Birnie Birds & Bulrushes Multi-Cache
allieballie: Surprised this one has lasted as long as it has considering that it wasn't hidden particularly well. The coin logged in this cache has actually been missing for ages though. I'm not sure whether I will replace this one or not, so if anyone else wants to hide a cache here in the meantime please feel free to do so.
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(regular)
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A short walk around Birnie Loch, a nature reserve in North-East Fife.
Birnie and Gaddon Lochs began life as a pair of sand and gravel quarries, excavated in the late 80’s and early ‘90s. The quarries were worked below the water line, so the areas flooded as digging progressed and as a result these lochs were formed. Since excavation ceased, the site has become one of the UKs’ best examples of environmental regeneration. Today, there are no signs that minerals were once extracted from the region, and the quarry has been replaced by a popular recreational amenity, purchased from the original owners by Fife Council for the princely sum of £1 per loch.
The wetland of Birnie Loch consists of both open water and marshland - the latter packed with bulrushes. The marsh is also an important area for insects, amphibians and nesting birds. The loch is home to several types of waterfowl - mainly ducks and swans, but geese and grebes can also be seen, depending on the time of year. Shingle spits and islands were created during the restoration process to provide safe roosting for the birds. Over 3000 trees, from a range of native species, surround the loch and these were planted with the aim of attracting a wide variety of wildlife. More than 100 species of birds have been spotted on the site, along with 100 types of wildflowers and many mammals.
This walk is circular, flat and suitable for buggies, wheelchairs etc., although the cache itself is a very short distance off the path.
The above co-ordinates are for the on site parking. At the back of the car park there is a white information board about Birnie Loch. At the north end of the car park is an illustrated map of the reserve. You will need to gather information from these two sources to complete the cache co-ordinates.
(a) The photograph of Birnie Loch was taken in 200A
(b) The reserve was officially opened on B June 199C
(c) The photograph “Quarrying at Birnie” was taken in 198D
(d) The date on the SNH plaque above the map is 199E
(e) The site won an Environmental award in 199F
(f) How many photographs of birds are there? G
Final cache co-ordinates = N 56 18.AB(D-E)
W 003 09.(C + E)F(F - G)
This is a themed cache - but since there is a shortage of available bulrush items, could people please try to swap items connected with birds! Please also ensure that the cache is hidden well when you have finished , otherwise it could be visible from the nearby path.
Cache contents at time of replacing:
Bookmark
Magnet set
Eraser
Pencil
Finger puppet
Keyring
Balancing toy
Cut-outs
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ntnvafg n cvar gerr, haqre n "trbpnpuref pnvea"!