Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
SRGC Shows and Events => SRGC Shows Questions and Answers => Topic started by: Matt T on August 28, 2017, 06:46:45 PM
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DAVID BOYD EVENT 2018 - Discovering the Scottish Machair
The second David Boyd Event will give members an opportunity to discover a unique and iconic Scottish habitat. Machair only occurs on the north west edge of Europe, with most of this in the Western Isles of Scotland. The interaction between geomorphology and human intervention creates a diverse mosaic of wildflowers. This in turn supports our distinctive wildlife that combines with the dramatic landscapes to create a beautiful spectacle. This weekend will give you an overview of some of the highlights to be found on the machair in the Uists and would be the ideal introduction to a longer stay or tour throughout the Western Isles.
Provisional programme (may be subject to change):
THURSDAY 21 / FRIDAY 22 JUNE 2018
Arrival (Ferry: Mallaig > Lochboisdale, South Uist or Uig, Skye > Lochmaddy, North Uist. Plane: Glasgow > Benbecula, hire cars can be picked up at the airport)
FRIDAY 22 JUNE 2018
AM - Workshop: ‘Rock Gardening in Containers’
PM - Red-necked phalarope, corncrake and Benbecula machair
Eve - Group supper
SATURDAY 23 JUNE 2018
AM - Talk: The Scottish Machair by Matthew Topsfield
PM - Guided walk at RSPB Balranald Nature Reserve, North Uist
Eve - Dinner at the Westford Inn
SUNDAY 24 JUNE 2018
AM - Group walk at Howmore
PM - Exploring more South Uist machair sites
Eve - Prince’s Strand, Eriskay and dinner at the Am Politician
MONDAY 25 JUNE 2018
Departure (for those not making a longer stay)
All walks will be at a gentle pace and generally suitable for all with a moderate level of mobility and fitness. Options for shorter walking routes will be available.
Participants will be responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodation, but we will provide information to help you do this.
It will help us to have an idea of how many people might be interested in joining us for this event. To register your interest (with no commitment), or if you have any questions please contact Matthew Topsfield on mtopsfield@icloud.com, 07775 812036 or 12 Rhugashinish, Isle of South Uist, HS8 5PE.
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ERRATA - Please note that the headline to the article in 'Dryas', the new SRGC newsletter gives incorrect dates. The dates in the body of the article and in the previous post in this thread are the correct ones, that is Friday 22 - Sunday 24 June 2018.
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Thanks for the note of that error, Matt - I have posted about it in various places so I hope that will lessen the confusion!
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Thank you Maggi! :-*
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Early booking advised!!
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I believe Cynthia has already booked in!
cheers
fermi
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I believe Cynthia has already booked in!
cheers
fermi
Fantastic! I think Cynthia must be the most loyal long distance attendee of SRGC events in Scotland - she is a shining light!
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What kind words Maggie. I am just spending my kids' inheritance.
Now I just need help getting from the ferry terminus in Lochboisdale to Borve Guest House on Benbecula.
The ferry gets in at 9pm Thursday June 21st and I have no idea how easy it is to get a taxi at that time. If a taxi is possible is there anyone who can share it with me or is there anyone with a car (or horse and cart) going that way who can please give me a lift - otherwise I think it will be a long walk.
Love the Western Isles.
Luv,
Cynthia
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Almost bound to be others doing the same thing, Cynthia - so I hope you'll get help. Matt will read this and be able to point you in right direction, I'm sure.
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Cynthia - I can collect you if you are really stuck but I suspect Matt will be able to arrange something for you and others.
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Many thanks Chris. Will keep in touch.
Cynthia
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I've just booked to travel on the Mallaig to Lochboisdale Ferry on Thursday 21 June. I'm staying near Borve and will be happy to give you a lift.
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Thank you so much Liz.
Sorry it has taken me over a week to reply. They are putting down new internet cables in my area and guess what - I have not been able to get online.
Best wishes
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A considerable gathering of SRGC folks on the Western Isles for the Boyd Event - together with a super number of locals for workshops etc.
Photos from Julia Corden ....
The start of the SRGC Machair Weekend. Queuing at Uig and putting the world to rights!!
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SRGC Machair Weekend on South Uist.
SRGC Members helping the locals make Rock Garden Containers. Lovely to see so many people! Quite a few familiar faces included....
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and....
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and, of course, everyone had a finished effort to take away....
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None of this possible without the hard work of Matt Topsfield who has organised everything so well.
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Some more plantings from the beginners ....
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and, of course, everyone had a finished effort to take away....
Good to see that Cynthia got there safely!
Not sure how she's going to get her container past the quarantine inspectors at the airport?
;D
cheers
fermi
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I think it was the locals attending the workshop making off with their containers rather than the SRGC folks who were helping out!
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Well, it's good to know that we don't have to think about visiting her in a detention centre!
I hope she is making lots of notes and taking lots of pics - we'll then get the benefit of her experience in the group next year ;D
cheers
fermi
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Some photos of the weekend by Ian Christie
Starting with the ferry trip .....
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out to sea
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beautiful views of the island
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lobster pots on the quayside
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tight fit for lorry with large load backing off the ferry
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more photos from Ian C.
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Matt Topsfield - the Ace Organiser of a very successful weekend
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tea time!
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members from Aberdeenshire and Manchester
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Roma Fiddes and Peter Foley
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Sandy and Andrew Leven
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and at the Friday workshops ....
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local attendees with their planted containers
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Assemble happy throng - there were 16 + locals and 41 SRGC Members enjoying the weekend.
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a few flower pix from the weekend from Ian C.
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Achillea
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orchid
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orchid
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corn marigolds
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also .....
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rocky beach
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elderly machinery
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nice place - needs a bit of work!
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rocky beach
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Report from Sandy Leven on the hugely successful practical events at the David Boyd SRGC event on Benbecula....
http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/SRGCDavidBoyd-demo-events2018.pdf (http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/SRGCDavidBoyd-demo-events2018.pdf)
Spot our furthest travelled member (and not for the first time!) from Australia, Cynthia Sladen - to be seen, lower left on pages 8 and 14!
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A question from the Western Isles ..... Vallay is a tidal island off the north coast of North Uist in a very wide, shallow lagoon. The green algae was fixed and familiar. The pink ‘stuff’ was flocculent, ever-moving into different formations in a few centimetres of water at low tide.
Can anybody identify /explain the pink "stuff", please ?
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The 2018 David Boyd SRGC Event - The Machair of the Uists and Benbecula
Sandy Leven attended the event with his wife Anne and one of their sons, Andrew - they has such a great time on the trip Sandy has compiled these reports of their exploits in the hope of encouraging others to visit the islands.
Part 1 Our Road to the Isles
http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part1-Our-Road-to-the-Isles.pdf (http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part1-Our-Road-to-the-Isles.pdf)
Part 2 Kyle to Uig, across Skye
http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part2-Kyle-to-Uig-across-Skye.pdf (http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part2-Kyle-to-Uig-across-Skye.pdf)
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Sandy, I really enjoyed your reports which brought back many happy memories of visiting the Uists many years ago as well as the scenic journey to get there. It took a long time to read, it must have taken you much longer to prepare! Thank you so much for your time and effort.
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A question from the Western Isles ..... Vallay is a tidal island off the north coast of North Uist in a very wide, shallow lagoon. The green algae was fixed and familiar. The pink ‘stuff’ was flocculent, ever-moving into different formations in a few centimetres of water at low tide.
Can anybody identify /explain the pink "stuff", please ?
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I think it's a red algal bloom, Maggi. We see it in shallow coastal margins in prolonged hot weather.
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That's what we thought, Chris - but do you think it is harmful? ( to children, dogs etc?)
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A question from the Western Isles ..... Vallay is a tidal island off the north coast of North Uist in a very wide, shallow lagoon. The green algae was fixed and familiar. The pink ‘stuff’ was flocculent, ever-moving into different formations in a few centimetres of water at low tide.
Can anybody identify /explain the pink "stuff", please ?
Found a link to a similar query from the State Veterinary Officer of Guernsey, some time ago . ... contacted him and got a response!
"We have the answer, Chromatiaceae, purple sulphur bacteria that are proliferating on the leachate from degrading seaweed layers under the sand. Harmless and may help reduce the rotten egg smell by fixing the sulphur!"
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Well done, that fits nicely. I had good intentions of putting some under the microscope a couple of years back but too busy at the time.
I would also like to add that it's encouraging that the event went so well. Matt's a great organiser and the weather was on his side. It would have been nice to meet up with some of the visitors but we had quite an influx of our own. A group of Dutch botanists were here for 11 days and then a wildlife photographer came to stay and give a talk. Next time perhaps ...
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The 2018 David Boyd SRGC Event - The Machair of the Uists and Benbecula
Sandy Leven attended the event with his wife Anne and one of their sons, Andrew - they has such a great time on the trip Sandy has compiled these reports of their exploits in the hope of encouraging others to visit the islands.
Part 1 Our Road to the Isles
http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part1-Our-Road-to-the-Isles.pdf (http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part1-Our-Road-to-the-Isles.pdf)
Part 2 Kyle to Uig, across Skye
http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part2-Kyle-to-Uig-across-Skye.pdf (http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part2-Kyle-to-Uig-across-Skye.pdf)
Third part of Sandy's report http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part3-Benbecula-machair.pdf (http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part3-Benbecula-machair.pdf)
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Fourth part of Sandy's reports from the Isles..... http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part4-NorthUist-Machair.pdf (http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part4-NorthUist-Machair.pdf)
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Final two parts of Sandy Leven's tales of the Western Isles - the story of the 2018 SRGC David Boyd Event ....
Part 5 South Uist machair : http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part5-SouthUist-machair.pdf (http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part5-SouthUist-machair.pdf)
Part 6 South to Eriskay : http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part6-South-to-Eriskay.pdf (http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/Part6-South-to-Eriskay.pdf)
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Thanks to everyone, most especially Sandy Leven, for all of the photos and commentary re the shows and tours. I'm traveling vicariously to places I most likely will never see in person and what a delight it is.
Sally