Awards recognise and celebrate people and projects who work towards excellence and innovation in Scottish conservation

Mapping discarded plastic bottles using a hashtag and creating a pollinator pathway for bees and butterflies are some of the projects that have been shortlisted for this year’s RSPB Scotland’s Nature of Scotland Awards.

It is the seventh year of the awards which recognise and celebrate those people and projects who passionately work towards excellence and innovation in Scottish conservation.

Over 50 people, projects, or organisations have been recognised with a Nature of Scotland Award since the first awards in 2012.

This year there were a record number of nominations across nine categories including Community Initiative, Innovation, and the new RSPB Young Nature Champion Award in celebration of the Year of Young People 2018.

The Young Nature Champions shortlisted show a broad range of passions and interests having undertaken work including volunteering with the Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms project, promoting wildlife conservation of typically less charismatic creatures, making several regional micro-moth discoveries, promoting wildlife and conservation as a ranger, and supporting a network of volunteers for a marine biodiversity project.

A black-tie presentation dinner to announce the winners will take place on 22 November with hosts Kate Humble, TV presenter, writer and naturalist, and Euan McIlwraith, TV and radio presenter, and wildlife expert.

Anne McCall, director of RSPB Scotland, said "One of the highlights of my job is this opportunity to sit down and read all the applications.

“Each year as we receive more, it becomes a bigger job but one I love as I learn about the inspiring projects and people working hard to conserve Scotland's important habitats and wildlife.”

Visit here to see the full shortlist.