Planning has already begun for 2014's Golden Plover Award, and we are now hosting a Golden Plover Award webpage on the Heather Trust website so that potential entrants can learn more about the award's criteria, ethics and purpose.
New for the 2014 Golden Plover Award is the involvement and support of Wildlife Estates Scotland, an initiative backed by Scottish Land and Estates to encourage and promote the very highest standards of quality and best practice on Scottish sporting estates.
Wildlife Estates Scotland became active earlier this year as part of a Europe-wide scheme to provide estates with accreditation based upon sound wildlife management. Eight estates received their Level 2 accreditation following the WES pilot scheme during the summer (of which Golden Plover Award winner Edinglassie was one), and a total of ten estates have now made the grade.
Accreditation is undertaken by a totally independent body, SFQC, and the process is rigorous and objective. Half of the assessment is based upon a comprehensive desk review of the application along with supporting documents, and the other half consists of a visit to the estate in order to see the management practices "in action".
Two hundred and fifty estates have so far joined the scheme, and forty are currently working on their applications. As part of the Wildlife Estates initiative, regional meetings are taking place to spread
the word to estates across the country, with presentations and information issued so far in Fife, Deeside, Speyside and East Lothian, with more pop-up appearances taking place over the winter and into the New Year in order to engage with an even wider audience.
WES will have input to the Golden Plover Award selection process, and we look forward to working with them on this project. In the meantime, there is a great deal more information on the WES website at www.wildlife-estates.co.uk
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