Bankhead Moss Nature Reserve
The SWT sheep flock has been at Bankhead for the last few weeks. In the spring David Blair and his team finished erecting the fence around the perimeter of the Moss and about 50 sheep have been put on the Moss each day for the last few weeks in the hope that they will eat down the young birch trees growing there. The sheep seem to have concentrated on the ferns rather than the birch recently, perhaps because birch becomes less palatable as the season progresses. Now, at the end of June, the sheep have just been sheared and will be taken off the Moss until early next spring.
With the lack of rain this month the surface of the Moss is now extremely dry. However the lint-holes are still holding their water and some are lovely and green with healthy sphagnum moss growth; look out for the sundew growing in abundance on several of the large lint-holes near the centre of the Moss. Access to the Moss is tricky at present as the circular path (to include stiles and interpretation boards) is not yet in place. The easiest way on to the Moss is to follow the path to the south west of the boardwalk (in the direction of the hide) to the new bridge over the deep ditch. Cross that and turn to the east through the trees until you pick up the path that the shepherds use to get the sheep on to the Moss; use the wee gate just over the sheep’s bridge to get on to the Moss itself. The ditches around the Moss are extremely deep and should only be crossed using a bridge. Remember also that the lint-holes are very dangerous and should be avoided.
The new path will hopefully be finished this autumn. The creation of new scrapes and ponds on the Marsh will also go ahead this autumn. Two new volunteers have been recording birds on the reserve and it will be interesting to see what their work turns up. Records from visitors are always welcome and there is a notebook in the hide to enter your observations in, or let me know please. Anybody wishing to help on the reserve can contact me and I am sure we can find something for you to do!
Elspeth Christie (eannsmuir@aol.com)
Flying Flock
In addition to the activity at Bankhead Moss noted above, Tim Brain and Laura Cunningham report:
In early June the winter grazing seems to have been successful, particularly at Fleecefaulds, where there was a patch of Globe Flower (Trollius europaeus) with over 500 flowers in it and where the orchids in the southern section are starting to show. By the time you read this, some of the flock could well be back on the grassland sites for the start of the winter grazing. It’s time that flies, not sheep! Our thanks again to all who have helped us over the summer.