Celebrations at Brough harbour day
THERE was a real buzz in Brough as the community gathered to celebrate the completion of three new projects.
On Saturday, June 4, a new woodland walk, named Heathsfield, was opened by Betty Heath; the £46,000 upgrade of the local harbour was officially marked, and there was a preview of the new bird hide at St John’s Pool.
Betty and Bernard Heath created the woodland in the 1990s by planting over 1400 mixed broadleaf and coniferous trees in a three-acre field and creating a wildlife pond. In 2008, with many of the trees by now reaching over 20 feet high, Bernard and Betty donated the woodland to the care of Dunnet Forestry Trust.
It recently completed a project to make the woodland easily accessible to the public, making hard-surface paths with boardwalks and providing picnic benches and car parking. The wildlife pond was repaired and refilled, bird boxes were placed around the area and new deer-proof gates were put in place.
Jean Barnett, chair of DFT, thanked those who have put in hard work to develop the woodland.
She added: “This project has regenerated a wonderful community facility which is now open and to be enjoyed by everyone.”
The scheme received funding from the Caithness Environmental Fund, managed by Caithness Partnership, Scottish Natural Heritage and LEADER.
Meanwhile, Brough Bay Association’s Harbour Day celebrated the completion of £46,000 worth of conservation work. The event included a barbecue, music, trips around Dunnet Head on the NorthCoast Explorer and a quiz.
Chairman Michael O’Donnell said: “We have been looking forward to this day for some time. The slipway, originally built by the lighthouse commission in 1830, is now fit for another 180 years of service. It feels good to walk down the slip knowing the serious undermining has been dealt with, old crumbling concrete replaced and new steel bracing bars put in place. The whole thing is looking great.”
The project attracted funding from LEADER, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Highland Council, Historic Scotland and Dounreay Communities Fund.
Other work included rebuilding the lighthouse loading platform, restoring a well and replacing a crumbling wall, while a new bench, made by Fred Haughton, has also been installed.
The harbour winch was also repainted and placed where it was originally at the turn of the century. The project was completed by Brian Bisset installing an interpretive panel at the head of the slipway, giving some social history of the harbour.
“With a turnout of over 80, a presence from the coastguard and brilliant weather, everyone had a great day,” added Mr O’Donnell.
The celebrations were rounded off with a preview of the new bird hide at St John’s Pool.
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Built to take 16 bird-watchers, the hide provides comfortable close-up viewing of hundreds of nesting birds with some fantastic photo opportunities.
Pool creator Julian Smith explained: “The breeding season is well under way and promises to be the best ever on St John’s Pool.
“Over 700 arctic and common terns have been present and 150 pairs of black-headed gulls are already on eggs.
“Spring has also brought rare migrants from America and Europe – this is a unique bird-watching experience in Scotland, there’s always something to see.”