Eiain Smith Duneland
Duneland Ltd has always put nature conservation at the heart of its developments. Now, as building is completed and the company winds down, it is handing the baton to the Findhorn Hinterland Trust to continue its good work.
In 1997 Duneland Ltd acquired the 400+ acre Wilkie Estate. As well as reserving about seven percent of this for the evolution of the Park Ecovillage, Findhorn, a significant goal over its 28- year history has been the conservation of our natural environment in keeping with our commitment to co-create with nature. The company has sought to ground these goals starting as far back as 2000 when it gifted 170 acres to the Findhorn Dunes Trust and soon after helped create what has developed into the Findhorn Hinterland Trust (FHT). The relationship with FHT has developed over the years into a long-term partnership.
As the final stages of building on the relatively small southern portion of the land is completed and the company looks to wind up in the near future, it seems appropriate that the land Duneland Ltd still owns outwith the settlement boundary should be gifted to the FHT, which has developed into a strong and competent local conservation and educational charity. The innovative prospect of bringing deep conservation work inside the boundary of the settlement has also arisen.
An ecological strategy developed and employed in North Whins, of creating the conditions for rare dune heath ecosystems to thrive amongst the human homes, is already being celebrated across Scotland as an example of people being able to live intimately in balance with a delicate local ecosystem.
This ecological strategy has had excellent results. Volunteers have lovingly nurtured the rare natural dune heath in the central Firepit area for over a decade. They created a lichen garden at North Whins and intentionally maintained areas of bare sand and shingle – home to some of the rarest species in the UK. Flower meadows have been created to support pollinators and complement areas of natural dune grassland, creating ‘nature corridors’ for a variety of beings, seen and unseen. Trees have been de-emphasised in this system to better support the rare dune ecosystem.
A small working group has been meeting regularly to bring this ecological work to a point where it can be passed on from Duneland to another organisation. Gracefully FHT seems willing to take this on for the benefit of future generations. FHT feels that they have the necessary skills and tools to care for this high-value conservation land well into the future and that there are educational opportunities – as areas within the settlement are a microcosm of the challenges also seen outside the settlement.
Whins residents
Recently the working group organised and guided a nature walk for all residents to help inform them of the conservation efforts Duneland has put in place and let them know how they can support these sterling efforts. I leave you with the information that will be distributed to all residents about this important and ongoing work that reminds us we are part of nature and we need to find ways where we can sensitively live on land together.
Deep natural blessings,
Eian Smith
Duneland Ltd Chair
This is the information that has been shared with residents of the Whins area, which contains helpful guidance for others in the Park Ecovillage, Findhorn.
Nature Information to Whins Residents
The sand dunes adjacent to The Whins are of national biodiversity importance – for their habitats, lichens, insects and fungi. Natural sand dune habitats have declined across Europe and are now very rare. On the Findhorn peninsula, rare habitats and species are being lost to gorse and tree encroachment, and scrub control is a key priority for biodiversity action.
West and North Whins were designed to integrate human and wildlife habitats, in the spirit of Co-creation with Nature. Sand dune habitats have been incorporated within the development, so that it makes a valuable contribution to local nature recovery.
The key features within the development are:
- The Firepit area of natural dune heath at West Whins
- The North Whins lichen garden – bounded by a low wooden rail
- Areas bare of sand and shingle – home to some of the rarest species on the dunes
- Areas of natural dune grassland
- Flower meadows at North Whins.
In addition to these features, dune habitats at nearby Heathneuk were restored in 2020, through gorse and tree clearance.
You can help to maintain priority wildlife habitats at North Whins by:
- Joining a work party, or forming a residents group, to help keep the lichen garden and Firepit free of weeds, gorse and trees.
- Not planting anything outside your garden boundaries. The communal areas between houses are important dune habitats that would be damaged by trees and shrubs. Landscape planting here has been kept to an absolute minimum.
- Being aware of potentially invasive garden plant species, especially Sea Buckthorn and Japanese Rose. These species can quickly spread on sand dunes and should not be planted anywhere on the Whins. Once established, they spread quickly and are extremely difficult to remove. Give preference to native shrubs in your garden, such as hawthorn, rowan, holly, hazel and crab apple.
- Please consider if you really need a cat in this ecologically sensitive area. Predation by cats has led to the disappearance of red squirrels from the area in the past. If you have a cat, please fit it with a bell or a ‘Birdsbesafe’ collar.
- Look out for toads at night on roads in March (migrating to Cullerne pond).
- Be aware that rabbits and deer have an important role to play in maintaining dune habitats, through their nibbling. Garden plants can easily be protected by netting.
- Joining and supporting the Findhorn Hinterland Trust.
To find out more about the ecology of the area and the nature recovery action taking place, please refer to the Ecology page of the Findhorn Hinterland Trust’s website.
https://www.findhornhinterland.org/ecology/
www.findhornhinterland.org
Conservation alongside human homes in the Ecovillage Settlement
Eiain Smith Duneland
Duneland Ltd has always put nature conservation at the heart of its developments. Now, as building is completed and the company winds down, it is handing the baton to the Findhorn Hinterland Trust to continue its good work.
In 1997 Duneland Ltd acquired the 400+ acre Wilkie Estate. As well as reserving about seven percent of this for the evolution of the Park Ecovillage, Findhorn, a significant goal over its 28- year history has been the conservation of our natural environment in keeping with our commitment to co-create with nature. The company has sought to ground these goals starting as far back as 2000 when it gifted 170 acres to the Findhorn Dunes Trust and soon after helped create what has developed into the Findhorn Hinterland Trust (FHT). The relationship with FHT has developed over the years into a long-term partnership.
As the final stages of building on the relatively small southern portion of the land is completed and the company looks to wind up in the near future, it seems appropriate that the land Duneland Ltd still owns outwith the settlement boundary should be gifted to the FHT, which has developed into a strong and competent local conservation and educational charity. The innovative prospect of bringing deep conservation work inside the boundary of the settlement has also arisen.
An ecological strategy developed and employed in North Whins, of creating the conditions for rare dune heath ecosystems to thrive amongst the human homes, is already being celebrated across Scotland as an example of people being able to live intimately in balance with a delicate local ecosystem.
This ecological strategy has had excellent results. Volunteers have lovingly nurtured the rare natural dune heath in the central Firepit area for over a decade. They created a lichen garden at North Whins and intentionally maintained areas of bare sand and shingle – home to some of the rarest species in the UK. Flower meadows have been created to support pollinators and complement areas of natural dune grassland, creating ‘nature corridors’ for a variety of beings, seen and unseen. Trees have been de-emphasised in this system to better support the rare dune ecosystem.
A small working group has been meeting regularly to bring this ecological work to a point where it can be passed on from Duneland to another organisation. Gracefully FHT seems willing to take this on for the benefit of future generations. FHT feels that they have the necessary skills and tools to care for this high-value conservation land well into the future and that there are educational opportunities – as areas within the settlement are a microcosm of the challenges also seen outside the settlement.
Whins residents
Recently the working group organised and guided a nature walk for all residents to help inform them of the conservation efforts Duneland has put in place and let them know how they can support these sterling efforts. I leave you with the information that will be distributed to all residents about this important and ongoing work that reminds us we are part of nature and we need to find ways where we can sensitively live on land together.
Deep natural blessings,
Eian Smith
Duneland Ltd Chair
This is the information that has been shared with residents of the Whins area, which contains helpful guidance for others in the Park Ecovillage, Findhorn.
Nature Information to Whins Residents
The sand dunes adjacent to The Whins are of national biodiversity importance – for their habitats, lichens, insects and fungi. Natural sand dune habitats have declined across Europe and are now very rare. On the Findhorn peninsula, rare habitats and species are being lost to gorse and tree encroachment, and scrub control is a key priority for biodiversity action.
West and North Whins were designed to integrate human and wildlife habitats, in the spirit of Co-creation with Nature. Sand dune habitats have been incorporated within the development, so that it makes a valuable contribution to local nature recovery.
The key features within the development are:
In addition to these features, dune habitats at nearby Heathneuk were restored in 2020, through gorse and tree clearance.
You can help to maintain priority wildlife habitats at North Whins by:
To find out more about the ecology of the area and the nature recovery action taking place, please refer to the Ecology page of the Findhorn Hinterland Trust’s website.
https://www.findhornhinterland.org/ecology/
www.findhornhinterland.org