THE MAGICAL CLASHINDARROCH

Wildcat scats

Hi All

As promised, here is an update on the Clashindarroch. You all know that at this time of year it is absolutely crucial that wildcat females are not disturbed whilst they nurture their growing kittens. We have been extremely vigilant and have been regularly covering the whole forest block to ensure that no logging is taken place. We are delighted to tell you that the forest is peaceful and serene with only the joyful sounds of birds and insects. The wildcat females have the peace they need and so we as always, look forward to a very successful breeding season. We cannot wait to show you kitten images when they emerge, as we have done year on year.

We are of course laser focussed on the protection of the Clashindarroch and we are constantly on the look out for potentially damaging human activity. However, it is well worth reminding ourselves and showing you all, just how beautiful and special the Clashindarroch is. It is without doubt one of the wildest places in the UK and it is no surprise that along with its nationally important population of wildcats, it also contains a whole host of protected species such as pine martens, red squirrels, otters, badgers, goshawks and many more.

It is a stunningly beautiful place and it is so exhilarating to walk through, knowing that there is a reasonable chance that a wildcat may be watching you, but that you will rarely if ever see it. It has a wild and magical feeling that is hard to put into words. We wanted to share some pictures with you of one of our recent field work visits. You will see the range of habitats and why it is such a paradise for wildcats and other wildlife. In a remote area we have also found what is clearly a key territorial boundary point for multiple wildcats. Within 300 metes on a single forest game trail, we found 15 different wildcat scats. We have never found such a density before and so needless to say, we now have camera traps set and hope to capture some of the action. Every time we visit we find something new and we are always left with the exciting feeling that there is still so much to learn about the way these beautiful wildcats live in the wild.

We still await news from the Supreme Court in London about our application and will update you as soon as we hear anything. But for now, we hope you enjoy seeing the pictures of the forest that you have all helped to protect. The wind farm isn’t built, the forest is still there and the wildcats are still breeding. After 7 years of fighting we take great pride in this. We will of course continue to fight for as long as takes.

We hope that you enjoy the pictures.

Thanks for all your support and keep watching

Emily and the Wildcat Haven Team