The Firth of Forth may be on Edinburgh's doorstep but it is, nonetheless, a wildlife haven. It's a very rich feeding and breeding ground for many other seabirds, too, including puffins, and for seals, and is becoming a regular port of call for many species of whale and dolphin. And so the spillage of a hundred million litres of sewage into the Firth, as well as raising immediate environmental concerns, highlighted the dangers faced by wildlife living in such close proximity to man.
The area is the birthplace of John Muir, founding father of the National park movement. Born in Dunbar, he left Scotland for America when just a child. Yet his life's work was heavily influenced by his formative years on the Firth of Forth. Jo Moulin, manager of , takes Richard to the shore and demonstrates Muir's unconventional approach to appreciating nature.
The has brought huge numbers of people to North Berwick to appreciate the huge numbers of birds which breed in the Firth. Bass Rock is centre stage, just a few miles off shore but home, mid season, to over a hundred and seventy thousand Atlantic gannets the world's biggest single rock colony. Ian BairdÌýtakes Richard for a look at the rock, explaining that its distinctive white colour is not due to droppings,Ìý but to the densely packed numbers of these white seabirds.
Maggie Sheddan says she's one of the Scottish Seabird Centre's success stories. Having lived locally for many years with no interest at all in the wildlife of the Firth, she now helps to raise awareness of environmental issues in the area. Out on a fishing boat off Craigleith, she shows Richard the main problem facing breeding puffins at the moment - tree mallow, an invasive plant which is swamping the island and preventing the birds from getting to their burrows.
ÌýWhales areÌýErich Hoyt'sÌýexpertise and he says the FirthÌýof Forth is becoming an increasingly good place to spot them. He'sÌýglimpsed minke, killer whale even a fin whale.Ìý Erich, who works with theÌý tells Richard that it's the cleanliness of the water which encourages these creatures not just to visit, but to stay. And, as the sewage spill soon proved, Erich points out that the balance between man and nature in this part of Scotland is a very fine one.Ìý
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