Access & Conservation
- MCofS Access & Conservation Work
- Strathfarrar Access in Winter Months
- Limekilns
- BUFT Report
- Energy Debate & Wind Factory Update
- Recent Consultations
MCofS Access & Conservation work
By Beryl Leatherland
(Chair of the Access & Conservation Committee)
Mike Dales has been the MCofS Access & Conservation Officer for nearly 10 years, but recently left to take up a post with the Scottish Canoe Association. [See the December Scottish Mountaineer for more details].
With funding for the post being uncertain after next year, MCofS have not advertised for a replacement for Mike at this time. Until we have clarification on the matter of continued funding we are operating an interim system:
- We have employed a part-time Assistant Access & Conservation Officer (Sylvia Laing) who will coordinate all incoming work and enquiries. She will pass these on to appropriate people within the MCofS to deal with.
- We have employed Keith Miller to undertake specific CONSERVATION work
- Volunteers on the Access & Conservation Committee will undertake other work including consultations
- We are looking for more volunteers to help with aspects of our work – please contact Beryl Leatherland via the access & conservation Email and phone number
Contact: Please continue to use the following methods of contact:
- Telephone 01738 493 944 and leave a message in VoiceMail for Sylvia
- Email Mike@mountaineering-scotland.org.uk or Sylvia@themcofs.org.uk
- Use the Access Problem Reporting form on the website for notifying us of any problems you may have. The website will also have a full list of the Local Council Access Officers which you can report your problem to.
REDUCED OFFICER AVAILABILITY MAY MEAN THAT THERE IS A DELAY IN REPLYING TO YOU BUT WE WILL DO OUR BEST – PLEASE BEAR WITH US.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP & COOPERATION
If anyone local to the Perth Office with experience in Access & Conservation work is able to help part-time on projects as self-employed, please contact Beryl Leatherland via the office.
Strathfarrar Access
During Winter Months
For a third year a system of access into Strathfarrar for winter walkers and climbers has been arranged. Walkers wishing to gain the hills of the north Strathfarrar Ridge (lots of Munros), Sgurr na Lapaich, An Riabhachan and a clutch of Corbetts as well as some 50 winter routes on crags within Coire Toll a’ Mhuic, namely Sgurr na Muice and Sgurr na Fearstaig east faces, and big remote offerings on the north and east faces of Sgurr na Lapaich, An Riabhachan and Maoile Lunndaidh are now able to gain vehicular access down the private road through a locked gate.
The arrangement is for winter access from the 1st November to the 1st of April.
If members wish access to the Glen Strathfarrar hills during these months, then they should phone the MCofS office in Perth and give:
- the date of their visit
- the registration number of their car
- and the names of ALL the occupants
to our Administrator, Pet Thomas. In turn you will be given the combination number for a lock on the gate, allowing you access throughout the day.
- Please make sure you relock it after going in and after leaving.
- Please also note that the combination number will change every week or even more regularly. You MUST register with MCofS.
Please don’t leave it to the morning of your visit!
Phone: 01738 493 944
Limekilns Boulders Update
By Beryl Leatherland
Access to this unique venue on Broomhall Estate, owned by the Earl of Elgin, is still problematic. I have been liaising closely with Alison Irvine, the Fife Access Officer, who has met twice with representatives from the estate.
So far, Alison has managed to get the estate to put signs up when shooting is taking place [and to keep these more or less up to date], to un-padlock a gate in the middle of one of the main tracks through the grounds, to consider how the area can contribute to the local core path network, and to delete the “no cycling” demands on the signs at each entrance to the land. A small group has been set up under the umbrella of the local Community Council to look at access in the area and to initiate core path plans. Alison is investigating the status of the Boulders before the access issue is raised with the estate again.
Some Central Belt climbers have offered to construct a gate or stile to facilitate access and to save the estate the bother of repairing the fence periodically when it gets opened. Others have also been tidying up the area around the boulders which is occasionally used as a gathering venue for local youths, who tend to leave litter, and, I noticed on a recent visit, scrawl some graffiti on the east wall of the Gellet Rock.
For the 2006 rock-climbing season, it would be helpful if local clubs do not list the Boulders as one of their Meets, until this delicate situation is resolved. As noted in a previous TSM, discrete parking, access and climbing by small numbers has a lower profile than the large footprint that would accompany a club night at these crags.
British Upland Footpath Trust
- Our Voice in the Wilderness?
by Mike Newbury
The British Upland Footpath Trust (BUFT) is a charity co-founded by MCofS, along with BMC, Ramblers Association and the Outdoor Industries Association. The MCofS Secretary is a Trustee. After its Launch in 1994, BUFT was initially involved in channelling funds into non-intrusive upland path work and part-funded the Coire Lagan path in Skye. Thereafter, BUFT developed on more modest but influential lines which included Path Award Schemes in 1996 and 1997 for recent path projects. The Award Schemes aimed to:
- Raise awareness of the issues surrounding upland path repair with users and repairers
- Give recognition to all those involved in quality upland path restoration
- Help spread new ideas and initiatives among practitioners
- Publicise the work of BUFT amongst hill walkers
The Award Scheme paths in Scotland were-
- Kernsary to Fionn Loch (behind Poolewe)
- Coire Lagan, Skye
- Old Man of Storr
- Coire Mhic Fhearchair, Torridon
- Lochnagar (East flank)
- Ben Lomond
- Carnethy Hill, Pentlands
In 2005, Members of the MCofS Access & Conservation Committee re-surveyed all these paths (together with 5 in the Lake District) for the BUFT Monitoring Survey. Using the Award Scheme Survey Reports as benchmarks, we checked the paths in detail and considered-
- Has the major investment been sustained successfully by a commitment to maintenance?
- How has maintenance been managed, funded and implemented?
- Has the design and construction proved to be suitable and sound?
- Has successful landscape restoration been achieved and further erosion controlled?
The full Monitoring Survey Report is available on CD with a paper summary; price £6 (inc. p&p) from BUFT, c/o BMC, 177-179 Burton Road, Manchester, M20 2BB. We hope that you will find it a good read, well illustrated; and maybe you will walk some of the paths and let us know if you agree with our conclusions?
In 1998, BUFT published 'Mending Our Ways, the quality approach to managing upland paths' (available from BUFT), which has been widely influential. BUFT have held conferences at Blencathra Centre, (Lake District, 1996), Glenmore Lodge (1998), Capel Curig (North Wales, Jan. 2004) and at Bangor University in September 2005.
At Bangor, some 95 people were present including representatives from the Ramblers, Mountaineering Councils, Munro Society, National Trust, National Trust for Scotland, and National Parks, including many path workers and path managers; there were also path consultants and path contractors - so there was plenty of hands-on knowledge and experience. We had 6 site visits, and saw how the Welsh path builders addressed the problems of steepness, roughness, wetness and heavy use! As previously, the Irish were well represented, and brought along their usual good humour and some potentially useful techniques. We hope that they will come on board to help form a new Upland Path Trust.
We hope to publish the full Conference Report (in both English and Welsh languages) in the early spring. We hope also to announce fresh initiatives for gathering and disseminating information, monitoring paths, and training volunteers.
Practitioners find the Trust useful because devolution of management and funding of path work to England, Wales and Scotland has re-inforced the tendency for path management to be isolated and inward looking: BUFT has demonstrated that there is much to be shared with each other!
There is more than ever a need for a totally independent expert body that could (with MCofS support in Scotland) represent users in dealing with agencies that spend charitable funds or taxpayers' money in misconceived or poorly executed path work; and to point out, for instance, where pre-emptive work or even active maintenance would forestall rapid erosion.
In Scotland, we now have statutory freedom to roam, and fast roads to wild places, leading to exponentially increased access. This has benefited local communities economically, but the consequential damage to the mountain heritage must be provided for, and financed as part of the national recreational infrastructure - as of right and because voluntary fund-raising cannot fully cope. Recent emphasis on public access round towns and villages, whilst welcome, seems to be draining public funding away from the hills. BUFT can help make our case more effectively, but needs greater user support and more hillgoers have to become informed on what is required.
The most important policy objective is to persuade authorities to address the longstanding need for dedicated funding and skilled workers for maintenance and pre-emptive work, rather than sporadic injections of capital for expensive engineered restorations left to wash away.
The Energy Debate & Wind Factory Proposals
Perthshire Council Refuses Applications
It was reported locally that Perth & Kinross Council Development Control Committee threw out another five proposals, this time in the Ochil region south of Perth; Greenknowes, Lochelbank, Snowgoat Glen and Mellock Hill were all turned down without debate. A farm diversification scheme near Milnathort was also blocked.
Meanwhile regarding larger ‘Section 36’ proposals in the Perthshire area, which are decided upon by the Scottish Executive, the deliberations of the Reporter in the Public Enquiry at Crieff about the Sma' Glen scheme for twenty four c100m turbines is still awaited.
It has also been reported that GreenPower have reconsidered their Griffin Forest proposal north of Trochry, issuing a revised scheme to the Scottish Executive (originally for 80x122m turbines now for 68x124m turbines). With 25-30km of bulldozed roads, the development site is said to cover an area the size of the city of Perth! At nearby Calliachar north of Glen Quaich, Amulree, I&H Brown are now submitting a revised 27 turbine project (originally 46 turbines). At the Earl of Mansfield's Scone Estate between Trochry and Amulree, AMEC are 'Scoping' plans for a 40 turbine site.
It seems there is a general approach from developers encountering local opposition to offer asimple reduction ofturbine numbers as a solution. See http://www.aswag.org.uk/ and http://www.greenpowerinternational.com/ for more information.
Lochluichart in Wester Ross
We were alerted to this too late to make a fully structured response; but we did manage to send in an objection and alerted members via our website. The proposal is for 43x125m high turbines, stretching 6km from the A832 at Lochluichart in the south to Loch Glascarnoch on the A835 trunk road in the north.
The development would be visible from Ben Wyvis, the Fannichs, Beinn Dearg, Cona Mheall, the Torridon Hills and Strathfarrar. There would be a huge impact on the cultural, scenic, wildlife and recreational assets of the area.
Beauly to Denny Pylons
It was reported that 12,000 objections had been received against Scottish and Southern Energy’s proposal for upgrading the electricity pylon line down the centre of Scotland.
Better Debate on Future Energy Requirements
After twice debating the issues surrounding Wind Generation at our Annual Gatherings the MCofS produced an ‘Energy Policy’ which can be found on the website. It states our position: that we ask for an overall energy strategy including energy conservation and small scale technologies, whilst minimising impacts to areas valued for their wild land character.
The Enterprise and Culture Committee of the Scottish Parliament, 6th Report, (Session 2) SP Paper 194 Session 2 (2004) investigated all forms of energy generation. Amongst many recommendations it said, “…if the Executive's ‘aspirational’ target of 40% [renewables] by 2020 is to be met, it will be almost entirely through onshore wind power. This is neither sustainable nor sensible”, and was critical of the Scottish Executive’s handling of the issue stating “The Committee recommends that the Scottish Executive develops a clear policy...”
In 2005 The Environment and Rural Development Committee, chaired by Sarah Boyack MSP held an enquiry into the Scottish Programme to tackle climate change. It issued a pamphlet outlining the Committee’s key recommendations and how the public can get involved. The full report is available from www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/environment/reports-05 and you can have your say by contacting your MSP, by email by inserting their name as follows: firstname.lastname.msp@scottish.parliament.uk or by post to The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP.
In December 2005, Ms Boyack proposed ‘The Energy Efficiency and Micro-generation Bill’ which MCofS considers to be a great step forward in diversifying the drive for energy and reducing the detrimental impact on our valued landscapes.
Finally, Highland Council’s draft ‘Highland Renewable Energy Strategy’ consultation has closed, and a special public meeting of Highland Council on 22nd March expects to finalise it. Although good in parts, it has worryingly little factual support for some of its statements and strangely designates off-shore areas as acceptable for development that are near to on-shore areas that are not. See http://www.highland.gov.uk/ or if you feel strongly write comments to John D Rennilson, Director of Planning & Development, The Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, InvernessIV3 5NX.
Turbines & Bird Kills
One aspect of wind factory development so far overlooked by mountaineers concerns the effect turbines have on birds. As many climbers are keen ornithologists they may be interested in the difference in views between developers and some conservationists. Research by Iberica (the Spanish Bird conservation organisation) reviewing global reports of bird strikes was published in 2004 and showed considerable numbers of raptors killed (reportedly over 100 eagles and thousands of vultures from monitoring studies in Spain), as well as 2300 golden eagles at the Altamont pass wind factory in California [over 20 years] from a scientific study: that’s a yearly average of 50 eagles, and 500 hawks, owls, falcons, harriers and kites. The report also quotes a report commissioned by government authorities in Navarra, Spain which claims turbines kill 7150 birds and bats every year. The tally included 409 griffon vultures, 24 eagles and 6000 small birds. A recent claim from Smola wind factory in Norway states “11 sea eagles killed in 5 months” and other reports suggest "bird deaths per turbine per year are as high as 309 in Germany and 895 in Sweden". California's San Gorgonio wind factory is estimated to kill 6800 birds each year - mostly nocturnal species and songbirds.
Such figures have been disputed, even amongst conservation groups: the RSPB in the UK has often argued that wind factories generally don’t kill birds. Certainly studies by developers show negligible kill figures and some reports of finds of dead birds are not scientifically commissioned. Despite this, recent data is worrying as it may only be indicative of the real numbers.
In Scotland much ‘energy’ and money has been expended in reintroducing red kite and sea eagles. It would seem a folly not to commission truly independent studies of this issue, particularly when some ornithologist estimate that c.500 wind factories in Scotland are likely to destroy its entire eagle population. For further information on this particular aspect of the debate look at:
www.iberica2000.org/Es/Articulo.asp?Id=1228
Help MCofS
Please keep an eye open in your local papers for notification of planning applications for such developments and alert us so that we can lodge, where appropriate, any objections and contribute to the debate.
Consultations
At the time of writing [December 2005] we have in hand several consultations and by the time you receive this magazine we will have responded to the following:
- Consultation on Draft Guidance for Local Inquiries into Core path Plans under the Land Reform Act [Scotland] Act 2003
- Consultative draft Cairngorm National Park Local Plan
- Consultation on Proposed Coastal and Marine National Parks for Scotland
- Cowal and Trossachs Forest District Strategic Plan
And we will have commented on:
- A Members’ Bill [from John Swinney] to extend the boundaries of the Cairngorm National Park
- The NTS Mingulay, Pabbay and Berneray Property Statement [NTS]