 The official Merkinch Local Nature Reserve website can be found at:
http://www.merkinchlnr.org.uk
Merkinch Local Nature Reserve
There is also a Merkinch Local Nature Reserve Bebo group which can be found at: http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=9949112414
 This is a hidden gem in the heart of Inverness, an area that is not widely known even to people living on its borders, an area full of wild life with roe deer, owls, weasels, herons, cormorants and wading birds of various descriptions. If you're lucky you may even spot the kingfishers at the Muirtown pools, even the occasional Osprey can be seen visiting the area. It has numerous areas of high wildlife value such as the Muirtown Pools, a diverse set of habitats around a number of pools, which are partially connected to the sea. Habitats include salt marsh, fresh water marsh with reed beds, bog, scrub and wooded embankments.
Muirtown Pools has a high habitat diversity with mudflats supporting wading birds, brackish pools with small areas of salt marsh, freshwater pools with reed bed dominated by reed mace (with mute swans and other birds nesting), and area of scrub to the north east and a wooded area with a variety of ground flora on the embankment by the canal basin. The north-eastern pool where the boardwalk crosses to the sea wall supports a small area of salt marsh, with an area dominated by wet heath adjacent supporting species including cross-leaved heath and bog asphodel. This is a very unusual habitat combination.
Background
Merkinch Local Nature Reserve is our jewel in the crown it is an area of 54.7 hectares in the South Kessock Area of Inverness Highland Scotland. The local community brought this about through Merkinch Greenspace in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, British Waterways, Green Inverness, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Merkinch Partnership and Highland Council over a 10-month period with the designation being approved by the Council on the 14th November 07 and formally signed on 28th November 2007.
Chair of Merkinch Greenspace and the MLNR Management Group Ali Locke said "The designation of this MLNR is not only a fantastic achievement for everyone involved in its creation, but a major boost to the Merkinch area of Inverness and the Highlands as a whole. The challenge now and in the years to come is to turn it into an area that people will enjoy visiting while maintaining its biodiversity".
Highland Councillor Peter Corbett has been a keen supporter of the project and is delighted to see the area designated. He said: "A Local Nature Reserve in an urban area such as the South Kessock area of Merkinch highlights how unique this designation is. After the collapse of the proposed waterfront centre this is a great environmental boost for the local people who transformed a dream into reality and an example of partnership working."
Jonathan Willet, Highland Biodiversity Officer for The Highland Council said: "This designation shows the importance of this site in Merkinch and in the whole of Inverness. It demonstrates that important areas for wildlife can be found in urban areas of the Highlands. I look forward to working with the steering group to maximise the benefit of Merkinch Local Nature Reserve, for wildlife and the people of Inverness."
Merkinch Local Nature Reserve is the 50th in Scotland and the only one in the Highlands of Scotland. Merkinch Greenspace MLNR Management Group has a three-year management plan in place for the reserve with a 6-year interpretive plan. Our vision for the only MLNR in Highland is 'to create the best Local Nature Reserve in Scotland: a place where people and biodiversity co-exist to each other's mutual benefit'.
MLNR Management Group
What's been achieved so far
Two Caithness slate Monoliths have been installed at each end of the reserve. Funding has been accessed to carry out a programme of improvements which will include:
- Widening and improving the paths to ensure disabled access
- The installation of a ramp on the Boardwalk
- Motorbike deterrent measures
- The installation of benches
Most of the work will be carried out by the British Trust of Conservation Volunteers (BTCV).
The Reserve was officially opened by John Farquhar-Munro MSP at the LNR Launch Day on 7th June, which was well attended by the local community. The event began with a parade by children from Merkinch School and activities included wood-turning, capoeira and face painting. There will be an annual celebration day held in the LNR.
The Reserve has been designated a Green Gym site by the British Trust of Conservation Volunteers. The official launch of the Green Gym will take place on 3rd September and sessions will be held weekly on Wednesdays. For more information please contact BTCV on 01463 811560,) www2.btcv.org.uk/display/btcv_home.
A Species and Habitat survey has been commissioned; the last one was carried out in 1995 so is now well out of date.
Future Plans
It is of course early days yet and much has to be done to improve the Reserve while protecting the Bio-diversity of this unique area of the Highlands.
Plans for the future include:
- Building an Earth Ship in the Reserve
- Installation of signage and interpretive panels
- Visitor survey
- Wildflower meadow
Merkinch Greenspace is keen for the local and wider community to get involved in the Nature Reserve. For more information on volunteering opportunities please contact Anne Sutherland, Merkinch Partnership Officer, on 01463 718989.
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