The Giant Fossil Centipede Trail of North Arran

With the exciting news of a UNESCO Geopark delegation visiting Arran over the last few days, here is a piece from The Arran Naturalist (Issue 1, summer 1978) on the Arthropleura Trail in the North of Arran, a fossilized set of footprints which can be found a little further round the coastline from Hutton’s Unconformity, …

A Holy Isle foray in two times

Holy Isle, May 2024. Featured image shows Sea thrift (armeria maritima). All photo credits The Holy Isle Project, Arran. For more wild flower images see the holy isle project Facebook page post 16th May. “Whilst walking on the coastal path towards the south, to my delight, I saw a vast array of wild flowers. Excitement …

Herbal Lore

A short piece from The Arran Naturalist, Issue no. 4, Spring 1980, Journal of the Arran Natural History Society, on the ‘Yellow Flag’, “which can be seen today, in glorious profusion on our lovely island of Arran.”       Photo credits C and E Rodeck, taken around Corrie 31.05.24           …

Notes from The Arran Naturalist

All about Lichens…. Last week the National Trust Rangers reported on a recent visit by Lichenologists to Arran. Members of the British Lichen Society held one of their annual field trips here, and their work will provide the Rangers with a list of species they have identified. This will help to track changes in the …

The Arran Naturalist revisited

Notes from The Arran Naturalist, the Journal of the Arran Natural History Society. Issue 8. 1985. Featured image shows original artwork from the front cover, by Lesley Williamson.  

The 2023 Arran Bird Report is out now!

Published every year since 1980, the annual Arran Bird Report is a “must” for anyone interested in the birds of Arran.  Where are most bird species seen on Arran? How many different types of owl are on Arran? When was the last Ptarmigan seen on Arran? For all your birdwatching questions on Arran, the best …

Arran Natural History Society April meeting

Arran Natural History Society’s final meeting of the 2024 spring season will be a talk by Community of Arran Seabed Trust’s Marine Protected Area Project Officer Lucy Kay titled ‘Fifteen years of research in Arran’s marine protected areas – what have we learned?’. The community on Arran has been proactively campaigning for better protection and …

ANHS January meeting

The next Arran Natural History Society talk – and the first of 2024 – will be an online gathering with Tiree’s island ranger Hayley Douglas. In Can you tell me….? The many hats of an island Ranger, Hayley will describe how Tiree’s machair habitat and crofting practices make it an island that has a wealth …