Summer of free fun at St Cyrus

The reserve’s big family event takes place on Sunday, July 20 from 12 to 4pm. St Cyrus Fun Day features facepainting, an art workshop and crafts (including turning rubbish into amazing creatures), games, a tea and cake stall, a Whale and Dolphin Conservation stand, and info on the reserve and the effects of marine litter.

Next up is an edible plant walk and tasting session on Tuesday, 22 July from 2 to 4pm. Come learn about the wildflowers that make the reserve so special and hear traditional stories, medicinal uses and the recipes associated with them. Booking is required for this event.

The Feis Rois National Ceilidh Orchestra pays a return visit on July 31 from 1 to 4pm, playing traditional music for visitors while they enjoy the spectacular setting of the reserve.

Theresa Alampo, St Cyrus reserve manager, said:

“We have a summer full of great events at St Cyrus – and they’re all free! So we hope to see lots of people out enjoying the beauty of the reserve, learning more about wildlife, and just having fun at our events. There’s something for every taste.”

Other events over the summer (all free) include:

18 July, 7:30pm–9:30pm
Whale and Dolphin Conservation talk and a screening of the critically acclaimed film, Black Fish. Booking required.

19 July, 10am-3:30pm
Shorewatch training event – learn how to carry out year-round, 10-minute whale and dolphin watches from land with Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Help WDC collect these valuable sighting information and protect whales, dolphins and porpoises. Booking required.

3 August, 12 noon-4pm
Mythical creatures from magical sands – create a fantastic sand sculpture with Angus Arts. Bring garden spades and buckets and join in with this communal drop-in event and enjoy a magical story unfolding as you build. No booking required.

16 Aug, 8pm-10pm
Nocturnal moth adventures - St Cyrus National Nature Reserve is home to a huge variety of butterflies and moths, but many people miss the moths that fly at night. Join local experts to discover the amazing diversity of moths and listen out for night hunters including owls and bats with a bat detector. Booking required.

23 Aug, 1-4pm
Macro Photography - learn how to take fantastic close-up photos of plants and bugs around the reserve with local photographer, Frank Brooks. A photographic competition will be launched on this day as well. Booking required.

For more information or to reserve spaces at events, call the reserve office on 01674 830736.

St Cyrus reserve is one of the most picturesque sections of coastline in north-east Scotland. It boasts the magnificent sandy sweep of Montrose Bay, towering volcanic cliffs, yellow dunes, and a spectacular wildflower meadow that supports a number of rare plants and insects.