Volunteers who staff the South West Ross Community Car Scheme have been given the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award for voluntary service in the UK and the equivalent of an MBE. The Car Scheme is in its 20th anniversary year and serves Kinlochewe, Torridon, Shieldaig, Applecross, Lochcarron, Strathcarron and Achnasheen.
It is one of 262 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups throughout the UK to receive the prestigious award this year and was presented with the crystal award and certificate by Ross and Cromarty Lord Lieutenant Joanie Whiteford at a recent ceremony in Loch Torridon Community Centre.
A new centre to promote Gaelic language and culture in Inverness is to receive a significant funding boost from the Scottish Government. Cul-tar-lann Innerneesh will receive £370,000 to develop what was the East Church building into a space for Gaelic gatherings, ceilidhs and exhibitions in the centre of the city. The investment forms part of a £4 million package to promote Gaelic initiatives across Scotland.
The centre will be the first dedicated Gaelic cultural centre in the Highlands and is also intended to be a tourist attraction where visitors can meet Gaelic-speaking staff and learn more about the language and its history.
More than 1,300 protected birds of prey including hen harriers and golden eagles have been killed across the UK in the last 15 years according to the RSPB which blames the majority of incidents on rogue gamekeepers trying to protect stocks of pheasant, partridge and grouse on countryside shooting estates.
The shooting industry says it is worth around £3.3bn to the UK economy every year. Its supporters insist estate owners and their land managers do much to protect the countryside and its wildlife while the British Association for Shooting and Conservation said its members had "absolutely zero tolerance" of the illegal shooting of birds of prey.
Some Highland Council staff have been using electric cargo bikes meaning reduced travel times, fewer trips in other vehicles and better health and wellbeing. Use of the bikes has challenges though, includinginsurance restrictions preventing staff from using the bikes to commute, storage issues and provision of facilities for battery charging.
The Council generally is endeavouring to move towards net zero, no longer adding to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere but is making only limited progress in some areas including its capital programme of planned investment in buildings, roads and equipment.
