BY KIRSTY WATT
“The Plock really wins, it’s just a mosaic of habitats!” Dr James Merryweather told the Free Press ahead of this month’s South Skye Nature Festival.
The festival, running between 24th and 26th July, is the first of its kind to be held in the area and will see local and national nature experts, including James, offering guided walks, talks and workshops across Skye and Lochalsh on the marvels of the natural world.
James, a biologist from Auchtertyre, will be leading an exploration of Kyle’s Plock – a diverse environment featuring woodland, meadows, wet meadows and moorland – giving people a glimpse into the fascinating world of ferns on Saturday 25th.
Despite having no flowers, these popular plants are incredibly intricate and important for maintaining healthy biodiversity: their roots prevent erosion, their fronds offer shelter to other insects and plants, and they can also remove harmful toxins from the air.
Looking ahead to the festival, James said: “The walk will be for anybody, beginners or specialists, and I’ll adjust the tone to match the people. Straight away we’ll see six or seven different fern species!
“I hope [our exploration] will give an appreciation of the Plock. I’ve seen it written as ‘waste land’ and therefore suitable for development. People have wanted to put houses, caravan sites, pods, and even a zip wire here but it really is a glorious wild place.
In 2015, I went to the area by the bridge with a botanical recorder, recording flowering plant and fern species underneath the gorse … we found 163 species!”
James’s fern walk is one of over 40 different events taking place during the festival. These include an early morning guided walk listening to, and learning how to identify, bird song; rock pooling fun; guided nature kayaking; a bird ringing demonstration; a bumblebee safari; pond dipping; Celtic knot making with seashore rope; a CLIMAVORE foraging trip; and even a free screening of David Attenburgh’s ‘Ocean’ will be taking place at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.
Dan Milner, chair of the Sleat Nature Group who are running the festival, told the Free Press: “We, as a country, love nature, whether it’s feisty birds on our feeders or cheeky otters in our lochs, but at the same time we’re increasingly detached and distanced from it. For many people the idea of how to access nature and get to see it first-hand can be bewildering, so festivals like this are a chance to reconnect with nature and the marvels of our wildlife more easily.
“We’re hoping the festival will enable people to re-establish a love for nature while having fun, so almost all our events are hands-on activities that will engage young and older alike, no matter whether they’re newbies or experts! Ultimately, we’d love for people to go home with a re-found enthusiasm for helping nature get back on its feet.
“We have over 40 events going on throughout the weekend, almost all of them free. Although free, most events are ticketed, so jump onto the website ticket page to book your place, and if your chosen activity is already booked up, you can add your name to a waiting list.
“That said, there are so many activities going on, including several fascinating talks, so there’ll be something for everyone.
Meanwhile, the event hub at An Crùbh will have fantastic displays and stalls from 14 nature organisations too!”
For the full timetable of events and to book tickets, visit: https://www.sleatnaturegroup.org/ssnf-26/
