Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre

Why beavers are a keystone species for wildlife tourism in Knapdale
17 March 2020

In this guest blog, Pete Creech from the Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation explains how beavers have become a magnet for visitors to mid-Argyll, and helped create a wider interest in the area’s wildlife. Spotting a beaver at Barnluasgan © Heart of Argyll Wildlife If you visit Knapdale and its surrounding shores you have a very good chance of encountering most of Scotland’s iconic species. We’re fortunate to work in an area with so much special…

2019 Osprey Season
14 March 2020

In the eager anticipation of LM12 and LF15 returning to Loch of the Lowes we have been reflecting on the findings from last year’s breeding season. 2019 was a successful year for our ospreys here at Loch of the Lowes, with two chicks successfully fledging the nest. LF15 laid three eggs and all three hatched but unfortunately the youngest chick died at ten days old. The season began with the arrival of the breeding male (LM12) on the 15th of…

How to plant a tree
27 February 2020

One of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint and encourage wildlife into your garden is by planting trees. Trees are used by many different types of wildlife as a space to breed, shelter and hibernate. They can also provide food for birds, insects and small mammals – amazingly, a single silver birch tree can support more than 300 different insect species, from aphids to ladybirds. Just six native trees will absorb and store about a tonne of carbon dioxide…

With your support, Coul Links has been saved
21 February 2020

Rare dune habitat at Coul Links. © Scott Leatham The Scottish Government has announced that the application to build a golf course on top of a triple-protected site of international importance at Coul Links has been rejected. The decision shows that Scotland is serious about protecting its natural heritage; that if an area is protected three times over, then this should mean something. The controversial saga has been over four years in the making, and the…

Connecting artists and the environment
18 February 2020

In this guest blog Lewis Coenen-Rowe, Green Arts Networks, Events, and Programming Officer at Creative Carbon Scotland explains how the charity’s Library of Creative Sustainability demonstrates the benefits of collaboration between environmentalists and artists.  Why is it useful for artists and environmentalists to collaborate? One answer might be that many issues that environmentalists find hardest to solve fall into areas where artists traditionally thrive. It can be difficult to engage a wider audience. It can be hard to gain commitment…

The silence of the bats
13 February 2020

During this past year I have had the opportunity to volunteer for Scottish Wildlife Trust taking part in the Erasmus+ European Voluntary Service. Part of this placement is to give us the opportunity to develop a variety of skills that will help us start a conservation career. To achieve this, we are given the opportunity to lead a personal project. Before moving to Scotland I was volunteering in Normandy, France, on a similar kind of placement. There, I got the…