Issue 46 Spring/Summer 2017

Caerlaverock NNR 60th Anniversary Page 4-5

Drift Page 16-17

All You Need is Mud Page 18-19 Chairman’s Column Alastair McNeill FCIWEM C.WEM MCMI

hanks, and best wishes are extended to Andrew North West England: Shankland for contributions to SFP in his capacity as an http://mis.marinemanagement.org.uk/north-west Tindependent Board member. Having completed three Scotland: separate terms with the Board over the last decade, Andrew http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/seamanagement stood down at the AGM last November. A warm welcome is A project to support research into the development of an expressed to Rupert Shaw who joined the Board at the 2016 integrated system for the collection, collation, analysis, and AGM and attended his first meeting in March. Rupert, a interrogation of data from the Scottish inshore fishing fleet farmer from Borgue and NFU Chair of the Dumfries and was launched last November. Supported by the European Galloway region, replaces Andrew as an independent SFP Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), it is envisaged that over Board member. a 30 month period the project will develop a system which will An iteration workshop took place in Carlisle in March as incorporate a decision support tool able to utilise information part of the Marine Management Organisation’s (MMO) policy gathered to inform fisheries management and marine planning. development process for a marine plan for the North West. The Scottish Inshore Fisheries Integrated Data System Co-chaired by Solway Firth Partnership, the MMO iteration (SIFIDS) Project aims to deliver a step change in the way that workshop enabled group discussions on economic, social, inshore fisheries in Scotland may be managed in cooperation environment and governance issues pertinent to the North with the industry. The focus will be on inshore fishing vessels West coast including the Cumbrian side of the Solway. The around Scotland, where spatio-temporal information on the Partnership’s cross-border experience is particularly relevant distribution of vessels and associated fishing effort is data in respect of several issues debated during the workshop and deficient. SFP will be available to facilitate marine planning processes The Project is led by the University of St Andrews (MASTS) as these develop. Marine Planning is progressing differently and is designed to align with three key elements highlighted in north of the border where the Scottish Government the Scottish Inshore Fisheries Strategy 2015: introduced a National Marine Plan in 2015 and created 11 • enhancement of the evidence base on which management Marine Regions which will evolve into marine planning decisions are taken; partnership areas. Two partnership areas have been • promotion of stakeholder participation, and; established, Shetland last year and Clyde in March 2017, • the incorporation of inshore fisheries activities within spatial while there will be a roll-out to other areas including the marine planning. Solway over the coming years. More information on marine More details on SIFIDS can be found via the Web link: planning can be found via the following Web links: http://www.masts.ac.uk/research/emff-sifids-project/

Grune Point, Skinburness

2 Solway Firth Partnership Contents

7 -1 -5 6 4 1

9 -9 -1 8 8 1

Caerlaverock NNR 60th Anniversary 4-5 An Update from the Solway Coast AONB 6-9 Solway Coast Community Volunteers 6-7 Solway Fun in Tullie House 7 RSPB Campfield Marsh 8-9 Solway Coastwise: Where every name tells a story 10-11 Fishing for the Future – Engaging Young Anglers 12-13 An Update from the MMO 14-15 An Update from Marine Scotland 15 Drift 16-17 Edge - An Art Installation for Beachcombers 17 All You Need is Mud 18-19 SIMCelt - An Update on Marine Planning in the Celtic Seas 20-21 Dates for your Diary 22-27

Photo Credits: Front Page: Sheep’s bit - Nic Coombey, Solway Firth Partnership; Page 2: Solway Firth Partnership; Pages 4-5: Black and white photos courtesy of Wally Wright, Other photos, Lorne Gill, Scottish Natural Heritage; Pages 6-7: All Solway Coast AONB; Pages 8-9: All Solway Wetlands; Pages 10-11: All Solway Firth Partnership; Pages 12-13: All Nith Catchment Fishery Trust; Pages 14-15: Marine Planners, MMO; All Other photos, Solway Firth Partnership; Pages 16: All Vision Mechanics; Page 17: Jo Hodges; Pages 18-19: Brittlestar bed/Fireworks Anemones & Sea Pens/Phosphorescent sea pen and Dublin Bay prawn/ Sea potato / Common heart urchin at Beacon Cove - All Paul Naylor; Ocean Quahog, Paul Kay; Marine Mudness Event, Cumbria Wildlife Trust; Page 20: Solway Firth Partnership; Page 21: All SIMCelt; Pages 23-27: All Solway Firth Partnership.

Tidelines 3 Haaf Netting at Glencaple

Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve Celebrating 60 years of successful partnership working

Biodiversity, sustainability and partnership are familiar terms these days used by both the general public and experts alike to describe the management of our natural and cultural landscape.

4 Solway Firth Partnership View from the Flooders to Ward Law Mudflats at Caerlaverock

owever, sixty years ago, these after the reserve was created, very few the enduring success of the vision that terms were not commonly local people question the SNH the Duke of Norfolk had for Hunderstood by those involved in wildfowling scheme or why occasional Caerlaverock NNR so many years ago. conservation, farming, fishing and field controlled commercial cockling is If you want to find out more about sports; in many instances they found allowed on the reserve. We believe this Caerlaverock NNR and the people who themselves in opposing camps on the is down to the successful demonstration, make this venture an ongoing success, economy versus environment battlefield over many years, that exploitation of please keep an eye on the series of free and tended to mistrust each other’s natural resources and the aims of the events that the NNR team will run with motives. In the 1950s, understanding SNH’s partners in 2017. These events the link between sustainability and will take place on and around the environmentalism was in its infancy and reserve and will be advertised on our the idea of developing a model to website throughout the year at: maintain a balance between nature, http://www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/ productivity and culture would not have caerlaverock/ been a familiar one to those who worked As we celebrate our 60th anniversary the land and sea or pursued leisure we would like to hear from local interests along the Nith and Solway residents and visitors about their ideas, Firth. stories and experiences of

In 1957 the Duke of Norfolk, who Wildfowler at Brow Well before shelduck, Caerlaverock. The NNR team hope you owned the Caerlaverock Estate, had the barnacle geese and curlew were protected will join us as we contribute to the ground breaking vision to create a Solway Coastwise project special place where conservation, reserve are compatible. This is in line https://solwaycoastwise.tumblr.com/ farming, fishing and wildfowling would with the principles and practices that to collect audio recordings of people’s coexist in harmony for the benefit and underpin sustainable land management, experiences. enjoyment of future generations. The or meeting the needs of the present, If you want find out more about this or Duke approached the Nature whilst protecting the needs of the future. any of our other events and activities Conservation Council (Scottish Natural This attitude, shared across the Nith please get in touch with us at Heritage’s predecessor), the Crown Estuary and the wider Solway Firth, is [email protected] Estate Commissioners, and Wildfowlers Association of Great Britain and Ireland Saltmarsh, Caerlaverock (British Association for Shooting and Conservation’s predecessor), local wildfowlers and conservationists with his ideas; this led to the establishment of the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve (NNR). Although Caerlaverock’s natural and socioeconomic landscape has altered over time, this model continues to work remarkably well and has adapted successfully to the changes that have had an impact on this beautiful part of the world. These days for example, 60 years

Tidelines 5 An Update from the Solway Coast AONB

Litter picking on Silloth beach Solway Coast Community Volunteers Volunteers on the dunes

ver the years, the Solway been washed up on to what is normally Crosscanonby salt pans. This is a fine Coast community volunteers a pristine beach much favoured by example of a method our ancestors used Ohave focused their hard work visitors. to acquire salt from the sea, which at and efforts on the upkeep of the Solway During the next few weeks the that time was essential to curing meats Coast Area of Outstanding Natural volunteer group will be assisting with the and fish. Salt as a commodity could also Beauty (AONB). They carry out a wide installation of a replacement pond liner be bartered for fish and grain. The range of tasks to support the local at Mawbray Banks. This work is being Crosscanonby site is one of the best community, Allerdale Borough Council carried out in an attempt to improve the remaining examples of salt making in the and the staff. They are a dedicated area for the elusive and rare natterjack country. Site maintenance includes the group of people who commit their time toad, a species which has witnessed a strimming and removal of cut grass in to improve the area with activities such massive decline in recent years due to and around the site, as well as removal as regular beach litter picking events, disease and habitat change. The newly of gorse at certain times of the year. nature reserve management, bird and installed pond liner should help retain All are welcome to join in with the animal surveys. water and should hopefully improve the work parties and activities of the group During recent weeks the group have breeding potential for the area for this so please come and join us! been improving Silloth beach with the fascinating amphibian. Keep an eye on our website at assistance of the Silloth Port Authority Other upcoming tasks for the www.solwaycoastaonb.org.uk for staff members and the local community, volunteers to get their teeth into will be upcoming dates and meeting locations. removing a trailer-load of debris that had annual maintenance of the

6 Solway Firth Partnership An Update from the Solway Coast AONB

Solway Fun in Tullie House

n Saturday 11 and Sunday out about Cumbria’s coastline, with a 12 March, Tullie House particular focus on the Solway and OMuseum and Art Gallery why it is a protected landscape. came alive with the Nature Explorers Activities on offer included Festival, a fun-filled weekend for the investigating a whole range of public. The museum was opened up treasures from the strandline, making for people to discover everything a jellyfish hat and pledging about Cumbria’s wildlife and habitats. commitment to protecting the marine Natterjack Toad pond management 20 organisations came together to run environment. A range of information dozens of activities, including worm was available for people to pick up charming, skull ID, volcano exploding, and look at, including a display of the bog-in-a-box making and insect Solway Firth Partnership publication investigating. A Beachcombers Guide to the The Solway Coast AONB joined Solway Coast. forces with Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s The event was very well received, Assistant Marine Conservation Officer, 900 people attending across the Georgie Blow, to run the coastal zone weekend, and the array of activities as part of this day. Our aim was to created a real buzz. encourage people of all ages to find

Jellyfish hat making Investigatin g Shoreline treasures

Tidelines 7 RSPB Campfield Marsh Dave Blackledge Campfield Marsh One of the most important nature reserves in Cumbria

ecent investment by the Heritage Lottery funded Acquired by the Royal Society for Solway Wetlands Partnership (SWP) has seen the the Protection of Birds (RSPB) in RRSPB centre near Bowness on Solway flourishing further; establishing itself as a key contributor to the unique the late eighties and initially mosaic of wetland habitats across the Solway Plain. The charity’s site manager for the Cumbria coast is Dave attracting just a handful of visitors Blackledge. each year, nowadays thousands He explains his love for his wild and natural workplace. “The great success of the place has been the opening up make the journey to the Solway of the reserve for everyone to see what we’re doing here”. Coast from across the country. The SWP has invested £250k in Campfield Marsh’s 850 hectares of salt marsh, peat bog and farm land. Over the past four years 4000 children and young people

8 Solway Firth Partnership Four spotted chaser dragonfly Emerald dragonfly have been involved in learning activities and thousands more Trust. For example, when we were wetting up the peat bogs, families have gone along to get involved in events, workshops creating great new habitats for waders such as redshank, and training courses. curlew, lapwings and snipe. Dave is delighted with the improvements: Through our combined efforts we have improved the wider “We’ve got a brand new visitor centre, more paths, wetland landscape which has huge benefits for the health of improved habitats, a family discovery field, wildflower the internationally important lowland raised mires, or bogs meadows and an area for pond dipping. The reserve as they are known locally! now has something for all ages and interests. “It means the peat bog is growing again with “Prior to the project we’d have days when the resurgence of the “bog builder” sphagnum we wouldn’t see anyone at all. Now not a day moss as formerly dry areas become wet goes by without someone turning up, even again”. in the wildest windiest days in the middle of The new 650 metre extension to the winter. boardwalk means visitors can now take a “We get about 8000 into the visitor two and a half mile walk around the bog centre and thousands more just going for a without getting their feet wet. walk in the reserve or bird watching. Dave says he’s very happy to be working “The audience has completely changed. It’s at Campfield: no longer just hardened bird watchers coming “No two days are the same. along. Now we get families, and not just in the Sundew and “When you hear the first drumming of the snipe Sphagnum moss spring or summer. each year, that is a special moment. Dave is keen to point out the benefits of the RSPB working There have been lots of special moments, though; marsh within the SWP: fritillary butterflies coming back, lapwings breeding in an “Being part of it has meant we’ve been able to work much environment we’ve created for them. more closely with the other organisations in the partnership “It’s ever changing and hopefully ever improving as we such as Natural England, the AONB and Cumbria Wildlife work with the partners”. Young Explorers on the reserve

Tidelines 9 Solway Coastwise

Creeks at Scar Point Thorn at Fishers Bush Where every name tells a story

aps show us the names of places on the coastline Fishers’ Bush of Dumfries and Galloway but now the Solway MCoastwise initiative developed by Solway Firth Surveyors surveying for the first Ordnance Survey map of Partnership, is seeking the help of local people to record the area recorded the name Fishers’ Bush at this point on the colloquial or ‘unofficial’ names for places on the coast. shore where there were a few thorn bushes and noted that Coastwise had a stall at Dumfries Environment Fair and we the origin of the name was from the habit of fishermen using were told about a number of locations where local people use them to take refuge from inclement weather. place names that don’t appear on maps. On the Shore Road from Glencaple towards Caerlaverock Phyllis’ there is a small layby on a bend in the road. Local people know this as Phylis’ but it is marked on the OS Explorer map Fishers’ Bush was also the name given to a shack where as Fishers Bush, adjcaent to an area of merse called Scar Phyllis Laurie lived on the shore of the Nith until she died in 1942 Point. at the age of 72. Phyllis appears to have been a local character who was feared by the local children as resident Stephen Powell Scar Point still remembers; “As boys, we might be accused of not being very nice to Phyllis, but in fact it was Phyllis who wasn’t very nice The name Scar is probably derived from an old norse word to us! We went along the tide edge there, collecting bottles and, sker meaning rock in the sea and in south west Scotland is she really was dressed in black with a cloak – we all thought ‘of mostly used to describe a reef or mud bank exposed at low course she’s not a witch’, but none of us really put it to the test – tide that is littered with rocks. Scar Point is a stony projection in case we overstepped the mark and turned into a frog or into the Nith estuary and joins many other Scars named in the something! We were all sort of bold about it, but kept very wary inner Solway including Corbelly Scar, Bowhouse Scar, Rough around her, I mean she did have a classic look… the kind of the Scar, Brewing Scar, Powfoot Scar, Howgarth Scar and Whan thing a child would draw of a witch”. Find out more about Scar as well as several more on the English side. Stephen Powell’s memories on the Caerlaverock Community Association website, http://www.caerlaverock.org.uk /

10 Solway Firth Partnership Solway Coastwise

Phyllis’ Creek them. Coastwise are looking for volunteers who have place names to tell us about or would like to record local people Creeks in the tidal mudflats often change their course and about their reminiscences of visiting or working on the coast. may disappear when the merse is eroded away by the river By recording peoples experiences we hope to reveal the but then reclaim their names when they reappear after the meanings of the names used for coastal places. By taking a merse has built up again. Phyllis’ Creek was a deep closer look at the cultural heritage of the shoreline, channel in the past but is almost unidentifiable from rocky cliffs and caves to sandy bays and today. muddy creeks, we hope to add to everyone’s Whatever the origin of a name each one awareness and appreciation of the Dumfries has a story to tell and provides clues about and Galloway coast. the people who lived there in the past and If you would like to be involved or can continue to use the coast today, as well as help identify place names and the stories its environment, history, and geography. The behind them please contact Solway Firth Solway Coastwise project workers Nic Partnership. You can also add your stories Coombey and Morag Walker will be helping and photographs to our blog at individuals, communities and businesses to get www.solwaycoastwise.tumblr.com involved, through a range of workshops, talks, E-mail: [email protected] visits and resources. They began by collecting names Tel: 01387 702363 recorded on 19th century maps and are now searching for Funding for Solway Coastwise is provided by the Heritage names held within our current oral tradition. As well as Lottery Fund, the Scottish Government and the European collecting these names on paper, they hope to make Union – LEADER 2014-2020 programme and Dumfries & recordings in order to capture the sounds and stories behind Galloway Council. Muddy creek on the Nith

Tidelines 11 Finlay Catches a Rainbow Trout

Fishing for the Future – Engaging Young Anglers

As a sport, fishing is generally under-represented by young people with local angling associations and fisheries feeling the effects of this as the number of people fishing declines year on year.

or the last four years, the Nith that they will develop an interest in introducing some of the other wildlife Catchment Fishery Trust (NCFT) angling and aquatic conservation. encountered along their journey and the Fhas been running a “grass-roots” Fishing for the Future combines interactions between humans and education initiative called Fishing for the indoor sessions with field trips designed nature. Sessions are tailored to suit Future. This programme aimed at to engage children of all abilities. The each school and contain various schools and groups to engage young lifecycle of the Atlantic salmon forms a activities including electrofishing people by providing them with a perfect basis to tell a story that provides demonstrations, fish anatomy and knowledge of, and respect for, the an insight into different aquatic dissection, handling and identifying fish, aquatic environment, imparting skills so environments, from the river to the sea, sampling for aquatic invertebrates,

12 Solway Firth Partnership habitat creation, invasive species, exploring the coast and, of course, an introduction to angling. Because of the project, local angling communities have benefited from a small increase in the number of young people purchasing angling tickets but we knew more could be done to assist children making the leap from interest to action. This inspired the formation of the Nith Young Anglers Club, a group of interested young people who come together once a month, normally on a Saturday, to try a different method of fishing. The NCFT hires professional angling instructors from Borderlines, a not-for-profit organisation, who teach the children how to fish and what to do if they catch a fish. All of the equipment is provided and the sessions are free. This step is vital to provide children with a safe pathway to pursue this sport further and is made possible due to annual Nith Young Anglers funding from the Holywood Trust, D&G Council’s Nithsdale Area Committee, Association. They welcomed us to the Morton Loch on 17 June, Sea trout private funders and the the kind use of loch with hot drinks, cakes and lots of fishing at Drumlanrig on 9 August, venues by local fishing owners. helpful advice. It was a beautiful day for Rainbow trout fishing at Drum Loch on There has been a fantastic response March, with sun cream being required 26 August, Salmon fishing on the Nith to the Young Anglers Club with children rather than waterproofs. The Young on 16 September, Rainbow trout fishing from across the region signing up for the Anglers put their newly learned casting on 18 October, Grayling fishing on the fishing sessions. At our recent March skills to the test, catching two lovely Nith on 18 November and Pike fishing session we were fly fishing at Drum rainbow trout much to their delight. on 9 December. Please contact Debbie Loch, a local rainbow trout fishery run Future fishing dates include coarse on [email protected] to book a place. by Dumfries and Galloway Angling fishing on 13 May, Tench fishing at

Fly fishing at Drum Loch

Tidelines 13 An Update from the MMO Marine Planning Iteration 1 Engagement – the south Solway

Stakeholder Engagement Workshop, Carlisle he Marine Management Organisation recently held two workshops in TBlackpool and Carlisle to discuss the first outputs in the development of the north west marine plan. This is the plan area which covers the Solway in Cumbria. The workshops were the first opportunity for stakeholders to see how marine planning is progressing in the north west marine plan area and marked an important milestone in the marine planning process. The MMO would like to thank everyone who took part, especially to Dave McAleavy and Caroline Salthouse from the North West Coastal Forum, Alastair McNeil from the Solway Firth Partnership and Emma Baruah from the SIMCelt project. The workshops were an opportunity to discuss how the marine plans will be used with attendees completing their user stories. The main discussions were on the issues and evidence database and the developing plan policies, and how they relate to the north west marine plan area in terms of economic, social, environmental and governance issues. The workshops have provided great feedback which is now being reviewed. However, it was clear that there are many issues shared across all marine plan areas. There are specific local issues such as the Grune Point, Cumbria 14 Solway Firth Partnership Fishing boat on the Dumfries and Galloway Solway Coast An Update from cross border nature of the Solway area and the potential for tidal energy development in Marine Scotland the Solway. There was a good deal of reflection on both the opportunities that new he National Marine Plan sets the wider context for planning projects might bring, as well as some of the within Scotland. Regional Marine Planning aims to allow for challenges which might accompany any Tmore local ownership and decision making about specific issues proposal. in the area. The Scottish Marine Region of Solway was created by the What next for marine planning in the south Scottish Marine Regions Order 2015 where boundaries are identified Solway? out to 12 nautical miles. A Regional Marine Plan for the Solway will be The workshops marked the end of the first taken forward by a Marine Planning Partnership which will be made up year of developing the north west marine plan. of marine stakeholders that reflect the marine interests in their region. The next phase is to continue to develop more It will take time to set up marine planning partnerships and develop detail around the policies and new digital regional marine plans in all 11 Scottish Marine Regions. This will be format. It will also provide more information, in an evolving process with lessons learned from the first two regions, more detail, and refine potential plan Shetland and Clyde, being used to inform future processes. responses to issues and look at a vision for Further information on Regional Marine Planning, legislation and the north west marine plan area. guidance can be found at Over the coming months there will be more http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/seamanagement/regional details on how stakeholders can get involved The Scottish Government continue to fund the Solway Firth in this stage. Partnership to support the implementation of marine planning. To keep in touch and to find out about the The Scottish Government are also currently involved in ‘Supporting next events, sign up to the marine planning Implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning in the Celtic Seas’ newsletter: (SIMCelt) - a two year project co-funded by the European Commission https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ which aims to promote practical cross-border cooperation between marine-planning-newsletters three EU Member States on the implementation of the Maritime Spatial For more information contact Sam Wright: Planning (MSP) Directive in the Celtic Seas. [email protected] Find out more about the SIMCelt Case Study in the Solway on Tel: 020 822 57095. Pages 20-21.

Tidelines 15 Dhe relartionshipi betwfeen lat nd and passenger on the Set in and around sea features in two exceptional coastal cutter Columbine a group of tents on Tevents coming to this year’s which left Grutness, bound Sandyhills beach, nine Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival. for Lerwick. She had with sculptures and nine songs On the weekend of Sat 27 to Mon 29 her a large bundle of knitting to will represent the number of May, Sandyhills beach, near Dalbeattie, sell. Shortly after setting sail, a storm days Miss Mouat was cast adrift. The is the venue for a unique experience of blew up and the captain and two crew performances involve a tactile soundscape and sculpture when Vision were lost overboard. Miss Mouat was experience of the story through the Mechanics present their innovative and presumed lost at sea. On the eighth day, installations and the soundscape, which captivating production, Drift. the Columbine grounded on Lepsoy in is used to recreate the feelings of being Drift is inspired by the true story of Norway. Miss Mouat became a folk adrift and alone at sea. This is delivered Shetland crofter Betty Mouat who, in hero overnight and lived on her Shetland through a set of headphones during a January 1886, aged 61, was the only croft for another 30 years. 40-minute walk-around. The script is written by Judith Adams and the critically-acclaimed Shetland- inspired soundtrack is put together by leading Scottish composer Eddie Macguire with songs by Gerda Stevenson. Vision Mechanics artistic director, Symon MacIntyre, said: “Miss Mout’s story lends itself well to outdoor theatre with installation. There is such a contrast between the simplicity of her life to her suddenly being thrust into fear and hardship for nine days. We wanted to do something about the resourcefulness of human beings in times of adversity. “When people come to see Drift, they will follow Miss Mouat’s nine-day adventure. It is a tactile and emotional journey. Each installation represents a day and gradually the world you have come from will drop away, leaving you lost in a soundscape until you’re out there alone at the edge of land and sea.”

16 Solway Firth Partnership Shoreline Voices

Saturday 3 June sees the launch of an exciting new exploration that creates connections and collaborations between the region’s four shorelines that are within sight of each other. From Dumfries and Galloway to the Isle of Man, Cumbria to Ireland, commerce between these lands has been traditional to the existence of our region for thousands of years. Four of the finest living poets from these areas will read and discuss their work with EDGE - An Art Installation cultural commentators representing the shorelines, revealing new insights and for Beachcombers perspectives. This is the first of a series of rtists Robbie Coleman and Jo For EDGE, we have tried to multidisciplinary events to be organised Hodges spent their childhoods recreate the sense of exploration and by InSight over the coming years which Aby the sea at various locations mystery we felt as children, when, will celebrate the conversations we can around Britain, from Oban to the after a storm, we would rush to the have with each other. The event takes Suffolk coast, so they leapt at beach, knowing that the bigger place at 2.30-5.30pm in the Theatre the opportunity to create a the storm, the stranger the Royal Studio, Dumfries. work on the beach for tideline would be. For further information and tickets to Upland’s Public Art Visitors will be able to both these events, visit Commission for explore the work www.dgartsfestival.org.uk Spring Fling 2017. while visiting one of The artists are the most beautiful creating a new parts of the coast. ‘ghost’ tideline at We want EDGE Carrick Foreshore to remind people that near Borgue over the it has always been the Spring Fling weekend sea that has connected (27 – 29 May) as well as separated us. Robbie explained, “We both grew Human societies have used the sea to up on beaches, walking tidelines in all trade goods, skills and stories and weathers and exploring what the sea they still do. Even now, people are had brought in. There was always the setting off on perilous sea journeys in sense that if you just carried on pursuit of a new life or escaping the looking you would find something dangers of an old one – launching incredible and sometimes you did! themselves into the currents and trade Every object seemed to have some winds with no sure way of knowing sort of story attached to it, boat where they will end up”. wreckage, letters in bottles, dolls We hope people will come along heads, or mystery objects that were and discover our stories and maybe exotic and strange and seemed to share some of their own. have come from the other side of the Further information: http://www. world. spring-fling.co.uk/event/edge

Tidelines 17 Brittle Star, (Ophiothrix fragilis)

Ocean Quahog (Arctica islandica) : Ocean quahogs are a type of slow growing clam that live buried in the mud and sand. They are the world’s longest lived animal and have been known to live for over 500 years! All You Need is Mud Georgie Blow - Assistant Marine Conservation Officer Beneath the waves, vast muddy landscapes stretch out across the Irish Sea. These areas support an array of weird and wonderful creatures from strange delicate looking sea pens to bright beautiful fireworks anemone and glossy ocean quahogs.

xtending into the shallows, where these muddy plains meet the rise and fall of the tide, shallow nutrient- rich, Emuddy habitats teem with an incredible variety of life such as worms, bivalve molluscs, anemones and brittle stars. As well as being important to the creatures that live on or in the mud, muddy areas are also important to a wealth of other wildlife and also to us as humans. Muddy habitats and the communities they support are responsible for burying carbon and recycling nutrients from the seafloor back into the water column. These communities and nutrients provide food for populations of small fish, moving up the food chain for larger commercially fished species such as plaice, sole, cod, haddock and whiting and ultimately, our large charismatic species such as whales, dolphins and a variety of seabirds. So what is the trouble with mud? Deep sea muddy habitats are naturally subject to very little tidal movement and Sea pen (Pennatula phosphorea) : Reminiscent of an disturbance so human activities occurring in muddy areas can antique feather pen, Sea pens are a type of soft coral, have a big impact. Physical disturbance caused by dredging related to anemones and jellyfish. These colonial animals shipping lanes and channels, bait digging and bottom trawling are made up of ‘polyps’ which feed on plankton and for fish and shellfish can therefore all pose a big threat to organic material from the water column. these sensitive areas. Last summer the North West Wildlife Trusts launched its #MarineMudness campaign to raise awareness of the

18 Solway Firth Partnership Fireworks anemone (Pachycerianthus multiplicatus) : Fireworks anemones have beautiful, bright tentacles that look like a firework exploding. They can grow up to 30cm across and unlike their rocky shore counterparts; these anemones bury their long tube-like body into deep, muddy sediments.

wonderfully muddy Irish Sea, running a variety of mud-themed seas and their associated species, when they are actively events along the coast and throughout the region. The idea of managed. Three deep water mud sites have been put forward the campaign is to inspire people to find, enjoy, learn, and to Government as recommended MCZs but have not yet been value more of the fantastic muddy habitats in the Irish Sea and designated. These sites are needed to complete the network support its protection. Throughout my time with the North of protected areas in the Irish Sea and we will be working hard West Wildlife Trusts, I have found myself searching through to ensure the third and final round of designations is ambitious rock pools, sculpting marine species out of sand and getting enough to give our seas the protection they deserve. my hands dirty digging through the mud to search for the You can find out more about the campaign at creatures that live there. www.irishsea.org/MarineMudness , or you can show your love Slowly more areas throughout the UK’s seas and coast are for mud and keep up to date with the latest news by signing receiving protection through designation as Marine up to ‘Become a Friend of muddy MCZs’ at Conservation Zones (MCZs). So far in the Irish Sea, from two www.irishsea.org/muddyMCZfriends stages of designations, four MCZs have been created. Two of You can also tweet us @LivingSeasNW with pictures of you these zones will protect mud habitats in our shallow coastal and your friends/family getting muddy – #MarineMudness.

Mud event: Participants at a marine mudness event get their hands dirty searching through the mud to find out more about the variety of species that live there.

Sea potato or Common heart urchin (Echinocardium cordatum)

Tidelines 19 The Solway Coast Supporting Implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning in the Celtic Seas

Recap! Amended project area biogeographic regions identified in the Habitats Directive as well as, to the The Solway Firth Partnership Last edition, we introduced our project greatest extent possible, those of the appointed Emma Baruah to the post of area, the Celtic Seas. Since then, the Regional Sea Conventions. You can SIMCelt Project Officer in August 2016. Commission has accepted a request we explore the maps on the ICES website. The SIMCelt Project, which runs to made to amend the boundary. The new December 2017, is funded by the EU area is superjacent to the Celtic Seas and aims to support the implementation Shelf, shown in red on the map, right. of maritime spatial planning. SIMCelt is Inclusion of this area increases coverage a collaboration project between Marine of the French Atlantic seaboard thereby Scotland, University College Cork, enhancing involvement of Marine Spatial Marine Institute Ireland, Department of Planning (MSP) competent authorities in Agriculture, Environment and Rural the region. Affairs for Northern Ireland, Agence des Work by ICES and the European Aires Marines Protégées and SHOM Commission's Directorate-General for France and the University of Liverpool. Environment (DG ENV) has informed The outputs from SIMCelt will be key to new maps released by the European the introduction of the new EU Directive Environment Agency in November. on Maritime Spatial Planning. See the Regional sea areas have been aligned website! simcelt.eu with the MSP Directive and the

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas

20 Solway Firth Partnership What we have been up to:

The MSP Challenge Game

Coastal Futures Conference 2017, London

Coastal Futures 2017 Conference, London Look out for: Over 300 delegates attended the event and SIMCelt’s Marine Protected Areas: Science Policy presence as a ‘sponsor’ meant we had fantastic exposure on and Management 15 - 17 May 2017 all the event publicity. Our pop-up slot during the conference allowed us to speak about some of the ways we want The Poole Harbour Study Group in partnership with The stakeholders to participate. We interacted with a number of Estuarine and Coastal Sciences Association will be hosting a key people from the Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) three-day conference. Themes include climate change, policy and marine planning agencies and we made useful developments such as Brexit, and how progress in marine connections with the Crown Estate who offered help with science all contribute to a fast changing context for MPAs. securing marine data. This conference aims to examine the current issues from a variety of perspectives at a time when questions on the future MMO NW Iteration Workshop approaches to MPAs are the subject of policy development In the Solway, Emma facilitated the Marine Management European Maritime Day 17 - 18 May 2017 Organisation first iteration workshop for the Northwest marine plans in Carlisle in early March. The event was a great SIMCelt will be hosting a joint workshop with Baltic Scope success and allowed local stakeholders to discuss potential and NorthSee projects on transboundary marine spatial policy responses to issues that had previously been identified planning and transboundary resolutions. The workshop will be in the northwest area. a fantastic interactive session, bringing together a wide range of people from across Europe to discuss transboundary Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) marine planning. This will be the last time the UK gets to host Challenge Game the European Maritime Day so book your tickets now or miss out! The interactive MSP challenge game was played at the Geographic Information Centre, University of Liverpool with SIMCelt closing conference Nov 2017 SIMCelt members and students. A version of the game has been purchased by the Liverpool Institute for Sustainable SIMCelt will be hosting its closing conference in Liverpool Coasts and Oceans to assist with outreach and education on 28 and 29 November 2017. Updates and further details work on Marine Spatial Planning. are to follow on the SIMCelt newsletters and will be advertised on the SIMCelt and SFP website in due course.

Tidelines 21 7 Saturdays 6 and 13 May Sunday 7 May 1

y MAY Natterjack Nights In Focus (WWT Caerlaverock)

r (RSPB Mersehead) 10.00am to 4.00pm r e Note: Weekends in May 8.30pm to 10.30pm Booking: Not Essential Booking: Essential

b and June, daily in July Try before you buy the latest binoculars Frog Make-and-Take Sessions Visit the reserve at dusk to hear the and telescopes from the huge range a m 11am - 12noon natterjack toad chorus. The male toads available today. In Focus experts on hand e i (WWT Caerlaverock) come down to the shallow pools to sing all day to give advice. WWT Caerlaverock t 11.00am to 12.00noon to the females encouraging them to benefits from every sale. p Booking: Not Essential spawn. Bring a torch and wellies. Contact: 01387 770200 or

e [email protected] Explore the reserve to discover eleven, Contact: 01387 780579 or D [email protected] S individually-designed, larger than life Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre,

Meet: RSPB Reserve, Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, - LEGO® brick animal sculptures (included

NY052657 in admission). Completed the trail? Then Mersehead, DG2 8AH, NX925561 y r come along to the yurt to make your very Cost: £5 Adult, £2 Child, £3 Adult Cost: Free a own mini Fred the Frog souvenir to take Members, £1.50 Child Members; Car home! parking charges apply for non-members M

u Sunday 14 May Contact: 01387 770200 or [email protected] Natterjack Talk and Walk Saturday 6 May (WWT Caerlaverock) Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre,

o Bird Ringing Demonstration Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, 8.30pm to late NY052657 (WWT Caerlaverock) Booking: Essential 11.00am to 4.00pm

y Cost: Drop-in session, £5 plus admission Learn about natterjack toads and why Booking: Not Essential charge they are the rarest amphibian in Britain. Join the North Solway Ringing Group as they There may be a possibility at dusk, of demonstrate how to ring a range of birds. taking a walk out onto the reserve to try r Monday 1 May Contact: 01387 770200 or and hear the toad chorus as the male Willow Workshop [email protected] toads come down to the shallow pools to (WWT Caerlaverock) Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, sing to the females to encourage them to o 10.00am to 12.00noon Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, spawn. Bring warm clothing and a torch. NY052657

f Booking: Essential Contact: 01387 770200 or Make your own beautiful willow star, heart Cost: Normal admission charges apply, [email protected]

or flower to take home. Suitable for all ages. WWT members free Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, Contact: 01387 770200 or NY052657 s [email protected] Saturday 6 May Cost: Normal admission charges, Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, to Sunday 7 May WWT members free Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS,

e NY052657 LEGO Brick Animal Trail Cost: Normal admission charges apply, and Workshops

t Thursday 25 May WWT members free (WWT Caerlaverock) 11.00am and 2.00pm Port Logan Beach Clean Booking: Essential (Logan Botanic Garden) a Monday 1 May Explore the reserve to discover eleven, 10.00am to 3.30pm Booking: Not Essential Talk on Mull of Galloway: individually-designed, larger than life Scotland’s southernmost point LEGO® brick animal sculptures (included Join the RSPB and Logan Botanic Garden

D (Logan Botanic Garden) in admission). Take part in an awesome, staff on a beach clean at Port Logan. 2.00pm to 3.00pm hour-long LEGO® brick workshop! There Help clear up the beach and prevent Booking: Not Essential are two exciting LEGO challenges and a rubbish from washing into the ocean and damaging our marine wildlife. Bring Find out more about the RSPB and the LEGO brick frog to make and take home. gloves and litter picks if you have them. Mull of Galloway at this exciting talk at Contact: 01387 770200 or Logan Botanic Garden. The Mull is home [email protected] Contact: 01776 860231 or to thousands of nesting seabirds and Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, [email protected] bustles with wildlife so is one of the UK’s Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, Meet: Port Logan Village Hall, Port Logan, best spots for witnessing visible migration NY052657 Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, during the autumn. Cost: £8.50 plus admission charge DG9 9NG Contact: 01776 860231 or Cost: Free [email protected] Meet: Logan Botanic Garden, Port Logan, Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, DG9 9ND Cost: contact the venue for costs

Wednesdays 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 May Seabird Spectacular (RSPB Mull of Galloway) 1.00pm start Booking: Not Essential The Mull of Galloway is home to thousands of nesting seabirds. Join the warden for a guided walk to find out more about seabird ecology and the importance of the reserve in supporting these Whilst every effort is made to check magnificent birds. Bring binoculars if you the accuracy of the information given, have them, suitable clothing and stout Solway Firth Partnership cannot be footwear. held responsible for any inaccuracies Contact: 01988 402130 or or wrong information contained here [email protected] and strongly recommends that you Meet: RSPB, Mull of Galloway, Drummore, confirm details/arrangements/charges DG9 9HP, NX155304 beforehand. Cost: Adults £3, Children £1.50, Under 5’s Free. RSPB members 20% off

22 Solway Firth Partnership Daily from Friday 26 May Saturday 27 May to Tuesday 30 May Mull of Galloway Marathon Trail Wild Challenge: Get up Close to (Stranraer Rotary) Nature (RSPB Mersehead) 10.00am at Mull of Galloway, 11.00am to 3.00pm Marathon / 11.30am at Sandhead, Booking: Not Essential Short route Booking: Essential Come along with your family and get up close to nature using different senses. Take part in a run from the stunning Mull Pop into the visitor centre anytime where of Galloway to Stranraer. The trail is 26 the friendly staff will give you a map and miles long over mostly rough path. There get you started. Then visit the different is an alternative route of 10 miles, which stations and “get close to nature”. can be walked, from Sandhead to Contact: 01387 780579 or Stranraer. Routes are well marked and [email protected] there will be water and energy stations. Meet: RSPB Reserve, Contact: https://www.entrycentral.com for Mersehead, DG2 8AH, NX925561 online registration by Friday 26 May or [email protected] for late entries. Cost: £3 Child Meet: Mull of Galloway, Drummore, DG9 9HP (Marathon) or Tigh na Mara hotel, Friday 26 May Sandhead, DG9 9JF (Short route/Walk) Cost: £27.50 (Marathon), £16 (Short route) High Tide Perambulation includes transport and BBQ (RSPB Crook of Baldoon) 12.00noon to 2.00pm Booking: Not Essential Saturday 27 to Take a gentle stroll along the flood bank Monday 29 May through nature’s home. Watch for wildlife Edge that use the mud and saltmarsh to feed Honeycomb Worm reef (Spring Fling) being evicted by the advancing tide. Bring All weekend binoculars and walking boots. Booking: Not Essential Contact: 01988 402130 or Sunday 28 May Friday 2 to Sunday 4 June Artists, Robbie Coleman and Jo Hodges, [email protected] Sandyhills Guided Walk Shark-a-tag Weekend create a ghost strandline along Carrick Meet: Crook of Baldoon Nature Reserve, (Solway Coastwise) (SSACN) Foreshore that reveals stories of arrivals, Wigtown, DG8 9AG, NX445530 6.00pm to 8.00pm All weekend departures, of distance and loss. Cost: £3 Members, £4 Non-members, Booking: Essential Booking: Not Essential Edge is a public art project commissioned Children half price (limited to 12 people) by Upland for Spring Fling 2017. This festival will encompass a wide range Discover the stories behind place names of exciting activities including SSACN’s Contact: Visit http://www.spring- and find out what is revealed by the low flagship event Sharkatag, boat and shore Friday 26 May fling.co.uk/event/edge/ for more information tide. Species Hunts, a pegged Shore Monreith Guided Walk Sweepstake and a fun filled educational Meet: Carrick Foreshore, Nr Knockbrex, Contact: 01387 702363 or (Solway Coastwise) Outreach programme for all ages at a Gatehouse of Fleet, DG7 2DT NX576500 [email protected] 5.30pm to 7.30pm venue to be confirmed. Cost: Free Meet: Sandyhills Beach, Sandyhills, Booking: Essential (limited to Dalbeattie, DG5 4NZ, NX890552 Contact: [email protected] 12 people) Cost: Free Meet: to be confirmed Discover the stories behind place names Saturday 27 to Cost: FREE and find out what is revealed by the low Monday 29 May tide. Wednesday 31 May Drift (Dumfries and Contact: 01387 702363 or Wildflower Walk Saturday 3 June Galloway Arts Festival) [email protected] (RSPB Mull of Galloway & Logan 10.00am to 7.00pm Shoreline Voices Botanic Garden) Meet: Back Bay car park, Monreith, Booking: Essential (InSight) NX364394 2.00pm to 3.00pm 2.30pm to 5.30pm Vision Mechanics Norland Visual Theatre Cost: Free Booking: Not Essential Booking: Essential presents the true story of a lady Shetland Enjoy a guided walk around the RSPB crofter who was the sole survivor of sea The launch of an exciting new exploration Mull of Galloway Reserve. Wildflowers journey hit by a storm in 1886. A that creates connections and Friday 26 May are in full bloom so learn more about their fascinating tale told in Shetland song collaborations between our four Weird and Wonderful Moths ecology and importance to our native cycle on the Sandyhills beach. shorelines that are within sight of each (Caerlaverock NNR 60th wildlife. other. From Dumfries and Galloway to the Celebrations) Contact: Tickets from Dumfries Midsteeple Box Office or from Contact: 01988 402130 or Isle of Man, from Cumbria to Ireland, 8.00pm to 10.00pm www.dgartsfestival.org.uk [email protected] commerce between these lands has been Booking: Essential Meet: Sandyhills Beach, Sandyhills, Meet: RSPB, Mull of Galloway, Drummore, traditional to the existence of our region Join the NNR reserve staff at Dalbeattie, DG5 4NZ NX890552 DG9 9HP, NX155304 for thousands of years. Four of the finest Caerlaverock where they will be available living poets from these areas read and Cost: £4, Under 26’s half price; £2 for car Cost: £1.50 Members, £3 Non-members, to share their knowledge and show you parking at Sandyhills. NB This is not Children free discuss their work with cultural the wide variety of moths. They will also suitable for small children commentators representing the teach you identification skills and methods shorelines, revealing new insights and to catch your own moths. Come with perspectives. This is the first of a series of warm clothing, waterproofs and head Saturday 27 May JUNE multidisciplinary events to be organised torch. Carrick Guided Walk by InSight over the coming years which Contact: Adam on 0300 067 3200 (Solway Coastwise) will celebrate the conversations we can Friday 2 June have with each other. Meet: Caerlaverock NNR, Castle Corner 5.30pm to 7.30pm Car Park, DG1 4RU, NY018652 Booking: Essential (limited to 12 We’re Going on a Frog Hunt Contact: Tickets available from the (WWT Caerlaverock) Midsteeple Box Office, Dumfries or online Cost: Free people) 10.00am to 12.00noon www.dgartsfestival.org.uk Discover the stories behind place names Booking: Not Essential Meet: Theatre Royal Studio, 66-68 and find out what is revealed by the low Shakespeare Street, Dumfries DG1 2JH tide. Hunt for amphibians around the reserve, including frogs and toads hiding under Cost: £12, Under 26s £6 Contact: 01387 702363 or stones and logs at this family event. [email protected] Contact: 01387 770200 or Meet: Carrick Foreshore, Nr Knockbrex, [email protected] Gatehouse of Fleet, DG7 2DT, NX576500 Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, Cost: Free Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, NY052657 Cost: Normal admission charges apply, WWT members free

Tidelines 23 Sunday 4 June Sunday 11 June Wildlife Photography Workshop World Oceans Week Event (WWT Caerlaverock) (Solway Coastwise / 10.00am to 4.00pm NTS Rockcliffe Beach) Booking: Essential 12.00noon to 4.00pm Join the wildlife photography workshop Booking: Not Essential with Tom Langlands and Bob Discover seaside wildlife, explore the Fitzsimmons. Learn how to take fantastic coast, find out about place names and macro photographs of the insects and have fun learning about the marine plants on the reserve. This workshop is environment. suitable for beginners as well as more Contact: 01387 702363 or experienced photographers. [email protected] Contact: 01387 770200 or Meet: Rockcliffe Beach NX847537 [email protected] Cost: Free Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, NY052657 Sunday 11 June Cost: £75 (includes admission) Woodland Wonders (RSPB Mersehead) Wednesdays 10.00am to 12.00noon 7, 14, 21, 28 June Booking: Essential Explore the woodland, discover wildlife, Seabird Spectacular play games, make nature crafts and build (RSPB Mull of Galloway) confidence in playing outdoors. For Sunday 18th June Saturday 24 June 1.00pm start children aged 5-12. Booking: Not Essential Portpatrick Guided Walk Fun on the Beach Contact: 01387 780579 or (Solway Coastwise) (RSPB Mersehead) The Mull of Galloway is home to [email protected] 12noon to 3.00pm 11.20am to 2.30pm thousands of nesting seabirds. Join the Meet: RSPB Reserve, Mersehead, DG2 Booking: Essential Booking: Essential warden for a guided walk to find out more 8AH, NX925561 (limited to 12 people) about seabird ecology and the importance Join RSPB for some fun on the beach. Cost: £3 Child of the reserve in supporting these Discover the stories behind place names Meet at the visitor centre for the walk to magnificent birds. Bring binoculars if you on a clifftop walk. the beach. You will then have a look at have them, suitable clothing and stout Friday 16 June Contact: 01387 702363 or what lives on the beach and create some footwear. [email protected] amazing artwork. Bring your lunch to have Merse Walk Meet: Portpatrick start of Southern Upland a picnic on the beach. Contact: 01988 402130 or (Caerlaverock NNR 60th [email protected] Way NW997542 Contact: 01387 780579 or Celebrations) Cost: Free [email protected] Meet: RSPB, Mull of Galloway, Drummore, 10.00am – 1.00pm DG9 9HP, NX155304 Meet: RSPB Reserve, Mersehead, DG2 Booking: Essential 8AH, NX925561 Cost: Adults £3, Children £1.50, Under 5’s Come along and join the reserve staff for Free. RSPB members 20% off Wednesday 21 June Cost: £2 Child; Car parking charges apply a guided walk along the boardwalk Summer Solstice Walk for non-members. through flooders to the saltmarsh (locally (RSPB Mersehead) known as Merse) to learn about the Friday 9 June 7.00pm to 9.00pm conservation and farming at Caerlaverock Bat and Moth Night Booking: Essential and the tidal dynamics of the reserve. (WWT Caerlaverock) Bring warm clothing, waterproofs, Surround yourself with the beautiful JULY 8.00pm to 11.00pm binoculars, lunch and a hot flask. sights, sounds and smells of RSPB Booking: Essential Scotland Mersehead on the longest day Contact: Francois on 0300 067 3200 Tuesdays 4, 11, 18, 25 July Freda Seddon from Dumfries Bat Group of the year. Join staff for a gentle stroll Meet: Caerlaverock NNR, Hollands car Bug Hunt will give a talk about bats, followed by a around the reserve to see what can be park, DG1 4RS (WWT Caerlaverock) bat walk around the reserve. Alison found. Cost: Free 11.00am to 1.00pm Robertson, the County Moth Recorder Contact: 01387 780579 or Booking: Not Essential will also be looking at moths. Bring warm [email protected] Spend a morning hunting for bugs on the clothes and a torch. Meet: RSPB Reserve, reserve. Look under stones and in dead Contact: 01387 770200 or Mersehead, DG2 8AH, NX925561 wood, as well as on plants and trees. [email protected] Cost: £3 Child Contact: 01387 770200 or Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, [email protected] Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, NY052657 Thursday 22 June Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, Cost: Normal admission charges, WWT Cumbria Low Tide Shore Walk NY052657 members free (Ann Lingard) Rose Chaffer beetles at Mull of Galloway Cost: Normal admission charges apply, Starts 5.00pm WWT members free Booking: Essential A walk with Ann Lingard, Solway Shore Stories Author, from Allonby to Dubmill Wednesdays 5, 12 July Point enjoying the new Allonby Bay Seabird Spectacular Marine Conservation Zone with its (RSPB Mull of Galloway) honeycomb-worm reefs. The terrain on 1.00pm start the lower shore is slightly rocky, often Booking: Not Essential slippery and always wet, so wellies are The Mull of Galloway is home to essential! Bring walking-poles if you feel thousands of nesting seabirds. Join the happier using them. Please note that – in warden for a guided walk to find out more very rare circumstances – weather and about seabird ecology and the importance other factors might force cancellation, so of the reserve in supporting these please leave your phone number when magnificent birds. Bring binoculars if you booking. have them, suitable clothing and stout Contact: 016973 21967 or footwear. [email protected] Contact: 01988 402130 or Meet: Car park opposite [email protected] Twentyman’s Shop, Allonby, NY080426 Meet: RSPB, Mull of Galloway, Cost: Free Drummore, DG9 9HP, NX155304 Cost: Adults £3, Children £1.50, Under 5’s Free. RSPB members 20% off

24 Solway Firth Partnership Wednesdays Wednesdays 19, 26 July Daily from Saturday 22 July Thursday 27 July 5, 12, 19, 26 July Wednesday Wildlife Walk to Wednesday 26 July Beautiful Butterflies Pond Dipping (RSPB Mull of Galloway) Wild Challenge: Tree-mendous (WWT Caerlaverock) (WWT Caerlaverock) 1.00pm start (RSPB Mersehead) 10.00am to 12.00noon 11.00am to 1.00pm Booking: Not Essential 11.00am to 3.00pm Booking: Not Essential Booking: Not Essential The Mull of Galloway is a hive of activity Booking: Not Essential Find and identify the different butterflies What creatures can you catch in the with buzzing bees, fluttering butterflies Come along with your family and discover out on the meadow. Search for ringlet, raised pond? Use nets, bug pots and and birds a plenty. Join RSPB for a the world of trees. Pop into the visitor meadow brown, green veined white, aqua scopes to find and identify the pond guided walk to learn more about the centre anytime where the friendly staff will painted lady and tortoiseshell butterflies. creatures. wonderful wildlife. Bring binoculars if you give you a map and get you started. Then Contact: 01387 770200 or Contact: 01387 770200 or have some, suitable clothing and stout visit the different stations and “get close [email protected] [email protected] footwear. to nature”. Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, Contact: 01988 402130 or Contact: 01387 780579 or Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, [email protected] [email protected] NY052657 NY052657 Meet: RSPB, Mull of Galloway, Meet: RSPB Reserve, Cost: Normal admission charges apply, Cost: Normal admission charges apply, Drummore, DG9 9HP, NX155304 Mersehead, DG2 8AH, NX925561 WWT members free WWT members free Cost: Adults £3, Children £1.50, Under 5’s Cost: £3 Child Free. RSPB members 20% off Daily from Saturday 8 July Monday 24 July AUGUST Wednesday 19 July to Wednesday 12 July High Tide Perambulation Wild Challenge: Flowers and Sea Trout Fishing for Young Anglers (RSPB Crook of Baldoon) Tuesdays Butterflies (Nith Young Anglers Club) 12.00noon to 2.00pm 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 August Start time tbc (RSPB Mersehead) Booking: Not Essential Bug Hunt Booking: Essential 11.00am to 3.00pm Take a gentle stroll along the flood bank (WWT Caerlaverock) Booking: Not Essential Join the Nith Catchment Fishery Trust to through natures home, watching for 11.00am to 1.00pm Come along with your family and find out try your hand at fishing for sea trout in the wildlife that use the muds and saltmarsh Booking: Not Essential Nith Catchment. Never fished before? what flowers are around and what to feed being evicted by the advancing Spend a morning hunting for bugs on the Don’t worry – professional angling butterflies can be found. Pop into the tide. Bring binoculars and walking boots. reserve. Look under stones and in dead instructors from Borderlines will be on visitor centre anytime where the friendly Contact: 01988 402130 or wood, as well as on plants and trees. staff will give you a map and get you hand to teach you how to fish and what to [email protected] do when you catch one. All equipment is Contact: 01387 770200 or started. Meet: Crook of Baldoon Nature Reserve, [email protected] supplied. Under 12’s must have parental Contact: 01387 780579 or Wigtown, DG8 9AG, NX445530 Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, [email protected] supervision / parents are welcomed at all events. Cost: £3 Members, £4 Non-members, Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, Meet: RSPB Reserve, Mersehead, DG2 Children half price NY052657 8AH, NX925561 Contact: 01387 740043 or [email protected] Cost: Normal admission charges apply, Cost: £3 Child WWT members free Meet: Information will be provided on Wednesday 26 July booking Cumbria Low Tide Shore Walk Saturday 15 July Cost: Free but booking essential, transport (Cumbria Wildlife Trust / Ann Wednesdays is available but limited SNH Celebrates 60 Years of Lingard) 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 August Caerlaverock NNR Starts 8.45am Pond Dipping (Caerlaverock NNR 60th Thursday 20 July Booking: Essential (WWT Caerlaverock) Celebrations) A low tide walk with Cumbria Wildlife 11.00am to 1.00pm Paper Making Workshop All day Trust and Ann Lingard, Solway Shore Booking: Not Essential (WWT Caerlaverock) Booking: Not Essential Stories Author. This walk, from Allonby to 10.00am to 4.00pm What creatures can you catch in the Find out about SNH’s work on the NNR Dubmill Point, takes in the new Allonby Booking: Essential raised pond? Use nets, bug pots and and that of their partners face to face; Bay Marine Conservation Zone with its aqua scopes to find and identify the pond Information still to be confirmed, contact learn about the local history and culture of honeycomb-worm reefs. The terrain on creatures. WWT Caerlaverock direct for details. the lower shore is slightly rocky, often the Caerlaverock area; discover wild food Contact: 01387 770200 or Contact: 01387 770200 or – taste it, eat it or forage for it; wildlife slippery and always wet, so wellies are [email protected] craft activities for kids. [email protected] essential! Bring walking-poles if you feel Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, happier using them. Please note that – in Contact: http://www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/ Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, caerlaverock/ for more details very rare circumstances – weather and NY052657 NY052657 other factors might force cancellation, so Meet: Barbour Hall, Glencaple, DG1 4SP Cost: Normal admission charges apply, Cost: Normal admission charges apply please leave your phone number when Cost: Free WWT members free booking. Contact: 01539 816300 or Saturday 15 July [email protected] How Does Mersehead Work? Meet: Car park opposite Twentyman’s Shop, Allonby, NY080426 11.00am to 1.00pm (RSPB Mersehead) Cost: Free Booking: Essential The Solway Coast Have you wondered how RSPB Scotland Mersehead is managed? Would you like to know more about how the land is looked after for a variety of birds and wildlife? Would you like to see the areas of the reserve that are not open to the public? Join one of the members of the team for this walk and find out how lapwing numbers have increased, how the site is managed for natterjack toads and how the reserve gets ready for the geese arriving in the winter. Contact: 01387 780579 or [email protected] Meet: RSPB Reserve, Mersehead, DG2 8AH, NX925561 Cost: FREE but charges for walks: £4 Adult, £2 Child, £3/£1.50 Members

Tidelines 25 Thursday 10 August Thursday 17 August Small Mammal Trapping Owl Pellet Dissection (WWT Caerlaverock) (WWT Caerlaverock) 10.00am to 12.00noon 10.00am to 12.00noon Booking: Essential Booking: Not Essential Find out what small mammals live on the Find out what the barn owls are eating – reserve and see what has been caught in dissect an owl pellet and work out what the small mammal traps! Take part in art all the bones are! and craft activities at this family event. Contact: 01387 770200 or Contact: 01387 770200 or [email protected] [email protected] Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, NY052657 NY052657 Cost: Normal admission charges apply, Cost: Normal admission charges apply, WWT members free WWT members free Friday 18 August Saturday 12 August Mud Walk Caerlaverock Bioblitz (RSPB Crook of Baldoon) (WWT Caerlaverock) 1.00pm to 3.00pm 10.00am to 4.00pm Booking: Not Essential Booking: Not Essential See Wigtown Bay Local Nature Reserve To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the from a different angle. What makes an Caerlaverock NNR, WWT Caerlaverock estuary a great home for nature? Mud, is holding a Bioblitz, in partnership with plants and wildlife set within the beautiful Scottish Natural Heritage and Dumfries landscape of Wigtown Bay. You will need and Galloway Environmental Resources wellies as you will be going out onto the Centre. The objective of the day is to find mud. and identify as many different species of Contact: 01988 402130 or bugs, plants, birds, mammals, amphibians [email protected] etc. as possible, with the help of natural Meet: Crook of Baldoon Nature Reserve, history experts. Wigtown, DG8 9AG, NX445530 Contact: 01387 770200 or Cost: £4 Members, £5 Non-members, [email protected] Children free Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, Flax at Brighouse Bay Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, NY052657 Daily from Saturday 19 Cost: Free August to Thursday 24 Thursday 3 August Wednesdays August 9, 16, 23, 30 August Dragons and Damsels Saturday 12 August Wild Challenge: Be a Hedgehog! (WWT Caerlaverock) Wednesday Wildlife Walk (RSPB Mersehead) How Does Mersehead Work? 10.00am to 12.00noon (RSPB Mull of Galloway) 11.00am to 3.00pm 11.00am to 1.00pm Booking: Not Essential 1.00pm start Booking: Not Essential (RSPB Mersehead) Discover the dragonflies and damselflies Booking: Not Essential Come along with your family and discover Booking: Essential present on the reserve and learn the The Mull of Galloway is a hive of activity if you could be a hedgehog? Pop into the Have you wondered how RSPB Scotland differences between them at this family with buzzing bees, fluttering butterflies visitor centre anytime where the friendly Mersehead is managed? Would you like event. and birds a plenty. Join the warden for a staff will give you a map and get you to know more about how the land is Contact: 01387 770200 or guided walk to learn more about the started. Then visit the different stations looked after for a variety of birds and [email protected] wonderful wildlife. Bring binoculars if you and “get close to nature”. wildlife? Would you like to see the areas Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, have some, suitable clothing and stout Contact: 01387 780579 or of the reserve that are not open to the Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, footwear. [email protected] public? Join one of the members of the NY052657 Contact: 01988 402130 or Meet: RSPB Reserve, team for this walk and find out how Cost: Normal admission charges apply, [email protected] Mersehead, DG2 8AH, NX925561 lapwing numbers have increased, how the WWT members free Meet: RSPB, Mull of Galloway, site is managed for natterjack toads and Cost: £3 Child Drummore, DG9 9HP, NX155304 how the reserve gets ready for the geese Daily from Saturday 5 August Cost: Adults £3, Children £1.50, Under 5’s arriving in the winter. Free. RSPB members 20% off to Thursday 10 August Contact: 01387 780579 or [email protected] Wild Challenge: Be a Bug! Meet: RSPB Reserve, (RSPB Mersehead) Wednesday 9 August Mersehead, DG2 8AH, NX925561 11.00am to 3.00pm Sea Fishing for Young Anglers Cost: £4 Adult, £2 Child, £3/£1.50 Booking: Not Essential (Nith Young Anglers Club) Members Come along with your family and discover Start time tbc Butterfish what kind of bug you would like to be? Booking: Essential Pop into the visitor centre anytime where Join the Nith Catchment Fishery Trust to the friendly staff will give you a map and try your hand at sea fishing in the Nith get you started. Then visit the different Catchment. Never fished before? Don’t stations and “get close to nature”. worry – professional angling instructors Contact: 01387 780579 or from Borderlines will be on hand to teach [email protected] you how to fish and what to do when you Meet: RSPB Reserve, catch one. All equipment is supplied. Mersehead, DG2 8AH, NX925561 Under 12’s must have parental Cost: £3 Child supervision / parents are welcomed at all events. Contact: 01387 740043 or [email protected] Meet: Information will be provided on booking Cost: Free but booking essential, transport is available but limited

26 Solway Firth Partnership Fridays 8 and 22 September SEPTEMBER High Tide Perambulation (RSPB Crook of Baldoon) Daily in September 12.00noon to 2.00pm Stars & Stripes Badger Watching Booking: Not Essential (WWT Caerlaverock) Take a gentle stroll along the flood bank Starts 8.00pm through natures home, watching for Booking: Essential wildlife that use the muds and saltmarsh Watch wild badgers feeding just outside to feed being evicted by the advancing the WWT comfortable observatory. Fair- tide. Bring binoculars and walking boots. trade tea, coffee and biscuits available. Contact: 01988 402130 or [email protected] Contact: 01387 770200 or [email protected] Meet: Crook of Baldoon Nature Reserve, Wigtown, DG8 9AG, NX445530 Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, Cost: £3 Members, £4 Non-members, NY052657 Children half price Cost: £10.00 Adult, £7.50 Concession, £5.00 Child. Tickets must be paid for in Starfish advance Saturday 16 September Worm casts in the sand Salmon Fishing for Young Anglers (Nith Young Anglers Club) Wednesday 23 August Sunday 3 September Start time tbc High Tide Perambulation In Focus Booking: Essential (RSPB Crook of Baldoon) (WWT Caerlaverock) Join the Nith Catchment Fishery Trust to 12.00noon to 2.00pm 10.00am to 4.00pm try your hand at fishing for salmon in the Booking: Not Essential Booking: Not Essential Nith Catchment. Never fished before? Take a gentle stroll along the flood bank Try before you buy the latest binoculars Don’t worry – professional angling through natures home, watching for and telescopes from the huge range instructors from Borderlines will be on wildlife that use the muds and saltmarsh available today. In Focus experts on hand hand to teach you how to fish and what to to feed being evicted by the advancing all day to give advice. WWT Caerlaverock do when you catch one. All equipment is tide. Bring binoculars and walking boots. benefits from every sale. supplied. Under 12’s must have parental Contact: 01988 402130 or Contact: 01387 770200 or supervision / parents are welcomed at all [email protected] [email protected] events. Meet: Crook of Baldoon Nature Reserve, Meet: WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, Contact: 01387 740043 or trust@river- Wigtown, DG8 9AG, NX445530 Eastpark Farm, Glencaple, DG1 4RS, nith.com Cost: £3 Members, £4 Non-members, NY052657 Meet: Information will be provided on Children half price Saturday 26 August Cost: Free booking Cumbria Low Tide Shore Walk Cost: Free but booking essential, transport is available but limited Thursday 24 August (Ann Lingard) Wednesdays 6, 13, 20, 27 Starts 8.15am Cumbria Low Tide Shore Walk Booking: Essential September (Ann Lingard) Wednesday 20 September A walk with Ann Lingard, Solway Shore Mulling over Migration Starts 8.15am Autumn Walk Stories Author, from Allonby to Dubmill (RSPB Mull of Galloway) Booking: Essential (Caerlaverock NNR 60th Point enjoying the new Allonby Bay 1.00pm start Celebrations) A walk with Ann Lingard, Solway Shore Marine Conservation Zone with its Booking: Not Essential 11.00am – 1.00pm Stories Author, from Allonby to Dubmill honeycomb-worm reefs. The terrain on Thousands of birds fly over the Mull of Point enjoying the new Allonby Bay the lower shore is slightly rocky, often Galloway on route to their wintering Join the reserve staff for a guided walk Marine Conservation Zone with its slippery and always wet, so wellies are grounds. Join the warden for a guided along the boardwalk through flooders and honeycomb-worm reefs. The terrain on essential! Bring walking-poles if you feel walk to mull over the wonder of migration. reed bed to the bird hide where you can the lower shore is slightly rocky, often happier using them. Please note that – in Bring binoculars if you have some, see and hear autumn migrant birds and slippery and always wet, so wellies are very rare circumstances – weather and suitable clothing and strong footwear. migrating shorebirds. Wear warm essential! Bring walking-poles if you feel clothing, waterproofs and bring other factors might force cancellation, so Contact: 01988 402130 or happier using them. Please note that – in please leave your phone number when [email protected] binoculars if you have them. very rare circumstances – weather and Contact: Adam on 0300 067 3200 booking. Meet: RSPB, Mull of Galloway, other factors might force cancellation, so Contact: 016973 21967 or Drummore, DG9 9HP, NX155304 Meet: Caerlaverock NNR, Hollands car please leave your phone number when [email protected] park, DG1 4RS booking. Cost: Adults £3, Children £1.50, Under 5’s Meet: Car park opposite Twentyman’s Shop, Free. RSPB members 20% off Cost: Free Contact: 016973 21967 or Allonby, NY080426 [email protected] Cost: Free Whelk case on the beach Meet: Car park opposite Twentyman’s Shop, Allonby, NY080426 Cost: Free Saturday 26 August Trout Fishing for Young Anglers Saturday 26 August (Nith Young Anglers Club) Start time tbc Bat and Moth Night Booking: Essential (RSPB Mersehead) Join the Nith Catchment Fishery Trust to 8.30pm to 10.30pm try your hand at fishing for trout in the Nith Booking: Essential Catchment. Never fished before? Don’t Join the reserve staff for an evening worry – professional angling instructors adventure to discover what bats live in from Borderlines will be on hand to teach and around RSPB Mersehead. Bat you how to fish and what to do when you detectors will be on hand to listen to the catch one. All equipment is supplied. bats as they fly around looking for their Under 12’s must have parental dinner. A moth trap will also be put out to supervision / parents are welcomed at all see what the bats are eating. events. Contact: 01387 780579 or Contact: 01387 740043 [email protected] or [email protected] Meet: RSPB Reserve, Meet: Information will be provided on Mersehead, DG2 8AH, NX925561 booking Cost: £4 Adult, £2 Child, £3/£1.50 Cost: Free but booking essential, transport Members is available but limited

Tidelines 27 For further information, to submit an article or to join the SFP mailing list please contact: Solway Firth Partnership, Campbell House, The Crichton, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4UQ t: 01387 702161 e: [email protected] www.solwayfirthpartnership.co.uk

The Solway Firth Partnership is a Scottish Company Limited by guarantee and without share capital under Company Number SC250012 and a Scottish Charity under Scottish Charity Number SCO34376. Registered office: Campbell House, The Crichton, Dumfries DG1 4UQ

Published by Solway Firth Partnership. Designed by Findlay Design. Print by FP Commercial Print, Stranraer.