Badge of honour for plover lovers

A LIMITED edition RSPB Golden Plover pin badge, with a Flow Country backdrop, has been designed to honour the popular bird.

The badge features a golden plover in its distinctive gold and black summer plumage and is available from the Forsinard Flows Visitor Centre for a suggested donation of £2.

Golden plovers are a wading bird and like flat, wet habitat, making the Flow Country a perfect place for them.

The Flow Country is home to nationally important numbers of golden plovers.

By buying a pin badge, not only will you be collecting a limited edition piece, but will also help to fund the continued work of RSPB Scotland to look after the habitat of these beautiful birds.

A one-of-a-kind golden plover donation box has also been created by Sydney Henderson, one of the long term volunteers currently staying at Forsinard.

It will be stationed at the Flows visitor centre in Forsinard – or you may find him out on the reserve.

For a chance to see a golden plover you can go on one of the weekly guided walks running from the Forsinard Visitor Centre on the A897 between Helmsdale and Melvich every Friday at 2pm.

The walks should be booked in advance on 01641 571225 or email forsinard@rspb.org.uk

There will also be a special event day at the reserve next Friday, August 10, where there will be live music from the Feis Rois Ceilidh Trail (between noon and 2pm), cookery demonstrations and a tasting from Scotland's Natural Larder, a guided walk and family activities.

No booking is required for this event, except if you wish to take part in the guided walk.