"Never on a Sunday" to Change
A large majority of people on the strongly Presbyterian islands of Lewis and Harris now want ferries and planes services on Sundays, according to a poll. Yet islanders still seem to regard Sunday as a special day of rest with an equally large majority against local shops in Stornoway opening on the Sabbath. Ferry company Caledonian Macbrayne said recently it would put on Sunday services now if asked by the islands' transportation committee. Although there are likely to be calls for a further referendum before any change is made, all previous polls carried out up to 10 years ago had always shown a strong majority against Sunday travel to and from the two islands. Councillor Donald John Macsween, who has been a minority voice on the islands council campaign for Sunday ferries said: "I'm delighted with the poll result. "It marks a sea change in opinion about transport links with the mainland. "It was a very high poll and is bound to be an accurate reflection of opinion."
Wildcat on the Prowl.
One of Britain's rarest and most elusive creatures has been captured on film at the RSPB's Abernethy Nature Reserve. Six Trail Master cameras triggered by infra red beams have caught good pictures of a wildcat at night near Nethy Bridge in Strathspey. It is part of a wider study to discover more about the numbers and range of wildcats in their northern and central Scotland homelands. Ron Summers, research biologist for RSPB Scotland, said: "Wildcats are wonderful creatures. It is reported that they became extinct at Abernethy at the end of the 19th century and probably returned to the area in the mid 20th century. Because they are rare, very wary of man and nocturnal, they can be difficult to see, far less photograph. "So we have used technology to give us a helping hand." It is estimated there are only between 3,000 and 4,000 wildcats in Scotland. They were persecuted to the brink of extinction in the late 19th century, but populations have since recovered with the decline in numbers of gamekeepers.
Black Watch Tribute to Queen Mother
Members of the 1st Battalion The Black Watch, based at Fort George, Inverness-shire, will help play a key role in this year's celebrations to mark the 100th birthday of their regimental colonel-in-chief, the Queen Mother. The Scottish infantry regiment is taking part in birthday tributes, both north and south of the border later this year. And it is hoped that either an official or private visit to the regiment might be pencilled in the Queen Mother's diary before the 1st Battalion is posted to Germany in August. The showpiece celebration, north of the border, will be a royal tribute on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade on July 27, when 17 different pipes and drums will be massed in a spectacular musical tribute to the Queen Mother who celebrates her birthday on August 4. The Queen Mother's association with the Black Watch stretches back to 1937. Lt Col Bradford of the regiment said: "For 63 years she has visited us regularly on departure for war and operational tasks, on return home and during more peaceful times."
|
Bid to Save 'Bonsai' Forests
A project in the Highlands got underway recently to restore one of Britain's rarest woodlands which was nearly wiped out by farming and forestry. There is currently less than 1,000 hectares left nationwide of undamaged bog woodland which resemble "bonsai" forests. The Wet Wood LIFE project aims to increase the habitat by 40% and has just completed a major piece of restoration at the RSPB 's Abernethy Nature Reserve in Strathspey. Bog woodlands, which are home of the rare capercaillie, osprey and dragonfly are also being repaired at Tore on the Black Isle, Pitmaduthy near Tain and Inshriach in Strathspey. "This is one of the most undervalued habitats that we have in the UK," said Neil Wilkie, the Wet Woods LIFE project manager. "It is extraordinarily beautiful and it has a most magic appeal. "There are trees growing on these bogs which are at least 200 years old but they have reached only a few feet in height. "Yet nearby in drier areas, there are huge pine trees of a similar age but appearing almost a different species." The project is restoring bog woodland sites which were decimated in the 1960s and 1970s when they were drained and ploughed largely for agriculture and commercial forestry.
New Role for Old School
The old Roman Catholic school in Beauly is to be turned into a centre to promote the culture and heritage of the area. The school, which is next to the 13th century Priory, has been bought by the Beauly Firth and Glens Trust, and is scheduled to be open for Easter. The Trust, which was formed in 1996, has shared space with Historic Scotland in a portable cabin in the school ground for the past two years. Historic Scotland manages the Priory, which is one of Beauly's main tourist attractions, and will be renting space from the Trust for a ticket office in the refurbished school. Trust chairwoman, Julie MacDonald said: Beauly is a lovely town and has lots of places of interest round about but does not have a focal point for visitors arriving." The centre, which will encompass an area from Beauly to Glen Affric, will provide information for visitors and locals on attractions, accommodation, walks and tours, shops and other facilities. And a planned clan association centre will feature Frasers and Chisholms, both local to the area.
Open Debate
People in the Highlands were invited recently to have there say on a new forestry strategy. They got a chance to grill Government officials at a public meeting in Dingwall about the new draft Forestry Strategy for Scotland which Forestry Minister John Home Robertson unveiled at the Scottish Parliament's Rural Affairs Committee. The draft strategy set out a vision of what forestry in Scotland should try to achieve and examines how the country's woodlands and forests should be managed during the 21st century and beyond to achieve those objectives. The draft was sent to everyone who took part in the year long public consultation process that led to the draft strategy and they and anyone else with an interest was invited to take part in the regional meetings.
|
