Yearly Archives: 2011

Inverness to Durness bus service resumes

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Helen Webster

The daily bus service to Durness from Inverness will start again on Monday 16 May. The service will operate with a 24-Seat Mercedes Midi Coach, and have facilities to carry 12 bikes on a fully enclosed trailer. Advance booking for bikes is essential. In the past the service has proved popular with walkers, cyclists and backpackers able to explore the remote far north. Donald Mathieson of D&E Coaches, said: “We are delighted to have secured the Highland Council Summer Service 804 from Inverness to Durness, and look forward to being of service to the communities en route to the north…

Posted in Access issues, News

Nature of Scotland Awards open

Posted on May 8, 2011 by Helen Webster

A new award, hosted by RSPB Scotland, is looking for nominations for people and projects making a real difference to Scottish nature conservation. The winners of the first annual Nature of Scotland Awards will be announced in March 2012, with nominations open until 26 August. There are six categories, each recognising a different area or type of contribution to the protection of Scotland’s natural heritage: the Marine Conservation award; the Sustainable Development award; the Politician of the Year award; the Innovation award; the Outstanding Contribution award and the RSPB Species Champion award. Anyone can enter the awards, as long as…

Posted in Nature

Wake for the Wild date announced

Posted on May 8, 2011 by Helen Webster

Walker and blogger Alan Sloman has announced the date for his “Wake for the Wild” protest about what he sees as the death of Scotland’s wild places. On Tuesday 17 May Alan and friends intend to carry a coffin into the Monadhliath hills as a symbol of what he says is the ongoing destruction of Scotland’s wild land by developments including wind farms. Further details of the Wake for the Wild can be found here on Alan’s blog.

Posted in Nature, News

National Park comments on Loch Lomond theme park

Posted on May 7, 2011 by Helen Webster

The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park has commented on recent reports in the BBC and national newspapers on the proposal to built a theme park on Loch Lomondside. The National Park is keen to stress that it has not yet given the green light to the scheme. The reports stated that Glasgow nightclub owner, Wayne Gardner-Young was hoping to build a £100 million attraction to include zip-wires, treehouses, cafe, restaurant and visitor accommodation. The location and timescale of the proposed plan has not yet been revealed but it is understood to be somewhere on the banks of Loch…

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Poisoned Golden Eagle found in Strathdon

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Helen Webster

Police are investigating the death of a of a young golden eagle which was found poisoned in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire. The bird, which was fitted with a satellite tag, was found on the Glenbuchat Estate in Strathdon. Subsequent tests on the body found the banned pesticide carbofuran. PC Dave MacKinnon, Grampian’s wildlife crime officer, told the BBC: “We are always very concerned when illegal pesticides are used in our countryside for the poisoning of birds of prey. “I am particularly disappointed that this incident has resulted in the death of a young golden eagle. Articles have been removed from the estate…

Posted in Nature

West Highland landowners unite to fight wild fires

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Helen Webster

As wild fires continue to smoulder across the open ground and woodlands of the western Highlands, a group of landowners in Coigach and Assynt have joined forces in a bid to prevent further damage to wildlife habitats and to try and bring the fire under complete control. The Assynt Foundation, Eisg Brachaid, John Muir Trust and the Scottish Wildlife Trust have all contributed to the costs of fighting the fire, which is estimated to have affected over 8,000 acres of land so far. With Inverpolly estate and Scottish Natural Heritage also contributing funds, this group of landowners has raised over…

Posted in Nature

Ramblers Scotland boss slams windfarm payments

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Helen Webster

Convener of Ramblers Scotland, Dennis Canavan, has called for the next Scottish Government to carry out a fundamental review of the role of windfarm development in future energy strategies. The call comes after it was revealed that windfarm operators in Scotland are being paid to switch off their turbines because the national grid cannot cope with the excess energy being produced. Six windfarm operators have received payments of £900,000 for stopping their turbines for several hours on 5 and 6 April, including £300,000 paid to the operators of the Whitelees windfarm in East Renfrewshire. Dennis Canavan said: “The windfarm gravy…

Posted in Nature, News

Heath fires hit the Highlands as hot spell continues

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Helen Webster

Moorland fires have broken out in the Highlands as the long dry spell of weather continues. The BBC reports on large blazes being fought by fire crews at Torridon – where properties were under threat – in Lochaber, the Trossachs, Kintail and by Dundonnell. The fires have been burning since Saturday, and hillwalkers have had to be lifted by helicopter from Liathach, where water has also been dropped from the air on the flames. There are road closures in the Trossachs where fires are burning on the north side of Loch Katrine, and the main road through Kintail was closed…

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Glen Nevis Spring Litter Blitz

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Helen Webster

Following two harsh winters and more recent torrential rain in the local area, charity The Friends of Nevis say there’s much to be done to look after Ben and Glen Nevis. Although it falls to other organisations and contractors to carry out the ongoing major works that are urgently needed, the Friends of Nevis, continues to make a huge contribution. The main season of activity kicks off on Sunday 8 May 2011 with the popular Annual Glen Nevis Spring Litter Blitz. Every year, volunteers young and old take part in a sweep up and down the Glen to get the…

Posted in Access issues, Nature

Scottish motorists warned of deer on roads in May

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Helen Webster

Car accidents involving deer soar at this time of year as young roe deer search for their own territories, warns Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Deer-vehicle collisions often peak in late April to mid-May, as juvenile deer are out on their own for the first time. Because of this, SNH, in conjunction with Transport Scotland, are placing warning messages on variable messaging signs on high-risk trunk roads across Scotland from Sunday, May 1 to Sunday, May 15. The signs are targeted on roads with higher rates of deer-vehicle collisions, such as the M90, A9, A90, M8, M77, A80, M80, A1 and…

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