John Muir Conservation Award - Kilchuimen Academy

01/06/2023

I am writing this post to conclude my John Muir Conservation Award project. I would like to start off by thanking everybody who has followed along and helped out with this project over the last eight months. Without all of you this would not have been possible!

I have learnt alot from this project and will carry this knowledge forward with me onto my next venture studying BSc Conservation Biology. It has also provided me with the opportunity to carry out a variety of practical and research tasks that I never would have done otherwise. From the very first activity where I attended one of the first ‘Rewilding Ourselves’ workshops in October, to my Visit at the Highland Archive Centre in January and to my Trip on the Loch Ness Cruise boat in March. I sure have gained a lot from this project!

I had four key aims when I began and I feel that in some way I have achieved them all.
To learn about the formation of Loch Ness both geographically and through folklore.
To discover the habitats and ecosystems of Loch Ness and their biodiversity, and how different uses of the natural resources, as well as tourism, are affecting the area.
To determine and bring awareness to the environmental issues affecting the area and to both learn and educate others on how we can conserve and protect the area in a climate friendly manner.
To play an active role in the protection and conservation of the space through litter picking and auditing, plant wildflowers and removing invasive species, and attracting birds and bees by building habitats for them.

I was fascinated looking at the formation of Loch Ness through both folklore stories and from a geographical perspective. I used a variety of folklore and history books and even contacted the geological society to complete this outcome.

Moving onto surveying and sampling the shoreline to draw comparison between seasonal differences and factors affecting or creating these variables. I feel that this task taught me alot in terms of field and analytical techniques , especially that a negative result is still a result and can provide valuable information! After spending a significant amount of time by the water in all different weather conditions I feel that I gained a wider perspective and appreciation of the Loch. It allowed me to really ‘see’ its natural beauty and the positive impact it can have on one's mental wellbeing. It's a challenge to find words to describe the feeling but this project has made me feel strangely protective of Loch Ness.

I struggled with researching how the natural resources of the Loch are currently being used and so I decided to look further into the ‘History of the Industry of Loch Ness’ and all I can say is, I was enthralled! I investigated the formation of the Caledonian Canal and Foyers British Aluminium Smelter along with their uses up until the present day. I would like to thank the Highland Archive Centre and South Loch Ness Heritage Group for their helpful enthusiasm with this section of my project.

I perceive that I have been able to determine and bring awareness to the environmental issues affecting the area, especially through the use of my ‘Local’s Survey’ where it encouraged individuals to really think about the issues they see affecting the Loch Ness area on a daily basis. Sadly from the result from this survey along with what I have personally seen, it has become apparent that tourism is the largest factor affecting the environmental quality. Especially the so-called ‘wildcampers’ who misuse the area; campfires, parking on grass verges, human excrement, littering,etc. Whilst this is a large factor I would like to draw attention to the fact that this is NOT the only factor.

And finally I feel that this project has allowed me to actively play a role in the conservation of the Loch Ness area. Whilst I felt it inappropriate to organise community litter pickups after I discovered that there were already regular community litter pick ups in each area, I not only volunteered at these but also collected any litter I found during my sampling and surveying activities ( which I did audit, albeit rough). On the back of these I designed and displayed multiple litter picking and take litter home posters in the Loch Ness area. In terms of conservation I was also able to successfully build and hang up two wooden bird houses made from sustainable materials with the help of the woodwork department at Kilchuimen school. Finally I volunteered at a ‘clean up day’ with the Highland Countryside rangers where I took part in the removal of the invasive rhododendron shrubs between the Falls of Foyers and Loch Ness.

In summary I have thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the magnificent Loch Ness by moving away from the Loch Ness monster search. I have been able to develop my practical, research, analytical and communication skills from this project, all whilst actively helping to conserve and protect by bringing awareness to factors affecting the Loch Ness area.

Thank you for taking the time to read this closing statement and for all of your support throughout this project. Goodbye,

Charlotte Page 🌿

29/05/2023

As the final activity of my project I have compiled an overall comparison report which discusses and compares my findings from the seasonal surveys and activities I have carried out in each area of interest. These activities have involved;
Surveying the number of people and dogs I saw
Collecting and auditing litter
Identifying tree and shrub species and damaged areas
Pollution and pH testing of the water
Estimating the material percentage cover of the shoreline.

Whilst a couple of the activities, such as the shoreline pond dipping has produced no results, I have still taken this as a valid result as it has provided me the opportunity to evaluate my sampling method and consider reasons why no result may have been obtained.

Please find the final report for this project below;

27/05/2023

In conclusion to my summer shoreline sampling at each of my three areas of interest for the final time, I’ve written a short summary comparing my findings from each location. I am currently in the process of compiling a final overall report comparing my findings from each location during each season with one another.

24/05/2023

Bringing to a close my summer activities surveying, I ventured out on Thursday the 18th of May along the 1 km area of Dores beach that I had previously visited in the autumn, winter and spring.

Just like I have done before, I not only tested the pollution levels of the water, I looked for damaged areas, picked up as much litter as I was able to and made observational records of the wildlife, people and dogs I saw.

Please find my report attached below;

21/05/2023

The second location for my summer shoreline sampling and surveying was Fort Augustus, I set out on the 17th of May along the 1km area of the Fort Augustus shoreline I have been focusing on, for the last time.

As before, I firstly tested the pollution levels of the water using instant pH indicator strips and pond dipping techniques whilst looking for any damaged areas. I also collected all of the litter I found, along with recording the wildlife, people and dogs I saw.

For anyone who would like to read it my report is attached below;

19/05/2023

To launch my summer surveying and sampling activities, I set out along the 1 km stretch of the Foyers shoreline that I had previously sampled.

I carried out a continuous belt transect, a litter pickup, pollution testing and noted the number of people, dogs and wildlife I spotted.

Please find below the report;

18/05/2023

I would like to thank everyone (all 58 people!) who have taken the time over the last two weeks to fill in the short survey, I really appreciated it. I have been very interested in the responses I received and have enjoyed reading through them all. It took me by surprise how many people shared similar opinions in regards to the issues affecting the area and what could be done to mitigate or eradicate them.
I have compiled the results into a variety of graphs and an informal report, with the aim of keeping as many of the responses as possible ‘raw’. (Please find attached below)

12/05/2023

Continuing with the conserve section of my project, I contacted the government agency Forestry and Land Scotland who sustainably manage our lands and landscapes to ask about their conservation work and what they are currently doing specifically in the Loch Ness area. I was surprised to find out the volume of conservation work they do and how broad it is, encompassing Wildlife, Habitats, Forests, Historic Environments, Biodiversity and Peatlands.

Find out more about the work they are doing here;

https://forestryandland.gov.scot/what-we-do/biodiversity-and-conservation

https://forestry.gov.scot/forests-environment

10/05/2023

In summary of my spring surveying, pollution testing and 1km walk of the shoreline at each of my three key areas of interest, Foyers, Dores and Fort Augustus I have written a short summary comparing my findings from each location. These results are going to be compared with my findings from other seasons allowing me to identify different seasonal factors such as temperature, weather conditions and the potential reasons behind these.

07/05/2023

To conclude my spring sampling and shoreline surveying, I headed out last week on Friday the 18th of April along the 1km area of the Fort Augustus shoreline I have been focusing on.

As I have done numerous times before, I tested the pollution levels of the water using instant pH indicator strips and pond dipping for indicator species as well as identifying any damaged areas (Which I amazingly did not find!), litter picking and recording any wildlife, people and dogs I saw.

For those who are interested my results are attached below;

04/05/2023

My second spring sampling practical activity was completed on Wednesday the 26th of April at Dores beach where I focused on a 1km length of the shoreline.

As before, I tested the pollution levels of the water using instant pH indicator strips and pond dipping for indicator species, along with surveying the shoreline and identifying damaged areas, collecting litter and carrying out a 25 metre continuous belt transect (at 0 metres, 2 metres and 4 metres from the waters edge) with the aim to comparing my findings from each season.

For those who are interested my results are attached below;

03/05/2023

Hi all,

I’ve designed a short survey for people who live, work or use the Loch Ness area. It looks at recreational and leisure uses of the area as well as conservation and environmental work and what that means to you.

There are 12 questions and it is estimated to take no more than 10 minutes to complete.

The data gathered from this survey will be used in my final report for a John Muir Conservation Award project I have been carrying out over the last six months, focused on the Loch Ness area and will also be made available for public viewing on my page.

I would really appreciate it if you wouldn’t mind filling it out as the more data gathered the better! All replies will remain completely anonymous.

Thank you in advance 🙂

This survey is designed for Local's who live, work or use the Loch Ness area. There are 12 questions and it is estimated to take 10 minutes to complete. The data gathered from this survey will be used in my final report for a John Muir Conservation Award project I have been carrying out over the las...