RSPB Loch Lomond – Wildlife Conservation

RSPB Scotland is managing the site to make it an even better home for nature. There is a long history of land management here, much of which helped to form the unique habitats found today. Over time, we want to recreate some of those conditions and use historical practices to make this place the best it can be for wildlife and people. 
 
One example of our work is the restoration of the grassland and meadow as low-intensity grazing pasture. This will provide ideal conditions for plants, insects, breeding birds and wintering wildfowl, such as geese. Much of the site has been under-grazed in the recent past, and associated habitats had fallen into poor condition. Work by the team on site and our local farmers has already had a huge positive impact and this program of work will continue in the coming years.  

In the spring and summer, the cows of local farmers graze the grasslands. This helps to keep vegetation under control, improving the conditions for ground-nesting birds, such as redshanks, snipe and lapwings, as well as maintaining the diversity of plant and insect species.  

This grassland management has been improving the feeding and roosting grounds for the internationally important population of Greenland white-fronted geese who spend the winter in this area. These geese join up with larger flocks of pink-footed geese and greylag geese and dawn and dusk are the best times to experience the spectacle of them leaving or arriving at their roosting sites. Why not join us on one of our goose watches or guided walks this year? 

Another example of our conservation efforts is our work on invasive non-native species. Our partners, SNH, have been controlling invasive non-native plant species, such as Himalayan balsam, for many years across the NNR and we continue to work with them.