The RSPB Loch Garten, Abernethy has responded to criticism over its management during the Cairngorms wildfire response, as firefighters continue to work in the area four weeks after the blaze began near the Ryvoan Bothy close to Aviemore. The wildfire warning remains tied to an active response, and the Loch Garten Nature Centre is still closed.
A spokesperson for RSPB Loch Garten, Abernethy said: "We are continuing to work closely with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in tackling this ongoing fire." The same team said the closure of the Loch Garten Nature Centre lets staff and partner agencies focus on managing the fire.
Forest Lodge access
The RSPB said it has been providing use of many of the facilities at Forest Lodge as part of its support for the teams involved. It said volunteers from among more than 300 people fighting the fire and supporting the effort over the past several weeks have used residential parts of the building to sleep at times.
That arrangement has created the dispute now surrounding the site. The RSPB said: "We are aware of criticisms which have been made about this management, and we would like to address this." It added: "Unfortunately, people accessing those areas unexpectedly was disrupting opportunities to rest and created further health and safety concerns."
Health and Safety at Forest Lodge
The RSPB said it required signage to support and protect the safety of volunteers and residents, including families with young children. It also said separate spaces for volunteers, contractors and RSPB to SFRS have made management of food and Health and Safety protocols more effective.
For the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the support at Forest Lodge has included hot drink making facilities, toilets during the day and food provided by the community. The service has also had a welfare unit based at Forest Lodge at times to help reduce pressure on the water supply.
Ryvoan Bothy major incident
More than 500 firefighters have tackled the blaze over the last 10 days, using specialist wildfire appliances, all-terrain vehicles, helicopter water-bombing operations and partner agencies. The fire near the Ryvoan Bothy has been declared a major incident, and crews are still damping down hotspots within Cairngorms National Park.
For people tied to the site, the practical issue is access and space: the RSPB has kept the centre closed while the response continues, and its own staff and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are still managing the fire from within a shared, restricted setting.
