LATEST NEWS
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SWLG wholeheartedly supports the hill tracks campaign launched by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (25 February 2010):
One of the most marked impacts on wild areas is the damage done by development of hill tracks in Scotland’s uplands. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland has recently launched a campaign to call for an overhaul of the uncontrolled rights of landowners to construct these monstrous tracks through our wild areas. SWLG wholeheartedly supports this campaign. Go to www.hilltrackscampaign.org.uk to sign the petition. Look out for Calum Brown's article about hill tracks in the next edition of Wild Land News (due out March 2010).
SWLG joins calls to Minister to reopen Beauly-Denny Public Local Inquiry (23 February 2010):
The Beauly Denny Landscape Group and Scotland Before Pylons have written to Jim Mather MSP to ask him to reopen the Public Local Inquiry into the Beauly-Denny power-line. The groups want clear answers to outstanding issues raised by the decision to approve the new transmission line.
The groups have asked Mr Mather to respond to questions regarding procedural errors in the handling of the decision, the need for a Strategic Environmental Assessment, and an inconsistent approach to undergrounding. Two legal points have been raised by the decision to approve the 137 mile Beauly-Denny line.
Read the Beauly Denny Landscape Group press release here.
UHI MSc research about how we perceive mountains (16 February 2010):
MSc research at The Centre for Mountain Studies, Perth College UHI asks us what mountains 'mean'. Are they a place for exercise, escape, religion, spiritual renewal...? If you would like to take part in the research, follow this link before 26 March 2010.
Yes2wind.com alarming map of current and proposed wind farm development in the UK (15 February 2010):
The pro-wind farm site Yes2wind.com has a very alarming map showing the extent of current and proposed wind farms in the UK. You can see the map here.
2 February 2010 - Cononish Glen proposal: Gold mine proposal that would see up to 72,000 tonnes of ore extracted per annum for 10 years:
A planning application has been made for a gold mine in Cononish Glen, under Ben Lui. It is expected that up to 72,000 tonnes of ore would be extracted per annum for ten years. All of the relevant documents are available for inspection on The Scottish Government's eplanning portal. Visit the site here, accept the terms and conditions and search for application 2010/0017/MIN. Please contact us if you would like any more information.
20 January 2010 - The Kildermorie Hydro Scheme - Grant Cornwallis questions the need for hydro development in such a beautiful and wild part of Scotland:
Having had the pleasure of walking through this wonderfully remote and undeveloped area back in 1989, I would wish to object most strenuously to its desecration for the sake of a relatively small amount of electricity generation, which could easily be matched by a sensible effort to reduce demand/consumption in our wasteful society, thus rendering such destructive schemes unnecessary.
As I recall, the walk over to Abhainn na Glasa from Abhainn Beinn nan Eun (to the south) was particularly fine, and gave a real sense of remoteness from mankind’s relentless progress towards the current environmental disaster which the conference in Copenhagen late last year was a rather belated attempt to address.
A stay in one of the estate bothies was enlivened by a group of children arriving in the morning, exploring the hills whilst their parents blasted unwary grouse out of the skies- one of the boys got flak from the senior girl for showing excessive interest in my chocolate bar collection.
Anyway, although these remote hills are not ‘pristine wilderness’, having been comprehensively nibbled by generations of sheep and deer overgrazing them, that is no good reason for altering the hydrology in this area, with the concomitant intrusive dams, pipelines and miles of track. How long will the carbon dioxide emissions from the works take to be ‘paid back’ by the allegedly green electricity produced?
Looking at the contours on SSE’s diagram, one suspects that the reservoir created will be far larger than that shown in their promotional literature, perhaps up to the 485 metre level ? Any higher, and the artificial waters would risk a breach to the south, but there is much scope for expansion north-westwards past the evocative Allt Coire Preas nan Sean-char, with the “œceann a’loch” roughly at NH 404 802. Quite an achievement. What effect does submerging peatland have on the carbon stored therein? Has this even been considered in the rush for supply-side profit, or can it be ignored until it has to be faced by some future generation who will marvel at our reluctance to give up even a small part of our wasteful lifestyles? Power from the Glens...for plasma screens and iPods? Old uncle Tom Johnston wouldn’t have been impressed, I suspect.
Northwards from the Glasa, the walker encounters the names of the evicted of Glen Calvie scratched into the windowglass at Croick kirk, where no lesson can be discerned , then turns west to Alladale; soon to be enclosed and turned into a rich man’s playground. No Highland welcome here, but that’s another objection.
13 January 2010 - Scotland’s Wild Landscapes - New Ways Forward
Conference and forum discussion event announced - 13-14 May 2010, SNH Battleby near Perth
A conference and discussion forum organised by the Centre for Mountain Studies, Perth College UHI, with support from UNESCO Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Cairngorms National Park Authority, John Muir Trust, Leeds University (Wildland Research Institute) and Lochaber College UHI.
Visit the Events page for more information.
6 January 2010 - The Scottish Government gives the go-ahead to the Beauly-Denny power line upgrade
On 6 January 2010, the controversial plans for a line of giant pylons from the Highlands to central Scotland were given the go-ahead by the Scottish Government. This decision was made despite a lengthy public inquiry and 18,000 objections. SWLG (along with members from the Beauly Denny Landscape Group) were outraged at the decision, and we are concerned that this decision reflects the Scottish Government’s lack of a vision for the protection of our priceless landscape heritage.
Read our response here.
Read more in the news:
BBC: Power line upgrade given go-ahead
The Scotsman: Green light for £80m wind farm to feed Beauly Denny power line
The Guardian: Beauly Denny power line is vandalism
27 October 2009 - The Beauly Denny Landscape Group warns the Scottish Government of the dangers of approving the mega pylon line
On Tuesday 27 October, SWLG and other environmental organisations called on the Government to reconsider its reported intention to give the Beauly Denny line the go ahead. The Beauly Denny Landscape Group, with a combined membership of over 400,000 people, warned that if the Scottish Government approves the Beauly Denny mega pylon line it will be remembered for ignoring alternatives to the proposal as well as the objections of the eighteen thousand people who opposed it.
The Group is writing to Ministers of remind them of alternatives to the proposed power line which provide sufficient transmission to meet Scotland’s renewable targets – particularly in view of technological advances since the public inquiry.
Increased requirement from on-shore wind developments can be met by reinforcing the existing east coast line with far less environmental destruction. Sub-sea cables are now recognised by the industry as the best way to transport electricity over significant distances. More information on the John Muir Trust website.
The Munro Society publishes a report about the health of Scotland’s mountains
The Munro Society has made an initial assessment of all of the Munros’ quality based on 574 assessments carried out by Society members. The good news is that 12% of the Munros fall into category four, the best category; and 72% are rated category three. Other hills causing more environmental concern are in category two, but only one one hill falls into the most concerning category one (Carn Aosda among the Glenshee ski slopes). A wide range of evidence has been recorded. A lot of path erosion was noted, as well as path restoration. Forestry plantations, over-grazing, hydro-electric schemes, features linked to downhill skiing, wind farms, pylons, and land-management issues have all featured, and unsightly bulldozed tracks replacing discrete stalkers’ paths have been of particular concern.
To read the full report, visit the Munro Society website.
Letters to the Editor (WLN 73) about wild land mapping
Following the publication of Wild Land News (WLN) 72, we received some letters about David Jarman’s article “Mapping wild land - the fatal flaws”. You can read these in full by clicking the links below (opens in PDF in new window).
Letter from Steve Carver: School of Geography, University of Leeds
Letter from Matthew Hawkins: Senior Heritage Manager, Cairngorms National Park
Wildness mapping in the Cairngorms National Park - Steve Carver in WLN 72
Steve Carver (School of Geography, University of Leeds) reports in WLN 72 on a study commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) to develop a computer-based approach to defining and mapping the pattern of wildness across the Cairngorms National Park. You can read his article here. The full colour version of the map of wildness shown in WLN 72, can be found at http://www.maptube.org/map.aspx?mapid=446.
March 2009 - Beauly Denny Landscape Group Parliamentary Briefing
This brief but very comprehensive Parliamentary Briefing was written by the Beauly Denny Landscape Group, of which SWLG is a member. Download the briefing here.
5 December 2008 - EU Report on Wildness in Europe
An EU Parliament report calls for: the mapping of wild land across Europe; more research on the value and benefits of wilderness protection; development of an EU wilderness strategy; the provision of special funding for the careful management of wild areas and more...
The motions in the report were adopted on 2 December 2008. To read the report in full, click here.
29 November 2008 - New SWLG Steering Committee
The 2008 AGM saw a groundswell of support to keep SWLG going, with 5 new Steering Team members including a new Co-ordinator. In addition the Treasurer has agreed to continue. The well attended AGM in Stirling gave new vigour to the long-standing campaigning group. Many thanks to all members and well-wishers for their support and encouragement.
The press release can be found here.
Minutes of the AGM
Notice of November AGM
12 September 2008 - New people needed to run SWLG
The Scottish Wild Land Group seeks new people to run the organisation. If no-one comes forward for the main key posts on the Steering Team, then SWLG shall be wound up.
This is the chance for the organisation to become rejuvenated with new blood and enthusiasm.
If the organisation is wound up, the assets will be distributed to like-minded charities.
Click here for more information.
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