The Machair on Berneray
Rob Sutton writes about Berneray: ‘I usually go up either in early May or Late August which seem to be better times of the year for birds, but it does mean I miss the magic of the machair. These poor sandy soils are the only bits of the islands that can easily be cultivated and have been for hundreds of years but on a strict rotation so soils have a chance to recover their fertility. Some bits, never ploughed, are used as rough grazing. The consequence of poor soil and rotational use means that they have a magnificent richness of wild flowers.’ [from Wild About Britain]