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St. Cyrus NNR (National Nature Reserve) lies between the village and the North Sea. The cliffs and dunes provide habitats for nationally important flowering plants and insects.. Two ice houses that used to provide ice for packing salmon before transporting to market can still be seen. One is to the north end of the beach on the donkey track just below the Woodston Fishing Station, the other is further south next to Kirkside, not far from the Nature Reserve Visitor's Centre.
The cliffs and dunes of St Cyrus support a distinctive range of plants, including many southern species. The reserve is also noted for its rich variety of insects, particularly butterflies and nearly 400 kinds of moth. Breeding birds include stonechats and skylarks, and you’re also likely to see fulmars nesting on the cliffs.
‘A Natural Battleground’
Every year at St Cyrus National Nature Reserve battles rage. Winter storms crash over the dunes, salty sea-spray soaks into every crevice and the North Sea winds scatter debris and sand everywhere. Yet in this harsh world a wealth of specialist plants and animals have adapted to conditions not unlike those of a desert.
Beach
On the beach the evidence of conflict is all too obvious; the broken driftwood lies battered and tossed by the waves, the sand bars rise and fall and the skeletons of ancient ships skulk in the shallows of the bay. The purple flowering sea rocket is one of the first plants to secure a place at the strandline. Washed by high tides, dried by the wind and stung by sand this plant has amazing staying power.
Cliffs
These high pillars of lava tower behind the reserve, an ancient reminder of the original sea level before the end of the last ice age. The lowered sea level reflects the rising of the land after the release of the weight of ice,pressing down on it for thousands of years.
Amongst these crumbling volcanic relics plants fight to retain their anchorage on exposed ledges. Here those plants which cope with thin soil and intermittent water supplies survive like the white Nottingham catchfly and white stonecrops are easily recognised by their fleshy leaves which store water like desert cacti. In the frontline of this natural battle, the sea cliffs soak up salt spray whipped from the tops of the winter waves. Yet even here there are plants and birds perfectly adapted to these conditions. The sea pink or thrift forms low cushions of vegetation in crevices together with white cascading sea campion. Fulmars seek out sheltered ledges towards the top of the cliffs as nest sites in February and will rear a single chick the following spring.
Dunes
These are very prominent at St Cyrus and the plant communities vary as you move away from the sea. Only a few plants withstand such extremes as the stinging sand and drought; these include the spiky marram grass and the grey- green sea-lyme grass whose roots bind the sand to form dunes. Once the sand has stabilised other plants can grow here. The reserve is famed for its great diversity of wildflowers The purple of spring vetch, and the pastel shades of blue and pink as forget-me-nots and wall speedwells flower are a burst of colour in the early spring.
Grasslands
Here wildlife is protected from the stinging sand and salty conditions prevalent near the coast. To combat windy conditions much of the vegetation is low- growing and as the sandy soils do not retain moisture readily, plants must some-times withstand dry summers. In their flowering seasons from mid-June until September the wildflowers create a riot of colour. From the purples of the clustered bell- flowers to the delicate maiden pink these summer blooms fed numerous butterflies and moths. Look out for the common blue butterflies dancing in thelee of the whins. The wildlife of St Cyrus can cope with harsh and changing conditions. But it cannot cope with the changes people create. This magnificent array of plants and animals will be damaged if fire and trampling is unrestricted. Visitors are asked not to swing the balance of the battle against the wildlife here.
Education
St Cyrus NNR is an excellent educational resource. SNH staff are fully trained to lead and deliver educational visits for all ages from nursery through to University education.
The reserve is host to around 25 educational visits per year. There is no charge for SNH staff led educational visits on the nature reserve.
Visitor Facilities
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Around 20,000 people visit St Cyrus NNR every year.
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Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) manage St Cyrus NNR for the conservation of its special wildlife and for the enjoyment of its visitors.
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SNH run a programme of free guided walks and events throughout the spring and summer months.
To find out more or book your place please visit their website or contact SNH on 01674 830736
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