Bob Bales and Fergus Muir

Fergus Muir of Coisir Ghaidhlig Ile and Irish traditional musician Bob Bales playing to an appreciative audience of around sixty folk at the 'Welcome to Islay' evening at the Bruichladdich Distillery Laddieshop on Monday evening.

"Welcome to Islay" at Bruichladdich Distillery Laddieshop

Tomorrow Monday 7th May, at 6.30 will be the second of our "Welcome to Islay" evenings.  We have a great line-up of artists including piper James McEachern, traditional musicians Ellie and Ciara, the Ella Edgar Highland Dancers, Gaelic soloist Fergus Muir and guitarist Bob Bales.  You never know, if there is time, we might even get a to look at a little of Islay's stunning wildlife with Malcolm Ogilvie of the INHT and Crystal, Mary and Mark from the RSPB.  We hope to see you there....

Kilchiaran Bay



Kilchiaran Bay earlier today.  Now squeaky clean following a quality beach clean this morning by a team led by Briar Maxwell

'Welcome to Islay' evenings in the Laddieshop - Bruichladdich

Dates of INHT "Welcome to Islay" evenings

Our"Welcome to Islay" evenings in the Laddieshop at Bruichladdich Distillery will be held on April 2nd, May 7th, June 4th, July 2nd, August 6th and September 3rd.

Grey seal pup photographed on an Islay beach.

The programme will vary from week to week, but our visitors and guests can expect a selection from piper James McEachern, the Ella Edgar Highland Dancers, Gaelic singing from Grahame Allison, trad music from Eilidh and Ciara and short introductions to island history and wildlife from the Museum of Islay Life, the RSPB and the INHT.

Doors will open at 6.30 and the evenings will usually last for about an hour and a half.  There will be a small entrance fee that will include a wee dram courtesy of our hosts at Bruichladdich.  We look forward to seeing you there....

The Ella Edgar Highland Dancers

Bruichladdich Distillery to host INHT "Welcome to Islay" evenings

'The Botanist' - a gin distilled at Bruichladdich with an infusion of 22 Islay botanicals has proved a big hit since its launch little over a year ago.  You can visit 'The Botanist' Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/thebotanistgin?sk=wall

The Trust is to hold a series of six 'Welcome to Islay' evenings this year, following on from the three held last year in the most convivial surroundings of the "Laddieshop".

The informal evenings have traditionally featured piping, singing, Highland dancing and a series of short presentations about the island's natural history and wildlife.  We are delighted that Bruichladdich have once again offered to host the events.

Fifteen-spined or Sea Stickleback

Caught in a shrimp net in the shallow water just off the beach outside the Centre in Port Charlotte, we think this is a Sea stickleback (Spinachia spinachia), although its spines are not really visible.

'Welcome to Islay'

The second 'Welcome to Islay' evening hosted by the INHT will be held tomorrow at Bruichladdich Distillery starting at 6.30.  We hope to see you there...

First of our Family Activity Sessions is tomorrow - 5th July

Out on a Bug Hunt last year

Our first Family Activity Session is tomorrow - meet Fiona at Port Mor at 2.00 pm for Rockpooling!!

Some flowers from our ramble at Sanaigmore yesterday

Bell Heather

Bird's foot trefoil

Water forget-me-not

Sea purslane

Sea sandwort

Butterflies - Dean Eades

More lovely shots from Dean Eades - Marsh Fritillary and Small Heath butterflies
http://www.birdmad.com/

Northern marsh orchids (Dactylorhiza purpurella)

Orchid identification is not straightforward - and it is complicated by their ability to hybridise.  These are, I believe, Northern marsh orchids growing on a bank behind Shorefield.
Carl

Professor Alasdair Skelton

An audience of over one hundred packed into the Centre yesterday evening to hear a presentation entitled 'The Geology of Islay' by Professor Alasdair Skelton of the University of Stockholm.  Alasdair's talk was highly entertaining as well as informative and the Trust appreciates his efforts.
Alasdair has a long association with Islay - research for his PhD centred on the geology of the Ard peninsular near Port Ellen during the 1980's and he has visited a number of times since both with his family and with groups of students from Stockholm.
He is proposing to bring another group during March 2012, and has offered to conduct geology field trips for people on Islay at that time.  We will bring you more details of this as arrangements firm up.

Carl

Heron behind Shorefield

Thanks to George Jackson for these fine photos of a heron at the pond he excavated behind his house at Shorefield.

First Chrysalis forms in the Centre

Rukmini found the first chrysalis hanging from the top of the butterfly pavillion in the Centre this morning.  We are not sure whether it is a Small Tortoiseshell or a Peacock as yet - we will keep you informed!!

Welcome to Islay Evenings

The INHT has teamed up with Bruichladdich to offer a "Welcome to Islay" evening at the distillery.  We have arranged three of these events so far, one a month during June, July and August, with the possibility of further evenings during September and October if various staffing issues can be sorted out.
The format will closely follow the well tried "Visitor Welcome Evenings" which were run very successfully by the Islay and Jura Marketing Group for many years.  Sadly the Marketing Group does not have the staffing resources to manage their evenings this year, so we have stepped into the breach...

We hope to feature Ella Edgar's Highland Dancers and also some local singers and musicians, including pipers.  There will also be an overview of some of the many interesting places to visit around the island plus an illustrated introduction to our wonderful wildlife.

The ticket price to the evenings also includes a week's entrance to the Visitor Centre in Port Charlotte - and a very nice wee dram courtesy of our hosts..  We really hope you will be able to come.
Carl Reavey