Nothing to See Here Delivering better wildlife viewing experiences

Nothing to See Here is a practical guide from Forestry Commission Scotland offering clear, experience-based advice on designing and managing high-quality wildlife viewing facilities. The publication explores how to create safe, meaningful, and sustainable wildlife experiences that benefit visitors, local communities, and the wildlife itself. Ideal for site managers, rangers, planners, and interpretation professionals, it covers species selection, visitor motivations, hide design, landscape placement, and operational considerations. The guide blends technical advice with case-study photography and prompts that help teams reflect on their own site conditions and goals.

Contents Summary

Introduction – The value of wildlife viewing for wellbeing, tourism and conservation; the need for planned, well-designed facilities.

01: Site & Species Choice – Deciding what wildlife to feature, reliability of sightings, ecological sensitivity, seasonal patterns.

02: Your Audience – Understanding specialist vs generalist visitors, family groups, motivations, equipment needs, and audience diversity.

03: Location – Positioning hides, access, disturbance minimisation, landscape integration, lighting, prevailing winds, and nearby amenities.

04–10: Design Considerations – Doors, windows, seating, habitat manipulation, optics, interpretation, and maintenance guidance.

Case examples illustrated through species such as red squirrels, otters, seals, and woodpeckers.