This September we took part in The Walking and Wheeling Festival. Where our Nature walk for the festival took us to the community land in Whiting Bay.
We couldn’t have started off with a timelier moment than to have a pod of bottle nose dolphin appear in the sea opposite us at the walk start point in Whiting Bay today! Spotted by one of our keen-eyed walkers, we all felt a spring in our step as we hurried nearer to the shoreline to catch a further glimpse before they bobbed south further out to sea and out of sight.
We headed slowly up Golf Course Road to find the track which leads to the community land. This was once an area of farmland lying disused ten years ago, which was then purchased by the community. The charity is called Arran Community Land Initiative and exists to protect this land for nature and for land-based recreation and education. Funding came from the Scottish Land Fund and locals’ fundraising efforts and donations.
As a former trustee and having worked away off island for some intervening years, I’m beginning to get re-involved in the space again. Something which I increasingly see as important for young families wanting some outdoor space to ‘grow’ in. It includes a community garden and allotments, with family gardening sessions every Saturday morning.
On our nature walks we like to plan ahead to invite locals with expert knowledge. This is to help our understanding of nature surrounding us on these walks. Our invited guest expert today was Sarah Cowan, who is a plant expert. She took us through some fascinating plant names, features and uses, as we wove past bee hives in the orchard and followed mown paths to the wooden hub. They even have convenient compost toilet adjacent!
Here we sampled some varieties of apple called ‘Katy’ and ‘Red Devil’. Plus we enjoyed a spicy apple cake I’d brought along and cut into 16 pieces which was just as well as there were 14 of us!
It was a delight to see new faces on this walk and most had never visited the community land and its treasure trove of apple trees, community garden produce with honesty box and the many walking paths further up.
As we were sticking to the large community garden and orchard area, whilst much further up it was pointed out that there is a newly built bird hide to visit over a new wooden bridge. The land is becoming abundant in wildflower meadow; even at the end of September, we saw late flowering knapweeds and vetches attracting bumblebees, and several birds were singing in the pockets of woodland round about. Ponies graze in some of the fenced off fields and views of the sea are even more stunning the further up the land you walk.
Everyone was impressed at the combination of productiveness and serenity of this site. Many plan to revisit it for a further potter about and an exploration of the many mown paths. I would love to think some of the visitors today were tempted to apply for an allotment too!
Fancy joining our next Nature Walk?
Each month we host a whole range of Nature Walks and this Autumn/Winter we have some amazing ones planned! If you would like to join us on one of our walks please email healthwalks@arranecosavvy.org.uk to book. All walks are free!
Wednesday 9th October – Corrie
Join us as we walk along the Corrie Shore road, taking in the coastal topography. We will be joined by Malcolm Wilkinson, who is the Arran GeoPark Operations Manager.
There is an optional extension part of the walk which descends onto uneven sandstone rock. Good supportive footwear and good mobility is required. At this point there will be two walk leaders for the group splitting in two. On return you’ll be able to refresh at our Zero Waste Cafe.
Wednesday 20th Novemeber – Lamlash
We will be taking a level seashore walk along Clauchlands shore road. Taking in views of Holy Isle and the No Take Zone which is conserving the sea-life in this area. Plus we will meet a member of staff at COAST Discovery Centre for an informal update on their latest work.
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