Survey for True Bugs on the Hinterland

By Alan Watson Featherstone | Published: 25/11/2023

As part of the Findhorn Hinterland Trust’s ongoing work to identify the biological diversity that occurs on the 35 hectares of land that we are responsible for managing, we commissioned a survey of the true bugs, or Hemiptera, and barkflies, or Psocoptera, on the site in the summer. This was carried out by Joe Botting, one of the UK’s leading experts on these groups of insects, over a period of three days at the end of July.

Joe Botting sweep netting for bugs in the dune area of the Findhorn Hinterland.

There are over 40,000 species of Hemiptera known to science, of which almost 2,000 have been recorded in the UK, and those include some well-known species such as the common froghopper (Philaenus spumarius) and various shieldbugs. By contrast, there is much less diversity within the Psocoptera, with a total of just 100 species having been recorded throughout the UK. Given the small size of the Hinterland site and the limited range of habitats we have on it, we did not expect to find a significant proportion of the UK species here, but Joe’s survey did result in the identification of 104 species of true bugs and 6 species of barkflies.

(Plagiognathus arbustorum) on a flower of tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), Findhorn Hinterland.

The occurrence and distribution of these insects varied across the different habitats on the site, with the old plantation of Corsican pines being the poorest in terms of both species and the actual numbers of bugs, whilst the dune slack area to the north of the woodlands contained both the greatest diversity and a number of scarce and interesting species. I accompanied Joe for most of the time he was carrying out the survey and was able to photograph quite a number of different bugs, including some of the scarce species.

Of particular note were a leafhopper (Gravesteiniella boldi) which occurs in coastal sandhills with marram grass and is very rarely recorded – this was the first record for Scotland, according to the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas – and a planthopper (Muirodelphax aubei), which has a mainly southern distribution in the UK (this was only the second record for it in Scotland on the NBN Atlas). 

Leafhopper (Gravesteiniella boldi) found in a grass tussock, Findhorn Hinterland.

Planthopper (Muirodelphax aubei) on sand in the dunes on the Findhorn Hinterland.

Other species of particular interest included a planthopper (Macropsis fuscula) that has only been found once before in Scotland, at Gretna Green, and the blue shieldbug (Zicrona caerulea), for which this was the second most-northerly record in the UK. A poplar-associated leafhopper (Populicerus laminatus) that was found during the survey has only been recorded in the Highlands once before (on Trees for Life’s Dundreggan Conservation Estate in Glenmoriston), while this was the first Scottish records for a leafhopper (Edwardsiana crataegi) that is relatively common in the south of England and Wales.

The survey also recorded a lot of common and abundant species, including the parent bug (Elasmucha grisea). This is a shield bug that is named for the behaviours of the females in sheltering their eggs and the young nymphs for some time after they have hatched, to protect them from predators. This is a relatively rare example of parental care amongst insects! I’ve found parent bugs with their young in July in most years on the birch trees near the central wind turbine, and they were there again when Joe was on site.

Female parent bug (Elasmucha grisea) brooding her young nymphs on a silver birch leaf (Betula pendula), photographed during Joe’s survey at the end of July.

This survey adds considerably to our knowledge of the diversity of true bugs on the Hinterland area. This is important both in and of itself, and also because of the fact that insects are almost certainly the most diverse groups of organisms on the land we care for (being much more numerous and diverse than birds, mammals, trees etc), with the Hemiptera and Psocoptera being important components of the insect community. Although bugs are not active in the winter, I hope the survey and this report will encourage Hinterland members and supporters to look out for these interesting and diverse insects after they emerge again next spring!

Elongated grass bug (Notostira elongata) on grass, Findhorn Hinterland.

With special thanks to Joe Botting for carrying out the survey, and for doing so at a discount from his usual rates.

Alan Watson Featherstone, 

FHT Trustee & Chair of the Land Management subgroup.

Posted in News

2023 Beekeeping Report

By Martin Harker | Published: 25/11/2023

It has been a challenging year for beekeeping. We came through the winter with nine of our FHT original eleven hives situated up near the Findhorn Wind Park turbines alive and active. However, a poor spring meant that we continued the winter feeding into April. We made a quick inspection in early April and all seemed well. The weather then turned cold again so we refrained from opening the hives to inspect the colonies, just inspecting them through the glass crown boards. We thus failed to notice that two strong colonies had eaten through all their stores. We felt so guilty when we found these two previously strong colonies had died.

However, things picked up and new queens mated successfully, and we increased the hives to ten with some interesting swarm collections involving tree climbing and other antics!  With a lovely hot June we were looking forward to an early honey harvest. Climate change had other ideas. July was awful and, in common with most beekeepers in the area, we found that instead of increasing the honey stores, the bees spent July eating through their stores. By August we were having to feed them, an occurrence that most beekeepers had never experienced. 

At Findhorn we are fortunate to have both ling and bell heather on the dunes and around the woodland. These were in flower by early August so the bees were happily out foraging, well into September, replenishing their empty larders. The two strongest hives were able to put some honey into the supers for us to obtain a small harvest, but we left most of the honey for their winter feed. So, we enter winter with ten hives, with the bees clustered together keeping the queen warm in the middle at about 33 degrees C, ready to start laying again in early spring. We are ever hopeful for a better year in 2024.

Despite the impression that my account may give, beekeeping is not just about trying to keep the bees alive and hoping for a honey harvest. We can rejoice that over a quarter of a million bees have been roaming the gardens of Findhorn, pollinating the flowers and fruit trees. We have enjoyed the fellowship of the regular inspections, with visitors coming to join us – it has been particularly rewarding to have had a stream of young people come along and join us for some of our sessions.  Personally, it is also such a pleasure to work with Jonathan and John, both highly experienced and knowledgeable beekeepers; we enjoy great teamwork.

One of the monthly Hinterland work parties helped us to sort out and clean the equipment. The participants had the opportunity to see into some of the hives. When inspections start again next spring we will welcome anyone who would like to join us in exploring the fascinating world of bees.

Martin Harker

Long term Volunteer 

and Part of the FHT Core Beekeeping Team

November 2023

Posted in News

Meet the Team – Louna Kornobis FHT Long Term Volunteer

By Christine Lines | Published: 25/11/2023

Share a little background about yourself.  I am nineteen years old and grew up in a small town in the Swiss mountains near Lake Geneva.  My family has travelled to many places with a nature connection and after leaving school I decided I would travel by myself to discover more about the world and see if I could write a book about my experiences.  High school was quite tough for me, and I felt that I needed to go away and spend some time on my own to discover more about myself.  Being in nature has always been a way for me to deal with my own sensitivity and deep feelings.  It helps me find myself away from the human beings that I know in Switzerland and feeds my fascination with trees, animals and how the natural world works.   

You are taking on the position of long-term volunteer for the FHT.  What is that like and what does it involve?  I had not intended to come to Findhorn but having done so I am glad I did.  I don’t know what my specific goals with the FHT are, but I want to learn and it is good to be surrounded with people who have practical knowledge particularly Kajedo, George and yourself. I get taught useful things to know that I cannot learn in books.  That’s great for me as I want to learn about the real world.  I like to do different things and here the work is varied from day to day, so it is an opportunity for me to learn many new things.  I hope that once I finish my time here at the end of March 2024, I will have learned a different way of working where I am more mindful and present in what I do. When I work here I am learning to connect what I do with how I am as a person so it is not just the activity that is important.  I also am learning to simply do nothing as I only work for the FHT half the weekdays which is good as in Switzerland I am always doing things and do not have this time to really get to know myself.  Some of the FHT activities I have been involved with have included staking and tubing small trees, cutting gorse, using the brush cutter, weeding and doing things in the Woodland Garden and helping George and Jonathan construct things.  With the latter activity it is sometimes hard as I think I am not useful enough but I appreciate learning by observing what they do which includes measuring, cutting and joining things.  They make it seem so easy and it is very interesting. 

You have the privilege of being our first volunteer to stay in our Shepherd’s Hut. How are you finding that experience?  It is a dream, and it is incredible!  I have everything I need. I am used to living in a tent whilst travelling.  Simple tasks like doing laundry or taking a shower become really important and I do not take them for granted any more.  I find simple things like being clean are really precious.  I live in a small space and it does not take me long to clean it.  Being surrounded by squirrels and trees means that when I have nothing to do, I can look out the window and see life going on.  I feel really blessed by that as I feel I belong in the woods and that my work and life are meaningful.  During the night it can be cold and getting out of warm blankets can be difficult in the morning.  I use candles instead of electricity for lighting which is more complicated and more fun but I like it.  I am learning to live with the wood stove which is working really well.  It needs me to be constantly aware of it so it does not get too hot or goes out and gets too cold!

You are helping the FHT with its work which is connected to the larger community here.  How is that experience?  It gives me hope – people of my age are being brought up with the idea that the world is being destroyed, that it is dying and nothing is going to work for us in the future.  So when I arrived here it was just a message of hope to see people willing to do things in a different way and being willing to listen to one another to discover other people’s universes.  I thought before that people were only in their own little worlds and maybe they were often afraid of meeting other people.  Here that is different as people seem to be open to learning from one another.  Young people are willing to learn from old people and old people learn from young people.  I think that this is really precious and rare, which is one of the things that attracts me to this place and gives me hope for my future and the future of this Earth.

Are there any final comments you would like to make?  I would like to say thank you for making this place and being open to other cultures, religions, and people.  I am involved in writing a book and I aspire to be able to send hope to other people through this.  I feel blessed and want to send love to others, to realise that maybe everything is not going to die and that there is a solution as to how we might  live together and not just ignoring one another and the incredible natural world that surrounds us.

Interviewed by Jonathan Caddy

28th October 2023

 

Posted in News

Forres Academy Field Trip Report

By Christine Lines | Published: 03/09/2023

Forty nine pupils from the Forres Academy National 5 Biology classes travelled to Findhorn on June 22nd to carry out practical sampling techniques as part of their Unit course work – Life on Earth. This trip was supported by the Findhorn Hinterland Trust whose volunteers helped to run the various activities.

Gathering by the Hub

Pupils carried out 4 different activities that used techniques that they had learned about in school. These included quadrat sampling, measuring abiotic factors and recording the species found in pitfall traps.

Pupils from Forres Academy looking at a pitfall trap during their Biodiversity Survey day at the Findhorn Hinterland

Quadrat sampling was used to estimate overall lichen abundance on an area of dune health as well as looking at the number of Hypogynmia species. At the pitfall stations pupils identified and compared the different species found in the traps in both grassland and woodland. When measuring abiotic factors, a transect was used to investigate how temperature and light intensity changed along a transect from open grassland to birch woodland and how it affected the types of species found.  Pupils were also given the opportunity to look at lichens in more detail after listening to a very informative talk by Heather Paul, a local amateur lichenologist. They were informed about the importance of lichens as indicator species of pollution levels and the scientific importance of the Findhorn dunes habitat for lichen species as well as other nationally important species.

Learning about Lichens outdoors from Heather

A great day was had by all. Particular thanks go to the volunteers from the Hinterland Trust -Jonathan Caddy, George and Heather Paul, Alan Watson Featherstone and Martin Harker as well as the transport department of the Findhorn Foundation and Trees for Life. Thanks also to the school staff – Jacky Barrere, Alana MacDonald and Alastair Walker as well as S6 pupil Issac Swanson. The pupils did themselves proud, working hard through the day to gather data that they will use as a practice for their assignments.

Jonathan Caddy speaking to pupils from Forres Academy on their Biodiversity Survey day at the Findhorn Hinterland

Some quotes from pupils included: –

‘I really enjoyed the time out of school and the experience.   I would love to do this again.’

‘It was a fun day out and I enjoyed learning about the world around us!’

Jacky Barrere

Forres Academy Biology Teacher

Pupils from Forres Academy at the end of their Biodiversity Survey day at the Findhorn Hinterland

In the Marquee

 

Posted in News

Chair’s Round Up – Summer 2023

By jonathan.caddy | Published: 03/09/2023

It seems a long way off now but thank you for all those that crowded into the James Milne Institute in Findhorn Village for our AGM.  It was a wonderful celebration of our achievements showing how we have been maturing as an organisation whose work is appreciated by many.  Special thanks goes to the team that helped set up the evening and to Timothy Finnigan, chair of the Findhorn Dunes Trust, for making the effort to attend.  This helps maintain the important links between the two organisations.  It was particularly lovely to have a little celebratory social afterwards outside by the piers and the bay on a sunny summer’s evening.

230627 Draft Findhorn Plan (1)

Change is definitely in the air here in the Park Ecovillage Findhorn. The Findhorn Foundation is on a course to close operations by the 1st October and Duneland Ltd, which has been developing the Whins site over the last 26 years, is looking to finish its work and disband as a company by next year.  One of the questions being asked is: how will these huge changes affect the Findhorn Hinterland Trust?  As chair of the Trust I have been very much involved in the discussions around change.  Particularly in the Collaboration Circle, a gathering of leaders of stakeholder organisations that has met in various forms every second month at the Park over the last five years.  Also as part of the Development Committee (DevCom) a group that was set up more than two years ago to meet weekly and look at the physical development of the ecovillage.  What has become clear is that the FHT is seen as a highly regarded, well set up and organised charity with a great track record that does excellent work on the wild land surrounding the ecovillage.  As such it has been approached both by the Findhorn Foundation and Duneland Ltd with regards to the possibility of the FHT taking on ownership of the land that they presently possess.  The discussions are at an early stage but this is an exciting new development that could open up unseen possibilities – watch this space and let’s see how this all develops!

Forres Academy Biology Field Trip

As for other plans there is a Dune Restoration project that the FHT is looking to work on this winter with Sean Reed a local ecologist who has been employed to take a lead in helping us deliver this important piece of work. This is a clear and responsible  step the trust is making towards ensuring the biodiversity of our rare dune habitats are conserved as well as enhanced and will involve various ways over the coming months of explaining to others in the local area what we intend to do and why we have chosen to embark on this significant intervention.

On the ground there have been a number of educational activities happening this quarter including the very successful Forres Academy Biology field trip event in June involving almost 50 pupils which we have now established as an annual event.  Another was experienced educator Roy Simpson delivering the first of his Sharing Nature with Children day workshops (see articles on both elsewhere).  I attended the latter as I had had this training back in the 70’s and found that it had given me such useful tools to awaken awareness of the natural world in such a fun way for children and adults alike.  It will be put on again on the 16th of September and I would recommend it to anyone be they parent, teacher or simply someone wishing to gain greater awareness of their environment.  Disappointingly other educational offerings such as Alan and Heather’s biodiversity day and Kajedo’s weeklong retreat did not run as they did not book although Kajedo did run a modified Sacred Ways workshop back in June we trust that the repeat scheduled for the 23rd September will be a success. 

Roy and the Sharing Nature workshop

With regards to further  exploring the land’s biodiversity front, Alan Watson Featherstone arranged a visit by Joe Botting, a specialist in true bugs, to carry out a survey on the land in parallel with work being done in Forres for the Forres Friends charity which allowed us to share the expense.  Alan will no doubt report on this in the next newsletter.  In the meantime there was a group of four lepidopterists from the south of England who carried out moth surveys in both Wilkies Wood and the dunes in early August with some interesting finds that you can read about elsewhere.

Chris Wilkinson (r) and collaegue with moth trap, Findhorn Hinterland

As Kajedo mentions in his article, the camping pads and green burial space have been well used for celebrations and events over the summer which included this year’s Mid- Summer happening complete with fire, food, four piece ceilidh band and Scottish country dancing in the big marquee.  A huge thank you to everyone who helped put this together.

Mid Summer Celebration Band

One disappointing piece of news is to do with our FHT Apiary: our bees have been having a hard time which started in May with the loss of a couple of hives due to cold weather and although we were able to produce many artificial swarms to help increase the number of hives, many of the new queens did not make it and all but two hives have very little honey in them.  This is so surprising for this time of the year and will mean that there will be only a small harvest for humans, some hives will need to be united to have a chance of surviving the winter and all will no doubt need some feeding to help them through to next spring.  Let’s hope for a better season for bees next year.

There have been one or two enquiries about long term committed volunteers that may be eligible to use our elegant Shepherds Hut and Bell Tent with wood stove but no one has firmly taken up the offer yet.  We are still looking for the right people – please spread the word. 

There are no doubt other important happenings that I have missed but I think that is enough for just now and leaves me to wish you a pleasant rest of the summer and a glorious autumn as the earth cools and the light dims.  May you enjoy and take sustenance from the special land that surrounds us.

Blessings,

Jonathan Caddy

FHT Chair

15th August 2023   

AGM Refreshments and social

AGM refreshments and social

Posted in News

Dune Restoration Project

By jonathan.caddy | Published: 03/09/2023

Species rich grassland (Scottish Biodiversity List)

Maintaining and protecting biodiversity in our world is of international importance and concern and the strategy is to make sure that what happens on the ground in every locality of the earth helps with this mammoth task.  To that end FHT commissioned a 2020 Local Biodiversity Action Plan that highlighted what habitats and species are particularly rare and important to conserve on the land it manages and from that it was clear that the dune habitat is of prime importance.  How can we maintain and enhance this diversity? 

Common blue

The Trust has engaged Sean Reed, a local ecologist, to plan our dune restoration work.  The following outline gives a little more detail on the Project.  Sean introduced our land management group to the Dynamic Dunescapes publication which has helped inform our thinking and which some readers may find interesting and informative.

Jonathan Caddy
FHT Chair   

Project Outline

by Sean Reed MCIEEM

A very special place

Findhorn sand dune ecosystem, once part of the second largest in Europe, is of national importance for lichens, insects and fungi.  Many species found here are found at only a handful of places in the UK.  For example, Findhorn dunes have the only British record for one species of fungus and the dunes are the most important site for a moth which is found at only one other site in Scotland. Coastal vegetated shingle is included on the Scottish government’s Scottish Biodiversity List of priority habitats.

Dune heath

Under threat

Natural sand dune landscapes are now rarely seen in Europe.  They have been lost through the establishment of forestry plantations, housing and industrial developments, caravan parks and golf courses.  

Dune heath, sand

Over-stabilisation, through increasing vegetation cover, is a major threat to UK dunes.  At Findhorn, dynamic open sand dune habitats, dependent on a plentiful supply of mobile sand, are being lost to gorse and tree encroachment.  While this landscape may look wild and natural, it is actually the result of reduced wind speed, caused by the historic construction of houses and planting of woodland. This wind-sheltering effect has allowed gorse to spread, further restricting the natural flow of the wind.  Pine trees, from seeds blown from adjoining plantation woodland, add to the problem, so that without action much of the special wildlife interest of the area will soon disappear.

Dune heath, shingle. Scottish Biodiversity List

Our responsibility

The Findhorn Hinterland Trust manages thirty-five hectares of the Findhorn dunes, including ten hectares of woodland.  Most of the dune heath is now covered by gorse.  Rare sand and shingle habitats, the ‘jewels in the crown’ of Hinterland’s biodiversity, are dependent on regular hand clearance of scrub for their continued existence.  

Sand dune habitats, and many of the species that depend upon them for survival, are included on the Scottish Biodiversity List.  These are the highest priorities for conservation action, helping to deliver on international targets for cooperative biodiversity recovery.  We have a duty to respond to the biodiversity crisis on the land which we care for.  

Dark Green Fritillary, knapweed

Vision to action

Our vision is of a healthier mix of sand dune habitats, a re-invigorated ecosystem which is more self-sustaining.  We are planning a gradual approach, clearing around three hectares of gorse over approximately five years. This will connect the two remaining areas of high quality sand/shingle habitat with each other, and with the open dunes beyond – restoring the dynamic natural ecological process of wind-blown sand.  We will employ recognised best practice techniques in sand dune restoration, using a specialist machine, as the work is beyond the scope of hand tools or work parties.  The Project is seeking to raise funding to pay for a contractor, and for project management and support.
 

Small heath. Scottish Biodiversity List

We recognise the sensitivity of the area and the value which the local community and visitors place upon it. Without community and public understanding of the need for this work, it may appear to some to be destructive.  Public consultation and information is a key part of the Project.

Sean Reed.
Findhorn Hinterland Trust Dune Restoration Project

 

LEARN MORE:

To learn more about the threats to wildlife species in the dunes, and how the FHT is planning to restore sand and shingle habits, please come along to this talk:

Posted in News

Moth Trapping at Findhorn

By Christine Lines | Published: 03/09/2023

9-10 August 2023
Participants: Chris Wilkinson, Mark Edgeller, Nigel Jones, Robert Kelsh

Chris Wilkinson with team member

We are a group of keen amateur lepidopterists from across the South of England.  For many years we have been keen to visit the Strathspey area of Scotland during late summer to try to see some of the very special moths that can be found there at that time of year. So from the 5th to 12th August we packed our trapping gear and headed north to our digs close to Grantown on Spey.

Angle-striped Sallow

The area consists of a rich mosaic of upland habitats supporting many species such as Cousin German or Northern Dart that can only be found in the local area,  and those such as the Manchester Treble-bar that are limited to northern upland locations. Special moths we were keen to see included the Dark-bordered Beauty, which is known from Loch Insh and a single site in Yorkshire. For this species we took part in a survey run by the RSPB to monitor the population and extent of their range on the RSPB Loch Insh reserve. We also ran surveys at RSPB Abernethy and on Cairngorm Mountain where many species restricted to the upland moors were recorded.

Archers Dart

While we were in the area we were also very keen to visit dune habitat on the Moray Firth to seek some of the species that are found in this unique habitat. We were absolutely delighted when our request to run a survey was granted by the Findhorn Trust and the date of 9th August was tentatively agreed. 

Barred Red

A particular target in the dunes was a declining and difficult-to-see species, the Portland Moth. This species is now only found from Lancashire northwards and requires extensive dunes in good condition. It is a beautiful shade of green with black, white and rufous cross markings but notoriously difficult to trap. Predictably this was one of those critters that eluded us! We did, however, record a much rarer mini beast. Caryocolum blandelloides was described as new to science as recently as 1981 and was discovered as a UK species at Coul Links in August 1994. Its UK range is limited to dune systems in the western Moray Firth so we were aware that we had a chance of seeing this diminutive rarity. We weren’t disappointed and were delighted to find 4 had been attracted to our light traps.

Coast Dart

There were plenty of other sand dune specialities recorded including good numbers of Archer’s Darts and Coast Darts and other northern moths such as Pretty Pinion, Lempke’s Gold Spot and Gold Spangle. In all, 397 moths of 63 species were recorded.

Gold Spangle

We also placed 2 traps in the Findhorn Community Woodland in order to see if the excellent conservation work was paying dividends with the moth fauna. A different range of species were recorded which would be expected in this habitat. The pine feeding Barred Red were present in good numbers as were the Birch feeding Lesser Swallow Prominent. Another scarce Birch species with a northern range, the Angle-striped Sallow, was also recorded. In all, we recorded a respectable 185 moths of 41 species in the woodland which would indicate a good range of laval foodplants present in the area.

Golden Argent micro-moth (Argyresthia goedarteller birch (Betula pendula), Findhorn Hinterland

Much as we enjoy the pursuit of rare moths in beautiful places, there is a serious aspect to our trapping.  All of our records are passed to the relevant county authority and are entered onto the National Moth Recording Scheme database which is run by the conservation charity, Butterfly Conservation. The data we gather contributes to the knowledge of moth populations, their ranges and changes over time.  It is an example of citizen science contributing to an awareness of biodiversity on a national scale which would otherwise be unknown.

I would like to add that it was an absolute pleasure and a privilege to visit such a beautiful corner of this little island and contribute in our own little way to the knowledge of what lives there.

Lesser swallow prominent moth (Pheosia gnoma), Findhorn Hinterland

Chris Wilkinson.

18th August 2023

Juniper pug moth (Eupithecia pusillata), Findhorn Hinterland

  

 

Posted in News

Meet the Team – Martin Harker

By jonathan.caddy | Published: 03/09/2023

Martin lives locally with his wife Elizabeth near Brodie and has been involved with the work of the FHT for at least the last six years both as part of the Land Management subgroup and as a key player as one of the three main managers of the FHT apiary.  In June of this year he stepped down from his role as a very efficient and effective Secretary of the Land Management group to spend more time with his wife.  Although he will carry on with the bees which he is passionate about, we thought it would be the perfect time to find out more about this quiet, knowledgeable man who has contributed so much to the work of the trust over the past few years as part of the team. 

Honey Harvest

What inspired your love of Nature?

My father worked in the Forestry Commission based initially in Cambridge and the surrounding countryside so through him and his work there was always a connection to the outdoors. My mother also had an influence as she thought it might be enjoyable to work for the National Trust -this stuck at the back of my mind.  Another influence on my thinking was the reading of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring at school and this led me to getting involved in the school’s natural history society which included an annual meeting of the different societies in the Natural History Museum in London.  At one of these a student gave a presentation on liverworts and talking to him afterwards he said one of the good things about studying liverworts was that most people do not know much about them and you soon become an expert.  That sounded good to me and as we had moved to Cornwall by then and were surrounded by lichen’s I decided to study them resulting in two years later it being me lecturing in the Natural History Museum on these beautiful living things.  I have continued to develop this joy of seeing and appreciating the small things on the land – their tiny detail, colour, structure and form.  This micro world totally fascinates me – the small, beautiful and detailed living forms that are such an integral part of nature and that I see now captured so magnificently in for example Alan Watson Featherstone’s photography.  This love of nature led me to choose to pursue a university degree in Land Management.

What sort of work were you involved in during your working life?

I worked as a land manager for a number of small estates coordinating all the different professions – lawyers, accountants, insurers, those dealing with the finance, farm consultants, foresters, farmers, the workforce on the estate, the building department, gamekeepers, gardeners…  Helping all these to work together was a pleasant but sometimes challenging task.  I was also responsible for the housing of over 200 families so there was a great sense of responsibility and obligation to get the balance between humanity and commerciality right.  In addition, I was involved with over 50 farm businesses including a national company wishing to set up a green burial operation which was I guess how I heard about the Findhorn Hinterland Trust when we finally moved up to Moray.

Bee Work Party

Tell us more about why you decided to get involved in the work of the trust and how you have been able to contribute.

Judith Berry, who was part of the FHT green burial team at the time, showed us around and talked to my wife and I about the green burial site.  I had been retired for a couple of years and was looking for some way of using my land management skills when I had a conversation with you as Chair of the trust.  At the time you were needing some extra support on the administration side of things and were seeing the need to have a small group to progress more discussion around the important land management aspect of the trust’s work rather than simply left to decisions made by yourself or Kajedo as the Land Manager.  It was back in 2017 and with my help we set up the FHT Land Management subgroup to help  with coordination and implementation by bringing some structure to the land management through regular meetings with good record keeping as part of the organisation growing up.  It was great that we could bring in other people like Alan and George and later Draeyk with such a diverse range of abilities, interests and speciality skills – everyone bringing something different.  

And then of course there were the bees.  The senior partner for the firm I worked for in England was a beekeeper and he would bring in honey to share every time he visited us.  From this I became aware of something that might be of interest to me that I could do.  One day in 2013 some beekeepers asked if there was a place that they could put their hives on the estate.  I said I had an orchard adjoining my garden and asked them if that would do? Even though they did not take up the offer they gave me a hive to start me off and that is what got me into beekeeping. I bought all the kit and brought all of it up with me when we moved to Moray.  I had the hives at home for about a year but unfortunately Elizabeth became allergic to bees and that is when I phoned you up in a panic back in 2017 to ask if my hives could become part of the FHT apiary. Beekeeping has become an absolute passion of mine and it is so good to be able to do it with others managing the FHT apiary.

What aspects have you found most satisfying with regards to the FHT work that you have been involved in?

Being able to use my experience of land management and see the land management subgroup develop into a good functional group with progress being made and things evolving over the years.  To be able to assist in the administration of it and seeing it really making progress has been most satisfying. 

With the bees it is having an audience – being able to talk about them and share knowledge.  I particularly liked when we had one of our work parties with about fifteen people turning up and whilst they were all cleaning or putting frames together I was showing small groups a nearby hive and talking about bees all morning.  It is also so lovely when people come and join us tending bees and we all share our knowledge and interest.

The other thing that is great is the educational aspect offered by the FHT  such as the two visits from the Forres Secondary school.  Seeing fifty youngsters being engaged with the land and wanting to learn about it is also very satisfying.

With fellow Bee Keeper John Willoner

What would be a high dream for the FHT if anything was possible?

If I had three wishes, the first would concern changing the physical.  It is lovely to see the landscape evolving but what I would really love to see would be the land between here and the sea with far less gorse and trees and the wildness and openness restored giving a sense of discovery – going around every corner and finding something different and unusual.  At the other end of the spectrum, looking at the spiritual side, the land should be a place where people feel that it is a thin place where heaven feels not far away- a place where people find tranquillity and reconciliation. On the human side I would like to see a place where people reconcile with nature, learn about nature, understand it and feel a part of it and ultimately in one hundred years time there are still people here that can enjoy it.

Interviewed by Jonathan Caddy

FHT Chair 

16th August 2023

FHT Land Management Team

Posted in News

News from the (Hinter) land – Summer 2023

By Kajedo Wanderer | Published: 03/09/2023

It’s late, as I write this… and yet – there is still a golden glow in the tops of the trees and the air smells of summer…  Erica and Calluna vulgaris have painted patches of purple heather on the land once the spring’s yellows faded.

June was warm and dry – the warmest and driest in many places in the UK.  Warm here too – but we only had to water newly planted trees once. July and early August were wet, but not continuously so – we still had some decent spells of sunshine – here on the Findhorn peninsular. Often I would see the rain coming down in Forres, yet here the sun was still shining. Lots of rainbows…  And of course it was perfect growing weather for our young trees. Every week a few little oaks were peaking above their spiral tubes, asking to be housed in the larger tubes before the deer would find their tender tips.  And even though it was a damper summer than usual – I noticed that our fungi were taking their time, being cautioned by the dry June.

A lot of the work this summer so far was either ‘tree-care’ – helping the young trees to grow, or gorse cutting on tracks and paths and on some of our ‘species rich grasslands’.  And then there was the integration of human needs and the needs of the rest of nature. Keeping clear paths open channels human traffic and prevents the many feet walking across lichen beds. Offering designated camping pads keeps people off places where a tent would be quite destructive to the myriad little creatures we barely notice. Having designated fire-places reduces the risks of wildfires.

We also had quite a few celebrations at the shelter at the Green Burial Ground, and a constant flow of campers coming and going.  Every Friday morning the ’Findhorn  fledglings’ and their parents are at the picnic table…  As I write this 10 participants of a ‘Vision Quest’ group are tucked away somewhere on the land for their four days ‘solo time’. We are hoping that this group (‘Eschwege Institut’ from Germany) will conduct their whole programme here next summer. And here it is – the word ‘hope’…

Of course the Findhorn Hinterland Trust is part of the Findhorn Eco-village community and most of you would have heard about the radical changes we are going through as a community. All of us here in ‘The Park’ are affected.  It’s both scary and exciting. Whenever things are in flux and the future uncertain we take refuge in ‘trust’ and ‘hope’. It’s not just a new chapter of this community which is about to be written – it’s more like a ‘sequel’. A new book which continues the story of the first.  And we, the FHT, will have a role to play in this new adventure.

Whenever the turmoil around me becomes too confusing, I choose to go out onto the land… sit under a tree… and become still… still enough to hear the low murmur of the forest.  Or when a beautiful sunset beckons – I sit on a dune and let my eyes go far across the sea…  The sea and the trees remind me of something within and around them which is so much bigger than the ups and downs of our human endeavours.  Something which is also within and around me – and clearly felt when I become still enough…

Maybe that’s why people do ‘Vision Quests’ – to re-member and find the essence of tree and sea within themselves …

Blessed be, blessed be…

Kajedo, August ‘23

 

Posted in News

Sharing Nature with Children

By Christine Lines | Published: 03/09/2023

An Inspiring FHT Day Workshop

On Saturday the 26th of June, I had the wonderful opportunity of participating in the Sharing Nature with Children workshop led by Roy Simpson, a resident of the Park and fellow nature lover and caretaker.

Throughout the day’s workshop, Roy led our group through a series of games designed to educate children (or teens and adults alike) and help connect them to the nature surrounding them. The workshop was primarily aimed at other educators who can bring these games, activities and ideas to children or students. I myself am not an educator or teacher (though perhaps one day it is something I would be interested in), I’m just a young traveller who has fallen in love with the magic of Findhorn and enjoys getting involved in all the interesting things offered here. Educator or not, young or old, I think this workshop has something for everyone and I had such a lovely and inspiring time with Roy, the rest of the group and of course Mother Nature.

The various activities encourage a perspective that nature is an incredible life force worthy of our love, respect and attention. It is something we ourselves are very much a part of, and to protect it we must understand it. To understand it, we must take time and space to step out of ourselves and explore the wonderful world around us. Marvel at the jagged zig zagging tree bark, the soft cushioned beds of lime green moss, or the smooth and shining water worn stones, the whooshing and whistling wind, the deep and fragrant woody aroma of pine, a brilliant pink foxglove against a green, earthy Forest backdrop, the sweet scent of coconut on the air amongst golden gorse, a gentle echo of cooing pigeons and sweet melodic songs of blackbirds, the breathless beauty of an endless horizon and where the silvery sea meets a vast cloud strewn sky…


Each day after the workshop, I have felt the urge to spend more time with nature. Not just walking outside, but truly being with nature. Developing a relationship the same way you would a good friend. Doing nothing in particular. Just spending time with each other. Listening, watching, observing, admiring, learning, connecting…

So each time I get the gentle and spontaneous inclination to idly wander the hinterland, or to sit quietly in one of the gardens. I follow my curiosity and let nature do the talking. 

We all have so much to learn and so much to gain from reconnecting with the natural world around us. I am very thankful to Roy for holding the workshop, for inspiring me, and for sharing some wonderful ideas and ways to deepen my connection with the natural world. I hope in the sharing or my experience, I can inspire the same in you.

Emma Dowling

Young Traveller from Oz 

and new FHT Member 

June 2023

Stop press – Roy Simpson will be running this informative and inspiring workshop again on the Hinterland on Saturday the 16th September.  Please sign up and join us by following this link if you are interested.

 

Posted in News
Findhorn Hinterland Trust, Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) SC045806
228 Pineridge, Findhorn, Forres, Moray IV36 3TB