Easter Ross wild land threatened say JMT

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Helen Webster

As a Public Local Inquiry gets underway today (21 October) into an application for a giant wind farm in Glenmorie, Easter Ross, the John Muir Trust signalled its strong opposition to the development. The site extends into an area identified in recent mapping by Scottish Natural Heritage as a ‘core area of wild land’. Earlier this year Highland Council triggered the inquiry when councillors on the North Planning Application Committee voted unanimously to raise an official objection against the proposal. The John Muir Trust is backing the council’s stance, and will be attending the hearing this week in Ardross. Helen McDade,…

Posted in Nature, News

Mountain Aid Winter Safety Talks

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Helen Webster

Mountain Aid will be running a series of free Winter Safety Talks next month. The speaker will be Mick Tighe, a professional Mountain Guide in Lochaber and for many years the national Training Officer to Scottish Mountain Rescue Teams. 21 November 2013 – Hosted by the Cioch Mountaineering Club in the Pitbauchlie House Hotel, Dunfermline at 8pm 22 November 2013 – Cotswold Outdoor Stores in central Aberdeen at 7.30pm 25 November 2013 – Cotswold Outdoor Store in central Edinburgh at 7.30pm 27 November 2013 – Glasgow University in Western Infirmary Lecture Theatre at 7.30pm The talks are free, at Dunfermline just turn up on the night, at all…

Posted in News

Mountain Equipment Compressor Hooded Womens Jacket

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Helen Webster

New for this season, I was keen to try Mountain Equipment’s synthetic insulation as I’ve long been a fan of their down jackets. I also had a cooling experience with a badly-designed Primaloft jacket many years ago in its early days, so I wanted to see if this insulation could now cut the mustard. Mountain Equipment Compressor Hooded Womens Jacket Price £140 Weight 305g (Size 10) Packability, water resistance, lightweight, cost Short length, slight fill leakage at quilting stitching in areas of wear Insulation The insulation comes in the form of synthetic PrimaLoft One with 60g weight in the body…

Posted in Gear reviews, Jackets

Campaigners urge RWE to withdraw Allt Duine windfarm

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Helen Webster

Today, the Save Monadhliath Mountains (SMM) campaign has issued a strongly worded letter to RWE Npower Renewables Ltd demanding the power company withdraw their proposal to erect a 31 turbine wind farm on the very edge of the Cairngorms National Park (the Park and CNP) boundary at Allt Duine. The campaigners argue that the case against the application is so overwhelming that “the proposal will limp into the Minister’s in tray for a decision before being hastily dispatched to the wastebasket.” The SMM campaign believes that three important reasons have combined to make a ministerial decision in favour of the…

Posted in Nature, News

Real 3 Peaks Challenge conquers rubbish

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Helen Webster

Organisers of a mass clear up on the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales said they removed about 265kg of rubbish last weekend. Over 100 volunteers took part in the Real 3 Peaks Challenge on Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike in Cumbria, and on Snowdon. The litter pick on Ben Nevis resulted in three bags full of plastic bottles, one walking boot, a Swedish flag, and a polystyrene airplane as well as other general rubbish.

Posted in Nature, News

Police appeal for missing walker

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Helen Webster

UPDATE: Following this appeal, Dale Finnie has been located. The Highlands and Islands Division of Police Scotland have asked walkers for help locating a missing man thought to be walking in the Highlands. Police are concerned for the welfare of Dale Finnie who was reported missing yesterday (13 October) after he failed to make contact with family whilst on walking and climbing trip in the area. 26 year old Dale is described as 6 foot high, of slim build with short brown hair. He is driving a silver/blue Peugeot 206, registration number KE02 FRP. Dale was walking and climbing in…

Posted in News

Decline of Scottish seabirds continues

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Helen Webster

A new report by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) confirms results from previous years showing that Scotland's seabird numbers are continuing to decline, although there are two species that have fared better than others. The report uses data collected by volunteers and professionals from samples of breeding colonies around Scotland. It shows that, from 1986 to 2012, the number of seabirds breeding in Scotland has dropped by 46%. The latest statistics shows that of the 11 species for which abundance could be calculated, nine have shown sustained declines since 1986. The largest declines have been for Arctic skua (80%), a decrease…

Posted in Nature

Ancient pines tracked down in Glen Affric

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Helen Webster

Tree lovers have tracked down some of Scotland's oldest Scots pine trees at a highland beauty spot. Volunteers from the Woodland Trust Scotland and Trees for Life have recorded more 200 ancient and veteran Scots pine trees in Glen Affric. Andrew Fairbairn from the Woodland Trust Scotland said: “Ancient trees are the natural equivalent of listed buildings so it’s vital that they are recorded for their future protection. Thanks to the fantastic support received from players of People’s Postcode Lottery we are coming close to having 1,000 pine trees recorded on the Ancient tree Hunt in Scotland.” Volunteer Jim Christie…

Posted in Nature

Tree planting without fences aims to boost biodiversity

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Helen Webster

A different approach to tree-planting is being trialled by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). In areas with deer, it is normal for trees to be planted with fencing to protect rarer native saplings. But under a technique being trialled at Creag Meagaidh and Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserves, managed by SNH, trees will be planted without fences. Methods will be trialled to establish tree species which struggle to gain a foothold due to deer browsing. Some species have died out in areas due to the presence of deer, and are unlikely to naturally recolonise as a result of a lack of…

Posted in Nature

Dundee Mountain Film Festival line up announced

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Helen Webster

The lineup for Dundee Mountain Film Festival – the UK’s longest continuous running mountain film festival has just been announced. It showcases an international programme of speakers, all appearing at DMFF for the first time, and award winning films and exhibitions, held in the Dundee Rep Theatre’s Bonar Hall. This year’s speakers are: – Hamish MacInnes introducing the film “The Eiger Sanction” – An evening of Music and Images with Matilda Brown – Jim Crumley’s Nature of Mountains – Dolina Swanson and Christine Stewart’s epic paddle to St Kilda – Kenton Cool and his ultimate three peaks challenge! This year…

Posted in News