New look Loch Garten osprey centre now flying high
RSPB Scotland’s newly refurbished Loch Garten Nature Centre has opened its doors to visitors for the first time in 20 months, after delays due to the Covid pandemic.
The centre has undergone a major refurbishment as part of RSPB Scotland’s Wildlife Watch Abernethy project and has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, administered by NatureScot.
At a much toned-down opening ceremony due to Covid restrictions, a small number of local people watched as Harris and Woody Cameron from Nethy Bridge officially opened the centre by untying a bow across the new entrance.
Asked how he felt about opening the centre, six-year-old Woody said: “It felt great and just good that all of the people were watching.”
Older brother Harris, aged nine, added: “It just feels kind of magical here because you’re seeing all of these amazing birds and the forest around you and you’re not seeing them like you’re watching them on a telly, you’re seeing them actually through your eyes, looking at everything around you.”
Jess Tomes, visitor operations manager for RSPB Scotland’s Abernethy reserve, which includes the Loch Garten Nature Centre said at the launch: “This marks the start of a new chapter for Loch Garten.
"After 60 years of focussing on one species, albeit an impressive and much-loved species – the osprey – the centre here at Loch Garten now tells not only the story of the ospreys but also the story of the surrounding Caledonian pine forest and the wider reserve.
"In a world where nature is facing ever-increasing threats in the form of climate change and world-wide biodiversity loss, we hope that visitors to the centre will find inspiration and motivation to take action in their lives to protect our natural world."
The European Regional Development Fund has contributed £252,000 to the Loch Garten refurbishment, which took 20 months to complete due to Covid related delays.
The centre now boasts floor to ceiling glazing in an open plan visitor area and has a brand-new decking outside, to enable visitors to sit whilst enjoying a coffee and watching red squirrels and small birds on the feeders.
Updated interpretation in the centre and out on the nearby forest trails tell the story of the Caledonian pine forest, with a flexible exhibition space inside the centre for input from the local community.
The interpretation features pictures of Abernethy wildlife drawn by local schoolchildren, plus quotes and poems from local people on the panels.
Behind the scenes, the staff are benefitting from a new office space and staff room.
The Wildlife Watch Abernethy project is part of an almost £9 million Scottish programme of projects to invest in the Highlands and Islands to provide more and better-quality opportunities for visitors to enjoy natural and cultural heritage assets.
The Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund encourages people to visit some of the more remote and rural areas and create and sustain jobs, businesses and services in local communities.
The purpose of the fund is to promote and develop the outstanding natural and cultural heritage of the Highlands and Islands in a way that conserves and protects the region.
The world-famous osprey nest at Loch Garten has been empty for the past two years, but hopes are high that a new pair who have taken up residence will produce eggs over the next few days.
Visitors can see the nest from the centre and watch the antics of the pair up-close on live screens.
The Loch Garten Nature Centre opens every day at 10am, with last entry at 4.30pm. Due to current Covid restrictions, the numbers of visitors are being restricted at any one time within the centre itself, and visitors are being asked to wer a mask, keep 2m apart and sanitise their hands on entry and on leaving.
