Merkinch Month
Words, the authors. Photographs and illustrations Nick Sidle
Photograph – Merkinch Local Nature Reserve (click on photograph for enlarged view)
Welcome to the first Cùra special feature, a full month dedicated to a single nature reserve, Merkinch in Inverness. For years from 1800, Merkinch itself was increasingly a place of small industry and the land, which the reserve occupies, was unused and polluted marsh, not an auspicious start for a nature reserve and perhaps even less so by now being on the edge of Inverness, the city it has become. Merkinch however has been an immense success, a combination of biodiversity and conservation and amenity to the local area and visitors, enjoyed by people and wildlife. The work is constant and the ranger, volunteers and management have built and maintained a natural oasis. Merkinch month on Cùra celebrates the results of their efforts and the habitats they have created. The adjacent Carnac Point has been included although it is technically not part of the reserve. It is impossible to separate the habitats and it is managed under a lease by the reserve team.
Map, Merkinch Local Nature Reserve. reproduced courtesy of the reserve
As well as the LNR itself, this window on Merkinch as a wildlife haven includes the easternmost stretch of the Caledonian Canal where it joins the sea, which runs adjacent to the reserve boundary. The canal paths are used by many visitors and the animals and birds make no distinction, so the canal is very much part of home for the resident wildlife and the experience for visiting people. All of which means that the success in the habitat and enjoyment of the amenity also owes much to the work of Scottish Canals and their team.
For the full collection of images from Merkinch on Cùra see the Merkinch LNR album
Photograph – European Robin, Erithacus rubecula
“Cùra Guardian is about stories as well as the science and that is going to apply in this case to the Merkinch Nature Reserve. Stories tell us how we can live with nature. We are a part of nature and somehow we seem to have forgotten that.
Nick Sidle’s nature photographs are brilliant and will do much to help publicise Merkinch Nature Reserve to anyone who hasn’t yet visited. I’ve been very happy to support the work of Heartstone, and this latest in a whole series of excellent projects.”
Cllr Chris Ballance, Depute Leader Inverness and Area
“I am delighted to have had the opportunity to engage with Cùra Guardian’s Merkinch Month. The Local Nature Reserve is a real treasure, and visitors who are there regularly, like myself, have the delight of seeing redshanks, otters, curlews, herons and more sharing the wonderful coastal environment with us humans. The Cùra/ Heartstone message of respect and harmony with the natural world has never been more important. This is a brilliant project and Sitakumari, Nick Sidle and the team are to be congratulated.”
Dr Michael Gregson, Councillor for Inverness Central
“The 50th designated LNR in Scotland is in its 19th year. Merkinch Local Nature Reserve is very much a hidden gem in the Highlands. It brings together abundant wildlife and a place where people can come and hopefully relax.”
Ali Locke, Chair Merkinch LNR
Photograph – Merkinch Local Nature Reserve
Encounters from the reserve
You will not see all of these on every visit, in fact it may take years. These images have been built up from many visits almost since the reserve opened. What those visits do say though, is that it is very rare to be on the reserve and see almost nothing. It is an animal and especially bird hotspot and every arrival prompts the question “what today”?
Nick Sidle
Eurasian Curlew
Photograph – Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata, Merkinch
Curlew, celebrated in poetry going back well over 1000 years, ‘I take my gladness in the sound of the curlew instead of the laughter of men’, the Curlew has almost been defined and named by its call. Curlew, as a name from its song, definitely dates back to 1340 CE and this is one of the more recent references. The call can be eerie and is often associated with the supernatural and the song of the Curlew has been described as being from something half spirit and half bird. Curlews are thought to be the origin of ‘The Seven Whistlers’, mysterious birds flying at night whose calls from another world predict disaster.
Photograph – Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata, Merkinch
It is the Curlew itself however which is under threat, numbers have declined in Scotland more than 60% in just over 20 years.
Nick Sidle
Sea Aster
Photograph – Sea Aster, Tripolium pannonicum, Merkinch
The Sea Aster is found in coastal habitats and was once popular in gardens until it was displaced by the introduction of the related Michaelmas Daisy from America in the 1600’s. It was used as a herbal treatment for wounds and an antidote to some poisons as well as having a medicinal use for eye diseases. It is also mentioned as the birthday flower for 1st May making it very appropriate for the first floral encounter in Cùra Merkinch Month. The name Aster comes from the Greek goddess Astraea and the flowers were said to come from her tears which turned to stardust and then made the flowers when it fell to earth.
Nick Sidle
Photograph – Sunset from Merkinch Nature Reserve
Photographs ©Nick Sidle, all rights reserved