Balranald RSPB reserve,

Machair

An amazing place for people Our work so far and for wildlife Our expertise in managing farmland for Machair is a very rare and special type wildlife means that we’re able to offer of coastal unique to the both advice and practical assistance to the north-western fringe of Europe, and crofters who make their living from the astonishingly, over 70% of all the machair machair. RSPB staff work with in the world is found on the western crofters to encourage traditional and coastline of the of the Hebrides. sustainable management practices that It’s formed by an exceptional blend of preserve this precious habitat. There are factors, where geology, climate and a variety of ways in which we can help, topography combine with traditional such as negotiating management crofting. Its fertility stems naturally agreements with crofters and landowners, from the light rich in ground or advising on agri-environment schemes. blown from the over the land, which adds lime to the peaty We have worked with crofters to promote , and from the low-intensity farming a number of key land use activities, Corncrake methods used by the island crofters. including:  increasing the area of late-harvested The result is a mosaic of open habitats crops and reducing the area of under- People and that are home to an outstanding array of sown arable crops the Machair wildlife. For a few weeks in spring and  traditional management methods such summer, the machair is a jewelled carpet as crop rotation, stooking (stacking), Working the machair is a huge part of wildflowers, including unique species and the use of seaweed fertilisers of crofting culture, but for the of orchids. The thousands of wading birds  managing greylag geese to protect habitat to be preserved for wildlife that flock to the islands to breed include fragile crops and for future generations, the old lapwings, redshanks, dunlins and ringed  securing a supply of local varieties ways of farming, such as allowing plovers. This is also the UK stronghold of of arable seed. arable weeds to thrive among crops the corncrake, which with its rasping call, for wildlife, must also continue. It’s so familiar to locals and visitors, has We’ve also developed some very special a big ask for any farmer, when become a symbol of the Hebrides. partnerships with local communities. changes to more intensive practices The RSPB Balranald nature reserve on – driven by financial and social Machair is internationally recognised as North Uist – 658 ha of rocky , factors influenced by local, national being of unique conservation importance, islands, sandy bays, , inland and international pressures – are and is listed on Annex 1 of the EU lochs, machair and fen – is managed by threatening nature everywhere. Habitats Directive. But its total area is so four crofting townships and through Our hope for the Hebrides is that small, covering just 19,000 hectares (ha), management agreements between agri-environment support and and it is so dependent on a very specific crofters and the RSPB. At our visitor bespoke management schemes can way of farming, that it is one of our most centre, we explain the close relationship encourage positive management for vulnerable homes for nature – and it between the crofting way of life and the wildlife, while also providing a needs our help. wealth of wildlife the machair supports. regular income for crofters.

Cárlabhagh Càrlabhagh Stornoway Stornoway KEY ! main road Futurescape area Special Protection Area

Machair

“ The remoteness and isolation of the Western Isles and Inner Hebridean islands has played a large part in preserving their pristine environment and breathtaking scenery. Their wealth and diversity of wildlife already draws visitors from all over the world, and developing sustainable tourism has the potential here to generate both revenue and employment that could help Produced by RSPB CDMU © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. RSPB licenctoe 1000 217support87 the islanders’ more traditional ways of life.”

Sources: Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ, USGS, Intermap, iPC, NRCAN, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri (Thailand), TomTom, 2013

What’s next? Get in touch RSPB Scotland will continue to work with our statutory We want to hear your ideas about how we can work together partners and with the crofting community to develop practical to make the machair even better for people and wildlife: management measures that will yield economic returns for crofters and benefits for wildlife. The machair is not only a Conservation Officer RSPB North Scotland Office habitat of global significance for nature: it is one that can Robin Reid T 01463 715000 support both communities and wildlife like no other, provided T 07920 587321 Etive House that the delicate balance between the needs of wildlife and Beechwood Park of people is maintained. Our wider message will be a call for Unit Reserves Manager Inverness IV2 3BW long-term public funding support to secure the position of Jamie Boyle both the crofting community and the unique birds and plants T 01876 560287 of the Hebridean machair.

Futurescapes is the RSPB’s contribution to landscape-scale Natura 2000 – Europe’s Futurescapes is The RSPB is a member conservation throughout the UK nature for you. We are generously supported of BirdLife International, working together across the by the EU Life+ a partnership of conservation All rights reserved. RSPB licence 100021787 The Royal Society EU to safeguard Europe’s rich Communications organisations working to give and diverse natural heritage Programme nature a home around the world for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England for the benefit of all and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654. Images: Balranald RSPB reserve by Genevieve Leaper and corncrake by Steve Knell (both rspb-images.com). Maps produced by RSPB CDMU © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. RSPB licence 100021787. 020-1-0965-13-14