Machair

(Mah-khuhr) "A Gaelic word meaning fertile, low-lying grassy plain. Refers to a unique habitat; only occurring on the exposed west-facing shores of Scotland and Ireland." - The Wildlife Trusts

Machair- Silent Narrative Book & Interpretation Panel- North Coast 500 Environmental Education Project
University Project In Collaboration with Local Ranger Services

This project responds to the environmental impact of the North Coast 500, a popular 500-mile touring route through the Scottish Highlands. While the route brings tourism, it has also led to damage in sensitive areas, particularly the fragile machair ecosystems of many beaches, especially Traigh and Ceannabeinne, where wild camping and fires have taken a toll.

In response, I created a silent narrative picture book and interactive activity pack for local ranger services to use with visiting families. Designed to inspire responsible behaviour through imaginative storytelling, the book follows a girl who, while visiting the NC500, dreams she shrinks to the size of an endangered great yellow bumblebee and experiences the ecosystem’s beauty and vulnerability firsthand.

A matching interpretation panel features a tactile bumblebee engraving for children to take rubbings of, adding a hands-on, site-specific element. The design is adaptable for other NC500 locations, helping reinforce environmental messages in a memorable and engaging way.

A colorful illustrated garden scene with purple, yellow, and blue flowers, and a girl in an orange sweater reaching to touch a bee. The text includes a quote from Bumble Bee and the title 'Machair', along with the author's name Daisy May Nash.
A sketch showing two scenes: on the left, a road winding through mountains with a camper van and two people inside; on the right, a girl sitting on a couch inside a room, looking out a window at a landscape with mountains and clouds.
A black and white sketch of children and adults outdoors, with a scenic background and a child among flowers, with a view of a hill and cars in the distance.
Sketch of a girl lying on her stomach in a field of flowers, looking at a bee. Inset: Girl sitting among flowers, reaching out to a bee, and standing holding a flower, all in a field of flowers.
Children in orange sweaters reaching toward bees flying among purple and yellow flowers in a lush garden.
A colorful illustration on the left shows a girl standing outdoors with purple flowers and a bee flying nearby, against a snowy landscape with a block and mountains. The right side features a black and white sketch of a girl observing various stones
A sketch of a vintage fan and floral plants on the left side, and a girl lying on a couch inside a room with a window showing a landscape outside on the right side.
Sketch of a family trip with children camping in nature. The sketch shows children and a parent, with a tent, trees, and a picnic area. A thought bubble depicts a lemon, bottle, and girl with a kite.
Children and adults participating in outdoor activities like picking up trash and catching insects, with a girl waving near a camper, all depicted in a black and white sketch.
A colorful informational sign about Ceannabeinne Beach, showing guidelines for protecting the beach. Includes a map with numbered points: 1 beach, 2 overnight parking, 3 public toilets, 4 zipline, and a note indicating current location. Highlights ho
Book cover titled 'Machair' with an illustration of wildflowers and a young girl in an orange coat reaching to touch a bee.
Children's activity pack themed around flowers and nature, including an activity book titled 'Mochair Activity Pack', a sheet titled 'Flowers of the Machair' with different flower illustrations and checkboxes, and a dot-to-dot sheet with floral outli
An informational signboard about Ceannabeinne beach, located near the coast with grassy terrain, rocks, and hills in the background. The sign provides details on how to keep the beach beautiful, nearby facilities, and a map of the area.