Mugdrum Island

{{Short description|Island in the Firth of Tay, Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} thumb|View of the island from the south side of the Tay '''Mugdrum Island''' lies in the Firth of Tay on the east coast of Scotland, opposite the town of Newburgh in Fife. It is low-lying and reedy, and covers an area of {{convert|55.7|acre}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/74428190|title=Perthshire, Sheet CXI|author=Ordnance Survey|date=1866|publisher=National Library of Scotland|accessdate=2024-01-28}}</ref> It is the only significant island in the firth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1122.html|title=Firth of Tay|publisher=Gazetteer for Scotland|accessdate=2024-01-28}}</ref> The Tay splits into two channels here, known as the North Deep and the South Deep.

==History== The island was once a possession of Lindores Abbey, and is referred to under the name ''Redinche'' (meaning either "red island" or "reed island") in the abbey's foundation charter.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Place-Names of Fife|last1=Taylor|first1=Simon|last2=Markus|first2=Gilbert|date=2010|location=Donington|publisher=Shaun Tyas|volume=4|page=63|isbn=978-1-907730-06-1|url=https://archive.org/details/placenamesoffife0004tayl/page/63}}</ref> In the 17th century, it became attached to the Mugdrum estate near Newburgh.<ref>{{cite book|title=Lindores Abbey and its Burgh of Newburgh|last=Laing|first=Alexander|date=1876|location=Edinburgh|publisher=Edmonston & Douglas|page=212 f.|url=https://archive.org/details/lindoresabbeyits00edin/page/212}}</ref> The island was formerly run as a farm, growing cereals, potatoes, and turnips (as well as reeds, which were harvested for thatch). The last tenant left in 1926.<ref>{{cite news |author=|date=2012-11-15|title=The Jacksons of Mugdrum Island|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-courier-advertiser-perth-and-perthshire-edition/20121115/282123518786218|work=The Courier|access-date=2024-01-28}}</ref> It is now a nature reserve under the stewardship of the Tay Valley Wildfowlers' Association.<ref>{{cite news |author=|date=1994-10-05|title=Wildfowlers take over river island to create bird haven|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12669531.wildfowlers-take-over-river-island-to-create-bird-haven/|work=The Herald|access-date=2024-01-28}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category-inline|Mugdrum Island}}

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Category:Nature reserves in Scotland Category:Islands of the Tay Category:Protected areas of Fife Category:Uninhabited islands of Fife