Glenlivet-Wildlife.co.uk a place to learn about the wonderful wildlife in Glenlivet
Title
Glenlivet - A Landscape of outstanding natural interest
Description
Lying at the edge of the Cairngorms in north east Scotland, the majority of the Glenlivet Estate falls within the Cairngorms National Park. Enclosed on all sides by high moors and hills, and with limited access to the outside world, Glenlivet has long been a refuge for wildlife. Much of Glenlivet lies over schists and limestones, which break down into more fertile soil than the granites found elsewhere in the Cairngorms. Glenlivet thus supports a richer variety of plants as well as larger stocks of wild birds and mammals than many other parts of the National Park. It is also designated as being of Great Landscape Value and the combination of managed and open countryside creates a varied, diverse landscape, which exhibits a wide range of upland habitats. This diversity combined with the variation from low lying woodlands and rivers through to hill top vegetation, means that the estate supports a wide variety of wildlife and has several sites which are important for their natural interest.
Scottish Highland Wildlife
The combination of rivers, woodland and open ground, creates conditions suitable for many typical upland species of birds and animals, some of which (particularly birds of prey) are relatively rare. Around 60 species of birds breed or are resident in the area, and a further 40 or so species of winter/summer visitors and migrants, can be seen at different times of the year.
The range of wild mammals found on this highland estate is also extremely diverse, and includes species such as the wildcat and pine marten. The moorlands, conifer plantations and broadleaved woodlands provide habitat for many typical upland species including roe and red deer, badger, fox, bats and red squirrel - all of which are relatively common.
