Wake for the Wild gathers support

Support is gathering for a planned protest next week which will see a coffin carried into an area of wild land where a new wind farm is to be sited. The group of hillwalkers, organised by walker and blogger, Alan Sloman, carry the coffin from Errogie, in Inverness-shire, to Dunmaglass Lodge, and up onto the hills in protest at the increasing loss of wild land to wind power development.

Alan Sloman said, “This is a chance to enjoy, perhaps for the last time, a wonderful wild place and reflect and celebrate together the glory of the Scottish Wilderness which is now, sadly, destined to be gone forever”.

The John Muir Trust (JMT) and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland have objected to the Dunmaglass development, which will see 33 turbines up to 120 metres high built high in the Monadliath Mountains (between Beinn Bhuidhe and Carn Odhar). The JMT says the scheme will result in damage to a large area of relatively unspoiled upland peat land and significant disturbance to rare and protected species. The JMT says these include the golden eagle, with impact assessments suggesting that up to 11 golden eagles could be killed by the development.

Many outdoors commentators and bloggers have expressed concern recently about the number of proposed wind farm developments on wild land, including a 31-turbine development planned for Allt Duine, 5 miles from Aviemore and Kincraig and on the very edge of the Cairngorms National Park. The cumulative effect on these developments on wild land and the knock-on effect on the tourism industry which is largely dependent on the unspoilt scenery, appears to have mobilised support for next week’s protest.

The Wake for the Wild to everyone who cares about wild land and will start from Errogie at 10:30 on Tuesday 17 May. Further details of the protest an also maps of the proposed devlopments including Allt Duine can be found at Alan Sloman’s blog.