NatureScot

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NatureScot Scotland’s nature agency. We work to protect and improve our natural environment. Buidheann nàdair na h-Alba.

Ag obair airson ar n-àrainneachd nàdarra a dhìon is a thoirt am feabhas. Formerly known as Scottish Natural Heritage, NatureScot is the only organisation that looks after all aspects of nature in Scotland, across all parts of Scotland (land and sea) on behalf of everyone who lives in or visits Scotland. Our role is to:

- care for nature and landscapes in Scotland
- help deliver health and well-being for people living in or visiting Scotland
- look after a vital natural asset that supports the Scottish economy
- help address climate change and biodiversity loss

OUR SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

As a responsible public organisation we adhere to a fair Site Use Policy. All conversations and posts should be constructive, respectful, and contain language that is appropriate for all groups and ages. We reserve the right to disallow comments that:

• are obscene, indecent, profane, aggressive or vulgar
• contain threats or personal attacks of any kind
• contain offensive terms directed at protected characteristic groups
• are defamatory, libellous or contain ad hominem attacks
• promote or endorse a product or service without prior agreement with NatureScot
• are excessively repetitive or constitute spam
• contain content which constitutes invasion of a third-party’s privacy. Comments that do not adhere to the above guidelines will, without exception, be removed. We reserve the right to block users who breach the site use policy.



’S e NàdarAlba, air an robh Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba cheana, an aon bhuidheann a tha a’ gabhail cùram ris a h-uile taobh de nàdar ann an Alba, air feadh na dùthcha (air tìr agus aig muir) às leth a h-uile duine a tha a’ fuireach ann an Alba no a’ tadhal oirre.

’S e ar dreuchd:

- cùram a ghabhail ri nàdar is cruthan-tìre na h-Alba
- cuideachadh ri slàinte is sunnd a bhrosnachadh do dhaoine a tha a’ fuireach ann an Alba no a’ tadhal oirre
- cùram a ghabhail ri fìor bhuannachd nàdarra a chumas taic ri eaconomaidh na h-Alba
- cuideachadh ri bhith a’ dèiligeadh ri atharrachadh na gnàth-shìde agus call bith-iomadachd


AR STIÙIREADH DO CHOIMHEARSNACHD NAM MEADHANAN SÒISEALTA AGAINN

Mar buidheann phoblach chunntasach bidh sinn a’ cumail ri Poileasaidh Cleachdadh na Làraich a tha reusanta. Bu chòir dhan a h-uile còmhradh is post a bhith cuideachail, modhail is a’ cleachdadh cainnt a tha freagarrach dhan a h-uile buidheann is aois. Tha sinn a’ glèidheadh na còrach bacadh a chur air beachdan:

• a tha drabastach, mì-iomchaidh, mì-naomha, ionnsaigheach no gràisgeil
• anns a bheil bagairt no ionnsaigh pearsanta de sheòrsa sam bith
• anns a bheil briathran mì-thaitneach mu bhuidhnean fheartan glèidhte
• a tha cliù-mhìllteach no anns a bheil ionnsaighean pearsanta
• a bhios a’ sanasachadh bathar no seirbheis gun aonta ro-làimhe ri NàdarAlba
• anns a bheil cus ath-aithris no spama
• anns a bheil fiosrachadh a bhriseas a-steach air prìobhaideachd treas phàrtaidhean. Bheir sinn air falbh gach beachd nach cùm ris an stiùireadh gu h-àrd. Tha sinn a’ glèidheadh na còrach casg a chur air luchd-cleachdaidh a bhriseas am poileasaidh cleachdaidh.

16/10/2026

High-quality science and evidence is at the heart of our work to better understand and manage Scotland’s seas. NatureScot's marine survey and monitoring work helps to inform management of Marine Protected Areas and has fed into the proposals for Priority Marine Feature (PMF) management areas in Scottish coastal waters.

Earlier this year the team visited Fetlar to Haroldswick MPA and surrounding areas in Shetland, to investigate the condition and extent of horse mussel beds and maerl beds in the area. The team found new extensive and healthy horse mussel beds in previously unsurveyed parts of the MPA. Maerl and horse mussel beds, and several other seabed habitats in Scotland, provide vital refuge and nursery areas for marine wildlife, including young fish. However, they are fragile and easily damaged by a range of different human activities and developments.

Management measures to protect the important habitats within the Fetlar to Haroldswick MPA and PMF management areas in Shetland have been proposed. Visit our website to learn more about the Scottish Government’s ongoing consultation and the proposals to improve protection for our marine life (see link in first comment).

🌱 A world-leading plan to help Scotland’s struggling plant life, put together by a raft of national voices, has been lau...
15/10/2026

🌱 A world-leading plan to help Scotland’s struggling plant life, put together by a raft of national voices, has been launched today by NatureScot and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

🌱 Whether it’s converting sunlight into energy for our food; offering shade and shelter; keeping our soils stable; managing our climate and water levels, or producing our natural resources such as timber, fibre and medicines, plants and lichens are the basis of a healthy natural world, but their decline since the 1970s means that Scotland’s plant life is now in crisis.

🌱 The Scottish Plant Biodiversity Strategy sets out a clear, collaborative approach to safeguarding Scotland's plant life for us all now, and for future generations.

Follow the link in our comments to read the plan.⬇️

Botanical Society of Scotland
British Pteridological Society
British Bryological Society
The British Lichen Society
British Phycological Society
Cairngorms National Park
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - UKCEH
Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management - CIEEM
COSLA
Forestry and Land Scotland
HTA News
The James Hutton Institute
John Muir Trust
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
Ministry of Defence
Mountaineering Scotland
National Biodiversity Network
National Trust for Scotland
NFU Scotland
Plantlife Scotland
RSPB Scotland
SRUC
Scottish Environment LINK
Scottish Gamekeepers Association SGA
Scottish Land & Estates
Scottish Wildlife Trust
Trees For Life
Wild Scotland
Woodland Trust UK
Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest

14/10/2026

If you're feeding red squirrels, see the five tips below from RSPB and Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels to keep squirrels and birds safe and thriving. ⬇

🌲 As the world’s conservation experts gather next week for COP17 in Armenia, one discussion taking place will be about t...
13/10/2026

🌲 As the world’s conservation experts gather next week for COP17 in Armenia, one discussion taking place will be about the global ambition to protect 30% of land and seas for nature by 2030 (30 by 30), and how area-based conservation measures (OECMs) can help reach that target.

🥳 Scotland is leading the way in making these happen, thanks to the pioneering Nature30 site recognitions NatureScot launched a year ago.

🦸 To mark the moment of global focus, this month’s Nature Hero is David Bruce, the Forest and Peatland Land Manager at The University of Edinburgh, celebrated for his pivotal role in transforming the Drumbrae site in the Ochils near Stirling into a thriving Nature30 site.

https://orlo.uk/Nature30_hVw6q

Celebrate our forests, food and local landscape at Hill to Grill! Cairngorms Connect and friends are bringing crafts, gu...
12/10/2026

Celebrate our forests, food and local landscape at Hill to Grill! Cairngorms Connect and friends are bringing crafts, guided walks and delicious wild venison to Nethy Bridge on Saturday 24th October, 11am–3pm. A free, family-friendly day for everyone. Find out more via the link in the comments 👇

The Scottish Government wants your views on the proposed fishing activity management measures for Scottish inshore Marin...
11/10/2026

The Scottish Government wants your views on the proposed fishing activity management measures for Scottish inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Priority Marine Features (PMFs). These proposals are designed to contribute to the protection of fish, birds and marine mammals and vulnerable seabed habitats, where management is not already in place.
The proposed measures may restrict some types of fishing activity in selected areas. These important environments provide nurseries and shelter for marine life, including juvenile commercial fish species.
For full venue details and later events see link in the comments. Please drop by to find out more about the public consultation and the proposed management measures.

Taking part in water sports in Scotland’s great outdoors can be great for your physical and mental health, and spotting ...
10/10/2026

Taking part in water sports in Scotland’s great outdoors can be great for your physical and mental health, and spotting stunning wildlife is a bonus.

However, when an animal flies or runs away from you, it uses valuable energy and could get injured. It may also abandon a nest or young.

It is easy to get too close to wildlife, like birds on the water, so follow these top tips to ensure stress-free water activities for you and the animals you see:

✔ Always watch wildlife from a respectful distance and learn to spot the signs of disturbance so you know when your presence has a negative impact.

✔ When doing water-based activities, take care when entering and leaving the water and avoid any no-paddle zones to help protect birds that nest at the edges of lochs and rivers.

✔ Take extra care if you are passing by or landing on an island, as these can often be a good refuge for wildlife.

✔ Follow any locally available advice or signage about avoiding disturbance to wildlife. You may also find information on how to spot more elusive species on these signs, so it’s always worth pausing to read them.

For more tips on how to enjoy the water without disturbing wildlife, visit the link in the comments 👇



📷 Discover Clackmannan / Damian Shields

This week is the  ! Keep an eye out for red and grey squirrels wherever you are and record them on the Saving.org Scotla...
09/10/2026

This week is the ! Keep an eye out for red and grey squirrels wherever you are and record them on the Saving.org Scotland’s Red Squirrels’ website.

08/10/2026

🦋 Scotland is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world*.

🍂 One of the key drivers of nature loss is land-use change where, over time, habitats have been lost and increasingly fragmented. This means that the remaining habitats are often isolated and unconnected and as a result they are less resilient, often in poor health, and struggle to support healthy populations of the species that normally rely on them. If we are to reverse declines in biodiversity, it is vital to address this by developing networks for nature.

🌲 Nature Networks in Scotland will support connection between our important areas for wildlife, and bring people closer to nature. This short video shows how our landscapes, countryside and towns could change over the next few decades as Nature Networks expand and are created by organisations, communities and land owners across the country.

*2023 State of Nature Scotland Report

07/10/2026

New funding round – apply now!

The Community Marine Monitoring Equipment Fund specifically helps community and local groups to buy equipment needed to carry out community-led marine biodiversity surveys and monitoring work. Coastal communities and local groups around Scotland’s coast have an important role to play in the active stewardship of their marine environment. Through this fund we aim to encourage and support local communities collecting marine data through the surveying and monitoring of their inshore waters.

See link ink in first comment. The Community Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Project is a partnership between NatureScot, Fauna & Flora, communities, groups and individuals, with support from the William Grant Foundation.

Address

Great Glen House, Leachkin Road
Inverness
IV38NW

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+441463725000

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