deer; red squirrels; common pipistrelles; more elusive otters and pine martens; and possible sightings of wildcats. NatureScot has reported fourteen species of butterfly at the Reserve, including the pearl-bordered fritillary, a UK Biodiversity Action Plan species. Conservation management The RSPB's primary conservation aim is to expand the area covered by the forest. On 24 August 2011 the RSPB received consent from the Forestry Commission to expand native woodland through natural regeneration and planting, since when they have begun the planting of 60,000 aspen, birch, juniper and willow trees within an area of approximately 590 hectares. They are also working to improve bog, moorland, scrub, rivers and mountain habitats, both within the area of the reserve and in partnership with neighbouring estates. Historic forestry management practices have favoured the clearance of dead wood from the forest, and the RSPB are now seeking to increase the amount of lying dead wood, and dead trees and roots. To this end, on 19 October 2006, the RSPB began using explosives to blast off the crowns of nine Caledonian pine trees, between 100 and 200 years old. Referring to this use of explosives, Desmond Dugan, RSPB Site Manager at the Forest Lodge, said: "Explosives may seem extreme but the effect will be no less catastrophic than a wind snapped, lightning struck or avalanched tree" James Reynolds, RSPB Head of Media and Communications, said: "We've been simply felling trees and trying to create dead wood habitats in that way before, but we don't think it allowed the process to get going quickly enough" Other conservation designations The Abernethy National Nature Reserve overlaps with several other designated areas, including: Abernethy Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Abernethy Forest Special Protection Area (SPA) Cairngorm Lochs Ramsar Site Cairngorms Site of Special Scientific Interest Cairngorms Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Cairngorms Special Protection Area Cairngorms National Park Eastern Cairngorms Site of Special Scientific Interest Northern Corries, Cairngorms Site of Special Scientific Interest River Spey Special Area of Conservation The reserve also borders two other national nature reserves, Mar Lodge Estate and Glenmore Forest. See also Caledonian Forest Loch Garten Osprey Centre References External links RSPB Abernethy Forest & Loch Garten The Story of Abernethy National Nature Reserve - NatureScot Badenoch and Strathspey Forests and woodlands of Scotland Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reserves in Scotland Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Badenoch and Strathspey Protected areas