{"id":15513,"date":"2016-10-06T07:11:11","date_gmt":"2016-10-06T07:11:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/?p=15513"},"modified":"2016-10-06T07:12:47","modified_gmt":"2016-10-06T07:12:47","slug":"2-85m-heritage-lottery-boost-helps-communities-get-closer-to-nature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/2-85m-heritage-lottery-boost-helps-communities-get-closer-to-nature\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a32.85m Heritage Lottery boost helps communities get closer to nature"},"content":{"rendered":"

Communities in the Cairngorms<\/a> and Skye<\/a> are celebrating major National Lottery investment which will see large areas of landscape along with many historic and natural attractions rejuvenated, celebrated and protected.<\/p>\n

Thanks to a major grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Tomintoul and Glenlivet Landscape Partnership will use the rich natural heritage of the region to encourage more visitors and so help sustain fragile local communities including Tomintoul, the \u2018Highest Village in the Highlands\u2019. On Skye, Scotland\u2019s first ever Ecomuseum, which is a pioneering community-led initiative, will be extended and improved thanks to funding awarded today.<\/p>\n

\"River<\/a>

River Avon just above Tomintoul<\/p><\/div>\n

Cabinet Secretary for the Environment Roseanna Cunningham said:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great to see this investment in and support for Scotland\u2019s landscapes. Our landscapes are iconic and will provide a magnificent backdrop for these projects that will encourage people to explore Scotland\u2019s spectacular outdoors, protect our biodiversity, benefit rural communities and encourage visitors from home and abroad.\u201d<\/p>\n

This summer the Heritage Lottery Fund celebrated a total investment of \u00a3100milliion in projects which conserve Scotland\u2019s landscape and biodiversity, from the Flows of Caithness to the valleys of the Tweed.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the awards, Lucy Casot, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe National Lottery is ensuring that Scotland\u2019s spectacular landscape remains one of our greatest national assets, attracting visitors and making a vital contribution to Scotland\u2019s tourist economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever it\u2019s not just visitors that benefit. With a bit of clever thinking, we can protect our natural heritage in a way that helps support people and communities. The innovative projects HLF has supported today will give everyone the opportunity to experience the health, learning and social benefits of the great outdoors. I am sure they will also ignite a passion for our natural world and its long-term conservation.\u201d<\/p>\n

GLENLIVET AND TOMINTOUL LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP<\/strong>
\nCairngorms National Park Authority
\nHLF Grant Award: \u00a33.34million<\/p>\n

The secluded hills of Glenlivet and Tomintoul<\/a> were, in the 1800\u2019s, the perfect hiding place for as many as 200 illicit whisky stills. Today, they are home to some of the most famous distilleries in the world. The Glenlivet and Tomintoul Landscape Partnership will celebrate the colourful history of this distinct landscape helping its biodiversity and communities to flourish. Twenty projects are planned over a four-year period with the youngest to the oldest members of the communities getting the chance to become involved in learning new skills uncovering hidden history and celebrating their heritage through music and events.<\/p>\n

Plans include:
\n– Tomintoul Museum will become a Discovery Centre and tourist hub
\n– Blairfindy Castle and Scalan, an 18thC seminary, will be conserved and made safe for visitors
\n– woodlands will be restored along sections of the River Avon
\n– wetland habitats for wading birds will be created
\n– there will be improvements to paths in the area
\n– a regional oral history project will collect stories that bring the landscape to life<\/p>\n

Eleanor Mackintosh, CNPA Board Member and local resident said: \u201cThis is a massive boost, not just for Tomintoul and Glenlivet but for the wider National Park. Heritage Lottery funding will result in investment in new and improved facilities and infrastructure, new job opportunities and other community driven projects \u2013 there are exciting times ahead. I would like to thank and congratulate all those involved in helping to secure this funding.\u201d<\/p>\n

SKYE ECOMUSEUM<\/strong>
\nStaffin Community Trust
\nHLF Grant Award: \u00a3522,100<\/p>\n

The north-east corner of Skye is leading the way in museum innovation being the first Ecomuseum in Scotland \u2013 a museum with no walls or roof. The spectacular coastal cliffs, grassy platforms and lochans of Staffin<\/a> provide the setting for the exhibits which are themselves features of the landscape across 13 locations. The Ecomuseum, known by its Gaelic name \u2018Ceumannan\u2019 which means footsteps, is this remote community\u2019s answer to preserving its fragile natural environment while managing and interpreting it for an ever-increasing number of visitors. <\/p>\n

Plans include:
\n– the creation of a new network of paths adding 5.84km to the trail
\n– a viewing platform will be installed at Lealt Gorge waterfall
\n– Visitor welcome gateways with information panels will be built at three key points
\n– Guided walks, health walks, photography courses, wildlife and archaeology workshops will be developed
\n -Maps, leaflets, website and schools information pack will be produced<\/p>\n

Staffin Community Trust chairman Donald MacDonald said:
\n\u201cThe board of Staffin Trust is delighted to have received this award on behalf of our community. This will allow for further development of what is already a very successful project and allow us to create an identify for our region that is specific to us. As a committee we aspire to our theme of climb the Cuillin, walk Trotternish and for the whole of Skye this is a significant investment in our tourism and educational infrastructure. The fact that this funding will also create a new three-year post is also important in a remote fragile area and will help to give people confidence, pride and a sense of place.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Communities in the Cairngorms and Skye are celebrating major National Lottery investment which will see large areas of landscape along with many historic and natural attractions rejuvenated, celebrated and protected. Thanks to a major grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Tomintoul and Glenlivet Landscape Partnership will use the rich natural heritage of the region to encourage more visitors and so help sustain fragile local communities including Tomintoul, the \u2018Highest Village in the Highlands\u2019. On Skye, Scotland\u2019s first ever Ecomuseum, which is a pioneering community-led initiative, will be extended and improved thanks to funding awarded today. Cabinet Secretary for the…<\/span> <\/p>\n

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