Landscape and Biodiversity

Landscape and Biodiversity.    Sutherland is a land of unrivalled beauty, which has been described as the last great wilderness in Britain.  The rocks of Sutherland's hills and shores are more than half as old as the Earth itself, and among the oldest in Europe.  Nowhere is the richness and diversity of the area's landscapes, habitats and wildlife seen more clearly than in the area of the North-West Highlands Geopark, most of which is in Sutherland.

And the richness of Sutherland's biodiverse flora and fauna complements the haunting landscapes perfectly.  For some of the species to view at various times of year, take a look at the seasonal "Watch our Wildlife" brochures for Spring, Summer, Autumn and  Winter page 1, and page 2.

Like residents of all parts of the Scottish Highlands, those who live in Sutherland recognise the importance of valuing and protecting the area's biodiverse natural heritage.  Sutherland's Local Biodiversity Action Plan is a tool by which to achieve this. 

The Sutherland Partnership has stewarded no fewer than seventeen biodiversity projects over the past two years, These have included setting up video nestboxes in a variety of locations, conducting wildlife audits (both of particular species and individual villages) and constructing exciting wildlife habitats.  We offer our thanks to our generous funding partners: the Highland Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and Leader+. 

One of our partner organisations, West Sutherland Fisheries Trust, has recently published its study on elvers.  To read that study, just follow this link: http://home.btconnect.com/wsft/

Ian Evans, a prominent local botanist and a member of Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity Forum, has followed up his work on "Village Wildlife Audits" of Scourie and Rogart with an article "Scourie Revisited" in "Highland Naturalist" magazine. 

For information about access to Sutherland's "Great Outdoors", see our "Access" page.