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Alan Watson Featherstone

ECOLOGIST, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER AND INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER
FOUNDER OF THE AWARD-WINNING CHARITY TREES FOR LIFE

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Biodiversity of the Findhorn Hinterland area in Moray, Scotland

Biodiversity of the Findhorn Hinterland area in Moray, Scotland

The Findhorn Hinterland is an ecologically-rich area of sand dunes, lichen heaths, woodland and other natural habitats on the Findhorn peninsula on the Moray Firth coast in northeast Scotland. It is nationally important for its diversity of lichen species, with over 180 recorded there, including some that are Nationally Rare and endangered, as well as a species of lichenicolous fungus that has not been recorded anywhere else in the UK.

The Findhorn Hinterland Trust is a small local charity that has management responsibility for a key part of this area, and in my role as one of the charity’s Trustees I have a particular interest in, and focus on, the remarkable biological diversity of the site. This presentation highlights some of the wide range of species that occur there, especially the smaller organisms that are often overlooked.

This inspiring and illuminating talk covers a large variety of different fungi, invertebrates of all sorts, from spiders and sawflies to aphids and ladybirds, and the interesting and unusual ecological relationships that link many of these organisms to each other, through processes such as the formation of galls, parasitism and predation.

Special attention is given to some of the rare and unusual lichens that are a key ecological feature of the area, with many photographs illustrating both the diversity of species and the spectacular miniature ‘forests’ that they form in the dune heath areas. This presentation provides a literal eye-opening experience of the very special ecosystems on this part of the Moray Firth coast, which are largely unknown to most people, and which are highly threatened in other coastal areas of Scotland.

If you would like me to give this talk to a group or at an event, please contact me.

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My TEDx talk – Restoring the ancient Caledonian Forest.

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Recent posts

  • Unseen biodiversity of Glen Affric, part 3
  • Climate Change and Consciousness
  • Unseen biodiversity of Glen Affric, Part 2
  • A celebration of frost
  • Unseen biodiversity of Glen Affric, part 1

News

  • Forests Forever perpetual calendar now available
  • ‘A Rewilding Journey’ workshops in 2020
  • Filming in Glen Affric
  • ‘A Rewilding Journey’ workshop 7-14 Sept. 2019
  • Radio Interview in Vilnius, Lithuania

I’m speaking at…

  • WILD11 - World Wilderness Congress in India – 19 March 2020–
    26 March 2020
  • Tree Conference in Cambridge, 2nd May 2020 – 2 May 2020
  • A Rewilding Journey: Rewilding the World and Ourselves – 23 May 2020–
    30 May 2020
  • A Rewilding Journey: Rewilding the World and Ourselves – 29 August 2020–
    5 September 2020

Over on Twitter…

Alan Watson FeatherstoneFollow

Ecologist, nature photographer and inspirational speaker. Founder of the award-winning charity Trees for Life.

Alan Watson Featherstone
AlanWatsonFeat1Alan Watson Featherstone@AlanWatsonFeat1·
14h

Many of the forests mentioned in this article are featured in my new Forests Forever perpetual calendar (https://alanwatsonfeatherstone.com/product/forests-forever-perpetual-calendar/). Good for any year, it has 366 photos of trees & forests, combined with inspiring quotes, & makes an ideal Christmas present. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/05/science/forests-fragmentation-wildlife.html

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AlanWatsonFeat1Alan Watson Featherstone@AlanWatsonFeat1·
14h

Rich countries like the UK should not be sending e-waste to poor countries for 'recycling'. We need to take responsibility ourselves, recycling them properly, fully & safely, not relying on others to do it for us. Exporting waste is just more colonialism. https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/recycle-laptop-air-quality-environment-thailand-toxic-fumes-a9240906.html

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AlanWatsonFeat1Alan Watson Featherstone@AlanWatsonFeat1·
15h

#ClimateBreakdown is causing the demise of tropical mountain top glaciers. “It’s similar to visiting a terminal cancer patient, and ... not being able to do anything about it.” We can do something about it, with radical change now, to stop fossil fuel use. https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change-pacific-glaciers-indonesia-melt-sea-level-global-warming-a9240666.html

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