Emergency appeal launched by conservation charity after 'devastating' wildfire destroys Corrimony RSPB reserve

A UK nature conservation charity is launching a fundraising appeal after a devastating wildfire near Loch Ness has destroyed around half of one of its nature reserve.

The blaze which firefighters have been trying to control for almost a week near Cannich as ravaged RSPB's protected site at Corrimony.

Now, an appeal has been launched to help deal with the costs and the long-term impact of this devastating event.

Simon McLaughlin, site manager at RSPB Scotland said: “This has been a devastating event for many in the Cannich area, and around half of our Corrimony nature reserve has been destroyed. The efforts of those involved to control the fire have been incredible, but it is going to take a long time for Corrimony to recover. The funds raised through this appeal will be vital in meeting the costs of tackling this fire and support helping restore what has been lost.”

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The nature conservation organisation has been working with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Forestry and Land Scotland, other landowners, and its neighbours to control and monitor the blaze.

The fire began on Tuesday, May 23 on neighbouring land, before spreading to the nature reserve on Saturday, May 27, where it was battered out.

A change in the weather brought it back on Monday, 29, with the flames brought under control on Wednesday, May 31. Efforts are now focused on monitoring the land.

Initial assessments indicate that around half of RSPB Scotland Corrimony has been destroyed, with many rare species impacted during their crucial breeding season.

The fire has torn through the heather moorland where ground nesting birds such as Black Grouse are found, and through the birch woodland where Scottish Crossbills – the UK’s only endemic bird – nest.

Trees such as Scot’s Pine, Birch and Rowen planted to help with the restoration of Corrimony’s Caledonian forest, which has been taking place for the last 25 years, have been destroyed.

Funds raised through the appeal will help meet the costs of bringing in RSPB teams from all over the north of Scotland, trained in fire control, to help fight this one. They will also go towards funding RSPB Scotland’s share of the firefighting costs. Looking forward, they will support the costs of replanting the woodlands lost, and provide extra deer management to protect these trees as they grow, as well as allowing vital monitoring work of species hit by the fire to fully understand its impact.

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