Nature reserve created for community

A new nature reserve is to be created on land which transferred into community ownership on South Uist.

The Scottish Government has approved a Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) proposal for a group to establish a reserve on 1,100 hectares of land at Loch Druidibeg.

Local group Storas Uibhist, in partnership with RSPB Scotland, plans to create visitor facilities and improve access to the loch.

It also plans to carry out habitat, goose and deer management and improve drainage.

Angus Macmillan, Storas Uibhist chairman, said:“the east coast of the Uist is often not appreciated for the diversity of wildlife and this will enhance the economic opportunities that arise from nature tourism.”

The community paid a nominal fee of £1 to SNH for the transfer.