Isle of May NNR Case Study

See and hear the Isle of May NNR - without leaving the classroom

The crash of the waves, the high-pitched cry of terns and singing of seals are all sounds associated with the Isle of May National Nature Reserve (NNR)  . For the lucky children who go there on a school trip it is an experience to treasure. Now SNH, the owner of the island, is making that experience available to everyone with access to a computer. A new 'virtual tour' of the island and a free, downloadable education pack mean that everyone can join in the fun.

The website 'virtual tour' has a series of short videos, or audio and photos, including information on the puffins, the seals, and the history of the island. These give all viewers, young or old, a real sense of the 'special-ness' of the place.

Therese Alampo, SNH's reserve manager on the Isle of May said: "I hope everyone enjoys the virtual tour and the educational resource pack. Perhaps once people have seen those, they will then come and visit us. There are two members of staff based on the May and we meet the arriving boats to give a short talk. We can also run educational activities on the island and subsidised packages on the boat the May Princess are available for school groups. It really is a magical place and everyone who visits the May has a great time."

The May or May Isle, as it is called locally, is home to thousands of grey seals and over 200,000 seabirds, including shags, puffins, terns, guillemots, razorbills, eider ducks, gulls, kittiwakes and fulmars. The huge west cliffs are teeming with seabirds in summer.

The education pack focuses on environmental studies and is particularly suitable for 8-12 year olds. It has information and activities covering the natural and cultural history of the island.

Further information

The links to the virtual tour and free downloadable education pack  - Isle of May Expedition pack - are given in the "Isle of May NNR resources" section.

The pack can also be obtained on CD from SNH, 46 Crossgate, Cupar KY15 5HS.

For more information contact: David Pickett, SNH, 46 Crossgate, Cupar KY15 5HS Tel: 01334 654038