The old lads will be captained once again by Ian ‘Granty’ Grant with Martin Harrower leading the young boys onto the pitch. As well as giving the legs a good airing, the football match is raising much needed funds for Cancer Research UK.

The Strathspey Cancer Research UK Group, who organise the event, are hoping for a good turn-out of spectators to cheer the sportsmen on; there’ll be a chance to ‘beat the goalie’ at half time and there is full-time entertainment in the Cairn Hotel afterwards.

Chairperson of the group Gemma Powell commented: “We are grateful to Ian and Martin for organising teams to play in this fun match every year. It’s a cause close to all our hearts and especially Martin, whose Mum Caroline is not well at the moment. His team – which will also feature Martin’s brother Jamie – will be wearing pink ribbons in her honour and it’s hoped she’ll manage to come and watch some of the game.”

The game kicks off at 7pm. For more information please contact Gemma on tel: 07968 447137.

INFO ON SUBMITTING COMMENTS…

The planning application has been called in by the CNPA. The CNPA reference no. Is 2013/0120/DET. The planning application documentation can be viewed on line on the CNPA website at http://tinyurl.com/czud33g

CNPA Standing Orders require that all representations are received within 21 days of the application being called in. The 21 day period on this application concludes on Monday May 13th. Comments can be made on line using the ‘comments’ and then the ‘make a comment’ tab. Representations may also be submitted by e-mail (to planning@cairngorms.co.uk) or by letter:

Planning
Cairngorms National Park Authority
Albert Memorial Hall
Station Square
Ballater
Aberdeenshire
AB35 5QB

All correspondence should include the authors full address.

Pupils from Carrbridge Primary School with Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse and (top right) Duncan Bryden, CNPA Convenor

The Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse has been visiting Carr-Bridge in the Cairngorms National Park this morning (Monday 29 April) to view ‘shovel ready’ projects including a pioneering river restoration project, instigated by the Spey Catchment Initiative, which will help to restore valuable riparian habitat and contribute to flood alleviation downstream.

Mr Wheelhouse was shown the work that has been done to restore the Allt Lorgy which joins the River Dulnain, a tributary of the Spey. The river had been straightened in the past, mainly for agricultural purposes, but this resulted in degraded salmon spawning habitat and affected the way the water flows downstream, especially at times of high flow.

Now, with funding from the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), the Scottish Government, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Woodlands Trust Scotland and the Spey Fishery Board, work has been undertaken to restore the river to a more natural state.

To date, similar projects have provided a heavily engineered restored solution. What makes Allt Lorgy unique is that ground works have simply kick started a process whereby the river will now do its own work to re-establish its natural equilibrium. Artificial embankments have been lowered and in stream boulders have been removed and replaced with fallen trees or large branches – woody debris is a natural component of a river bringing many benefits including protection of river banks from excessive erosion and providing shelter and food for a wide range of fish and invertebrate species. In time, all of this work will improve habitats, creating a more diverse ecological environment.

Niall Doherty and Tiene Gerrard with Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse

The project also involves deer fencing of the site to help with the regeneration of riparian woodlands, which is being supplemented with the planting of an additional 4,800 native species which P6 & P7 pupils from Carr-Bridge Primary School got to work on today – with a bit of help from the Minister!

Commenting on the project Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “This project at Allt Lorgy will allow the river to restore natural habitats, creating a diverse environment and benefitting a range of species. It will also reduce flooding – a problem which has wiped out salmon spawning habitat over the years – helping the angling industry around the Park.

“Scotland’s National Parks are not only vital to the protection of our habits, but also to the rural economy. In this Year of Natural Scotland, where better than the Parks to experience our stunning natural heritage and the investment in shovel ready projects will further improve visitor and community facilities, support green tourism, and attract more visitors to them in the future.

“As someone who has had several holidays in Carr-Bridge I greatly enjoyed helping the pupils of Carr-Bridge Primary plant trees and I hope to return in the future to see how their hard work helps restore local habitats.”

The Convener of the CNPA Board Duncan Bryden said: “Shovel ready money from the Scottish Government is certainly making a difference to the Park. In all of the projects we have looked at today local contractors have been used helping to grow the local economy. The Allt Lorgy restoration is a really interesting project environmentally but also economically when you consider what the angling industry is worth to the Park and indeed well beyond the Park boundary. The Cairngorms National Park Authority is 10 years old this year and its these types of projects we’ll be talking about in the next decade.”

Spey Fishery Board Director Roger Knight said: “This innovative project will help restore the natural river processes that have hitherto been impeded by mankind. It will also provide additional habitat for spring salmon which spawn in the upper tributaries of the Spey and have been threatened by man’s interference with our river systems. We look forward to replicating this important work elsewhere in the Spey catchment.”

David Harley, Water and Land Manager at SEPA, said: “With support from the Water Environment Fund, SEPA has worked closely with its partners in the Spey Catchment Initiative to deliver the Allt Lorgy Project. From initial concept and design through to actual delivery, the project has been a great demonstration of partnership working and an example of how to tackle pressures on rural highland rivers through low cost, sustainable measures.

“The project worked with the river, using locally sourced wood and gravels to reinstate natural features, improving the river for fish and other ecology. We will continue to monitor progress on the Allt Lorgy and are keen to support any other similar initiatives across Scotland.”

(left) Duncan Ferguson, Operations Manager, Spey Fishery Board with Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse

Woodlands Trust Carol Evans, Director of the Woodland Trust Scotland said: “Native woods and trees offer a wide range of benefits. There is increasing recognition of the positive effect that planting well designed riparian woodland can have both on numbers of young fish, and helping to alleviate flooding. We’re delighted to have been involved in this pioneering project, which should provide an inspiration for other fishery boards across Scotland who are looking for ways to improve the condition of their spawning habitats.”

As part of his visit, Mr Wheelhouse also saw the works that are underway to create a bike skills park in the centre of the village. Shovel ready funding for this project has meant the community – through the local development company, Carr-bridge Ahead – can offer local young people of all ages a fun, local facility to help increase their bike confidence and skills. He also took a walk through the village woodlands to see where money has gone into upgrading footpaths, in particular a core path that was in a condition that restricted the number if people that could enjoy it. The cemetery path is now much more accessible and is being enjoyed by far more people such as cyclists, mums with pushchairs and those less able.

Notice from Carr-Bridge & Vicinity Community Council

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

CARR ROAD & CRANNICH PARK 

The Community Council is holding a public drop-in meeting on Thursday 2^nd May from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the Village Hall

To allow residents to assess the impact of this development and to enable them to make appropriate representation to the Highland Council.  The Final date for responses to HC is 10^th May.  However the plan has been called in by CNPA (National Park) and there may be further opportunities to comment.  It is best if you wish to comment to do so before the 10^th of May.  While the CC will make a comment based on the feedback from residents it is also important for residents to make individual response in writing to HC.

The Community Council currently identifies the main issues that concern residents to be:

Carr Road is totally unsuitable for further traffic.  Has no pavement.  Safer route to school.  Inadequate junction where it joins the Main Street.  Traffic will be mainly 8:00 till 9:00, some double trips (school run) when children are walking that route to school.  Increased use of back route to Grantown (single track)

The size of the development.  In total 96 houses of which 72 will be built opposite Carr Place and 24 close to Crannich Park.  Considerable impact on the village social balance.  Residents must of necessity work elsewhere making it more of a dormitory village.  Would prefer the affordable / amenity houses.balanced throughout the development rather than all pushed into one place.

Environmental Impact.   The Environmental study is considered by some residents to be flawed (e.g. didn’t find any red squirrels)  Construction will destroy 2/3rds of the forest not just the ‘bull’ field.

Come along to the meeting and tell us if you have any further concerns or indeed if you have positive comments on the development

The plans can be viewed on the Highland Council website at

http://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam  look for ref 13/01281/FUL

Comments can be made on the site below

http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourenvironment/planning/eplanning

or in writing to ePlanning Centre, The Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, INVERNESS, IV3 5NX

Must be lodged before 10^th May 2013

Sunday 12th May 2013, 10am – 11:30am

Help us give Carrbridge a spring clean. Equipment provided.

Meet at village car park.

Pre-event instructions:

• Wear stout shoes
• Bring gloves, waterproofs
• Children under 16 to be supervised, no more than 3 per adult
• You will receive brief ‘On the day’ instructions
• Duration: up to 1.5 hour

Sign up at http://www.facebook.com/events/177413219078902/ or just turn up on the day.

Please download and display Litter Pick Poster.

Location : Village car park

Contact : Roy Brown +44 771 424 4142

http://springclean.keepscotlandbeautiful.org

In June Alan will embark of his singlehanded voyage around the entire UK and Ireland coastlines. Setting off from Ullapool he will head clockwise to the Shetland Isles and then south to the busy English Channel. From there Alan will sail past the Scilly Isles and on up the West Coast of Ireland before heading out to St Kilda and returning around the northern tip of the Outer Hebrides to Ullapool.

Alan will call at Lerwick, Blyth, Lowestoft, Brighton, Poole, Falmouth, Dingle Broad Haven, Stornoway and Ullapool.

At each port Alan will swop his sailing boots for running shoes and run a 10k to raise funds for his charities; Parkinson’s UK, Cancer Research UK, MS Society, British Heart Foundation and Ocean Youth Trust Scotland. Donations can be made at www.soloroundbritain/charities

Alan and his Shore Manager are now looking to recruit a team to help with the ship to shore safety communications. In order to reduce risk and maintain regular contact with his shore team Alan will check in every six hours by satellite phone. The call will allow Alan to report back his position, course, speed and other information. It will also allow the duty shore contact to relay the latest weather information being supplied by a specialist weather forecaster. The ship to shore calls will take place at six hourly intervals at midnight, 6am, noon and 6pm.

Alan said. “We are looking to build up a team of people who will help with ship to shore communications. We would love to hear from people who would be able to be part of a team and can be available for a 20 minutes slot within the roster.  Ideally the person will have an interest in outdoor activities but above all be able to commit to covering time slots allocated within the roster.”

Volunteers require to be contactable by phone, have internet access and have an interest in outdoor activities or the aims of the charities Alan is working with.

Alan added. “If we can build up a team the work gets spread amongst the many and being involved will offer volunteers an insight to this totally unique challenge that has never before been attempted.”

Alan can be contacted at alan@soloroundbritain.com  or at twitter @soloroundbrit

Preparation and updates on Trade Winds Solo Round Britain Challenge can be followed on www.soloroundbritain with links to Facebook and twitter

Alan Rankin Chief Executive of visitcairngorms said. “ The recent snow has provided some superb winter sports conditions at Cairngorm Mountain, The Lecht and Glenshee. The weather forecast looks great for the weekend and local businesses are reporting a surge in visitors. The Cairngorm Mountain looks like a wedding cake right now with great snow cover. The lower ground is clear of snow and offers visitors a great chance to try out  a wide range of different activities or to visit some of Scotland’s top attractions. Where else can you ski, walk of a sandy beach, get close to a tiger and bike through woods all in one day!

For more information about things to do in Carrbridge visit www.carrbridge.com

The students, who are studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands, are on a variety of land-related courses including forestry, gamekeeping, agriculture, sustainable mountain development, environmental science and sustainable rural development.

Over the course of the two day event, the students will visit the Dalnahaitnach estate, work on team projects and hear presentations from a number of experts. The guest speakers will cover topics as diverse as peatlands, sustainable deer management and river systems.

Dr Sue Engstrand, subject network leader for environment and rural resource management at the university, explains why it is important for students from a range of land-related disciplines to meet:

“To get the best from our land, our future land managers will need to work together with people from a variety of different backgrounds, with different interests and sometimes different values, focussing on common goals to deliver multiple benefits to our communities. This conference brings together students from nine different courses, working together with experts, to understand the challenges and opportunities for managing our land in the future. Working across traditional boundaries is a key theme of this conference and we hope it will prepare our students well for their future roles.”

The event, which takes place on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 March, is being organised by the University of the Highlands and Islands, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Cairngorms National Park Authority. It is the second annual integrated land use conference for University of the Highlands and Islands students.

Feedback from last years’ conference suggested that employers thought it was an innovative approach to training the land managers of the future, while students enjoyed learning about new topics and networking with students across the university partnership.

Stewart Blair, RSPB Scotland’s upland advisory officer, said: “We are delighted to be participating in the conference. The students who are attending will be the land managers of tomorrow and we will be looking to them to help conservation bodies like the RSPB protect our most important wildlife habitats. We can only be successful if we look at landscape-scale measures and that requires us all to work together. Who knows, perhaps some of the students will go on to help manage some of the RSPB’s own reserves in the Highlands and Islands in the future.”

You can find out more about the University of the Highlands and Islands land-based subjects at www.uhi.ac.uk

EASTER FAIR –SATURDAY 30^TH MARCH 2013
CARRBRIDGE VILLAGE HALL, 10.00AM – 4.00PM (Set up from 9.00am)

“Bringing local crafts/arts/produce to the People”

On Easter Saturday the Red Cross team from Aviemore will be taking their “Pop up Shop to the People” at Carrbridge village hall.   Supported by local art & craft and home based food producers the shop will be open from 10am – 4pm.

Family activities will include an Easter egg treasure hunt; face painting; pin the tail on the donkey; guess the weight of the cake; not forgetting a Mega Raffle!

Come in for morning coffee or afternoon tea with delicious home baking and have enjoy a wee “blether” too.

For further information email shonarankin@gmail.com or the shop on tel: 01479 810389