The Sutherland Partnership
Main Street, Lairg, Sutherland. IV27 4DB. Tel: 01549 402646
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SUTHERLAND PARTNERSHIP BIODIVERSITY GROUP
Minute of the meeting of Tuesday 18th January 2011 at 10.30am in Lairg Highland Hotel.
PRESENT REPRESENTING
William SutherlandSutherland Partnership (Chair)
Ian EvansAssynt Field Club
Ian MitchellSNH
Janet BromhamHighland Council Biodiversity Officer
Vicki SaintRSPB
Steve RobertsonNorthHighlandForest Trust
Hazel BewsRowan Tree Associates
Graeme FindlayForestry Commission Scotland
Andy SummersHighland Council Ranger Service
Paul CastleHighland Council Ranger Service (minutes)
ITEM
Welcome and apologies.
All were welcomed. The following apologies were recorded.
Ian Collier, Forestry Commission Scotland. Kenny Graham, RSPB. Judi Forsyth, SEPA (may have trouble attending in future). Chris Daphne, West Sutherland Fisheries Trust (unwell). Lois Canham, (no longer in post).
During the meeting the group were informed that Don O’Driscoll had been involved in a road traffic accident on his way to the meeting that morning. Everyone was extremely relieved to discover Don was not injured. His apologies were added to those above.
ActionPointWilliam will send on the group’s best wishes to Don as soon as possible. [pmn done by phone late pm 18 January. Don confirmed he is uninjured apart from stiffness in his shoulder, but his van may have been written off.]
Tony Mainwood has resigned from the Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity Group quoting a lack of available time, due to other commitments, to deal with the number of emails which are routed through SPBG. He is unable, either, to join an SBAP working group has had been suggested. William (and the group) thanked Tony for his efforts and contributions in the past and also let him know that the ‘door is always open’ should he wish to return in the future.
Approval of Previous Minutes.
The minutes amended to show that Paul Castle had attended, and were then approved.
Matters Arising.
Sutherland Partnership.
William Sutherland informed the group that he was to resign as manager of Sutherland Partnership on 31st March 2011 following 5yrs 9 months in post. A new full time post of Development Officer was soon to be advertised following a successful funding bid from LEADER and SNH. This post will still include a role on the SPBG as part of the duties maintaining this strong link.
The whole biodiversity group offered their sincere thanks for all William’s sterling efforts for both the biodiversity group and the development of Sutherland as a whole. His efforts will be greatly missed by all. The group would welcome William to any of the future meetings and wished him all the very best on his ‘well earned’ future world travels.
Wet and Wild 2011.
Graeme Findlay suggested a theme of riparian woodland to tie in with the ‘International Year of Forests’.
Andy Summers suggested ensuring much more community involvement this year in planning and delivery of any event – too much agency involvement in 2010.
Graeme Findlaywas requested to draft a letter to the three Sutherland community woodland groups (NSCFT, Culag, Gearrchoille) inviting applications to the Sutherland Environmental Fund for suitable riparian woodland events covering north, west and east coasts of Sutherland. Perhaps all to run in school holidays to help with numbers attending and to limit advertising costs. £6000 between 3 groups = £2000 each. Share may increase if not all 3 groups are interested. ACTION GRAEME FINDLAY
Hazel Bews offered to follow up with community woodland groups after the letters have been received. ACTION HAZEL BEWS
SBAP Review.
The time limit set by the SPBG for completion has slipped due to various circumstances. There has been no completion date set by HC so this slip doesn’t cause any immediate problems.
Allan Joyce Project.
Paul CastleAndy Summers gave details of this freshwater photography project funded by SNH. Frances Gunn (Tongue Community Council) is co-ordinating this with help from the Highland Council Sutherland Rangers. Local primary school classes will visit local freshwater bodies in Sutherland to photograph various aspects of these habitats using digital cameras. The rangers will accompany the groups when possible to give help and advice but all photographs will be taken by the children themselves.
Categories will include:
1. Wildlife – a) underwater b) surface/bank side c) water in the landscape.
2. Work
3. Play
The best images produced will be sorted into the above categories by the schools and rangers and then sent on to be judged by a group (to be decided) including local professional photographer Mike Roper.
The final chosen images will be used to produce a display of poster sized copies which will then be toured around Sutherland (and possibly beyond) in venues such as libraries, museums, visitor centres etc.
It is hoped that the Allan Joyce Project can be a continuing event (annually or bi-annually) taking on different themes in the local Sutherland Schools.
Action Point.
Paul Castle contact Frances Gunn to ask how project is developing.
ACTION PAUL CASTLE
Ian Mitchell to try and source the recent local naturalist display all about Allan Joyce which can be toured with the project images display. ACTION IAN MITCHELL
Pull up banner for SPBG (see later)ACTION HAZEL BEWS
Ian Evans explained that HIL project in west Sutherland now defunct and proposal to replace with CALL and Assynt Living Landscapes project with possible application to environmental fund.
Ian Mitchell has spoken with Alex Scott about joining SPBG and he is happy to join but he is not able to until the spring – he may be able to attend the next meeting.
AGENDA
4 Mink Project. Lois Canham is no longer in post – no update.
5 Invasive Non-native Species Forum – Marybank 29th September 2010
Graeme Findlay, only just returned from leave, gave a brief verbal report of the forum saying it was a good event with some excellent speakers covering several interesting and important subjects. He commented on the lack of non-agency representation at the event which was disappointing.
Janet Bromham commented that the Highland Invasive SpeciesGroup had identified relevant lists of species of concern in Highlands and both Janet and Graeme agreed that recording of these species in Highland was still a priority.
Andy Summers also commented that education about invasive species should also be seen as a high priority in Highland.
6 Highlands Biodiversity & Climate Change Conference – Inverness5th November 2010
Kenny Graham emailed the group a short report on the conference (see attached).
William Sutherland thanked Kenny for this report.
Graeme Findlay commented on costs of notimplementing required measures – for instance trying to provide fresh water in the future when not conserving present supplies.
Andy Summers commented on no mention of impacts on peatlands by agencies.
Graeme Findlay assured group that peatlands were a high concern of FCS and also RSPB.
Janet Bromham mentioned that she came away from conference with a clear understanding of the need to give out positive messages regarding climate change to help drive positive action. We must try not to dwell on the negative impacts if we wish to get folk ‘onboard’ with the message.
Steve Robertson mentioned a good positive article regarding forestry called ‘Towards the Future of Forests’ available at
Action Point
Kenny’s report to be attached to these minutes. ACTION WILLIAM SUTHERLAND
7 Highland Biodiversity Partnership Meeting 15 December 2010
Janet Bromham mentioned the upcoming Highland Biodiversity Forum on Saturday 2nd April 2011 concerning ‘marine issues of relevance to community efforts’ Janet also highlighted the next Highland Biodiversity Partnership Meeting on 15th June 2011 both meetings will be at Highland Council HQ in Glenurquhart Road Inverness.
Action Point. Hopefully we can get a SFBG representative at the next forum meeting in April. ACTION ALL
8 CapacityBuilding Project
Janet Bromham told group that funding application to extend the project had been completed and submitted on time.
Hazel Bews provided a summary sheet of the group’s involvement and Rowan Tree Associates proposals.
Ian Mitchell commented that in the Strategic Aims number 1 the sentence should include visitors along with local people and communities. The group all agreed this was important and should be added.
Action Point
Need to amend the sentence in the Strategic Aims and email copies to the group.
ACTION HAZEL BEWS
Awareness Raising
Hazel Bews suggested producing a pull up banner to promote SPBG and also a postcard (possible even coasters dependent on cost) using images from biodiversity collection. William will provide low resolution copies of images to Hazel to choose for the design of the items.
ACTION WILLIAM SUTHERLAND
The postcards must have plenty of room on them for writing a message. Hazel will produce draft copies and send to group to comment and approve.
ACTION HAZEL BEWS
Discussions on best distribution of postcards (coasters) took place with Ian Mitchell suggesting potential distribution to each household in Sutherland – similar to Peatlands postcards some years ago.
Updating the SBAP
Ian Evans believes the work involved in the update should be a paid job for someone with the relevant skills to undertake. We should not expect volunteers to take this on.
Group discussion led to idea of a community group applying to the environmental fund. The bid would be for a contractor to supervise the completion of the review and update taking input from all of the available local experts. The tender must also include the holding of a public workshop event.
The finished update would have a very limited print run and then be available through the Sutherland Partnership website.
Action Point
Try to identify suitable local groups to apply for the grant. ACTION ALL
Environmental Fund
William Sutherland gave out a printed sheet showing finances regarding the Sutherland Partnership Environmental Fund. As of the 18/01/2011 the remaining funds stand at £18,084.
Andy Summers told group that a decision by the Big Lottery Fund was expected on January 31st 2011 which will allow the completion of the EagleCam Publicity Materials project.
Ian Evans gave the group a printed report on the operation of the Malaise Trap on Loch na h-Innse Fraoich, Little Assynt in 2010, grant aided by the Environmental Fund.
Ian Evans also wished to discuss two possible projects which may be submitted to the environmental fund for consideration. William Sutherland was insistent that no discussions regarding these possible projects would take place other than within the funding sub group following their submission through the proper channels.
Vicki Saint gave out the completed information leaflets regarding breeding Arctic Terns at DachalmBeach funded by the environmental fund. The group all agreed the leaflets were excellent and hoped they helped in the important work of protecting this important breeding colony.
10 House Sparrows and Prawn Creels
Vicki Saint informed the group that Kenny Graham had not made any progress regarding this issue.
Janet Bromham had spoken with a colleague who had good links with the fishermen and he said he would be championing the cause regarding best practice.
Andy Summers had been along to LochinverHarbour and spoken directly with some of the fishermen who assured him they do/would stack the creels in the suggested way to avoid entry by house sparrows. While he was there Andy did find one dead sparrow in a creel.
11 Wild North Festival
Ian Mitchell informed group that consultations with communities and organisations had taken place but results as yet were not available. There was so far no firm date set for the event.
12 North West Highlands Geopark
William Sutherland told group there was no money available for the Geopark officer post but all three Scottish Geoparks were now discussing applying joint pressure for more funding. Donald Fisher the GeoRanger had now been in post for over one year and was proving very productive. There is feasibility study underway regarding a possible GeoCentre but funding for this will be a longer-term project.
Any Other Business
Ian Mitchell advised that the SNH North Highland Team will soon be replaced by the North Highland and Northern Isles Team with subsequent job role changes. Ian will still have the link with SPBG in any future role.
Paul Castle asked about the restrictions of the Environmental Fund for funding projects on land which the Highland Council have a responsibility for - namely roadside grass verge cutting to benefit insects. Ian Mitchell replied saying it was very unlikely this type of work could be financially supported.
Andy Summers and Paul Castle asked about the appropriate use of the Sutherland/Caithness biodiversity images following a discrepancy identified by William Sutherland. Ian Mitchell and William answered that the images must only be used by groups or individuals where it is certain no financial gain/saving is made. Regarding the Caithness rangers it was suggested they refer to the Caithness Biodiversity Group manager if unsure following a request for their use.
Graeme Findlay mentioned the rhododendron clearing project taking place at CarbisdaleCastle and would like the group to publicise that anyone can get involved if they are interested and they will be well supervised and very welcome.
Ian Evans brought up the issue of west coast hazel being inappropriately coppiced to ground level with no fencing to avoid future grazing which in turn is killing the trees. Ian suggested this was being done with the approval of FC(S).
Action Point
Andy Summers and William Sutherland to draft a letter from SPBG to be sent to FCS expressing our concern about this practice and asking for further discussions regarding any possible action. ACTION ANDY SUMMERS AND WILLIAM SUTHERLAND
Date of next meetings
15th March – Lairg
14th June – meet at Gearrchoille, then to Lairg
13th September – Inchnadamph
6th December - Lairg
n.b. All meetings to convene at 1030, our new start time.
ANNEX A TO MINUTES OF SPBG MEETING OF 18 JANUARY 2011
KENNY GRAHAM’S REPORT OF CIFAL BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE, 5 NOVEMBER.
There was plenty of food for thought and I found it refreshing to hear about the variety of work that is going on at so many different levels to meet the same end. My summary –which may not reflect the views of anyone else and do not necessarily reflect the views of RSPB Scotland in this instance....is as follows.
Dr Bob Bloomfield talked about communicating the biodiversity message and lessons learnt from promoting 2010 as the international year of biodiversity. He suggested that we were in the main successful at communicating events but were failing on mainstreaming public perceptions particularly with a view to affecting functional lifestyle change. Aichi targets, mapping of strategies, Nagoya all got a mention. Probably worth a scan for those progressing the wild north festival.
Charles Stewart Roper gave Scot Govs view on biodiversity policy in a changing climate. Talked about the need to integrate biodiversity into seascape/landscape management and restore degraded ecosystems and ecosystem functions. Nagoya, a 40 year EU vision to cope with uncertain pressures and unpredictable threats. No real commitments just recognition of certain issues and requirements from Scottish Government.
Dr Allistair Rennie gave an interesting and locally contexed talk on coastal climate change effects centring on Morrich More in the Dornoch Firth. The Dunes expanded over 7000 years as sea levels fell however this has reversed in the last 15 years on the back of significant annual sea level rise and coastal erosion has been the result. He threw a nice analogy about protecting Manhattan with mangrove swamps as a lesson learnt from the effects of hurricane Catriona on the SW coast of America but noted we need inter-generational solutions if we are to be future smart. Worth a scan if you need any proof about sea level rise.
Duncan Ray talked about FCS’s take on the ecosystem services that woodland can provide. I was quite disappointed with this slot whose basic premise was that tree cover is good and should be maximised, this was compounded with slides showing where sitka spruce can grow now and could grow in the future in a Highland context. He side stepped direct questioning on loss to important biodiversity from afforestation (both directly and through the effects of habitat fragmentation) citing eco-service delivery to wider society through for example the recreational benefits that forest path networks can bring. I thought was the wrong message given problems we are experiencing with the Flows and loss of wet fens in Caithness for example.