Swallow makes unexpected history in 300 year Old Kirk

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Written by Gus Jones
Category: Birds
Published: 20 July 2013

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An unexpected visitor put in an appearance at an evening talk in one of Nethybridge’s most well known buildings last Friday. The visitor an adventurous young swallow flew in through the open door during a public talk entitled 'Spiders in the web of life in the Cairngorms'. This illustrated talk by David Holloway of the Highland Spider Group was in the historic old kirk building on the outskirts of the village on the B970 near Castle Roy that is now looked after by the Old Kirk Association see http://www.oldkirknethybridge.org/

The old kirk has been the venue for a drop in exhibition on special wildlife of the Cairngorms organized by BSCG under the theme ‘Problems in Paradise’. Coinciding with the Year of Natural Scotland this has been celebrating some of the special and threatened wildlife of the Cairngorms. It showcases information on the top 26 list of species in the Cairngorms that the national park authority announced in May this year it has identified as in need of focussed conservation action in its 2013 – 2018 Cairngorms Nature Action Plan or CNAP. The CNAP successor to the 2002 Cairngorms Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) was launched by cabinet Secretary Richard Lochead in Aviemore in May over 10 years after the LBAP.

By overnighting in the rafters of the kirk it seems the young swallow made history. The visit for the youngster finally ended the following morning after the doors in the building were reopened when to mutual relief the swallow at last figured out a way to freedom by flying low enough to exit through a specially opened side door in the building. Our thanks are due to the Old kirk Association who kindly showed up to open up the building after the young swallow's unscheduled overnight stay.

The 'Problems in Paradise' exhibition continues until Tuesday in the Old Kirk when it will be open between midday and 5pm. The concluding talk, the 4th this month will be by Dr Tim Poole and is the first to concentrate entirely on a species in the top 26 list that includes 3 birds It is entitled 'The Capercaillie a flagship for Scotland’s pinewoods' and is scheduled for 8Pm on Monday 22nd July. Admission is free refreshment will also be available and all are welcome but hopefully no swallows will be reappearing inside the building.

Reintroductions of Animals (Vertebrates) in the News

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Written by Gus Jones
Category: Species
Published: 19 July 2013

A Report by CNPA Ecologist Dr David Hetherington (released by the CNPA on 7 July 2013) is making news. See:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-23348628

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-23343202

http://cairngorms.co.uk/resource/docs/publications/...

BSCG welcomes the release of this report yet remains highly concerned that the Park Authority is failing to properly look after the important species and habitats that are key features of the Cairngorms today. Regrettably, the Park Authority is still approving and allocating controversial developments that impact on Scotland's most endangered species such as wildcat, capercaillie and freshwater pearl mussel. Nearly half of the species in the 2013 Cairngorms Nature Action Plan Top 26 list of species in need of urgent conservation action, stand to be impacted on in this way. The Cairngorms National Park supports 25% of the UK's threatened animal and plant species as well as 25% of Scotland's native woodlands.

BSCG exhibition & 4 public talks

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Written by Tessa Jones
Category: Meetings
Published: 03 July 2013

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Download poster for Friday 19 July and Monday 22 July.

BSCG is holding an exhibition about the National Park's Nature Action Plan and the 'Top 26' species that are singled out for conservation action. This is at the Old Kirk at Nethybridge, by Castle Roy, and is from 12.00-5pm on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays from the 14 - 23 July. Teas and refreshments available.

Also, to coincide with this we are having 4 evening illustrated talks, also at the Old Kirk starting at 8pm.

These are: 

  • Wednesday 10 July Wonderful Wood ants of the Cairngorms by Hayley Wiswell
  • Wednesday 17 July Amazing Woodlandss of the Cairngorms and their Wildlife by Stewart Taylor
  • Friday 19 July Spiders in the Web of Life in the Cairngorms by Dave Holloway
  • Monday 22 July Capercaillie in the Cairngorms by Tim Poole, RSPB.

The exhibition and talks are all free and open to everyone. 

Statement on Judgement on Legal Challenge to the CNPA Local Plan

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Written by Gus Jones
Category: Debates
Published: 08 July 2013

Postponing meaningful environmental assessment to the end of the planning process is deeply unhelpful to protecting sensitive species and habitats. This practice flies in the face of responsible forward planning and the first aim of the national park.
We will continue to stand up against damaging and excessive development in the national park.
We thank everyone who has supported us to date.

Letter in P & J 5 July 2013: Housing in national park

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Written by Roy Turnbull
Category: Debates
Published: 18 July 2013

SIR, – Your report (July 4) on controversial housing in the Cairngorms National Park quoted park board member and former Rothiemurchus head ranger Willie McKenna claiming that there was a desperate need for more housing in the area.

Highland Council figures show that 3,524 houses were built in Badenoch and Strathspey from 1976 to 2010 – on average, 100 houses a year. There were 1,291 houses built in Aviemore, which Mr McKenna represents.

Moreover, Highland Council's old policy of 25% of open market houses being “affordable" is similar to the national park's.

This policy, while it has enriched large building companies and estates, has also caused unsympathetic cramming and expansion of settlements and considerable environmental damage in what is now a national park.

If, as Mr McKenna claims, this policy has not solved the “desperate need" for housing for local people, is it not time to change the policy?

Adopting residency criteria, whereby new-build housing is available only to those with national park connections, reduces environmental damage and provides local people with housing they can afford.

Other national parks have adopted residency criteria. Why not Cairngorms?

Roy Turnbull, Torniscar, Nethybridge.