TREES FOR LIFE
News release For immediate release: Tuesday 11th January 2011

Welcoming 2011 as the United Nations’ International Year of Forests, conservation charity Trees for Life today announced a series of new initiatives in its award-winning work to restore Scotland’s Caledonian Forest, and called on people to take advantage of the year to reconnect with Britain’s forests and woodlands.

Alan Watson Featherstone, Executive Director of Trees for Life, said:
“Forests are very special and important places, for people as well as wildlife. They are often refuges for endangered animals and plants, they help to tackle climate change by soaking up carbon dioxide, and they are inspiring places to visit.

“2011 is an ideal opportunity for people to enjoy visiting forests and woodlands whether for simple walks, wildlife spotting, or just enjoying the peace and quiet. With 2011 also being the European Year of Volunteering, it’s a great time to take practical action through on-the-ground projects such as our Conservation Holiday programme.”

To help people enjoy visits to the Caledonian Forest, in May Trees for Life will open new visitor facilities at its Dundreggan Estate in Glen Moriston near Loch Ness, Inverness-shire. The recent discovery of many rare, endangered and presumed extinct species at Dundreggan has established its reputation as a ‘lost world’ for the Highlands.

Trees for Life hopes that its work in 2011 to expand native woodland on the estate will help to attract red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) to Dundreggan. The species has not been recorded on the estate, but is present elsewhere in Glen Moriston, in Forestry Commission Scotland’s Inverwick Forest across the River Moriston, and to the east at Bhlaraidh.

Other plans for Dundreggan include experimental work to establish a population of twinflower (Linnea borealis), a rare flowering plant associated with the Caledonian Forest and a priority for conservation.

Trees for Life has also made a commitment to planting 100,000 trees during 2011, as part of an ongoing pledge to the United Nations Environment Programme’s Billion Tree Campaign. Major milestones this year will include the 20th anniversary of Trees for Life’s first tree planting in April 1991, and also the planting of the charity’s one-millionth tree.

“If every person in Britain were to plant just one tree in 2011, we’d have the equivalent of a large new forest of 60 million trees by year end – that’s the difference we can make in the International Year of Forests. A rewarding way to take part is to come and volunteer with Trees for Life, and plant hundreds of trees yourself,” said Alan Watson Featherstone.

More volunteers will be able to support this work than in any previous year through a programme of 47 Conservation Holiday Weeks, which allow people from all backgrounds and ages to help restore Scotland’s natural heritage at various outstanding locations in the Highlands, alongside a new programme of local volunteer day trips called ‘Green Days Out’.

Today the UK is one of Europe’s least wooded countries, with only four per cent of native woodland cover. In the Highlands, the Caledonian Forest covers just one per cent of its former maximum area.

Through Trees for Life, people can mark the International Year of Forests and their own special occasions by funding dedicated trees and groves. See www.treesforlife.org.uk or call 0845 458 3505. For information on the International Year of Forests see www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011.

/ Ends

Notes to editors
1.    Trees for Life aims to restore the Caledonian Forest to an area of
1,500 square kilometres in the Scottish Highlands west of Inverness.
2.    Since planting its first trees in 1991 in Glen Affric, Trees for Life
has planted over 924,000 trees. Its awards include 1991 UK Conservation Project of the Year, the Millennium Marque in 2000 and Top 10 Conservation Holidays worldwide in 2009.
3.    Trees for Life’s £1.65 million purchase of Dundreggan in 2008 saw the
site become one of the largest areas of land in the UK bought for forest restoration. Subsequent surveys have revealed that the estate is home to over 50 species that are priorities for conservation in the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan, thereby underlining its importance for conservation.

By Neil MacPhail
Press & Journal: Published: 08/01/2011

Visitors have mounted a major invasion of a castle on Loch Ness-side over the Christmas and New Year period.

Urquhart Castle, near Drumnadrochit, saw a 49% increase in visitor numbers between December 24 and January 4, compared with the same period last year.

During the past festive season 2,940 walked across the drawbridge, against the 1,970 who visited during the same period the year before.

Numbers were highest on January 2, as visitors took the opportunity to take in the site after the New Year celebrations.

The figures round off an impressive 12 months for the heritage sector with Historic Scotland, which runs the castle and another 77 attractions across Scotland, recently announcing its best April to September on record.

Minister for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop said: “The Christmas and New Year period is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy Scotland’s stunning heritage.

“Scotland continues to be a ‘must see’ destination at this time of year, so it is fantastic to see this reflected in visitor numbers at Urquhart Castle.

“These figures are testament to the appeal of our heritage attractions, and the hard work of staff to provide a world-class experience.

“It is fantastic to end the year in such a positive position and rounds off an exceptional 12 months for the sector.”

The castle, which played a key role in the Wars of Independence, has an enduring popularity with visitors and ranks among Historic Scotland’s top 10 sites on an annual basis.

Stephen Duncan, head of commercial and visitor operations for Historic Scotland, said: “We are delighted the castle has enjoyed such a successful Christmas and New Year in terms of visitor numbers.

“Despite the extreme weather throughout much of last month, the site has performed extremely well over the festive season.

“We held a number of events at the castle as part of the Loch Ness Hogmanay Festival, which proved popular with locals and visitors alike.”

Read more: http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2081504?UserKey=#ixzz1AcY4LO9Z

The Herald – Scotland
22 Nov 2010

On milder, drier winter days there are still tasks which can be done in the garden.

Greenhouse and conservatory glass should be cleaned to maximise the amount of sunlight getting through while the sun is low and weak during the darker months of the year. You can use any eco-friendly cleaner on the outside, but if you have plants growing inside it may be safer to use a specialist greenhouse glass cleaner. While you’re in there, clear up any dead or diseased leaves, debris and soil. Remove moss too, which has a habit of establishing itself around the panes of glass as it encourages spider mites and other pests to set up home. Save this year’s compost and use it again for a crop of winter salads. Give benches and floors a good sweep and leave everything neat and tidy. On sunny days, leave the greenhouse door open for an hour or two to let the fresh air in, which helps to prevent fungal diseases taking hold.

If you have a veg patch or allotment, you can, if you like, tidy up the remains of this summer’s crop, or you can leave it over winter, where it may provide some shelter for wildlife. Plant debris can be added to the compost heap – it may not rot fast over winter, but it will rot, especially if you cover it up now with an insulating layer of old carpet, or layers of newspaper and a bit of board to stop it blowing away. It is also likely to provide a space where hedgehogs and slowworms may make a home. Collect garden canes and store them in a dry place such as a shed or garage. Collect up garden fleece and netting, fold as neatly as you can and keep it for another year.

Leaves are still blowing down, so if you are making leafmould, run the lawn mower over them first, as smaller bits will rot down faster. Gather them up into black plastic sacks, punch a few holes in for aeration, and leave in a quiet corner of the garden for a year or two until the contents have magically turned into lovely crumbly dark leafmould, an excellent soil conditioner.

Now is the traditional time to plant broad beans and hardy peas, but if your garden tends to be cold or is very exposed, you might be better planting them in the greenhouse border if you have one, or in big pots if you don’t. Wherever you plant them, protect them from being eaten by mice by surrounding them with some scrunched up wire mesh or unwound old wire pot scourers.

Plant garlic now, too, as it actually needs a period of cold for the best flavour.

It’s also a good time to plant raspberry canes which are available now as bare-root plants. Put sturdy posts in at five-metre intervals, and string support wires between them. Plant the canes about 60cm apart and tie the shoots to the wires as they sprout and grow next spring, training them diagonally to get the most fruit. If you are replacing old varieties, remove the exhausted soil and add new topsoil as the old plants will have used up all the nutrients and may also have left traces of pests or disease. Apple, pear and cherry trees can be protected from rabbits and deer with a spiral plastic tree guard, and from winter moths with a greaseband about 45cm from the ground. It doesn’t take long, but saves a lot of heartache later.

TO INSPIRE:

A plantsman’s paradise, Abriachan is blessed with outstanding views over Loch Ness. The four acres of exciting planting, nine miles from Inverness, are intersected by gently winding paths which lead you up and down the hillside through woodland areas. The plant nursery is well stocked with plants for Highland conditions, dispensed with knowledgeable advice.

A mail order service is available – ask for a catalogue. Admission is a suggested £2 donation to Scotland’s Gardens Scheme.

Abriachan Garden Nursery, Loch Ness-side, Inverness, IV3 6LA. Open 9am-5pm daily, until November 30.

My final blog in the series,  (Sad smiley face here )

I am writing this from Tasmania on the northern coast at a bonnie little place called Kayena  - fabulous wildlife and view over the  Tamar river.  We have seen some fantastic  sights here in Tassie and today spent 3 hours in the treetops hurtling along zip wires at the Holly Bank Treetop Adventures. Also, we’ve made good use of the free barbecues they have at every picnic site, and there are lots of those. You just push a button and the Barbie sparks up – you throw your grub on the stainless steel  grill and, in no time at all, you have a great feast ready.

I have some great ideas for when I get home to Loch Ness.  We could do lots of things to improve visitor facilities in our popular beauty spots.  They also have a scheme here called “work for dole”  - can you guess what that is?  Anyway, these guys are out doing litter pick-ups, even on  quiet side roads,  they tend public places repairing footpaths, painting  fences,  building boardwalks and so on.  

It is odd to think that here we are seeing spring in all its glory, apple blossom, bluebells in flower, days getting longer and warmer, while at home in Scotland, I imagine by now, a riot of reds and golds of autumn as day length gets shorter and days get colder. Both are beautiful in their own way. We find comfort in the thought of a white Christmas, plum puddings and turkey,  just as Aussies look forward to Christmas dinner on the beach!!  We, being Brits, wouldn’t miss our white Christmas for anything and plan to get home to Loch Ness before the festivities begin.

91  Run over the Fair Haired Lads Pass on south Loch Ness

92  See the work of local artists at Beauly Gallery & Kirk Coffee Shop

93  Go clay pigeon shooting with Loch Ness Gun Club

94  Have a picnic on the banks of the River Fechlin at Dalcrag

95  View Urquhart Castle from across the water at the Change House lay by

96  Visit the Iceberg glassblowing studio at Fort Augustus

97   Take the kids ‘weaseling’

98  Check out the Craigmonie Centre, Drumnadrochit for music and much much more

99  Simply chill out and relax… you are on holiday at Loch Ness!!

100  your suggestions please.  E mail info@visitlochness.com

What strikes me, is the number of well made and signposted wild trails there are here, all with well fenced viewpoints and interpretation boards at every viewpoint ! We did an excellent cliff top walk on the Tasman peninsular and saw families with children and grannies enjoying the beautiful scenery. We were able to take the car close to the viewpoints and the trails were good enough for wheelchair users. These trails stretch for miles not just metres ! We walked 10 miles and saw truly wild kangaroos and sea eagles close up in what seems like pristine forest. We even found a half mile cliff top boardwalk designed with wheelchair users in mind, excellent to watch Gannets diving into the sea hundreds oof feet below.

There are those in Scotland who say we should keep all the trails wild and unchanged but that’s OK if you are fit and able to wade knee deep through bog and heather but for all those people who either can’t do that or don’t want to do that, this is not an option. The Forestry Commission, plus others, need to do much more to make some of the wild places in certain popular spots, more accessible to the majority of people who don’t want to have to dress up in heavy boots and take survival blankets in order to get close to nature.

In New Zealand also, they put eco loos in almost all country car parks – something I have yet to see anywhere in Scotland. Somehow, it always seems to come down to money, or lack of it. How then do all these other countries manage to do so well in providing toilets, interpretation boards and well made dry paths for walking in their wild places?
Scotland has some of the finest wilderness and a great network of roads to give access to even the remotest parts. Wouldn’t it be just great to see many more places where you can  get out of the car and walk as a family – granny, wheelchair and all. Destination Loch Ness has started to address this by creating long distance paths around Loch Ness for the enjoyment of everyone.

One personal wish I have, is for a walk at the top of the Cairngorms funicular railway where it seems ludicrous to corral people in the visitor centre at the top, denying all access to the glorious plateau. If a well constructed short walk was made that allowed people to get out in the fresh air without damage to the fragile habitat, it would then be a thing of the past to hear all the complaints from travellers on the way down, who feel they have been cheated.

81 to 90 series featuring 10 ideas a week from Visit Loch Ness

81. Find the ‘totem’ poles at Abriachan Woods
82. Visit the historic Beauly Priory
83. Take a walk in the ancient oak woodlands at Bona
84. Find the ‘secret loch’ at Inverfarigaig
85.  Buy your favourite whisky at the Whisky Shop, Drumnadrochit
86. Cruise on Loch Ness from Fort Augustus
87. Walk to the Upper Falls at Foyers
88. Step back in time at the Kettle Hole Lochans, Littlemill Wood, Inverarnie
89. Photograph the water lilies on Loch Bran
90.  Drive up Glen Affric ‘ the most beautiful glen in Scotland’ as far as the road goes

100-Climb the path to Battery Rock and enjoy the view overlooking Ft.
Augustus and Lochness
101- Walk the forest path from Ft. Augustus to Invermoriston, starting at Jenkins Park.
102- Bike the forest trail from The Inch in Ft. Augustus to Invermoriston
103- Enjoy the “Malt whiskey of the month” at the Inchnacardoch Hotel bar

Thanks Joe!

If YOU have a favorite thing to do in the Loch Ness area, just email info@visitlochness.com with your suggestions!

Posting today from the Mercure Grosvenor Hotel, Adelaide – we booked a double room with a king sized bed but got a queen sized bed and a room which has just one small hanging space and 1 bedside table! I have never given this much thought until now, when we relax with a cuppa in bed, as you do when on hols (grin) -  nowhere for one of us to put their cuppa down, grr ! – have you ever tried getting into bed with a cup of tea in your hand?? Then the lack of hanging space and NO drawers in the room at all, means that for 4 days we have to live out of our suitcase. This is most definitely not how to run a hotel of this price -  even the Travel lodge at Heathrow was better equipped and a fraction of the price. It makes me appreciate the reason why Visitlochness.com members all have to be committed to the Visit Scotland Quality Assurance scheme, which I am sure wouldn’t give a very good grade to this hotel at all.

From my own experience of self catering, we wouldn’t dream of having a double bed with just one bedside table and lamp. I know we would be downgraded if we even tried to do it. So I say thank goodness we have a scheme in Scotland to ensure good standards of accommodation that I know all our members do their best to continually improve, so that our visitors know what to expect from their accommodation, whatever grade they choose.

Next ten great ideas for things to do at Loch Ness.     

71. Photograph Cherry Island, the only island in Loch Ness
72. Find out about wildlife and plants on a Highland Council guided Ranger walk
73. Visit the ancient remains of Corrimony Cairn
74. Enjoy a pint at the Whitebridge Hotel
75. View Loch Ness from the Wellington lay by
76. Wild walk in the Monadhliath Mountains
77. Visit Kilmorack Art Gallery
78. Get your picture taken with Nessie at Fort Augustus
79. Walk down by the River Moriston to St Columba’s Well
80.  Visit the Clansman Centre, Fort Augustus

Check back next Friday for our next 10 Loch Ness ideas form Tasmania.

I wonder if, just as I have found this place to be so wonderfully vibrant and refreshingly different, do American visitors to Loch Ness find us at Loch Ness refreshingly different ?  I hope so. We have so much in common with our American friends, both historically and culturally, and I, for one, am very happy that we have this special relationship with the people of the USA.

I look forward now to the next leg of our journey to Australia from where I will be posting next week’s blog. We leave San Francisco having found no monsters, just a big friendly giant!! 

100 things to do at Loch Ness 61 to 70

Just have to say I like the new page Trail of the Seven Lochs

61  Stay up late and watch for badgers

62  Enjoy a dram at Fiddlers, award winning malt whisky bar

63  Walk the round trip from Inverfarigaig to Foyers

64  Go and watch the dolphins at Chanonry Point

65  Sit down by the shore and enjoy a sunset over Loch Ness

66  After a long walk enjoy a drink in the relaxed ambience of the Bog Cotton Café, Cannich

67  Stare up at the tallest tree in the UK in Reelig Glen

68  Hit the bulls eye with some archery, Boots ‘n’ Paddles

69  Count the different coloured dragonflies and damsel flies at Dog Falls

70 Find the memorial to Lady Jane Fraser on the shores of Loch Ness near Foyers

Now – I know the first thing you will all say when you read this, and I entirely agree. Why jet off all the way to Australia when you live in a beautiful place like the Highlands of Scotland? Truth is, it’s not really a holiday at all – it’s a “duty”! visit to a young niece, whom we have never met, for her second birthday – she looks gorgeous from her photos. Worst part about it is, we have to go for at least 8 weeks! It hurts just thinking about all those unbroken blue skies.   

As we hate flying, we thought we would need to break the journey, so decided to stop for a few days in San Francisco!   

With our lack of practice at long haul flights, we realise we are bound to be jet lagged after the long flight to Australia, so we booked 4 weeks in Australia just to be sure we will be well over it before we have to return to Bonnie Scotland – good thinking you say – well here’s an even better, brilliant idea.

Given that we are bound to suffer badly from jet lag and forced to stay in Oz for 4 weeks, I just know I am going to get desperately home sick for Scotland, so came up with the idea to go to New Zealand – it’s just a short hop from Oz.  It’s just like home, so they tell us, so where better to go to try to alleviate the home sick blues for a week or three J  before flying home fresh !!

Now you must agree this is a stroke of genius to help us cope with the stress of having to visit the relatives down under !! and at least, now you will understand why we have been forced into taking so long over the visit!

The things we have to go through for the sake of family )

Below is 10 more things to do at Loch Ness and I promise you I will be participating in some of these activities in my dreams over the next few weeks.

Now, where did I put those sun gla…….?

51  Play 9 holes of golf on Aigas Golf Course near Beauly

52  Spend a morning shopping in the bustling village of Beauly

53  Enjoy the pleasures of real ale at the Benleva Hotel

54  Find the wall of the old fort at Fort Augustus

55  Climb Craigmonie Hill (150 metres!)

56  Visit ‘Bonnie’ the deer near Croachy

57  Take a drive from Inverfarigaig to Farr

58  Go horse riding along the shores of Loch Ness

59  Go cycling on the quiet south side of Loch Ness

60 Visit the Clog and Craft ship at Invermoriston 

For many of us, it’s not the polished picnic benches, it’s sitting on a rock on the riverbank. It’s not the expensive restaurant, its devouring a cheese and Branston sandwich on a hill trail, squinting to glimpse a wheeling buzzard quartering the distant hillside. Its the wide open spaces without a soul in sight and a deep breath of clean air. Its the sky at night without the light pollution.

At Destination Loch Ness we do spend a lot of time trying to improve all sorts of beauty spots and attractions to make your visits more memorable, but it’s the little things that happen along the way that makes our Highland days so special. I can sum it up by telling you about my experience today on the way to Inverness.

First, I had to wait for a family of roe deer to browse their way across our garden before going out to my car. Then, within a mile of home, I slowed down to let a family of pheasants amble across the road, and as I slowed, a beautiful red squirrel scampered up a roadside birch tree, mouth full of hazelnuts. Then, a half mile farther on, a buzzard sat on a roadside post, lazily watching me drive slowly past.

These magical times are what we all want for our visitors to see, and more… I for one, didn’t have the heart to tell the lady, so excitedly telling us she had seen a Scottish wildcat on the forest centre picnic table at Inverfarigaig, that it was actually the local forester’s tabby cat cleaning up the picnic morsels!

Who am I to destroy her magical moment with a bombshell ? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  

 Continuing the series of Ideas for things to do at Loch Ness