FIOS COLUMN FEBRUARY 2018
We are very pleased to welcome Courtney Morrison to the team. Courtney joins us as part HIE’s ScotGrad programme for a period of 12 months. She will be working on the Year of Young People and supporting many Community Land Trusts to market their events. Courtney recently graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a BDes (Hons) Design and Digital Art.
A series of public meetings will be held in March to share the draft Deer Management Plan (see the advert in this issue for the meetings). The Lewis and Harris Deer Management Group are working with a consultant to develop a deer management plan for Lewis and Harris and hope to have the plan finalised and adopted by the end of March. If you have an interest in deer management or would like to find out more about the plan than I would urge you to attend these sessions. All estates have had an input into the development of the plan and will be involved in the ongoing activities to underpin the actions and practices outlined within the plan.
This month a meeting was held with Grazings Clerks to discuss survey work for a walking route along the coast of the estate. The survey work allows us to consider a full feasibility study to look at what would be required to develop the route. The vision would be minimal works i.e. way markers, stiles, improved signage and generally managing the route that many walkers already make use of. The discussion was very positive; Lindy will continue to engage with clerks to ensure the survey work includes all the relevant information.
On Friday 2nd March at 10am – 12 noon Tighean Innse Gall will hold an SSE roadshow. This event will be in the Clan MacQuarrie Community Centre and anyone can drop in for free impartial energy advice and will have the opportunity to speak to SSE reps about electric heating systems.
We have been working on our events for the year and hope to produce a calendar of events in March. We look forward to rolling our out Outdoor Sessions again this year and have already undertaken a Big Beach Clean with a school group in a bid to get us ready for the sessions planned!
Much work is being undertaken around our care projects and I hope to be able to update in a meaningful way very soon. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are soon to decide on a site for a rural Lewis development and we are very hopeful that a site at Upper Barvas will be the preferred site. In the meantime, we are working to ensure all information is available for decisions to be taken. Some technical work has been undertaken on the site and we continue to engage with relevant parties to support the development of activities and services that can further support Safe and Independent Living.
More information on our events/projects can be found in this issue of Fios or visit www.galsontrust.com, follow us on Facebook or call the office on 01851 850393 / email: office@uogltd.com
