspey (v2 revised March 2013).