Broadford Hall on the Isle of Skye was transformed into a seashore festival featuring colourful seashore-themed games, seaside adventures and seafood tapas on 10 August as part of the third Highland Seashore Roadshow.
The event is part of a bumper programme of summer events hosted by the Highland Seashore project and featuring The Highland Council Countryside Rangers and local partners. These events are designed to encourage people to enjoy and learn about the Highlands’ seashores.
The event on Skye began at 11am with story-teller Bob Pegg giving his first of his three musical story-telling sessions for young children. Meanwhile in the kitchen, local chef Cristina Hermoso Escalas held an hour-long cooking workshop teaching attendees how to use local sustainable foods to create seafood tapas.
Activities in Broadford Hall included making rainbow fish and bottle ships from recycled materials, exploring Staffin Museum’s huge fossils from the dinosaur coast of North Skye, and creating sea eagle wrist bands. There were also displays and exhibits from Am Bata, Eilan Ban, Broadford and Strath Community Company, British Divers Marine Life Rescue, Scottish Wildlife Trust and RSPB.
Throughout the day The Highland Council Countryside Ranger Service and Highland Seashore Project staff ran events and activities for children including a seashore puppet performance featuring Larry lobster and Eddy Edible crab, and life-size Minke Whale and Dolphin puzzles. Local artist Beads also created a giant ‘Messie Monster’ from beach litter washed up on the shore at Caroy and many of the young attendees volunteered to help.
Attendees also had the chance to explore the seashore with local experts. Dr James Merryweather led a rock-pooling safari to find crabs, butterfish, winkles and dog whelks. The Skye and Lochalsh Environment Forum then used their microscopes and projectors to show attendees the range of microscopic life living on the Skye seashore . Jenny Grant from The Highland Council Ranger Service led over 30 people on a heritage walk of Broadford Bay, exploring the nature and history of the coast.
Highland Seashore Project Coordinator, Janet Ullman said: “The Roadshow on Skye was a great success. We had over 100 visitors during the day and it was great to see so many people enjoying the seashore and learning a lot more about it. It’s what the Highland Seashore Project is all about.
“I want to extend a huge thank you to The Highland Council Countryside Rangers and all of the local groups, charities and experts who have been involved. It would not be possible without them. Thank you also to the Broadford Hall Committee for hosting the event, and allowing Beads’ giant ‘Messie Monster’ to stay outside the hall for a week to celebrate the work of the many young artists involved and to inform people of the problem of beach litter.”
The Highland Seashore Project was launched in February, 2013. It is run by The Highland Biodiversity Partnership and has been funded by The Highland Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Crown Estate Marine Stewardship Fund and Scottish Natural Heritage.
The Highland Seashore Project is working with The Highland Council and local community groups to bring coastal Roadshows, full of family fun, to venues all around the Highlands. Each Roadshow will be tailored to the enthusiasm of local people and the spectacular nature of the coasts themselves.
One thing they all have in common is a love of the seashore and a full timetable of activities for all ages. The remaining Roadshows running over the summer are:
- 24 August, Sea Drift Centre, Dunnet Bay, Caithness.
- 7 September, Laide Beach, Wester Ross.
- One to be announced in East Sutherland.
To find out more please email [email protected] or call The Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers on 01463 255291.
For more information and updates visit www.highlandseashore.co.uk or the Facebook page Highland Seashore Biodiversity.
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