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News Release from: Forestry Commission
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 June 2007
Grant helps wildlife in forest park
A GBP100,000 boost to help stop the decline in black grouse within Galloway Forest Park has been announced by the Forestry Commission.
A project to halt the serious decline in black grouse within Galloway Forest Park has been given a GBP100,000 boost The decline of the iconic black grouse is a major concern to environmentalists and as a result it features on the highest list (the red list) for birds needing protection
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 19 Dec 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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The most recent estimate of the British population is just over 5,000 lekking males, a drop of over 22 per cent from 10 years ago.
Last year, only 90 lekking males were recorded in Dumfries and Galloway, with over half in the forest park.
In total, around 300 birds are estimated to be within the boundary of Galloway Forest Park.
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With financial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and RSPB Scotland, the new project aims to improve the birds' habitat, boost numbers and provide a viewing site for the annual springtime mating displays, known as 'leks'.
Ironically, a huge fire which raged for days in Galloway Forest Park about a month ago has been a blessing in disguise as it cleared much of the area needed to create the perfect open ground for the birds.
Welcoming the boost for black grouse, Environment Minister Michael Russell said: "The black grouse is certainly one of Scotland's most iconic and special birds which needs careful protection.
It is worrying that the mating numbers are declining and we need to take action to turn this around.
"This welcome injection of funding will help restore the birds' natural habitat and will raise the profile of the species through a new viewing area for the public.
This is good news for the birds and for the many visitors who want to see them." Adult birds need several different habitats to forage for food throughout the year with the young needing ground rich with invertebrates.
They need lots of cover for shelter or nesting and to avoid predators.
Male black grouse are known as blackcocks and have a glossy blue-black plumage, bright red wattle, lyre shaped tail and white undertail feathers which are visible when displaying.
The females are known as greyhens and are the complete opposite of their showy males; they are grey-brown in colour, well camouflaged for sitting on the nest for long periods.
Black grouse can be found throughout many parts of Galloway Forest Park but the best place to see them is on the Carrick Forest Drive.
Commenting from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which today announced a GBP49,500 grant towards the project, Colin McLean, HLF Manager for Scotland, said: "People may not readily associate wildlife as part of our heritage but it is just as important as our mountains, castles, literature and industries.
Together they make Scotland what it is today.
To lose our native birds would be a travesty.
That's why we are very excited about this black grouse initiative as it will provide a best practice model for other regions to follow.
By working together, we can reverse the fate of this rare species." Part of the project will use a local volunteer project to help in the habitat restoration work.
The public viewing area is part of a larger plan to help promote Galloway Forest Park as a major tourist destination.
Local businesses and agencies, together with Forestry Commission Scotland and Visit Scotland are all working to double the number of visitors to the area to 1.6 million each year by the end of 2015.
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