The Eden Estuary Local Nature Reserve
This publicly managed local nature reserve is the third oldest in Scotland. The bulk of the reserve is made up of rich intertidal mud and sand flats, home to millions of tiny plants and animals. These in turn provide the food for the thousands of birds. The reserve also contains the largest remnants of Fife saltmarshes, as well as areas of new and stable dune systems.
The entire site is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and forms part of the Forth of Tay and Eden Estuary special protection area (SPA).
The reserve is used for many different purposes, including recreational activities such as wildfowling (by permit in specific areas), walking, birdwatching, and horse-riding. In addition the reserve is surrounded by important landholdings such as RAF Leuchars, the papermill, farming, forestry and the St Andrews Links Trust. It was the need to manage the many different activities in and around the estuary that led to the creation of the Local Nature Reserve.
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Eden Estuary Species Summary
Many notable birds including the most northerly concentration of Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Redshank, Shelduck and Red-breasted Merganiser. Four species of Geese can be regularly seen here in Autumn and Winter.
The mud and sand holds a range of plants and animals including the uncommon Eel Grass. Marine life can include Razor shells as well as Mermaids purses, seaweeds and sponges.
Mammals that may be seen include Roe Deer, Brown Hare, Stoat, Weasel, Voles. It is not unusual to also see Common Seals basking on the sandbanks. Further offshore, Porpoises and Bottlenose Dolphin can sometimes be seen.
The dunes and saltmarshes are also home to wildflowers such as Vetches and Restharrow, as well as Butterflies such as the Dark Green Fritillary and the Common Blue.