Images from Sutherland Biodiversity Action Plan

Introduction to Sutherland (excerpt from Local Biodiversity Action Plan)

At 6,071 km2, Sutherland is the largest county in the Highlands, and indeed the United Kingdom. It is also the most sparsely populated, with a population of 13,778 people. Most people live in scattered settlements along the coasts, and the interior is a vast and open, wild landscape of peatlands, hills, lochs and rivers. The spectacular coastal scenery of the north and west attracts many visitors to the area, and the many islands, bays and sea lochs support a great diversity of marine life.

Information on key species and habitats can be found in the LBAP.

The Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity Group (SPBG)

SPBG is a sub-group of the Sutherland Partnership, and is chaired by the Partnership Manager, William Sutherland. Its members represent a number of public sector agencies, non-governmental organisations, businesses and community interests, who originally came together to draft the LBAP. The group includes representatives from Highland Council, SNH, RSPB, SEPA, West Sutherland Fisheries Trust, Forestry Commission and the North Highland Forest Trust, as well as local community and environmental groups and other interested individuals.

The group is involved in a number of projects to enhance and promote biodiversity (the lead partners are listed in brackets):

Current projects

• North Aspen Woods (North Highland Forest Trust)
• Growing Native Trees (Highland Council Rangers & Local Primary Schools)
• NW Sutherland Marine Audit (Assynt Field Club)
• Wood Pasture Survey (North Highland Forest Trust)
• W Sutherland Elver Project (West Sutherland Fisheries Trust)

• What Lives In Our Seas? (Highland Council Rangers)
• Village Wildlife Audits (Scourie & Rogart communities & Assynt Field Club)
• Scourie Sea-Watching Hide (Scourie Community Council & HC Rangers)
• Armadale Croft Tree & Shrub Project (Allt Beag Armadale Trust)
• Willow Coppice & Wildlife Hedge (Rogart Primary)
• Know Your Own Patch Projects (Skerray Historical Society, Gearrchoille Woodland Group, Stoer Primary)

Meetings / agendas

Meetings are held regularly, please contact the Group for information.
Contact: William Sutherland, Chairman. Email: williamsutherland@sutherlandpartnership.fsnet.co.uk

Links

• Sutherland LBAP
• Sutherland Partnership website