Beaver

Walk & Talk: Beavers within land management - case study at Auchlyne & Suie Estate, Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park

This Event has passed its booking cutoff date.
Date
Time 10:30 - 13:00
Capacity Only 1 places remaining
Booking Cut-off Monday 22 Apr, 12:00:pm
Organiser Ruth White

Auchlyne & Suie Estate is a mixed farming estate, predominantly livestock on the upland hill, with an interest in red deer and woodland creation over the 2000+ ha. In 2015, the family became aware of beaver activity on the River Dochart, an expansion out of the lower Tay river system.  In the eight years since then the beaver group has become established, and now Nicola Colquhoun can provide a first-hand account of the relationship between beaver activity and land management, and the specialist advice and support on management and mitigation provided by NatureScot.

Scottish Land & Estates featured Nicola Colquhoun and her family estate in our Spring 2023 LandBusiness magazine with a focus on community engagement. At this Walk & Talk, Nicola will provide invaluable insight into living and working alongside beavers, with the additional benefit and perspective of her experience of working with Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Authority.

Members are warmly invited to join us for this Walk & Talk on Ledcharrie Farm. Key elements of the programme include:

  • Presentation by SLE Policy Adviser Nadia Flaherty outlining the Beaver Strategy, licensing process and support mechanisms, and SLE’s participation on the Scottish Beaver Advisory Group.
  • Presentation by Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer of The Beaver Trust on beaver science and behaviour.
  • Site visit guided by Nicola Colquhoun onto the nearby watercourse to see beaver activity and lodges.  The walk will require appropriate clothing and footware (wellies) and will cover approximately ½ mile out and back from the farmyard.  Nicola will share her experience of beaver activity at Ledcharrie Farm and the interaction with land management activity, including a Woodland Creation Scheme. 
  • Roo Campbell of NatureScot will discuss mitigation support and advice available to landowners and also how NatureScot has worked with Auchlyne & Suie Estate.
  • Land managers either considering beaver re-introduction or affected by beaver activity have an invaluable opportunity to meet with other land managers and stakeholders to learn about the impact of beavers on land management activity and the support and advice available.