West Word - October 2025

Amazingly, Storm Amy didn’t have as much impact in Canna as it did elsewhere across the country. Storm Floris dealt with a lot of the trees that would eventually come down so Storm Amy didn’t wreak so much havoc as a lot of leaves had already been blown off. 

Storms aside, October has been relatively calm. Still, rainy days have given way to some sunshine later on and the first Aurora of the autumn dark skies was visible. We can now clearly see the Milky Way as it arches across the night sky following the length of the island. 

Jane and Margaret set about mending the rips in the polytunnel created by Storm Floris. Armed with giant polytunnel sellotape, Jane climbed a ladder while Margaret cut strips and handed them up. It ain’t pretty but it will do until Spring time when we can make a proper assessment. Gerry and Murdo installed a couple of fence posts to stop the end wall drifting any further inwards but it will all need a bit of tlc. 

Lambs and cows set for market have all now made the journey across the sea much to Gerry’s relief. With top prices going for Canna cows at the recent Fort William sale, the farm team and crofters are on a high, and understandably so! All their hard work and care of the animals over the year has proved outstanding.

Some islanders have had training to use the forklift so there are now more people to help out at the pier and transporting goods around the island. Next up is digger training. 

There are healthy reports of lots of seal pups at Garrisdale. The seal colony along there is thriving and Garrisdale has plenty of gullies, nooks and crannies for mothers to hide their seal pups while the mothers swim and feed in the waves. If you’re heading along that way remember to keep quiet so as not to disturb the pups. 

Ranger Tom has been out tackling invasive plant species this month. Trailer loads of rhododendron have been removed to allow areas of the woods to flourish with native species. The space made by removing the rhododendron will allow native saplings to grow ensuring a steady increase in the trees. Rabbit fencing is also being repaired so rabbits don’t eat the saplings. 

Winter beach cleans have begun again and we are targeting specific areas where we get a high volume of marine litter. After the recent storms, larger items have been washing ashore as well as marine life. There are a few dead seals lying around - the dog owners nemesis - a few of our island dogs do like to have a roll in a dead seal much to their owners disgust. And if you’re out and about walking, the wind direction wafts the smell up unsuspecting nostrils. Delightful. Other recent casualties include a pilot whale and a turtle. 

Now begins the steady march towards Winter. This is my favourite time of year. Nights are drawing in, being cosy becomes a top priority; the cool of the morning brings freshness to faces and sharpens the senses.