HOME PAGE

COLONSAY'S GLEBE PROJECT

Colonsay has a magnificent glebe which is decribed below. Dr. Richard Gulliver kindly provided a note of some of the species he noted on a brief walk with his grandchildren (below) and the area deserves much closer attention. A great deal of work was carried out between 2010 and 2020, especially in the mechanical control of bracken (i.e. cutting it by hand, with no use of poison), coppicing stands of hazel, creating a walking trail and establishing stock-proof fencing. Grazing was resumed in 2015 - three Highland Cattle were introduced to maintain the sward throughout the summer but that particular ploy was difficult to sustain. In recent years a local resident has kept horses in the glebe, which has proved to be rather more successful from a management viewpoint.

NATURAL HISTORY OF COLONSAY – THE GLEBE LOGBOOK

Starting in March 2011, an attempt was made to identify and record all forms of natural history within the confines of The Glebe. Volunteers were asked to contribute and it was hoped that the ongoing record could be published online. This echoed the pioneering work by John and Pamela Clarke in the 1980s, but on a more modest scale. The results were rather disappointing, but the record is worthy of preservation - perhaps at some future date the idea might be revived.

The Glebe is about 50 metres north of the Medical Centre, and a map was provided at the main access point; entry is at one's own risk – beware of livestock and the hazards of rough terrain. Total distance on the west side of the road is 1km. The total distance on the east side of road is 0.8 km if taking a shortcut from the boathouse tothe road or 1 km if completing the shoreline walk. A leisurely circuit takes up to 90 minutes; thhe suggested trail ranges between 4m and 81m above LWS and includes a total ascent of 138 metres. The glebe is well exposed to the east and south and it should be noted that there are four geological strata and a surprisingly wide range of habitat in addition to the interesting gain in altitude; it is a very important but under-appreciared ecological asset to the community.

BIRDS – seen in the Glebe, flying over it or visible from its shoreline.

Common Cuckoo. Cuculus canorus . 1 adult. 19/04/05 [001]; also 1 adult 21/04/10 [002];
Greenland White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons flavirostris . 12 adult. 31/01/04 [001]
White-tailed Eagle. Haliaeetus albicilla . 1, 2 nd summer. 16/10/06. Flying towards Baleromindubh [001]
European Robin. Erithacus rubecula . 1 adult. 12/12/09. Winter Bird Atlas record [001]
Red Kite, Milvus milvus . 2 adult. 17/01/11. Flying around woodland [001]; also 1 adult 05/02/11 [001]

INSECTS

Devil's Coach-horse Ocypus Olens 28/06/11 [003]

TREES

Goat Willow [004]
Juniper [004]

FLOWERS WALK – with a 5yr and 7yr old, 28/06/11 [004]