Deer-stalking wins the day as treasured estate abandons nature reserve status

THE priority for a jewel in the Scottish landscape has shifted from conservation to deer-stalking because the landowners no longer feel able to manage the area mainly for nature conservation.

Inchnadamph Estate in Sutherland has been a much treasured National Nature Reserve (NNR) for more than 50 years and the landowners were one of the first to enter an NNR agreement, making conservation of the nationally and internationally important species, geology and habitats found in the 1,300-hectare area central to land use policies.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) yesterday confirmed that, following extensive talks about the condition of the land and the requirements of NNR policy, it had been unable to reach a new agreement with landowner George Vestey, a member of the Vestey family who own large tracts of land in highland Scotland.

The estate took the view that a commitment to manage the land with conservation as the overriding priority did not fit with its broader objectives, which include retaining a sustainable deer herd for sporting interests. The management, therefore, decided not to continue with its NNR designation.

SNH acknowledged that meeting the NNR requirements can be challenging for private landowners.

Following a recent review, there are now 56 NNRs in Scotland, accounting for just 1 per cent of the land area. About two-thirds involve a Nature Reserve Agreement with landowners, the remainder being owned or leased by SNH.

Lesley Cranna, SNH's North Highland area manager, said there had been close co-operation and goodwill between SNH and the estate for years, with the estate having previously reduced deer numbers to improve the state of the land.

"We recognise that it is a challenge to manage the land to the standard required for a National Nature Reserve and we are naturally disappointed that in this case it cannot be met," she said.

"However, the site will remain nationally and internationally important for its habitats and geology."

Inchnadamph is famous for its mysterious bone caves, in which human remains about 4,500 years old have been found.

There are also bones of many different kinds of animals, several now extinct in Scotland, including possible polar bear remains almost 19,000 years old.

It is the only site in Scotland where lynx bones have been recovered, dating back 1,700 years. The area is also highly valued for its rare limestone plants, likely to be very susceptible to grazing and trampling.

Much of the area is still protected as a "site of special scientific interest.

Mr Vestey said he welcomed responsible access to the land and he would continue to work with SNH to protect the sensitive wildlife. "We have all worked hard to find a way whereby we could accommodate the needs of a national nature reserve with our own objectives of owning the land, but unfortunately this was not possible," he said.