The Outer Hebrides is a chain of islands lying 70 km off the west coast of Scotland comprising over 15 inhabited islands and over 100 smaller islands and skerries. The main archipelago extends over 200 km from Lewis in the north to Mingulay in the south. The outlying, remote, North Atlantic islands of St Kilda, Sula Sgeir and North Rona are not geologically part of the archipelago but have cultural links to the Outer Hebrides.
From the peat bogs of Lewis to the machair of the Uists and the cold water coral reefs off Mingulay, the Outer Hebrides archipelago is home to a range of habitats of international importance. Travellers have been writing about the flora and fauna of the islands since the late 17th century, more recently there have been numerous ecological and biological surveys by academic institutions, environmental organisations and government departments. Unfortunately most of this information is not easily accessible.
For a number of years the need local biological records centre to collate the data from surveys conducted by various institutions and to collect the biological records made by resident and visiting naturalists has been recognised as a priority in helping to conserve and maintain the islands' biodiversity. In October 2010 a sub-committee of Curracag (Outer Hebrides Natural History Society) was formed to investigate the feasibility of this proposal and the following June with funding provided by LEADER Innse Gall, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council), Curracag and the RSPB, the Outer Hebrides Biological Records was launched.
Comprehensive and accurate information on our flora and fauna is essential if we are to conserve our natural environment for the future.
