Broubster
The village built in 1839 formed a square of longhouse cottages.
the cottages on the west side have disappeared possibly being used for
rubble for the road that passes by. the cottages were built to
house tenants from the estates of Broubster and Shurrery. One of
the houses remained occupied until 1960. Each house had its own
byre/stable. Doors opposite each other assisted with winnowing to
remove chaff from grain. The small pieces of cultivated land are
still clearly visible from the field walls surrounding them.
Land was provided but it is probable that tenants constructed their own
houses.
Broubster Forest Walk January 2002
 |
Broubster Leans
Broubster Leans is one of the most
important sites for wading birds in the north and has become a nature
reserve looked after by RSPB following a fund raising campaign.
The March 2008 North Scotland Newsletter of RSPB describes Brobster Leans
as follows "Broubster Leans is a rich and beautiful wetland that has
developed on the floodplain of the Forss Water 7km west of Thurso.
The delicate balance of pasture, fen and wetland that has established over
the centuries of human interaction with the land, makes Broubster an
exceptional area despite it being one of the toughest farming environments
in the UK."
"The site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Sppecial
Protection Area (SPA) and S[ecial Conservation Area (SAC).
Traditional farming, particularly extensive cattle grazing, has been
essential in maintaining the mixture of habitats. Throughout the
year hen harriers, rwite and short-eared owls are present, greenshank,
golden plover, lapwing, snipe, redshank and common sandpiper breed on the
reserve in summer months and, in winter, it serves as a refuge for twpo
hundred Greenland white-fronted geese and up to 80 whooper swans. the
elusive spotted crake and rare water vole are also found on the nature
reseve."
"The new reserve comprises 200 hectares land purchase, with a further 100
ha under management agreement, roughly one fifth of the total wetland area
at Broubster."
|