New Opportunities to Get Involved with the Best of Scotland’s Nature

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has joined forces with charity MyParkScotland to raise the profile of its National Nature Reserves (NNRs).MyParkScotland helps people discover and support parks and greenspaces across Scotland.Its website will list SNH’s reserves and offer a new way for people to get involved through giving feedback and suggestions. It will also provide a donation service for people to contribute to delivering new projects on SNH’s reserves.SNH has invested around £2.8 million during 2016/17 in maintaining reserves for people to enjoy and to maintain and improve their value for nature.Ian Jardine, SNH chief executive, said: “We are delighted to be working with MyParkScotland. Through our 30 National Nature Reserves we provide some of the finest places for people to see Scotland’s nature at its best and also to enjoy getting out and about.“Many of our visitors ask about making a contribution to support these special places and now, through MyParkScotland, they have that opportunity.“More than 600,000 people visit our National Nature Reserves each year – as local walkers, tourists, volunteers, in school groups, on special occasions or for special interests. Through MyParkScotland, visitors can share stories of their favorite reserves and offer suggestions for new projects, including ones they might wish to develop jointly with us.”This work by SNH and MyParkScotland is a key step to deliver one of the goals of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy – that of better connecting people with nature. These reserves also contribute to the practical conservation of biodiversity with specific projects tackling pollution and invasive non-native species, sharing with people the many values of nature.Visitors to National Nature Reserves frequently ask how they can support SNH’s work. MyParkScotland now offers a means by which people can make voluntary donations and be assured their money will be used to maintain and improve Scotland’s National Nature Reserves.Ian Goodman, MyParkScotland project manager, said “We are delighted that SNH has joined MyParkScotland and are excited to list their fantastic National Nature Reserves on the website. They join the 300-plus parks and greenspaces already listed. This a great way for people to find out about greenspaces and get involved by sharing their memories and stories as well as looking at activities and events which are taking place.“MyParkScotland is a safe and easy way for people to donate to looking after Scotland’s National Nature Reserves and support projects to improve these fantastic spaces.”SNH’s 30 reserves across Scotland stretch from Hermaness in Shetland to Caerlaverock on the Solway coast, and vary from high hills at Beinn Eighe in Torridon to the vast open waters and wetlands of Loch Leven in Perth & Kinross.