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Balranald Nature Reserve set for record year

July 12, 2016

balranald1

RSPB Scotland’s Stuart Taylor reports that visitor numbers at Balranald have soared as the North Uist nature reserve celebrates its 50th anniversary…

Established fifty years ago by RSPB Scotland, local crofters and landlords, Balranald Nature Reserve has become one of the most popular tourist locations in the Western Isles. Initially set up to monitor the incredible wildlife of the area, it has gone on to become a major bird watching destination.

Twelve years ago – in 2004 – visitor numbers were just over 9,000, and estimated to bring £1.38 million into the local economy. This year, present visitor numbers indicate the reserve will have attracted more than 15,000 people.

Figures from 2004 were calculated to support the equivalent of almost four full-time jobs, which will now have increased significantly. The experience at Balranald is reflected elsewhere with wildlife tourism growing in many parts of the world and helping to sustain remote communities.

However, increasing visitor numbers also brings demand for improved visitor facilities. RSPB Scotland upgraded the small visitor centre (pictured) and car park at Balranald in 1996 with help from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. While the visitor centre is standing up well to the increasing numbers, the car park sometimes struggles to cope.

Jamie Boyle, RSPB site manager for Balranald, says: “Increasing numbers of visitors are great news for the island but we do need to be careful. While the breeding season is a popular time to visit, it is also the time when the birds are at their most sensitive to disturbance. We need to manage the area so that people can see the wildlife but not get too close.”

In order to cater for the growing demand, RSPB Scotland staff run a programme of guided walks, which were attended by more than 700 people last year. These walks provide the chance to see birds and plants of the machair and croftlands.

News of all this wonderful wildlife is spreading further afield and several organised holiday firms now feature the Western Isles as a major destination in their brochures. Tour leaders from Speyside Wildlife, Heatherlea, Norfolk Birding and Oriole Adventures are now familiar faces as they bring their groups to the islands annually to see what they can find. Balranald is invariably a stop on the itinerary.

Also helping to attract keen birdwatchers are the regular arrival of rarities on the islands, with the recent presence of a Gyr Falcon and a Black-billed Cuckoo proving particularly lucrative for campsites and other accommodation providers.

However, the future rests with young people and it is very encouraging that people of all ages attend the walks during the season, with families with children particularly prominent. We very much hope and expect that Balranald will attract even more visitors in the next 50 years which, in turn, should help to secure the prosperity of the vitally important tourist industry in these islands.

Filed Under: News, Tourism Tagged With: Balranald Nature Reserve, Bird watching, North Uist, North Uist Agricultural Society, RSPB Scotland

All you need to know about the 1 Milion Miles for Ellie Tractor Rally

May 10, 2016

Tractor on a farmer field

Ready to clock up some serious road miles for 1 Million Miles for Ellie? North Uist Agricultural Society (NUAS) is organising a tractor rally for Saturday 28th May and hoping for a strong turnout of vehicles of all colours, ages, shapes and sizes…

Whether you are planning to take part or spectate, here are all the details you need…

Anyone interested in entering a tractor is asked to get in touch with NUAS right away so organisers can ascertain how many vehicles are likely to take part. NUAS can be contacted on northuistshow@gmail.com

All tractors are advised to arrive at Hosta Showground no later than 9.30am on the day of the rally.

If participants would like to leave their tractors at the showground the evening before the rally, they are more than welcome to do so.

For tractors travelling south of Clachan it will be possible to join the rally at Clachan.

To avoid congestion, tractors will start off in groups of four and about five minutes apart.

Reminders of the event will be posted in local shops and on the radio to make other road users aware there are likely to be a lot of tractors on the road.

There will be three stop-off points around the island, at Clachan, Lochmaddy Pier and Taigh Sgìre Sholais. People are very welcome to gather at the pit-stops to show their support.

Prizes will be presented for:

Oldest Tractor
Furthest Travelled Tractor
Best Turned Out Tractor
Best Dressed Tractor Driver

It is hoped to have lorry tractor units on the showground for visitors to view.
An award will also be presented for the Best Lorry Tractor Unit. As there is limited space on the showground, it would be helpful if those hoping to attend with units would get in touch.

To keep people entertained whilst waiting for tractors to return, there will be soup and sandwiches, homemaking, an arts and crafts area for children, gate hanging competition, sheaf over the bar, nail in the block, guess the weight of the dumpling, and a raffle at the showground.

Anyone willing to donate a raffle prize or home baking, or available to help as a steward at any of the stop-off points please get in touch.

For more information contact Joan Ferguson on 01876 580 327 or e-mail  northuistshow@gmail.com

Filed Under: Crofting, News Tagged With: 1 Million Miles for Ellie, North Uist, North Uist Agricultural Society, Tractor Rally

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