Community Woodland
An ambitious plan to site community woodland on a prominent six hectare site overlooking Inverness could move closer to reality soon. Alastair Cunningham, who owns land at Leachkin Brae, on a site above Craig Dunain hospital, is behind the scheme. The plan is to create two community based schemes, one a community led woodland on the edge of Inverness which would offer people a walking route with stunning views, and a second aiming to teach local people with learning difficulties how to grow and manage crops such as raspberries and strawberries. A temporary working group has been set up to promote the project. Mr Cunningham grows raspberries and strawberries organically on his smallholding at the top of Leachkin Brae and also supplies trees which he sells to the Forestry Commission and commercial companies. He said: "I have experience of working with special needs people. We have agreed in principle that this is something which the land can be used for and we will shortly submit a formal offer for it.
Games Tribute
A Dingwall lollipop man who for many years has undertaken voluntary work on behalf of his home town was chosen recently to receive one of the highest honours the community can bestow. Retired Hydro Electric linesman Joe Yates was this year's chieftain at the annual Dingwall Highland Gathering. Mr Yates, who has been chairman of Dingwall Fire Brigade Club for over 20 years, also helps to run Dingwall Gala Week and is involved in a variety of local good causes. Games publicity officer John Hanson said: "Joe was a worthy choice for the millennium year. He's known locally as Mr Dingwall because he has worked so hard so many years on behalf of the town." Dingwall Highland Gathering, first held in 1947, features the full range of traditional events, from tossing the caber, tug of war, shot putting and races, to dancing and piping.
Glowing Praise
Cows on Skye may glow in the dark in future, thanks to 16 young bright sparks at one of the island's primary schools. To stop motorists at night crashing into dark coloured cattle straying on to Skye's unfenced roads, pupils of Elgol school came up with the idea of cows having luminous tags pinned to their ears. And the brainwave won the little school at the foot of the Cuillin mountains glowing praise from the judges in a competition set by Glasgow Science Centre to find Scotland's best young inventors. The youngsters travelled to Edinburgh recently to receive a £250 cheque plus a certificate. Head teacher Pat Anderson said: "Hopefully the ear tags idea will be taken up by crofters and farms as a road safety measure." The kids from the Misty Isle have also been presented with a Golden Bin award for transforming refuse into garden ornaments and received a £1000 Scottish Wildlife Trust award for their school garden.
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Lochabers Past
Survey work on a road for the future has uncovered a piece of Lochaber's past. What is thought to be the remains of a settlement have been unearthed at Achraig between Kinloid and Back of Keppoch. Surveyors have found traces of rectangular buildings with enclosures, and the remains of field banks, clearance cairns and tracks. They are thought to date between Medieval and Jacobite periods. They have also uncovered a stone cairn between Arisaig and Kinsadel. The finds have let to roads officials calling in experts from Historic Scotland. The work is being carried out in preparation for construction of the Loch nan Uamh - Arisaig bypass on the A830 Road to the Isles.
Standing Stone
The Highlands and Islands have many historic standing stones but now there's a new one at Duirinish in the north of Skye. Dunvegan Community Council decided to mark the Millennium by erecting the Duirinish Stone in the same way the Celts would have done thousands of years before. The 16ft sandstone/shale stone was discovered near Elgol on Skye and taken by boat, car and muscle to the top of a hill above Dunvegan. Weighing between four and ten tons, getting the stone into place involved some real effort but like many of the historic standing stones it could be in place for thousands of years. With views of the Cuillins and nearby Dunvegan Castle, the area attracts 200,000 visitors a year and the stone will be another attraction. The stone raising was part of a weekend of activities including a dance, ceilidh and children's competitions.
Loch Ness Double
Body doubles are commonly hired to stand in for top stars when shooting some film scenes. But now a lake near Los Angeles is set to star as Loch Ness in a new film about the world famous waterway's monster. Production of The Loch began recently starring Irish actor Patrick Bergin. The Loch is being directed by Chuck Comisky of the Addams Family fame. Although some shots will be taken around Loch Ness, most of the filming will be done in California, producer Fred Kuchnert confirmed. He said: "Whilst the movie is purely fictional, the writers have attempted to be as correct as possible to both the science and folklore of the loch." The Loch is one of three Nessie films in the pipeline at present. London based Ecosse Films are working on The Waterhorse. The Nicholas Cage movie Tom Sick will also shoot at Loch Ness next year.
 Nessie says: "And here's me wi' ma bags packed ready to get off tae California and now they dinnae need me. Shame."
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