News Archive

Honey, honey

Over three quarters of Scottish beekeepers lost at least one colony last winter, according to the first Scottish bee health survey which is published today.   The survey, commissioned by the Scottish Government, was designed to assess the health status of honey bees in Scotland and gain a better understanding of how factors such as husbandry and disease affect them.  

Coronation Meadows

“The sixtieth anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation; what better excuse for a concerted effort to begin the creation of at least one meadow in each county?” His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales “When my father was young he could walk the entire way from Stratford-upon-Avon to Birmingham, a 23-mile journey, through orchid-rich meadows and grasslands.’ Peter Bullard, Coronation Meadows Partnership “97% of our wild flower rich meadows have been destroyed since the last war.  If this scale of devastation had happened to our woodland, we’d be declaring a national catastrophe.  

£150,000 Windfall for Community Groups

Following the successful launch last week at Thrumster Hall, Foundation Scotland is encouraging groups and local charities to apply to the newly launched E.ON Camster Community Fund.   Foundation Scotland has been appointed by the wind farm operator, E.ON, to administer the Community Fund.  

The African Kitchen tour comes to Thurso

A special FREE cookery demonstration using Fair Trade goods will be held in Thurso next week as a part of a national tour organised through The Co-operative Membership and Just Trading Scotland.   “Savour the Flavour – The African Kitchen Tour” (StF) is coming to the town’s North Highland College on Wednesday 12th June 7-9pm, and is open to existing co-operative members and anyone who registers their intention to attend on The Co-operative membership website or phones to book prior to the event (see details below).  

People in the Highlands encouraged to be green on the move

New recycling bins, funded by Zero Waste Scotland, are now available for residents and visitors to the Highlands to use when they are away from the home.   The bins, which have been recently installed in Dingwall, Inverness, Fort William, Portree, Wick and Thurso town centres, are making it easier to recycle on the go, turning the problem of litter into a usable resource for Scotland.  

The Great Yellow Bumblebee (Bombus distinguendus) in Caithness in 2010 (by Bob Dawson)

This article was first published in the Caithness Field club Bulletin 2011 (Bob Dawson is the Scottish Conservation Officer for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust – Ed) Summary This was a very successful year, although the season was about two weeks later than last year.   Many more people reported seeing, and are now more familiar with, the Great Yellow Bumblebee.  

Bird Report for 2010 (by Donald Omand)

This article was first published in the Caithness Field Club bulletin 2011 The Little Bunting that was seen at the end of 2009 stayed at Ham throughout the winter, eventually leaving in early April after 110 days, which may well be a record for Britain.  Another unusual winter visitor for Caithness was Great-Crested Grebe, with birds seen in January on Loch Watten (2), and a single bird in Thurso.  

Filling the energy gap - Ormlie Community Association

Fill the Gap Ormlie Community Association Ltd sought to tackle fuel poverty through its Caithness Energy Advice offshoot.  Following a successful pilot and the purchase of a thermal imaging camera, in 2008 the Association launched ‘Fill the Gap’ with support from LEADER.  

The Dunbeath Fishings Project

‘The largest crowd at the harbour since the heyday of the fishings’.   Around 1850 Dunbeath was one of Caithness’s top three fishing villages until lack of a proper harbour resulted in the ‘chase for herring’ moving elsewhere.  

Warning On Rural Volunteering Numbers

Caution needed over demands on rural volunteers, warns Scotland’s Rural College Study SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) News Release Number: 13R81 Date: 02.06.13 www.sruc.ac.uk/news Policymakers expecting volunteers to play a bigger role in delivering local services may need to re-think their strategy for rural areas, according to research led by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).   In a study published during Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June), SRUC’s Rural Society Research Team and Stirling University found Scotland’s rural volunteers often undertake roles to fill gaps in service provision such as providing transport, acting a ‘first responders’ in medical emergencies and doing odd jobs.