T in Park has days left to move osprey nest
THE organisers of T in the Park may have just a few days left to protect rare birds at the event’s new location before they risk breaching wildlife laws, it has been warned.
RSPB Scotland says that an osprey nest needs to be moved at Strathallan Castle Estate in Perthshire before the birds return from wintering in West Africa. But that could happen any day now, the bird experts said.
Disturbing the ospreys once they have started to nest could constitute a serious offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The charity said it would be monitoring the nest and any disturbance would be reported to the police. Meanwhile, Woodland Trust Scotland is officially objecting to planning permission being granted for the event scheduled for July 10 to 12.
Although tickets are already on sale for the tens of thousands wanting to see the likes of the Prodigy, the Stereophonics and Noel Gallagher, Perth and Kinross Council said there was still no date set for councillors to consider the planning application from organisers DF Concerts Limited.
Aedan Smith, head of planning for RSPB Scotland, said “The ospreys are already on their way from Africa, some have already arrived in Yorkshire. As soon as they start nesting it is an offence to disturb them and the chances of disturbance is pretty high given the scale of the event being organised.”
The Woodland Trust said the planned site of the festival was surrounded by 200 acres of irreplaceable ancient woodland and will result in an unacceptable amount of disturbance every year to wildlife including ospreys, otters, red squirrels and bats – all threatened species on the Scottish Biodiversity List.
But a spokeswoman for T in the Park said: “We have been in constant engagement with the RSPB throughout this process and the feedback has been that they are comfortable with our strategy. Our mitigation plan is being carried out by a recognised ornithologist who is an expert on this protected species. The timing of works has been based on his advice.”