James Nairne
@jamesnairne.bsky.social
Project Lead - Northwoods Rewilding Network; enabling ecosystem recovery and local enterprise on crofts, farms and community woodlands across Scotland. https://www.scotlandbigpicture.com/northwoods#nrn-land-partners
Reposted by James Nairne
Managed by Forestry and Land Scotland, Glen Affric becomes the 20th landholding to join the partnership, adding 17,604 hectares of precious #CaledonianForest, wetlands and #peatlands to this growing landscape-scale recovery.
November 20, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Managed by Forestry and Land Scotland, Glen Affric becomes the 20th landholding to join the partnership, adding 17,604 hectares of precious #CaledonianForest, wetlands and #peatlands to this growing landscape-scale recovery.
Reposted by James Nairne
If you’re near Fort William on 29–30 November, why not join our Loch Abar Mòr team and help get 700 new trees in the ground? 🌱
A great opportunity to get hands-on with nature restoration and help kickstart woodland recovery!
👉 Details and sign-up here: https://google.pulse.ly/qk7b7tondo
A great opportunity to get hands-on with nature restoration and help kickstart woodland recovery!
👉 Details and sign-up here: https://google.pulse.ly/qk7b7tondo
November 20, 2025 at 1:01 PM
If you’re near Fort William on 29–30 November, why not join our Loch Abar Mòr team and help get 700 new trees in the ground? 🌱
A great opportunity to get hands-on with nature restoration and help kickstart woodland recovery!
👉 Details and sign-up here: https://google.pulse.ly/qk7b7tondo
A great opportunity to get hands-on with nature restoration and help kickstart woodland recovery!
👉 Details and sign-up here: https://google.pulse.ly/qk7b7tondo
Reposted by James Nairne
Can beaver wetlands create a buzz and a flutter for pollinators? 🦫🦋
A new study, carried out by Senior Ecologist Patrick Cook for his PhD at the University of Stirling, revealed that wetlands created by beavers have 45% more butterflies than those created by people.
A new study, carried out by Senior Ecologist Patrick Cook for his PhD at the University of Stirling, revealed that wetlands created by beavers have 45% more butterflies than those created by people.
November 20, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Can beaver wetlands create a buzz and a flutter for pollinators? 🦫🦋
A new study, carried out by Senior Ecologist Patrick Cook for his PhD at the University of Stirling, revealed that wetlands created by beavers have 45% more butterflies than those created by people.
A new study, carried out by Senior Ecologist Patrick Cook for his PhD at the University of Stirling, revealed that wetlands created by beavers have 45% more butterflies than those created by people.
Reposted by James Nairne
Once used as a decoy airfield in World War II, Harestone Moss still bears its bomb craters – but today they’re filled with life.
Our new short film captures the transformation of a landscape shaped by war into one of recovery and hope.
🎞️ Watch the full film: https://youtube.pulse.ly/9b9n1r3fgs
Our new short film captures the transformation of a landscape shaped by war into one of recovery and hope.
🎞️ Watch the full film: https://youtube.pulse.ly/9b9n1r3fgs
November 18, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Once used as a decoy airfield in World War II, Harestone Moss still bears its bomb craters – but today they’re filled with life.
Our new short film captures the transformation of a landscape shaped by war into one of recovery and hope.
🎞️ Watch the full film: https://youtube.pulse.ly/9b9n1r3fgs
Our new short film captures the transformation of a landscape shaped by war into one of recovery and hope.
🎞️ Watch the full film: https://youtube.pulse.ly/9b9n1r3fgs
Reposted by James Nairne
The problem here is that farmers are given no other livelihood options on these places, aside from sheep.
So it's a *societal* issue.
So it's a *societal* issue.
November 18, 2025 at 7:56 AM
The problem here is that farmers are given no other livelihood options on these places, aside from sheep.
So it's a *societal* issue.
So it's a *societal* issue.
Reposted by James Nairne
Reposted by James Nairne
Big congratulations to our Northwoods partner, @South Clunes, a finalist in the 2025 #NatureOfScotlandAwards for their commitment to nature-friendly farming. Winners will be announced on November 20!
Find out more about South Clunes Farm here: https://scotlandbigpicture.pulse.ly/eyg1pip9tu
Find out more about South Clunes Farm here: https://scotlandbigpicture.pulse.ly/eyg1pip9tu
November 13, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Big congratulations to our Northwoods partner, @South Clunes, a finalist in the 2025 #NatureOfScotlandAwards for their commitment to nature-friendly farming. Winners will be announced on November 20!
Find out more about South Clunes Farm here: https://scotlandbigpicture.pulse.ly/eyg1pip9tu
Find out more about South Clunes Farm here: https://scotlandbigpicture.pulse.ly/eyg1pip9tu
Reposted by James Nairne
Scots pine was a major part of the prehistoric wildwood here on the Beara Peninsula, but died out as habitats were cleared for farming.
Now, it's back. #Rewilding
Now, it's back. #Rewilding
November 13, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Scots pine was a major part of the prehistoric wildwood here on the Beara Peninsula, but died out as habitats were cleared for farming.
Now, it's back. #Rewilding
Now, it's back. #Rewilding
Reposted by James Nairne
"the practice of muirburn actually made no difference to the extent of the Dava megafire.
Muirburn dries out the land by killing off the vegetation and drying out the peat, making it less resistant to fire. leaves behind lots of dead stems of heather which which provide perfect fuel”Prof D MacMillan
Muirburn dries out the land by killing off the vegetation and drying out the peat, making it less resistant to fire. leaves behind lots of dead stems of heather which which provide perfect fuel”Prof D MacMillan
November 2, 2025 at 6:05 PM
"the practice of muirburn actually made no difference to the extent of the Dava megafire.
Muirburn dries out the land by killing off the vegetation and drying out the peat, making it less resistant to fire. leaves behind lots of dead stems of heather which which provide perfect fuel”Prof D MacMillan
Muirburn dries out the land by killing off the vegetation and drying out the peat, making it less resistant to fire. leaves behind lots of dead stems of heather which which provide perfect fuel”Prof D MacMillan
Reposted by James Nairne
Campaign group Restore Nature with @davegoulson.bsky.social are fighting to protect Todrig from turning into an ecological desert in the form of a spruce plantation– Scot Forestry didn’t even think it deemed an environmental impact assessment . Beggars belief .
November 8, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Campaign group Restore Nature with @davegoulson.bsky.social are fighting to protect Todrig from turning into an ecological desert in the form of a spruce plantation– Scot Forestry didn’t even think it deemed an environmental impact assessment . Beggars belief .
Reposted by James Nairne
From bomb site to biodiversity hotspot. This is a great wee story. #northwoods
youtu.be/ksB4sKTjD8k?...
youtu.be/ksB4sKTjD8k?...
The Decoy Airfield being Healed
YouTube video by SCOTLAND: The Big Picture
youtu.be
November 7, 2025 at 1:35 PM
From bomb site to biodiversity hotspot. This is a great wee story. #northwoods
youtu.be/ksB4sKTjD8k?...
youtu.be/ksB4sKTjD8k?...
Reposted by James Nairne
Taxonomy & classification - of species, communities, ecosystems, etc - is the underpinning of ecology & conservation
Yet can be a weakness - seeing nature in terms of fixed entities
Rather than of flows, processes and variability
The latter are the basis of functioning & resilience
Yet can be a weakness - seeing nature in terms of fixed entities
Rather than of flows, processes and variability
The latter are the basis of functioning & resilience
November 7, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Taxonomy & classification - of species, communities, ecosystems, etc - is the underpinning of ecology & conservation
Yet can be a weakness - seeing nature in terms of fixed entities
Rather than of flows, processes and variability
The latter are the basis of functioning & resilience
Yet can be a weakness - seeing nature in terms of fixed entities
Rather than of flows, processes and variability
The latter are the basis of functioning & resilience
Reposted by James Nairne
We're told one of these land uses is 'productive', while the other is not.
But in terms of photosynthetic levels, as well as the production of clean air, water, no flooding, a stable climate, etc, etc, the natural ecosystem wins hands down.
As for biodiversity, let's not even go there.
But in terms of photosynthetic levels, as well as the production of clean air, water, no flooding, a stable climate, etc, etc, the natural ecosystem wins hands down.
As for biodiversity, let's not even go there.
November 7, 2025 at 6:34 AM
We're told one of these land uses is 'productive', while the other is not.
But in terms of photosynthetic levels, as well as the production of clean air, water, no flooding, a stable climate, etc, etc, the natural ecosystem wins hands down.
As for biodiversity, let's not even go there.
But in terms of photosynthetic levels, as well as the production of clean air, water, no flooding, a stable climate, etc, etc, the natural ecosystem wins hands down.
As for biodiversity, let's not even go there.
Reposted by James Nairne
There's a selection of stories at this link from different parts of Europe. Lynx translocations are a non-event, they happen all the time. It's only Ireland and Britain that we see such fear mongering!
www.linking-lynx.org/en/working-g...
www.linking-lynx.org/en/working-g...
Reintroduction Projects
We are a network of experts working on the conservation, monitoring and management populations of the Eurasian lynx Carpathian subspecies. The long-term goal of the Linking Lynx network is to support ...
www.linking-lynx.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:52 PM
There's a selection of stories at this link from different parts of Europe. Lynx translocations are a non-event, they happen all the time. It's only Ireland and Britain that we see such fear mongering!
www.linking-lynx.org/en/working-g...
www.linking-lynx.org/en/working-g...
Reposted by James Nairne
And of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t shout out the role of beavers, who are laying the groundwork for salmon recovery in Spencer Creek & other Klamath basin streams by creating rearing ponds for the next generations of coho & steelhead.
Tired: dams made of concrete
Inspired: dams made of willow
Tired: dams made of concrete
Inspired: dams made of willow
November 5, 2025 at 10:25 PM
And of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t shout out the role of beavers, who are laying the groundwork for salmon recovery in Spencer Creek & other Klamath basin streams by creating rearing ponds for the next generations of coho & steelhead.
Tired: dams made of concrete
Inspired: dams made of willow
Tired: dams made of concrete
Inspired: dams made of willow
Reposted by James Nairne
A massive rewilding project in Ukraine is proving helpful for the wellbeing of veterans as well as helping large natural areas recover.
Ukraine’s massive nature project is helping veterans and land recover
A massive rewilding project in Ukraine is proving helpful for the wellbeing of veterans as well as helping large natural areas recover.
tcnv.link
November 5, 2025 at 3:47 PM
A massive rewilding project in Ukraine is proving helpful for the wellbeing of veterans as well as helping large natural areas recover.
Reposted by James Nairne
📢 40+ NGOs have written to the PM urging him to uphold the Aarhus Convention – the cornerstone of environmental justice
The Convention protects your right to:
✅ Access environmental information
✅ Have a say in decisions that affect nature
✅ Seek environmental justice affordably
The Convention protects your right to:
✅ Access environmental information
✅ Have a say in decisions that affect nature
✅ Seek environmental justice affordably
November 4, 2025 at 10:17 AM
📢 40+ NGOs have written to the PM urging him to uphold the Aarhus Convention – the cornerstone of environmental justice
The Convention protects your right to:
✅ Access environmental information
✅ Have a say in decisions that affect nature
✅ Seek environmental justice affordably
The Convention protects your right to:
✅ Access environmental information
✅ Have a say in decisions that affect nature
✅ Seek environmental justice affordably
Reposted by James Nairne
An investigation by journalists at The Ferret found that local MSP and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, the National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS) and landowners had “privately piled pressure” on NatureScot to derail the application.
www.thenational.scot/comment/2558...
www.thenational.scot/comment/2558...
November 4, 2025 at 6:57 PM
An investigation by journalists at The Ferret found that local MSP and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, the National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS) and landowners had “privately piled pressure” on NatureScot to derail the application.
www.thenational.scot/comment/2558...
www.thenational.scot/comment/2558...
Reposted by James Nairne
By reintroducing keystone species, such as beavers, and allowing rivers to flow more naturally, we can help secure a future for brown trout – and countless other species that depend on healthy waterways.
🧵3/4
🧵3/4
November 4, 2025 at 5:03 PM
By reintroducing keystone species, such as beavers, and allowing rivers to flow more naturally, we can help secure a future for brown trout – and countless other species that depend on healthy waterways.
🧵3/4
🧵3/4
Reposted by James Nairne
The full Beaver Moon will rise in the UK on 5th November! 🦫✨
It will be the largest and brightest Moon this year 🌝
It will be the largest and brightest Moon this year 🌝
November 4, 2025 at 6:27 PM
The full Beaver Moon will rise in the UK on 5th November! 🦫✨
It will be the largest and brightest Moon this year 🌝
It will be the largest and brightest Moon this year 🌝
Reposted by James Nairne
Britain one of least ‘nature-connected’ nations in world – with Nepal the most
- Others languishing near bottom of 61-country study include Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain
Story by @patrickbarkham.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- Others languishing near bottom of 61-country study include Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain
Story by @patrickbarkham.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Britain one of least ‘nature-connected’ nations in world – with Nepal the most
Others languishing near bottom of 61-country study include Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Britain one of least ‘nature-connected’ nations in world – with Nepal the most
- Others languishing near bottom of 61-country study include Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain
Story by @patrickbarkham.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- Others languishing near bottom of 61-country study include Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain
Story by @patrickbarkham.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by James Nairne
Join us for our Community Engagement Learning Day on 24 Nov – hosted by our #Northwoods partner Comrie Croft.
A friendly, interactive day for anyone looking to put community at the heart of their rewilding work.
Find out more and book here 👉 https://scotlandbigpicture.pulse.ly/tsc5seftei
A friendly, interactive day for anyone looking to put community at the heart of their rewilding work.
Find out more and book here 👉 https://scotlandbigpicture.pulse.ly/tsc5seftei
November 3, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Join us for our Community Engagement Learning Day on 24 Nov – hosted by our #Northwoods partner Comrie Croft.
A friendly, interactive day for anyone looking to put community at the heart of their rewilding work.
Find out more and book here 👉 https://scotlandbigpicture.pulse.ly/tsc5seftei
A friendly, interactive day for anyone looking to put community at the heart of their rewilding work.
Find out more and book here 👉 https://scotlandbigpicture.pulse.ly/tsc5seftei
No punches pulled in Tom Bowser’s latest article on #reintroducingbeavers in Scotland www.thenational.scot/comment/2558...
Reintroduction of beavers to Glen Affric is a victory for nature and democracy
On Friday, October 24, a moment of wildlife history was made. After a 400-year absence, beavers were reintroduced to Glen Affric in the Scottish…
www.thenational.scot
November 3, 2025 at 2:54 PM
No punches pulled in Tom Bowser’s latest article on #reintroducingbeavers in Scotland www.thenational.scot/comment/2558...
Reposted by James Nairne
Anyone who thinks the invasive species problem is exaggerated, that it's "all just nature", should experience the cemetery that is a native Irish rainforest choked by rhododendron, as so many are.
Invasives are a *human* impact, and one of the top causes of biodiversity loss on Earth.
Invasives are a *human* impact, and one of the top causes of biodiversity loss on Earth.
November 3, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Anyone who thinks the invasive species problem is exaggerated, that it's "all just nature", should experience the cemetery that is a native Irish rainforest choked by rhododendron, as so many are.
Invasives are a *human* impact, and one of the top causes of biodiversity loss on Earth.
Invasives are a *human* impact, and one of the top causes of biodiversity loss on Earth.