26 April, 2017
Meet the Isle of May’s warden
Fife residents are invited to a free talk about the Isle of May and its spectacular wildlife on May 16 in Anstruther.
The talk by Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) Isle of May reserve manager, David Steel, will take place in the Dreel Halls (Lower Hall), High Street West, Anstruther on Tuesday, 16 May at 7.30pm.Teas and coffee will be provided.
David said: “I’m looking forward to telling people all about the spectacular wildlife that makes the ‘Jewel of the Forth’ so unique, from its 46,000 pairs of puffins to the largest grey seal colony on the east coast of Scotland. Discover what it’s like for researchers to live and work on the island for up to nine months of the year, and how my team and I make the magical isle our home for the summer.’
Other events planned for the season include family fun days, an archaeological exhibition, a seabird weekend and a seal weekend. Helping more people experience and enjoy nature in this way is one of the priorities of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.
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 press & PR officer, Vicki Mowat, on 0131 316 2659 or vicki.mowat@snh.gov.uk (Tuesday to Friday) or the SNH main press office on 01463 725 020 or 022 (Monday).
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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 .
NatureScot is Scotland's nature agency. Responding to the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, we work to protect and restore nature by inspiring everyone to value our natural world. Our goal is a nature-rich, net-zero future for Scotland. For more information, visit our website at www.nature.scot
'S e buidheann nàdair na h-Alba a th’ ann an NàdarAlba. Bidh sinn a’ gleidheadh agus a’ slànachadh nàdar le bhith a’ brosnachadh a h-uile duine gu spèis a chur air an t-saoghal nàdarra againn, agus sinn a’ freagairt air an dà chùis-èiginn de chall bith-iomadachd ’s atharrachadh na gnàth-shìde. ’S e ar n-amas nàdar beairteach ’s cothromachadh carboin do dh’Alba. Airson an tuilleadh fiosrachaidh, thoiribh sùil air an làraich-lìn againn aig www.nature.scot
