News Archive

Grow Your Own

The increasing appetite for 'grow your own' was served up a cash boost earlier this month by Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson Mr Stevenson announced a �600,000 package of support to encourage the development of more community growing and support the growth of Scotland's grow your own sector.   �450,000 of the funding has been allocated to the Central Scotland Green Network Development Fund and will be distributed to community growing projects over three years.  

Improving police and fire reform

Amendments to ensure police and fire reform plans are as robust as possible have been announced by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.   The series of Stage 2 amendments to the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill have been tabled by the Scottish Government, listening to recommendations from the service, staff associations, the Justice Committee and others.  

600,000 for "inspirational" awards programme

An innovative awards scheme that brings together young people from different backgrounds to work for the benefit of their communities will be backed by a 600,000 pounds grant from the Scottish Government, First Minister Alex Salmond announced this week.   The Outward Bound Trust, together with The Mark Scott Foundation will receive the funding over the next three years to help expand their work tackling divisive issues in society through practical community projects, enabling more young people in Scotland to take part.  

Pulteneytown Clean Up Appeal

Volunteers are being sought for a major community clean up in the Pulteneytown area of Wick.   Local Community Works Manager for The Highland Council, Stuart Bell said: "The area has been blighted with dumping of waste for many years and this is a fantastic opportunity for volunteers to help clean it up for safe disposal, to protect the environment and to make things right.  

Highland High School Eco Heating Makes Money For Council

A High School in the Highlands is seeing significant reductions in its heating bills thanks to the installation of a renewable heating system by Scotland's leading biomass company.   The biomass heating system at Lochaber High School in Fort William was installed by national biomass heat specialists HW Energy in March last year.  

Mey Market on Tour

Mey Market have started their weekly Tuesday markets in Mey Hall but are branching out this year in an effort to reach more customers, either those who can't get to Mey on Tuesdays, or who just haven\'t got round to visiting the market yet.  Three "Awaydays" have been organised.  

Highland Soil Biodiversity Festival

Soil experts brought 'up to the surface' This May, people in Highland will get an opportunity to take part in a true underground Festival.   The Highland Soil Biodiversity Festival comprises nine days of illustrated talks, field visits and guided walks to raise awareness of the importance of our soils and the biodiversity within it both to people and wildlife.  

Council To Run Garden Waste Campaign

The Highland Council is running a campaign to improve the quality of the garden waste collected at Recycling Centres and from the brown bin collection service.   The garden waste collected by the Council is turned into compost and is mainly used by farmers as a soil conditioner; some is also used for landfill restoration.  

It's not too late to act - say HPA radon experts

Issued on behalf of the Health Protection Agency.   Hundreds of householders in the Highlands and Aberdeenshire are being urged to contact the HPA for help to solve their radon problems.  

Open Days For £110m Caithness Wind Farm Proposal

The commmunity in and around Reay will have a second opportunity to see revised proposals for the Limekiln wind farm proposal at open days organised by green energy developers Infinergy next week.   The company is holding community open days at Reay Village Hall on Thursday 24th May and Friday 25th May, from 2pm to 8pm.