Wild Land News no 70, Autumn 2007

AGM Report Report

The AGM was held at the Covenanters' Inn, Aberfoyle, in early September. The Co-ordinator gave his annual report (summarised below) and the accounts were presented and accepted. Because of a large donation to the Beauly-Denny campaign, we made a slight deficit, but income generally met running costs, with no increase in subscriptions now for many years.

The Steering team was re-elected, apart from Anne Macintyre who was stepping down for family reasons. Her contribution over the many years was much appreciated and she will keep in touch informally.

Earlier in the day, in showery weather, members climbed Stuc Odhar, north-east of Brig o'Turk village, and viewed some of the work of the Woodland Trust who now own this large estate around Glen Finglas Reservoir.

Extract of the full Annual Report and Accounts - available in full from the Co-ordinator upon request:

"The Group has been active in a number of ways throughout the year. One main focus has been to work with other interested bodies in Scottish Environment LINK to take issue with the proposed electricity connector between Beauly, near Inverness, and Denny, near Stirling. We have been working with 5 other environmental non-governmental organisations at the public inquiry into the Beauly-Denny power-line. There has been a significant number of objectors to the power-line and the Group supports their efforts by joining with others to have the topic debated fully at the public inquiry.

On a more collaborative note, members of the Steering Team have been working with various parts of the Forestry Commission to look to reconfiguring some of Scotland's public forests to enhance their visual appeal, recreational benefits and ecological sustainability. The FC has welcomed such involvement and committed advice.

The past year has also seen the endorsement by the UK Government of the European Landscape Convention and the Co-ordinator attended an important seminar on the issue organised by Scottish Natural Heritage.

The Group was part of the 'Everyone' campaign organised by Link to publicise environmental issue in the run-up to the recent elections for the Scottish Parliament.

The Group continues to function successfully as one of a minority of wholly volunteer run and staffed organisations."

Alistair Cant