Local Nature Reserves

A Local Nature Reserve is a protected area of land designated by the local authority because of its local special natural interest and/or educational value.

Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) can be all sorts of places - woodlands, wetlands, meadows or coastal sand dunes. They provide wild spaces where plants and animals, both common and rare, can thrive. They offer a natural environment, in contrast with formal open green spaces such as parks and gardens, but are still readily accessible to people. LNRs can be near city centres, on the coast, or in the countryside.

There are two Local Nature Reserves in Aberdeenshire:

• Waters of Philorth, Fraserburgh
• Arnhall Moss, Westhill

More information on Local Nature Reserves can be found on the Scottish Natural Heritage site

Aberdeenshire Council Ranger Service also hold events at the reserves.

Waters of Philorth Local Nature Reserve, Fraserburgh

 

The Waters of Philorth Local Nature Reserve lies at the eastern edge of Fraserburgh, 3km from Fraserburgh on the B9033 Fraserburgh to Inverallochy road.

The reserve incorporates the estuary of the River Philorth and the sand dune complex, which is part of the larger Fraserburgh Bay sand dune system. There are also areas of reed bed, salt marsh and mud flats associated with the estuary. The Waters of Philorth site is known for the diversity of its bird life resulting from the range of habitats.

The exposed beach and its associated debris are popular areas for gulls while upstream the river is an important feeding site for many migrating birds especially waders and wildfowl such as oystercatcher, redshank, and dunlin. The reed beds that line the river further upstream provide shelter and food for birds such as reed bunting and sedge warbler.

Away from the exposed beach the sand dunes are more sheltered and contain a great variety of plants. As well as marram grass there are a lot of flowering plants such as ladies bedstraw, northern marsh orchid and cowslip.

A car park area with picnic facilities has been established at the landward side of the dunes and a boardwalk and footpaths provide access around the site. The site boundaries are the B9033, the golf course, the seaward edge of the dune and the Water of Philorth.

The Local Nature Reserve can be visited at any time. Vehicular access is from the B9033 Fraserburgh to Inverallochy road along a small surfaced track to the car park area. Pedestrian access is available along the beach from Fraserburgh and along the coast from Cairnbulg to the east.

• Waters of Philorth Nature Reserve leaflet (pdf 322 kb)

Arnhall Moss Local Nature Reserve, Westhill

Arnhall Moss Local Nature Reserve lies on the edge of the expanding settlements of Westhill and Elrick.

As one of the few remaining raised bogs in lowland Aberdeenshire the reserve is indeed a special place.

It was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1991 because of it’s value as a wildlife habitat.

Raised bogs are formed over hundreds of years. They generally start out as ponds of lochans where gradually rotten plant material begins to accumulate in the waterlogged hollows. This vegetation develops into a layer of water holding peat, forming slowly into a dome shape and creating a raised bog. Eventually the dome becomes isolated from the ground water and the plants growing on the bog become adapted to the surroundings and support special communities of insects, birds and animals.

Over the past years birch trees have invaded Arnhall Moss and begun to dry out the area. The new habitat of birch woodland supports a different range of insects and birds making the reserve a spectacular place to visit with much wildlife to see. Common woodland and wetland birds such as wren, great tit, blue tit, coal tit, redpoll, mallard and moorhen are abundant and mammals such as pipistrelle bats, roe deer, foxes and stoats, either live on or use the site.

The local community with Aberdeenshire Council have been actively working in the reserve to improve the area for wildlife and visitors.

Over the past years a number of successful events, such as Bat and Moth nights, Beastie Safaris and the annual Moss Mop Up have been held, an information board has been produced and installed and the paths around the site have been upgraded.

The Local Nature Reserve can be visited at any time. Access is taken from Denman Park, opposite the shopping centre at Westhill.