Skip to main content

16 March, 2016

60th celebrations as the Isle of May opens its doors for the season

The Isle of May opens to visitors on the 26 March, and staff from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) are looking forward to hosting a season of free events for this special year in the island’s history.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the island as a national nature reserve. Also being celebrated is the 200th birthday of the island’s main lighthouse, which is managed by the Northern Lighthouse Board.

David Steel, SNH’s Isle of May reserve manager said, ‘I’m looking forward to welcoming the season’s first visitors at the end of March. The first of our seabirds will be returning then too, including the ever-popular puffins. So for close-up views of these characterful birds, book your place on a boat soon.”

“To celebrate the NNR’s 60th anniversary, we have loads of exciting events planned. It will also be the 200th year of the island’s main lighthouse, so there’s plenty to celebrate on the May!”

Among the events planned are family fun days, an art exhibition, a photography competition and a seabird weekend.

It’s free to visit the nature reserve, but you must take a boat trip to reach the island. Sailings are on the privately-run May Princess or Osprey of Anstruther from the Anstruther Harbour or through the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick.

Known locally as 'The May', this small island sits on the edge of the Firth of Forth. The island's importance for seabirds has drawn scientists to its shores for many years and the May is home to the oldest continuously running bird observatory in the UK. The May is also a regular haunt for grey seals, often seen lounging on the shoreline rocks. This island is a historical gem and it's been a place of pilgrimage for centuries with an early island monastery. The May was also the site of Scotland's very first lighthouse, built in 1636, while the current, castle-like lighthouse was designed by the engineer Robert Stevenson.

ENDS

MEDIA QUERIES
Contact SNH media officer, Vicki Mowat, on 0131 316 2659 or vicki.mowat@snh.gov.uk (Tuesday to Friday) or the SNH main press office on 01463 725 022 (Monday).

Notes to editors

The Isle of May is one of about 50 NNRs in Scotland. NNRs are special places that look after some of the best of Scotland’s nature on behalf of everyone who lives or visits Scotland, and they provide unique opportunities to visit, enjoy and learn more about Scotland’s nature. For more information, see www.nnr-scotland.org.uk .

Contact information

Name
SNH Media
Email
snhmedia@snh.gov.uk

NatureScot is Scotland's nature agency. We work to enhance our natural environment in Scotland and inspire everyone to care more about it. Our priority is a nature-rich future for Scotland and an effective response to the climate emergency. For more information, visit our website at www.nature.scot or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nature_scot

’S e NatureScot buidheann nàdair na h-Alba. Bidh sinn a’ neartachadh àrainneachd na h-Alba agus a’ brosnachadh dhaoine gu barrachd suim a chur ann an nàdar. Tha e mar phrìomhachas againn gum bi nàdar na h-Alba beairteach agus gun dèilig sinn gu h-èifeachdach le èiginn na gnàth-shìde. Tha an tuilleadh fiosrachaidh aig www.nature.scot no air Twitter aig https://twitter.com/nature_scot