Saturday April 11th - Laikenbuie

4/21/2026

A chilly wind was blowing as the cars with 13 occupants arrived at this hidden site a few miles south of Nairn, but the welcome was warm as we were introduced to the Lakenbuie Ecology Trust by David and Gen.
The area now owned by the Trust was taken over by them in 2022 to preserve the native wild woodland and stop the planting of softwood trees for commercial use. As we were guided around the 100 acre site it was easy to see how, through sensitive management, the woodland and open grassy meadow as well as the lake and wetland, could be restored to a microcosm of how the local landscape once was, before economic pressures drove out many of the tree, plant, insect, bird and animal species which had once thrived there.
As we walked around, David and Gen explained to us how The Trust is more about not doing and letting nature take its course, rather than organising intrusive management activities. Their vision is to allow the continuation of some organic farming alongside careful pruning of intrusive species to allow native trees and plants to thrive – which in turn would support the diversity of interdependent species that would live there. They also want to encourage and educate visitors, so that they understand the importance of nature to human well-being and can see the value of rewilding to everything that lives in the area.

It was very noticeable that we all lingered (once we got out of that wind!), chatting quietly in the weak sunshine; and I believe that we all left feeling refreshed from our time there.

Please note: private visits to Laikenbuie are encouraged and the SOC hope to return again a little later in the year when the migrant birds will have returned and the wild flowers will be out. We also look forward to seeing the results of restoration of habitats and the return of species. For species lists check out the web site at: laikenbuieecologytrust.org.uk

In the afternoon 8 of the group went on to Kingsteps where a Greenshank and several Redshanks were feeding on a pool as we walked towards the beach. Once there a lie on the beach in the sunshine was irresistible! The day ended mid-afternoon at Loch Flemington.

Thanks are due to Rowan for listing the birds as we saw or heard them. In all there were 52 species and the highlights were: at Laikenbuie - Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Yellowhammer, Redpoll, Linnet, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Swallow. At Kingsteps - a large group of resting Sandwich Tern, Peregrine, Red-breasted Merganser, Sanderling and very distant Gannet. At Flemington – Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Moorhen and Coot.

Sue Sykes