For over a decade SUP, along with a wide range of landowners and stakeholders, has been undertaking upland and black grouse research, lek surveying and, in more recent years, developing the outcomes of this work into a potential landscape focused restoration project.
Project research:
- NatureScot commissioned GWCT: ‘Black grouse conservation in southern Scotland – Phase 2. Development of a regional strategic conservation plan’ (2016) Click here: https://www.gwct.org.uk/media/641731/black-grouse-in-southern-Scotland.pdf
- NatureScot: South Scotland Black Grouse Action Plan (2017) Click here: 2017_Black Grouse Project Action Plan
- Southern Uplands Partnership conducted a scoping exercise: ‘Black Grouse Recovery Project – Undoing the Silence of the Uplands’ (2021/2) Click here: 2022_Black Grouse Project Proposal – SUP
- Southern Uplands Partnership and RSPB Scotland led a NatureScot Nature Restoration Fund development phase project to pull together a southern Scotland ‘Undoing the Silence of the Southern Uplands’ project (June 2023). Click here: NRF Development Phase Research
‘Undoing the Silence of the Southern Uplands’ project next steps
The breadth and locations for a future project is now being explored and could include:
- Habitat restoration and management, including low density broadleaf planting, rewetting peatlands, removal of non-native tree regeneration, heather swiping, pond creation, no-fence collar grazing
- Landowner cluster groups
- Volunteering opportunities and community engagement
- Tree provenance and nurseries
- Black Grouse / Upland Community Plans
- Cultural Soundscape and Arts
- Recruitment of an Uplands Project Officer to lead on all the above aspects
This project has been jointly led with the RSPB Scotland. The core project partners are: Airds Estate, Borders Forest Trust, Buccleuch Estate, Carbon Crichton Centre, Carcant Estate, Forestry & Land Scotland, Galloway and South Ayrshire Biosphere, John Muir Trust, National Trust for Scotland, NatureScot, Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, Wemyss & March Estates, Woodland Trust. With wider stakeholder support from Game & Wildlife Conservancy Trust, Scottish Water, SEPA, Tweed Forum.
This project is supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot