Extreme and very high wildfire warnings have been issued for much of the Highlands for the next few days and running into next week.
The risk for Wester Ross is currently rated very high and is centred on the Applecross peninsula and the areas around Loch Ewe, Gruinard Bay, Little Loch Broom and Loch Broom.
The risk will increase to extreme for Wester Ross on Monday, remaining at very high for other Highland locations. A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service pointed out that human behaviour is the cause of most wildfires so it is imperative that people act responsibly while enjoying the outdoors.
The North West Highlands Beach Cleans Group has announced its results up to the end of March.
Since the group started to keep records at Christmas 2023, it has removed over 16 tonnes of rubbish from local beaches.
In March alone, 2114 kilograms of rubbish was collected with a significant increase in the number of beach cleans including a large collection at Raffkin / Culkein Drumbeg. The next big group clean will be towards the end of this month in collaboration with the Scottish Coastal Clean Up in the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area.
The organisers of the beach cleans thank everyone for what they describe as inspirational work.
Living Rent Highland, a group which campaigns for better tenants’ rights, has called for significant funds raised from the proposed Council visitor levy to be applied in improving and increasing council house stock and boosting the housing discretionary fund.
The group has handed in to Highland Council a petition containing 800 signatures in support of its proposals which call for a levy of 8 per cent with at least £1.5 million pounds being ringfenced for housing improvements. The Council’s period for consultation on the proposed levy has expired and it will now consider the representations made before finalising any proposal. If a levy is agreed by councillors in the next few weeks, the earliest it could be implemented is said to be Winter 2026.
