Nature of Scotland Award commendation for NILPS

The North Isles Landscape Partnership has been highly commended in the Nature of Scotland Awards 2024 for working alongside farmers and other landowners to restore natural habitats for wading birds.  

The commendation in the Food and Farming Award category was awarded for habitat restoration work on over 18 sites in the North Isles. The project involved large-scale wetland enhancement works and the introduction of conservation grazing to unmanaged sites, to benefit farmland wading birds, such as the curlew and lapwing. 

The project was delivered by one of the North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme’s partner organisations, RSPB. Conservation Advisor, Tom Wells, said: “We are delighted that the NILPS Habitat Project has been highly commended by the Nature of Scotland Awards. The success of the project was only possible because of the willingness and enthusiasm of landowners in the North Isles to take part in the project, alongside the hard work undertaken by farmers and contractors carrying out and implementing the habitat restoration work. 

“This project has highlighted the importance of various stakeholders working closely together, to achieve extremely positive results for threatened species on a landscape scale.” 

One of the farmers involved was Mark Cockram from Fersness Farm in Eday. He said: “The project has allowed us to build on our existing knowledge of wading birds and their requirements. We already knew that waders were struggling through things such as climate change, changes in farming practices, and increased predation from birds, feral cats and hedgehogs, as well as dogs off-lead, and we’re delighted to have enhanced the habitat to suit their needs and help them breed successfully. We’re inspired by Tom to do more after seeing the positive results that the work has had on their breeding success.’’ 

The category winner went to Clyde Valley Waders Farmer Group and an expanding group of 25 farmers going above and beyond to save wading birds on their livestock farms in southern Scotland.  

Congratulating the NILPS on the award, the Council’s Enterprise Manager, Stuart Allison, said: “We are delighted that the work of the North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme has been recognised in these awards shining a light on wildlife success stories and nature champions throughout Scotland.  

“In addition to this piece of work, the scheme have worked with local organisations, groups and individuals to support a huge variety of other heritage projects across the North Isles. 

“I know that communities are very grateful to the dedication and commitment shown by those involved with the scheme, in particular the close working relationship that has been built up with Anne Bignall and Valerie Dawson and project team who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes managing projects such as this one we now see being recognised.” 

The Awards represent businesses, charities, the public sector and individuals working towards conserving the country’s unique wildlife and natural environment.  

North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme is a £4.5m programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, Orkney Islands Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, NatureScot and the Orkney LEADER 2014-2020 programme that will support projects that promote the culture, heritage and landscape of the North Isles and will run until December 2024.