Dear Members & Supporters,
My apologies for the slight delay in sending out this communique. It was planned for the end of June, however, I waited to complete it for a couple of updates detailed below.
Spring has been a busy time, and there are many things to report on that have already happened or are imminent in the coming months. Trustee meetings are currently being held in the library room at Loch Leven Hotel, and anyone wanting to attend these or any other association activities, can find out times and dates from our website calendar at www.netherlochaber.org.uk.
- Firstly, I want to extend thanks from the Trustees to all the businesses who have pledged sponsorship for flower tubs and planters throughout the area, and to all the volunteers so willing to devote time to their upkeep. This year’s bedding has benefitted from some strong sunshine, and the display is like a scattering of jewels in a sea of greenery from the bridge to the ferry.
New tubs and planters were installed in several locations, and larger planters with fruit trees in are due for replacement when suitable timber has been sourced. There are still tubs available for sponsorship, and any local business wanting to support NLCA in this way can contact Lisa Glaze for details at cuildorag@googlemail.com.
- Several Activity Days have taken place since our beach clean on 29th March. These included
- a day weeding out and topping up gravel at the Camus a Chois picnic site by Gleaner filling-station, replacing the two log planters with four new ones made from recycled mussel farm floats, and installing a new noticeboard,
- a day cutting back vegetation and more weeding out of the two bays at the front of Creag Mhor graveyard by the mosaic, and
- a day repairing the red squirrel viewing wall at Inchree Forest carpark with new structural timber, and removing old, broken feeders for replacement with new ones.
Many thanks to all those who helped out despite the midges, and for the welcome provision of tea and biscuits. Watch out for posters and social media posts for upcoming events.
- A planned barbeque on 5th July in Onich Bay was unfortunately postponed due to poor weather forecast for that day.
- Our next Activity Day is scheduled for 9th August,meeting up at the picnic site for 10 a.m. From there we will walk to the water tank above St.Brides Church to repair the stile at the boundary fence, clear the concrete top of moss and debris, reveal and inspect the old access hatches, and install new safety notices.
Tools provided, but bring gloves and wear boots.
If numbers allow, we’ll also spend some time maintaining the picnic site, and if the weather is with us, have an impromptu bbq to make up for the one previously postponed in July. Fingers crossed.
- The sourcing phase of material for the collaborative ‘On the Map’ project between NLCA and UHI has now concluded, and audio-trail and VR tour products are now being edited. These are due for completion by the end of August, and will be available online shortly after, hosted by our website and UHI.
A parallel project funded by Creative Scotland, ‘Stories in Stone’, is now underway with local artist, Ali Berardelli, who is planning pieces that celebrate different elements of the Nether Lochaber landscape - geological, archaeological, heritage buildings and structures - and will be reaching out to groups and people within the community for inspiration, collaboration and insights.
Currently, her ideas involve creating a series of maps in various forms including a tapestry, a digital archive, and possibly a mural. More about this as it develops.
- On Friday 18th July, the Inchree Barn received full planning approval for the development to proceed over the next three years. There are several conditions attached to this permission, however the full handling report from Highland Council Officers is generally very supportive and positive regarding the plans.
To view this and the extensive background documentation, visit the HC e-planning portal using reference 25/00902/FUL.
It is fully ten years since this project was first visualised and discussed by the community council, prior to NLCA being established, and this decision is the result of hundreds of voluntary hours work by successive Inchree Steering Group members and Trustees, and more recently, by our funded Project Officer, Lucy Cooke and Inch Architecture and Design.
Thanks to all of that time and effort, there is a wonderful opportunity for Nether Lochaber to grow as a community, with a social enterprise facility that offers a cafe, an events and workshop space, an opportunity for local produce and crafts to be sold, and a place to celebrate social and ecological heritage.
There’s still a lot of work and fund-raising to do to take it forward, but this approval is a major milestone.
- NLCA has been awarded funding to hold a series of community gatherings by the Highland Third Sector Interface. These subsidised events will be an opportunity to support local food providers and musicians, to come together socially, as well as engage with the association regarding our ongoing projects.
Whilst still in the formative stages, the first event planned is an Autumn Festival Day on Saturday 27th September in the walled garden by Cuilcheanna House, with food and drink from local hospitality businesses, produce and craft stalls, entertainment from folk musicians, and a mini Highland Games for local children.
A minibus collection and drop-off facility will be running to enable people to attend without driving, the food and musicians will be paid for by NLCA from HTSI funds, and we hope to raise some funds from stall-holder fees and donations from those attending.
More about this as it develops, and if you want to get involved, please get in touch at mail@netherlochaber.org.uk. or by contacting myself.
- Provisionally, the NLCA Trustees intend to host an EGM on Sunday 28th Septemberto make constitutional amendments relating to community ownership of land and buildings with a view to enabling future asset transfers that could grow the social enterprise ethos of the Inchree Barn Project.
Proposed amendments will be circulated to members no later than Sunday 14th September, giving two weeks to accept comments.
Venue and time TBC.
That's all, folks. Keep safe, and enjoy the summer.
Regards,
Iain Jenner
Chair
Nether Lochaber Community Association (SCIO)
07923 675593
chair@netherlochaber.org.uk