Whitlaw Mosses win praise from Scotland's outdoor boss
Whitlaw Mosses win praise from Scotland's outdoor boss
High school pupils Emily Newlands and Stephanie Brown with Roseanna Cunningham
Bob Burgess
bobburgess@tweeddalepress.co.uk
Environment minister Roseanna Cunningham pulled on her wellies when she visited an ancient moss on the outskirts of Selkirk.
The boss of the great outdoors plodded across the Whitlaw nature reserve as she launched two initiatives highlighting the wetlands of the Borders.
And local High School pupils Emily Newlands and Stephanie Brown were on hand to show her some of the minute wildlife found on the local mosses.
The SNP politician launched the Fen Management Handbook and the Tweed Wetland Strategy. The mosses form part of Scottish Natural Heritage's National Nature Reserve.
Experts admit that fens are generally less well understood and more at risk from deliberate changes, runoff from fields and expanding human population than many other wetland habitats. They are also particularly vulnerable to the pressures brought about by changing climate.
The new handbook brings together technical knowledge and expertise from across the UK.
The Tweed Wetlands Strategy is the first chance for the area's wetlands to enjoy a coordinated programme of action.
Ms Cunningham described Whitlaw Mosses as a special place for nature where people could see some of Scotland's diverse plants and animals.
She said: "With this being the International Year of Biodiversity it is a good time to reflect on our achievements to safeguard biodiversity in and around wetland sites like this. But we can't stop there; we need to raise awareness about their importance and the challenges for the future.
"These two wetland management tools I have just launched can help all those with responsibility for wetlands to help look after them."
The minister met award-winning local artist Liz Douglas who uses her drawings to work with local school pupils.
The nature reserve covers 19.7ha and embraces Murder Moss, Beanrig Moss, Blackpool Moss and Nether Whitlaw Moss. Around 250 species of fly, 160 different types of beetles and 84 varieties of butterfly and moth have been recorded. Whitlaw is said by experts to be an unusual northerly outpost of fen habitat and has rare and nationally-scarce plants.
Whitlaw was made a national nature reserve in 1974 and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a European Area of Conservation.
Andrew Bachell, SNH's director for south Scotland, stressed: "Wetland ecosystems are rich in wildlife and add greatly to the landscape. But they are important in many other ways. They help in flood management and by locking in carbon they can help address climate change.
"Some have economic importance for everything from reeds for thatching, to angling, to pharmaceuticals and tourism. Whitlaw Mosses is a leader in small fen management in the UK. Its importance locally, nationally and internationally is why we chose to launch these two important documents here."
The fens handbook will produced in hard copy next year but can be viewed on http://www.snh.gov.uk/about-scotlands-nature/habitats-and-ecosystems/lochs-rivers-and-wetlands/fen/. Details of the wetland project can be downloaded from.tweedforum.com/projects.
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Weather for Selkirk
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 7 C to 18 C
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