Editing St Kilda, Scotland (section)

== Nature conservation ==
On his death on 14 August 1956, the [[Marquess of Bute]]'s will bequeathed the archipelago to the [[National Trust for Scotland]] provided they accepted the offer within six months. After much soul-searching, the executive committee agreed to do so in January 1957. The slow renovation and conservation of the village began, much of it undertaken by summer volunteer work parties.<ref>Steel (1988) pages 256–7.</ref> In addition, scientific research began on the feral Soay sheep population and other aspects of the natural environment. In 1957 the area was designated a [[national nature reserve (United Kingdom)|national nature reserve]].<ref>[http://www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/reserve.asp?NNRId=5 "Scotland's National Nature Reserves—St Kilda"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515231414/http://www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/reserve.asp?NNRId=5 |date=15 May 2008 }} National Trust for Scotland. Retrieved 16 March 2007.</ref>

In 1986 the islands became the first place in Scotland to be inscribed as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]], for its terrestrial natural features.<ref>[http://www.snh.org.uk/nnr-scotland/news_detail.asp?newsID=12 "Scotland's National Nature Reserves—News and Events"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112220128/http://www.snh.org.uk/nnr-scotland/news_detail.asp?newsID=12 |date=12 January 2009 }} (9 December 2004) National Trust for Scotland. Retrieved 17 March 2007.</ref> In 2004, the WHS was extended to include a large amount of the surrounding marine features as well as the islands themselves.<ref>[http://www.kilda.org.uk/frame2.htm ''Marine Environment gains World Heritage Protection''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603050143/http://www.kilda.org.uk/frame2.htm |date=3 June 2013 }} (2 July 2004) The National Trust for Scotland. Retrieved 4 December 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/research/pdf_res_notes/rn01-73.pdf "World Heritage Sites in Scotland"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529185217/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/research/pdf_res_notes/rn01-73.pdf |date=29 May 2008 }} (21 July 2007) Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Research Note RN 01/73. Retrieved 3 January 2007.</ref> In 2005, St Kilda became one of only two dozen global locations to be awarded mixed World Heritage Status for both "natural" and "cultural" significance. The islands share this honour with internationally important sites such as [[Machu Picchu]] in [[Peru]], [[Mount Athos]] in Greece and the Ukhahlamba/[[Drakensberg|Drakensberg Park]] in South Africa.<ref>[http://www.kilda.org.uk/frame26.htm "Dual World Heritage Status For Unique Scottish Islands"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061002160717/http://www.kilda.org.uk/frame26.htm |date=2 October 2006 }} (14 July 2005) National Trust for Scotland. Retrieved 6 January 2007.</ref>

St Kilda is a [[Scheduled Monument|Scheduled Ancient Monument]], a [[National Scenic Area (Scotland)|National Scenic Area]], a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]], and was a European Union [[Special Protection Area]].<ref>[http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/55/Details/ "St Kilda National Nature Reserve"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927021335/http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/55/Details/ |date=27 September 2007 }} National Trust for Scotland. Retrieved 16 March 2007.</ref> Visiting yachts may find shelter in Village Bay, but those wishing to land are told to contact the National Trust for Scotland in advance. Concern exists about the introduction of non-native animal and plant species into such a fragile environment.<ref name=Smith/> In 2008 the National Trust for Scotland received the support of Scotland's [[Minister for Environment]], [[Michael Russell (Scottish politician)|Michael Russell]] for their plan to ensure no rats came ashore from the ''Spinningdale'', a UK-registered/Spanish-owned [[fishing trawler]] which grounded on Hirta on 1 February.<ref name="Feb1-1">{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7221597.stm| publisher = BBC News online| title = Crew rescued from stricken boat | accessdate = 1 February 2008}}</ref> There was concern that bird life on the island could be seriously affected.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/feb/05/conservation1|publisher=Guardian Newspapers|title=Trawler rats threaten St Kilda seabirds|date=5 February 2008|access-date=30 June 2010|location=London|first=Roxanne|last=Escobales|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006193717/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/feb/05/conservation1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7227563.stm "Rats probe under way on St Kilda"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208161443/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7227563.stm |date=8 February 2008 }} BBC. Retrieved 10 February 2008.</ref> Fortunately, potential contaminants from the vessel including fuel, oils, bait and stores were successfully removed by Dutch salvage company [[Mammoet]] before the bird breeding season in early April.<ref>{{cite news| last =Gaston |first =Jack |title =Early bird saves UK heritage site | work =Lloyd's List Daily Commercial News | page =22 | publisher =Informa Australia Pty Ltd | date =29 May 2008}}</ref>

St Kilda's marine environment of underwater caves, arches and chasms, offers a very challenging but superlative diving experience.<ref>Booth, Richard [http://www.bsac.com/diverreports.asp?section=1248&sectionTitle=UK&itemid=2275 "St Kilda: The Holy Grail of UK Diving?"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603184649/http://www.bsac.com/diverreports.asp?section=1248&sectionTitle=UK&itemid=2275 |date=3 June 2012 }} (July 2005) BSAC Travel Club. Retrieved 18 March 2007.</ref> Such is the power of the North Atlantic swell that the effects of the waves can be detected {{convert|70|m|ft|0}} below sea level.<ref>McKirdy, Alan Gordon, John & Crofts, Roger (2007) ''Land of Mountain and Flood: The Geology and Landforms of Scotland''. Edinburgh. Birlinn. Page 220.</ref>