Fate of T in the Park could lie in new osprey nest

The fate of T in the Park’s proposed new site in Perthshire could depend on a newly construced man-made nest for ospreys.

A new nest for the protected birds is set to be ready on Saturday at Strathallan Castle Estate near Auchterarder after it was established that thousands of music fans could disturb the protected birds and also face criminal punishment as a result.

Rather than move the existing nest, which is on neighbouring land but within the festival boundary, T in the Park have taken the controversial decision to build an entirely new home for the ospreys in the hope the birds will roost there when they return to Perthshire.

T in the Park have stressed that “protection of the local environment is of the utmost importance” to them and that their “track record” in this area is extremely strong.

However, RSPB have slammed the move, claiming festival bosses’ concerns for wildlife at Strathallan is “something of an afterthought.”

For more on this story see Saturday’s Courier.