The machair at an iconic island beach will be returned to its former glory this summer thanks to the local community.
Fencing is to be erected around the delicate area of grassland at Calgary Bay on Mull to keep the sheep off.
This will allow the unique sandy grassland to once again become a riot of wild flowers, bees, butterflies and birds during the summer months.
The Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is currently in a state of decline as a result of overgrazing.
But now a community group has raised £6,400 to fence the area off and keep it protected for four months.
Landowner Argyll and Bute Council has agreed to lease the ground to Friends of Calgary Bay, so that they can keep livestock away, giving the machair a chance to replenish.
Jan Dunlop said: “We have got £6,400 including gift aid and some donations are still coming in. We have ordered the fencing material, we have got a contractor, so hopefully by June we will have the fences up.
“We will have a grazing agreement, which will be flexible. For a three to four month period there will be no sheep during the summer in the area we have fenced.
“After that we will open up the gate and the sheep will get back in. In the mean time we will have had a full bloom of flowers.”
She stressed: “Once the fences are up we will put gates in.
“We are not keeping people out, we are just trying to regulate the sheep. We do need the sheep to munch there some of the
time.”
The next priority for the Friends of Calgary Bay is the car park.
Ms Dunlop said: “We need an extension on the car park. We will probably just have to keep fundraising.”
Mull-based Councillor Mary Jean Devon said: “I think it is vital to protect the machair.
“Calgary Bay is an important part of Mull’s history. That is where the ships sailed to Canada from.
“The big city of Calgary in Canada is named after that small bay.
“We were left it as a legacy, it is our duty to leave it to other people.”
