Hazel gloves - update

The following are brief summaries of some of the action that we and our partners have done since the Species Action Framework was launched. They're in chronological order, with the most recent updates at the top of the page.

June 2011

The Atlantic Hazel Action Group has grown from strength to strength over the past two years and continues to provide a source of advice and enthusiasm for the hazel gloves Atlantic hazel habitat. The Group was successful in obtaining funding from the EU LEADER Programme, Scottish Natural Heritage and a Forestry Commission Scotland Seedcorn grant. This has supported a project officer to take the hazel gloves implementation plan forward in Argyll. The main themes of the project are 1) promoting the importance of Atlantic hazelwoods, 2) informing best practice management, 3) involving people, 4) raising awareness and 5) promoting hazelwood management. See the first year report  for a summary of outcomes.

Another important outcome has been the production of an Atlantic Hazel publication by lichenologists and hazelwood champions Sandy and Brian Coppins. Plans are well under way to publish as a book later in 2011.

The SAF PhD student, Katie Grundy, has made excellent progress  and already made some important discoveries about the ecology of hazel gloves.

Other important outcomes include an article about Atlantic hazel on the BBC Landward programme and an article in issue 9    of SNH's 'Nature of Scotland' magazine. An AHAG website  is currently being developed to highlight some of the Group's work.

The Atlantic Hazel Action Group has grown from strength to strength over the past two years and continues to provide a source of advice and enthusiasm for the hazel gloves Atlantic hazel habitat. The Group was successful in obtaining funding from the EU LEADER Programme, Scottish Natural Heritage and a Forestry Commission Scotland Seedcorn grant. This has supported a project officer to take the hazel gloves implementation plan forward in Argyll. The main themes of the project are 1) promoting the importance of Atlantic hazelwoods, 2) informing best practice management, 3) involving people, 4) raising awareness and 5) promoting hazelwood management. See the first year report  for a summary of outcomes.

Another important outcome has been the production of an Atlantic Hazel publication by lichenologists and hazelwood champions Sandy and Brian Coppins. Plans well under way to publish as a book later in 2011.

The SAF PhD student, Katie Grundy, has made excellent progress  and already made some important discoveries about the ecology of hazel gloves.

Other important outcomes include an article about Atlantic hazel on the BBC Landward programme and an article in issue 9    of SNH's 'Nature of Scotland' magazine. An AHAG website  is currently being developed to highlight some of the Group's work.

The Atlantic Hazel Action Group has grown from strength to strength over the past two years and continues to provide a source of advice and enthusiasm for the hazel gloves Atlantic hazel habitat. The Group was successful in obtaining funding from the EU LEADER Programme, Scottish Natural Heritage and a Forestry Commission Scotland Seedcorn grant. This has supported a project officer to take the hazel gloves implementation plan forward in Argyll. The main themes of the project are 1) promoting the importance of Atlantic hazelwoods, 2) informing best practice management, 3) involving people, 4) raising awareness and 5) promoting hazelwood management. See the first year report  for a summary of outcomes.

Another important outcome has been the production of an Atlantic Hazel publication by lichenologists and hazelwood champions Sandy and Brian Coppins. Plans well under way to publish as a book later in 2011.

The SAF PhD student, Katie Grundy, has made excellent progress  and already made some important discoveries about the ecology of hazel gloves.

Other important outcomes include an article about Atlantic hazel on the BBC Landward programme and an article in issue 9    of SNH's 'Nature of Scotland' magazine. An AHAG website  is currently being developed to highlight some of the Group's work.

7 December 2009

The period 2008-2009 saw the establishment of the Atlantic Hazel Action Group, managed by a partnership between Scottish Natural Heritage and Argyll and Bute Council as part of the Argyll Biodiversity Partnership. The group meets on a regular basis to review progress against the hazel gloves implementation plan    and provide advice and input to its actions (minutes will be posted on the Scottish Natural Heritage website in the near future). Members of the group have been particularly active in raising awareness of the importance of Atlantic hazelwoods and in providing habitat management advice  . Signs so far have been extremely encouraging as interest in management of Atlantic hazelwoods has gained a great deal of interest from woodland managers, community woodlands and local interest groups across western Scotland.

After an unexpected delay, the Aberdeen University based hazel gloves PhD started in October 2009. The student is making excellent progress in designing her project, reviewing literature and getting to know sites and learning new techniques.

A number of new sites have been found and added to the outputs of the site awareness raising project.

There have been no Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) applications to specifically manage hazel gloves habitat to date, however this will hopefully improve as more people become aware of the species. Plans are in place to provide support and advice to applicants and agents through a part-time project officer will maximise opportunities in the remaining period of the Species Action Framework.

11 October 2007

Action for this charismatic hazelwood fungus has started in 2007 with two key initiatives. The first, a site assessment and awareness project, has the following objectives:

• To assess all extant sites for the feasibility of habitat improvement or expansion.
• Produce detailed site specific action plans.
• Survey N & W Lochaber hazel gloves habitat.

This will set clear and prioritised actions to improve the habitat for hazel gloves over the remaining four years of the implementation plan for the species, and throughout its Scottish range. The project will start in October 2007 with a strategic workshop in Oban for Species Action Framework partners and other stakeholders. These include, the British Lichen Society, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Forestry Commission Scotland, the Sunart Oakwood Initiative and the Argyll Islands Woodland Partnership.

Secondly, to complement and further develop the site specific action plans, a PhD studentship has been funded, entitled 'The Hazel Gloves Fungus in Atlantic Hazel Woodlands: Understanding the Biology and Distribution of the Fungus in Relation to Woodland Management'. The studentship is funded by a partnership between Scottish Natural Heritage and the University of Aberdeen, The Macaulay Institute, the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and Aberystwyth University and will run from 2007 until 2010. The project will help fill gaps in our knowledge about the ecology and lifestyle of hazel gloves and help us target best practice management in the future.