Strathbeg goose funding applications open

Every autumn, pink-footed geese fly 800 km from their breeding grounds in Iceland to Scotland. One of the first places they land is Loch of Strathbeg Special Protection Area, where numbers can reach 50,000.

In spring, as the geese prepare for their journey back to their breeding grounds, up to 20,000 feed on grass on neighbouring farmland, delaying the turnout of livestock and reducing yields of silage. The Loch of Strathbeg Goose Management Scheme was introduced to help meet the costs owners incur by allowing the geese to graze on their land undisturbed.

Russell Hooper, SNH Tayside & Grampian area office, speaking on behalf of the LGMG, said:

“We want to thank the scheme participants for their help in both conserving this internationally important species and the success of the scheme over the years.

“There was a good level of participation by local farmers last year, and goose use of scheme fields was the highest recorded in the five years of the current scheme format, so we have no plans to change the scheme in 2018. We encourage all landowners within the scheme boundary to apply to participate in the scheme.”

Application packs will be available from the SNH Aberdeen office from Monday, 20 November, and the deadline for applications will be on Friday, 15 December. For more information, contact Russell Hooper on 01224 266511 or email russell.hooper@snh.gov.uk.

ENDS