Share a story of how you have experienced weather and/or climate at this place
I walk regularly around the river and pathways in Nairn, and noticed the early budding of trees and shrubs, due to warmer winter weather, leading often to a brief sharp frost which meant no fruit on trees. The horse chestnuts in autumn are ripening earlier but small and fewer, possibly related to the prevalent dry summers. Crops such as spinach are bolting much earlier snd seed heads appearing. Sharp changes in temperature are difficult to adapt to for humans, who have the luxury of heating when needed, but what about the animals and birds? A river flood took the nest of our favourite dipper, and we have not seen one dipper this summer into autumn .
Have you observed the weather, climate, or natural environment at this place changing over time?
Yes, as above, crops, trees, animak and birds life at times struggling to adapt to extremes of weather.
Have you done anything to prepare for or address climate and weather changes at this place?
We reuse abd repurpose all, we waste very little, buy local products, shop at our community enterptise Highabd Weigh as it helps us reduce plastic and reuse, cycle or walk, and have planted trees and shrubs, flowers which attract insects.
*Originally submitted to the Highland Weather & Climate Story Map Commonplace Platform on 28 September 2023.
