Loch Baile a’ Ghobhainn Project
What memories or activities do you associate with Loch Baile a’ Ghobhainn?
Balnagown Loch – as it is known today is a rare type of freshwater lake with very clear water, known as a marl lake. Less than 1% of lakes in the UK are marl lakes and those in Scotland are amongst the most pristine.
Marl lakes provide unique habitats and Loch Baile a’ Ghobhainn is listed by Nature Scot as a Special Area of Conservation. While it is recognised that this habitat is the product of social as well as environmental factors, research and conservation to date has tended to focus on the geology and ecology of the Loch.
This project by researchers from the University of Stirling is seeking to address this gap in understanding by asking how community members experience and remember the Loch. They are keen to speak to people familiar with the area today and will also be exploring the Loch through historic records.
Their hope is that this work will support the sustainable management of the Loch and inform future research.
