A prime-time American news crew is scheduled to visit the sand dunes of Aberdeenshire today (Thursday 29 October) to examine the designated Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) to be destroyed by the proposed developments of Donald Trump. 

 

Filming for Nightline, the ABC network equivalent of the BBC’s Newsnight, the broadcasters will meet with Scottish Wildlife Trust’s (SWT) Director of Conservation, Jonny Hughes, on-site at Menie to complete an investigative interview revealing the huge ecological importance of the site for Scotland.   

 

SWT’s Hughes said: “SWT has campaigned tirelessly to protect this important natural landscape from needless destruction. These sand dunes are a unique ecosystem in Scotland due to their highly dynamic and constantly moving nature. What we have at Menie are ‘living sands’ with a delicately balanced and rare ecology found nowhere else on this scale in Scotland.   

 

“This development could still go ahead without compromising the preservation of this habitat. We demonstrated this by hiring our own golf course architect who showed it was perfectly possible to build two top quality championship courses on the Menie Estate without destroying the SSSI. However, with outline planning permission now granted in principal, it is crucial that all the conditions of planning consent are adhered to, in order to minimise the extent of the damage to the natural heritage and biodiversity features affected by the proposed golf course and resort development. 

 

“It is terribly disappointing that Aberdeenshire Council has now allowed for initial work to begin in planting of marram grass in the sand dunes and erecting fencing without finalising these consents. It seems that all existing protocols, from the integrity of SSSI designations to planning procedures, can be conveniently brushed aside for the benefit of Trump.    

 

“It is important that ABC’s Nightline is coming to Aberdeenshire to see first-hand an inspiring Scottish coastal landscape that their fellow American is determined to destroy.”

 

***ENDS***

NOTES TO EDITORS:

 

 

1.      Nightline is a late night news magazine programme broadcast every week day night. It airs at 11:35 pm eastern time and is broadcast throughout the United States reaching an audience of around four million viewers.http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/

 

2.      SWT is the largest voluntary body working for all the wildlife of Scotland, representing more than 35,000 members who care for wildlife and the environment. SWT seeks toraise public awareness of threatened habitats and species and manages over 120 reserves Scotland-wide.

 

3.      SWT receives financial assistance and support from Scottish Natural Heritage and the People’s Postcode Lottery.