Making Mersehead whole

Back in October 2016 we launched an urgent appeal to make our Mersehead reserve an even bigger and better home for wildlife - in the blog Jenny Tweedie gives us an update on the appeal and what comes next for the reserve.

Making Mersehead whole

We’re absolutely thrilled that a successful public appeal means we’ll now be able to extend our reserve at Mersehead on the Solway, linking up two existing areas of our land, and creating more valuable habitat for wildlife.

That’s really good news for the reserve’s barnacle geese, part of a population that was on the brink of extinction in the 1940s. It’s now recovered to a population high this winter of around 40,000. It’s also great news for natterjack toads, the UK’s rarest amphibian. Their largest colony in Scotland can be found at Mersehead, where they choose to live in a precarious location right next to the reserve’s sand dunes.   

Both species will benefit hugely from the extra 112 acres the appeal will purchase, but it will also help a whole range of other wildlife, such as otters, barn owls, and farmland birds like skylarks.

So we’d like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to everyone who contributed!

What happens now?

It may be called a nature reserve, but it’s going to take a lot of human intervention to get the new land working at its best for nature. The first step will be surveying the area for wildlife, and for non-native invasive species, like Japanese knotweed.

An important step will also be examining the complex network of ditches and natural watercourses. Ideally we’d like to link the whole system up with the wetland we’ve already created at Mersehead, and we’re very lucky to have Eric Neilson to help with that. Eric’s been at Mersehead since 1968 (long before it was a nature reserve) and knows every ditch and sluice like the back of his hand.

Next will be the removal of areas of scrub, particularly from the dunes, and the creation of more pools. This should appeal to the natterjack toads, extending their range along the coast, and helping to increase their population. We’ll also be removing areas of non-native tree plantations, opening up the land to make it more suitable for wading birds like lapwings and curlews, both of which are red-listed species with struggling populations.  

The future

For us, the success of any appeal is really only the start of the story. This year we're looking forwards to the many months of work ahead to transform Mersehead into a truly spectacular home for nature.  We hope to share that story with you as the site evolves.

Visit the reserve – RSPB Scotland Mersehead is around 30 minutes’ drive from Dumfries, and the visitor centre is open all year, with numerous paths and hides to explore. The reserve runs regular events, and you can even stay on site in two holiday cottages. Find out more here.

Volunteer – Mersehead has a number of volunteering roles available, including residential opportunities. For more, check out our website.