The Holy Loch Nature Reserve at Sandbank stretches across the head of the loch. There are 24 acres of ungrazed saltmarsh, wildflower meadows and woodland, with reedbed and bog, which are intersected by several burns.
Many small pools on the marsh support an array of water plants and animals. The nature reserve officially opened in the spring of 2015. It is owned by Argyll and Bute Council, leased to Sandbank Community Trust (SCDT), and is run by a management committee made up of interested locals and some experts. There is an active group of birders and nature lovers who monitor and record species, and who enjoy using the hide.
Maintenance is ongoing and the Trust has a grant that will allow future work to take place. If you would like to volunteer to assist in managing the site please contact the Trust's chair, Jean Maskell: jmaskellSCDT@gmail.com. They are looking for people to help practically but also who have skills to help design a leaflet and signs.
If you have photographs of birds visiting the area or other wildlife, please send them to the nature reserve's Facebook page.
