Wild Land News no 58, Autumn 2003

AGM Report - May 2003 Article

A small but dedicated band of volunteers met in Fort Augustus for the May 2003 SWLG AGM weekend. The Saturday event was a guided round a wild moor, discretely disguised as the site for a huge wind farm above Farr, south-east of Inverness. Led by James Fenton, we heard about the vast network of paths, tracks, quarrying, excavation and concreting proposed for this wild land.

Whilst it is probably too late to stop this proposal, valuable thoughts were exchanged on the topics of tackling renewable schemes proposed for wild land; the role of peat bogs in the international carbon credit trade; and how to increase personal in-energy by sunbathing when the sun appears (well, we knew how to do this already).

Following an excellent bar supper at the Lovat Arms Hotel, a brief AGM was held followed by an open-ended discussion on future directions for the group and the challenge of renewable energy projects on the Scottish landscape.

The existing steering team members re-stood for election and were elected. There is space if anyone wishes to join the Steering Team - contact me for more information. The accounts were presented by Tim, our Treasurer and copies can be obtained from him on request.

Suitably refreshed and energised, a band went up Glen Doe (to the east of Fort Augustus) on Sunday to view the site proposed for a huge hydro scheme in Glen Tarff/ Glen Doe by Scottish and Southern Energy.

Overall a most enjoyable weekend with the benefit of having focused study on two 'live' renewable projects, plus good company, campsite and scenery making it well worthwhile all round.

Alistair Cant