Outdoor Art Therapy in the Hinterland

By Christine Lines | Published: 23/02/2024

As some of you will know, some 20 years ago my art therapy practice began to morph into a more ‘open door’ style, moving seamlessly or rhythmically across the threshold between  the studio interior, garden and local woods, dunes and beach, and then moved to taking place almost entirely outdoors, inviting the participation and guidance of local wildlife. Typically, sessions begin with walking, attuning to the body and land, then letting the heart or the feet, the call of a bird or the angle of a leaf guide us. The path reveals itself…. and we often end up here in the Hinterland.

The Hinterland has been a wonderfully rich area for wandering, to find hidden secret places and wide, open space the fraught heart often craves. It holds us within its choir of many voices and their resonances with our deepest emotional and spiritual experiences. I would like to thank everyone who tends and works with the Hinterland’s wildlife, from large animals to microscopic fungi.

Art therapy engages with the complexly orchestrated phenomena that are activated when we create with our bodies and imaginations; when breath, body state, gesture and the myriad presences of other life forms sharing and co-creating the moment with us, mingle alchemically with our most secret dreams and stir archaic, ancestral memories …  All these, and more, weave in a dance that brings what we call insight, integration, recovery and healing. 

Found message

After 45 years, each session is still an entirely unique miracle to me. Nature participates ever more precisely and vividly and creatures seem to be attracted to humans deeply absorbed in creating (dreaming with hands). Being our natural, playful selves, our predatory reflexes are temporarily relaxed or diverted, even if dramatically painful experiences are running through us at the time. Our nature is to flow and change, whether lightning swift or invisibly slow, and not only does nature around us become more visible, it seems we become more visible, more approachable to our curious, intelligent and playful kin. In the Hinterland, spiders and mice often discover artworks amongst grasses and branches, and their responses almost always ‘speak’ clearly to the maker in a shared secret language. To those who say this is unscientific fantasy, wishful thinking and projections onto other beings, I say: Does the wren or mouse not project onto you, based on its own state and needs at the time? It may see and fear you and scurry away or approach, judging you as safe. Its projected fear or attraction to you is part of the entire flow of life in that moment. It co-creates the story of us both.

Findhorn Dunes Labyrinth © Mark Richards

So if you see me with another person in the Hinterland, moving, building structures and installations on the ground or standing silently gazing, we may be engaged in art therapy. In this paradigm everything that arrives in the animated field of intelligences is part of the therapy process, it has its role in the mirroring the client may need to ‘see’ more deeply into themselves. So there is no such thing as an interruption; we have no locked doors, no ‘quiet’ or ‘keep out’ notice hung up. A dog, deer or child bounding into ‘our’ space, or a chain-saw starting up nearby may both speak eloquently to us about how we are experiencing life, our sensitivities, aversions, what we welcome, fear or reject… our ‘allergies’ and compulsive defences and the imprints of the past we carry as defining stories. When the chain completely deafens, it may be an opportunity to be silent or an  invitation to sing along wildly with its harmonic tones, or help us to witness our grief at the world’s falling trees… We may not pause in our process to greet you or engage in conversation, as therapy is an inner reflective process, but your proximity may, unbeknownst to you, carry some symbolic significance that brings energetic, somatic shifts and insight.

Teardrop

Humour is often part of outdoor art therapy and the Hinterland is full of lively characters and tricksters who will interact with art works in their own way; mice, birds, spiders, deer, pine martens, badgers, owls… and all the plant people who will topple or improve on the maker’s creation. Rain will blend a delicate drawing into a sea of ripples out of which new creatures surface. A gust of wind seemingly sprung from nowhere on the stillest day, will whisk away a precious art work non-consensually, and then vanish, leaving the maker stunned into much needed silence or chasing their work as it tumbles across the ground, gathering matter as it travels. It is usually a delightful surprise when we witness how nature can transform an artwork into a more authentic expression of our feelings. More participants and ingredients are sometimes needed. It takes a village, as the saying goes.

So, dear Hinterland keepers, elders and young ones buried in the woodland, whose presence we always honour, you are all part of these healing sessions, you and the hundreds of thousands of beings, human and more-than-human, who share this place with us. Thank you.

Beverley A’Court

Art Therapist  HCPC registered 

British Assn. of Art Therapists BAAT

Russian Art Therapy Assn. RATA

February 2024

Posted in News

RSPB Culbin Sands Nature Reserve Project

By David Thompkins | Published: 23/02/2024

Lessons Learned Working on Another Part of the Greater Findhorn Dunes System

Introduction

In November 2023, staff from RSPB Scotland invited members of the Findhorn Hinterland Trust and the Findhorn Dunes Trust to the RSPB’s Culbin Sands Nature Reserve for a site visit. The aim of the visit was for the RSPB to share their experience of managing invasive dune scrub at Culbin Sands as part of the current LIFE 100% for Nature project. As the Findhorn Hinterland and Findhorn Dune Trusts are planning a dune restoration project for the Findhorn Dunes, this was a good opportunity to share appropriate knowledge gained at a neighbouring site. Culbin Sands is part of the wider dune complex that also encompasses the Findhorn Dunes, the issues and processes that affect the dunes at Culbin Sands are likely to be the same as those that affect the dunes at Findhorn. 

Aerial view of Culbin

Culbin Sands

Culbin Sands includes large areas of saltmarsh, sandflats and mudflats, sand dune and coastal vegetated shingle habitat. The reserve was acquired by the RSPB in 1977, with one of the main focuses of the reserve being to protect the sandflat and mudflat feeding areas of wintering waterbirds and waders such as Long-Tailed Duck, Curlew and Pink-Footed Goose. In addition to this, the reserve includes around 60 hectares of sand dune and coastal vegetated shingle habitat that is of national and regional importance. The coastal vegetated shingle bar is almost certainly the most intact example of this habitat type in Scotland and one of the most important sites of this type in the United Kingdom. 

Both the shingle and dune habitats are included in the designation of the Culbin Bar SAC (Special Area of Conservation). Unfortunately, the embryonic shifting dune habitat element of the SAC was classed as unfavourable and declining due to invasive scrub by site condition monitoring in 2010.  The coastal vegetated shingle habitat in the SAC was judged to be in favourable condition but it was noted that invasive scrub was having an increasing impact on the overall condition of the habitat. The cover of scrub on the dune and shingle habitat at Culbin Sands has been steadily increasing over the last 30-40 years. Historic aerial imagery shows that scrub on some of the dune has gone from sparse cover to thick, almost continuous cover within 20 years. 

The LIFE 100% for Nature Project

In an effort to reverse these declines in habitat condition, the dune and shingle habitat at Culbin Sands was included in the LIFE 100% for Nature Project. This project is working to reverse declines in habitat condition within 11 SAC’s under RSPB management across Scotland, with other sites including Tiree, Insh Marshes and Nigg and Udale Bays. At Culbin Sands the project is aiming to remove all invasive scrub from dune habitats and to reduce the cover of scrub on the shingle habitats that are under RSPB management. The Project’s main approach to achieving these aims has been to build up a team of more than 20 local volunteers who take part in frequent work parties that are managed by the LIFE Project Officer, David Tompkins. This approach delivers high quality habitat management over several years that is sensitive and adaptable by design. The alternative would be to employ contractors with machinery to do the work at scale in a shorter time frame, this was not feasible as the saltmarsh surrounding the dune habitat at Culbin is fragile and vulnerable to damage from vehicle access. 

Group photo during Findhorn Hinterland Trust visit with RSPB to Culbin

Benefits

The main purpose of removing invasive scrub from the dunes at Culbin is to bring back dynamism to the dunes by allowing natural processes to act on the dune system as they have done since the dunes came into existence. Prior to the LIFE 100% for Nature Project, some areas of the dune had a continuous cover of birch and pine scrub, this restricted sand movement through the dune which appeared to limit the growth of new embryo dunes. A reduction in the formation of embryo dunes renders dune systems more vulnerable to blow out and erosion events during winter storms. Since removing almost all of the mature scrub from the dune habitat under RSPB management at Culbin, we have seen evidence of increased sand movement along the length of the dune. 

Small Blue Butterfly Cupido minimus

Allowing natural processes to take hold has appeared to benefit a range of dune species. For example, the increased sand movement keeps the dune sward open which benefits key dune species like Mouth-ear Hawkweed Pilosella officinarum and the Sand Bear Spider Arctosa perita. Reducing scrub cover has improved the outlook for an important colony of Small Blue Butterfly Cupido minimus at the western end of the shingle bar at Culbin. This work has prevented the food plant of the butterfly, Kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, from being shaded out by encroaching pine scrub. 

West dune tip before

West dune tip after

Sand bear spider Arctosa perita in burrow Culbin bar

Lessons learnt and shared

Lessons have certainly been learnt from efforts to manage dune scrub as part of the LIFE 100% for Nature Project, these lessons are likely to apply to any restoration projects on the Findhorn Dunes. One key positive lesson is that investing time and resources into a local network of volunteers gives you an adaptable and capable workforce that is well equipped to manage dune scrub. On a more practical note, several lessons have been learnt. First, it is important not to underestimate the time it takes to dispose of brash resulting from scrub clearance, scrub that may take a day to clear with a large group may then take five days to dispose of by burning. This is pertinent for all sites where access prevents the off-site removal of brash. The second, possibly even more important lesson, is that the regeneration capacity of scrub (particularly Broom and Birch) should not be underestimated. 

Kidney vetch shingle

Broom regeneration from seed is a particular challenge on the dune at Culbin Sands, with dense areas of Broom seedlings arising from cleared areas of mature broom scrub. These seedlings present a management problem as they are deep rooted, numerous and will readily regrow if they are cut before they reach reproductive age (typically three years old). Clearing mature Broom stands appears to create ideal conditions for seed germination, possibly due to soil disturbance and increased levels of light reaching the soil surface. Fortunately, there is a reasonable body of literature available on Broom ecology as it is a major invasive species in New Zealand, Australia and the United States, so land managers can arm themselves with information prior to managing Broom. (CABI have produced a good summary on the ecology of Broom, it can be accessed here: Cytisus scoparius (Scotch broom) | CABI Compendium (cabidigitallibrary.org))  Any dune restoration efforts that include the removal of Broom should be prepared to deal with a flush of Broom seedlings following management, especially in bare areas. It has been noted that Broom seedlings seem much less frequent amongst mature Heather Calluna vulgaris and Crowberry Empetrum nigrum vegetation at Culbin, possibly because the vegetation prevents an increase in light hitting the soil that would otherwise trigger germination. 

The future

Whilst challenges remain, there are reasons to be optimistic about the future of Culbin Sands and the wider Culbin-Findhorn dune complex. There appears to be an increased awareness of the importance of sand dune habitats amongst the local community, with many people understanding that there is a need to prevent scrub from encroaching onto dune habitats. Dune habitats themselves seem to be showing resilience too. Dunes at the western end of the vegetated shingle bar are growing westward at the rate of up to 5 metres per year, having cleared young scrub from a large swathe of this dune it should in future be easier to hold the line and not allow any new scrub to develop in this area of ever-expanding dune.

David Tompkins 

RSPB Life Project Officer

January 2024

Posted in News

The Bough Breaks

By Alan Watson Featherstone | Published: 23/02/2024

Posted in News

News from the Land – Autumn ‘23

By Kajedo Wanderer | Published: 26/11/2023

‘Be still, and listen…’  (Eileen Caddy)

While the rest of the world is warming up at an alarming rate, here in the North of Scotland we’ve had a cool summer and an unusually wet and windy autumn. And now the autumn colours paint the landscapes in various shades of glorious yellow, golden and red – for a short time, before the bare months of winter will be upon us soon enough.

These autumnal changes are nature’s invitation to go inwards… To take stock of the seasons past, and build the potential for next year’s growth.

It is a time of the year which especially invites us to ‘be still and listen’…

I was delighted when I learned about permaculture years ago. So many of the guiding permaculture principles seem to echo the principles of human spiritual growth. And permaculture teaches us to pause and listen, to ‘observe, observe, observe’ – before changing anything in our natural environment.

So – I consider the moments when i pause on the land, sit still and do my best to listen, look, feel… invite Nature to teach me about the needs of any given location, I consider these moments an essential part of my work as land manager / care-taker of the land here at Findhorn.  And of course the ‘observations’ can take many forms:  To learn how to be truly still and to be willing to listen as individuals is a great start.

But we as the FHT have invested in other forms of ‘listening/observing’ as well: For example : We have spent around  £1k a year on surveys over the last 8 years.  The first one was the lichen survey in 2008 which was organised by the Findhorn Dunes Trust, but since then FHT has done mushroom, moss, moth, spider & bug surveys and more…  And each time we are amazed at what can be found when looking through the eyes of those who know how to look.  Of course the sheer numbers of what we have on the land are often staggering. But thanks to our Alan Watson’s photographic skills (and determination) we also get to appreciate the multifaceted beauty of the many things we don’t get to see with our untrained (and unequipped) eyes.

Talking about biodiversity becomes meaningful when we begin to understand just how many different species are sharing this little piece of land with us.  And understanding those species better helps us to find ways to safeguard and improve their existing habitats.  And as ‘inner nature’ and ‘outer nature’ are but reflections of each other –

Here is the invitation: Let’s take the changing colour scheme of the autumn as an invitation to ‘go out and tune in’. To try and be still and listen.

(I am well aware that learning to truly become still, and to really listen requires a fair bit of training/practice. But we all have to start somewhere – so;

Let’s remind ourselves today to look, listen, smell, feel… open all our senses to the gifts and  lessons Nature around us is offering us all the time.

I have made it a habit to carry a little hand-lens and a wee pair of binoculars with me during work and on my walks – to help me see better.

And sometimes I just close my eyes and try to look with my heart…

Be still… and listen…

Be still… and know…

Kajedo Wanderer,

FHT Land Manager 

Autumn 2023

 

Posted in News

My Archaeological Work in the Findhorn Dunes over 20 years

By Michael Sharp | Published: 25/11/2023

To walk among the sand dunes at Findhorn is to walk in the footsteps of a Mesolithic hunter–gatherer, a Neolithic farmer with axe in hand, a Bronze Age herds-woman, perhaps an Iron Age child, and a soldier training for the D-day landing. This is not immediately obvious, since so little of the material culture of our predecessors survives. And the further back we go, the less there is. But the evidence is there if we look closely enough.

The main dunes site (FDS) near the back shore, east of Findhorn village.

I began to take a interest in the local archaeology back in 2002 or so, when during a conversation about local history and archaeology, Johnny Bichan, of Cullerne Farm, mentioned to me that he knew of a site in the dunes east of Findhorn Village where people had found flint in the past. I decided to go and have a look, and before long was finding not only flint tools and debitage—the waste material created during their manufacture—but also pot sherds, beads, copper alloy objects, burnt bone, and the remains of a midden, which contained sea shells and animal bone. Perhaps the star finds were the fragments of turquoise faience beads, a material long associated with Egypt.  Analysis of similar beads found in Findhorn village and on Culbin Sands suggests that they may have been made locally.  It’s now clear that at least one Bronze Age cremation burial took place here.  One explanation for this may be that the site is in a  liminal place—at a boundary between worlds: land and water; this world and the next.  What we assume to be ritual deposits into water were common in the Bronze Age.  This may be why it was used as a place for burial at that time.

A sherd of decorated pot—probably a Bronze Age beaker.

Two Iron Age beads found at the main dunes site (FDS): photo Alison Sheridan.

A 2 cm fragment of faience bead found At the main dunes site (FDS) and probably included in a Bronze Age cremation burial. Numerous similar beads were found in another burial uncovered in Findhorn Village.

In the years since I have made numerous visits to the site and over time accumulated objects from multiple periods ranging from the Mesolithic to the second world war. In that time I also made the transition from interested amateur, to archaeology student, to full-time professional field archaeologist.  Even though my work takes me far and wide in the UK, I continue to explore the dunes for new archaeology.

The above-mentioned dunes site (FDS for short) that I have been investigating is very close to the shore and a few hundred metres east of the Dunes Road.  Here there is a very extensive spread of fire-cracked stone and, until I picked them up, the objects mentioned above.  It seems it was first used by hunter gatherers, likely between 7,000 and 9,000 before present (BP), at least as a temporary camp while harvesting local resources, and would have been one of many such sites along the coast, many of which have been lost to coastal erosion.  We have lost 45 metres of coastline in the region of the Findhorn beach huts since the last war alone.  These sites were predominantly piles of seashells, but sometimes also contained animal bone.  Fire-cracked-stones tell us that they were building fires and probably cooking food.  As with the main site on the Findhorn back shore, these middens sometimes include material from later periods, such as the Neolithic (5,500– 4,300 BP), the Bronze Age (4,300–3,000 BP) and Iron Age (3,000–1,550 BP).

Another similar site, but seemingly only containing fire-cracked-stone and a few Mesolithic flints and worked quartz, is located just north of Wilkie Woods.  If you keep your eyes peeled while walking among the dunes, you can spot the fire-cracked-stone almost everywhere, though typically in small quantities, and widely scattered.  I have yet to find a definite explanation for this. The main contender is a tidal wave sweeping through and scattering the remains of prehistoric hearths and camp sites.  One such wave is known to have swept across the North Sea from Norway about 8,200 years ago, and is known as the Storegga tsunami.  Mesolithic hunter gatherers are known to have been inhabiting the area at this time, and occupation deposits overlain by sediment from the tsunami have been excavated in Inverness and elsewhere in Scotland.  It’s generally thought that this event also had the effect of finally cutting Britain off from mainland Europe, by permanently inundating the area known as Doggerland, off the east coast of England.  

Hammer stone and a fragment of a mortar from the Cullerne midden site.

Flint tools found at the main dunes site (FDS).

A neolithic axe found 150m north of Wilkie Woods.

Evidence of occupation of the Findhorn area by the first farmers to arrive from the continent in the Neolithic only appeared recently when I learned from a specialist that the grey coloured flint found at the FDS site was likely brought here by these early farmers all the way from Yorkshire.  More evidence came in May of this year when I found a small Neolithic axe on the surface about one hundred and fifty metres north of Wilkie Woods.  The vegetation may have been quite different back then, and perhaps the farmer was looking for a particular type of wood.  It’s possible that there were still remnants of woodlands containing elm and lime, among other tree species, which would later largely disappear from Scotland due to changes in the climate.  Pollen from both of these species has been found as far north as Caithness and Orkney, but from thousands of years ago.

Early in 2020, during the COVID lockdown,  I came across another midden deposit, this time on Cullerne Farm, in a spot where sand and pebbles were being extracted.  It contained fire-cracked-stone, charred wood, shells, animal bone, and hammer stones.  There was also what appears to have been a carefully deposited collection of items in a small hollow at the very edge of the midden: these included a 32 cm hammer stone lying on top of a red deer antler, with a sheep or goat mandible and six cattle molars nearby.  We know that Bronze Age farmers were not just growing barley and wheat, but also depended heavily on livestock for food and clothing.  This deposit at the edge of the midden is a good example of how their beliefs were bound up in and expressed through ritual actions involving the animals in their care.  Ed Bichan generously paid for a radiocarbon date, which told us that the red deer died somewhere between 3,200 and 3,000 years ago, placing it towards the end of the Bronze Age.  Further excavations early in 2023 revealed several shallow pits and a large post hole containing a deliberately broken granite saddle quern, which would have been used to grind grain into flour.  Excitingly, the post hole is likely part of a round house of Bronze Age date just next to the midden, and is yet to be completely uncovered.

Well it seems that middens are the gift that keeps on giving.  In October of 2023 Jonathan Caddy informed me that a shell midden had been spotted on the site of the main sanctuary at the Park, where groundworks had commenced for the new structure.  This was an opportunity to excavate what was probably a largely undisturbed  Mesolithic midden.  The deposit lies just next to a raised beach, or former shoreline, from a time when the sea level was several metres higher, and Findhorn Bay extended up through the lower caravan site, Field of Dreams, and on into Cullerne Farm.  The midden contains two distinct deposits separated by a layer of blown sand.  The lower deposit is dominated by cockles, while the upper one is mostly mussels.  I was able to excavate the midden over five days, and kept several large samples which I will examine in detail, and may contain some of the microliths—fine flint blades—that were made and used by Mesolithic hunter gatherers.  I also managed to collect some charred wood from both deposits which will allow dating of the site.

Although so much of the evidence of our predecessors on the land is now lost to us, it is there to be found.  And I for one plan to keep on looking.

Michael Sharpe 

Community Friend and Professional Archaeologist 

18/10/23. (All photos by Michael Sharpe, unless otherwise noted)

Posted in News

Dune Restoration Project Update

By Sean Reed | Published: 25/11/2023

The Project is moving apace, with a major focus on exploring some potential sources of funding.  We are excited to report that the Hinterland Trust is discussing forming a partnership with our neighbour, the Findhorn Dunes Trust, to apply for a grant scheme.   

We have continued to work on project design, learning from similar projects in north Scotland.  We had a very successful meeting with Butterfly Conservation (BC) in October.  BC were very enthusiastic about our dune habitat restoration proposals.  

BC, the RSPB and Scottish Forestry and Land (SFL) are working on a number of dune restoration projects on the Moray Firth.  BC’s Head of Conservation, Dr Tom Prescott, sent us their records of moths for the Findhorn Dunes, which comes to an absolutely incredible 402 species!  

Scythris empetrella on a heather stem

The Portland moth, a rapidly declining species and recorded at Findhorn Dunes, is a particular priority for BC.  They are also interested in establishing the current status of the Lunar Yellow Underwing moth on the Hinterland.  This moth is extremely rare in Scotland and has been recorded on the Hinterland, but not since the 1990s.  Is it still here…?  BC are also interested in the status of the grayling butterfly and exploring potential habitat creation for the small blue butterfly – whose food plant is the kidney vetch, which is found on the dunes.  We hope that BC will be able to advise us further as the project develops, and that they will visit us in the summer to hold a butterfly survey event. 

Common Blue butterfly Sean Reed

Converting carefully selected stands of tall gorse to dune grassland and heath will create ideal conditions for moths, butterflies, and other insects.  Many of these are found at only a handful of locations in Scotland.  

Removing young pine trees from areas of dune heath will prevent this Scottish Biodiversity List habitat being lost forever.  As well as being the main habitat for a host of rare lichens, including the endangered red data book Felt Lichen, dune heath is the home of the moth Scythris empetrella, found at only two sites in Scotland, Findhorn Dunes being the most important.  Empetrella needs heather stems growing in sand to complete its life cycle, highlighting just one of the intricate unseen ecological relationships which are playing out, and are threatened, on the dunes.  

Endangered felt lichen. Heather Paul

Both the Findhorn Hinterland Trust and Findhorn Dunes Trust have been doing this important ecological work over the last few years, mostly by work parties with hand tools.  Our Land Manager, Kajedo Wanderer, has done a fantastic job in clearing early-stage scrub from top priority and highly sensitive dune heath areas.  Removal of long-established gorse and dense areas of young trees is too much for hand tools and work parties, however.  It’s time to bring in contractors with machinery to restore open dune habitats that have been lost. 

Our project is designed to harness the elemental force of the wind – a nature-based approach, which will help maintain open sand dune habitats.  We were delighted to receive a ringing endorsement of the project from the UK’s foremost authorities on lichens, Sandy and Brian Coppins (Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh).

The project team is very pleased to have been invited to RSPB Culbin reserve to see the dune restoration work that the RSPB (Europe’s largest nature conservation charity) are doing there.  We will report back next time. 

Sean Reed.

Findhorn Dunes Restoration Project

November 2023

Posted in News

Chair’s Report – Autumn/Winter 2023

By jonathan.caddy | Published: 25/11/2023

The tail end of the year has been a mixture of blue sky days, wind and wet as the sounds of the thousands of geese returning to the Bay are heard.  The work of the trust proceeds from strength to strength with some new projects and possibilities raising their heads and others just carrying on in the background.  

Walking the land the other day I had a lovely and fulfilling feeling that arose from seeing  the land being so well looked after and valued by the many – new trees well protected and staked, new glades in the woods starting to sprout regenerating tree seedlings,  ponies contented in their field, maritime heath areas cleared of invasive species, a flow of chatting children and adults proceeding to their fire and bench area as part of their Friday morning Fledglings gathering, the Conservation Hub there as a beautiful structure in the woods and working so well as a base for the conservation work and…  So many things to be thankful for.  Much of this good work would not happen without you as members over the last fifteen plus years being out there the last Saturday of each month putting in your love and effort during our regular work parties and of course the sterling work of our Land Manager Kajedo Wanderer who is now the backbone of the good work that happens on the land – thank you Kajedo, thank you all!

Ongoing projects are progressing such as the large scale Dune Restoration work planned for next year which looks like it will involve working collaboratively with neighbouring landowner the Findhorn Dunes Trust (See Sean Reed’s update elsewhere). It also feels good that we are working with the charity Moray Supports Migrants and Refugees (MSMR) to put in place four work party events combining getting asylum seekers in Moray together with regular trust members to carry out brash clearance on the land we look after to the north of Wilkies Wood.  MSMR has secured funding from the charity Migrant Help for transport for these events, the Findhorn Foundation will be supplying the bus, Volunteering Matters through their Action Earth grant will be contributing by enabling the purchase of tools and gloves and the FHT will be organising the work this end – a magnificent and positive collaborative venture that we trust will be supported by our members and will fulfil both our conservation and local community building charitable purposes.

Other projects that are progressing include the erecting of the new pony shed from the recycling of the old food buyers office that we saved when clearing the sanctuary site,  an offer is now in to help secure the acquisition of Duneland Ltd wild land and the long overdue project of painting the tractor trailer is happening with the help of Louna our new long term Swiss volunteer.  Louna has been a great asset and is looking to be with us until March staying in the Shepherd’s Hut and working half time on the land ( see the interview elsewhere which gives a little more background. 


I have also been pleased to have Roy Simpson lead another Sharing Nature with Children workshop on the land and next year would like to see this promoted more widely so that more people within the local community and beyond can benefit from this inspiring way of learning more about the nature that surrounds and nourishes us every day.

We are aware of upcoming events such as our annual Christmas tree happening up at the Woodland Shelter this year on the 2nd December from 11am until 2pm and in the new year we hope to have a fundraising event which involves the showing of the film Alan Watson- Featherstone has been involved in called ‘When the Bough Breaks’.   In the coming months we will also be working with round wood crafts personHenry Fosbrooke finishing the preparation of the columns and beams for the new sanctuary as part of the FHT’s contribution to this important community project.

Thanking the whole team that help make the good work of the FHT possible – together with each person leaning in a little we can make miracles happen!   Wishing you all a pleasant and safe festive season.

Blessings,

Jonathan Caddy

FHT Chair 

16th November 2023

   

Posted in News

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