Caithness CWS - Front Page Bulletins - June 2004 - SNH Grant Aid

SNH

Highland Rangers In Caithness

�148,000 IN SNH GRANT AID FOR THE NORTH HIGHLANDS
Figures announced this week show that a total of �148,000 was awarded in grants to dozens of local environmental projects across Caithness, Sutherland and north-west Ross during last financial year by public body, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

More than �11,000 went to the Highland Council to help fund the employment of countryside rangers in Caithness and Sutherland. The money also helped pay for the Sustainable Forestry and Biodiversity Leaflet and the Cetacean Watching Leaflet.

Mary Legg - Highland Ranger
At The Millennium Dyke, Dunnet

Other SNH grants awarded in Caithness last year include: �288 to the Caithness Countryside Volunteers for the Nest Boxes for Birds Project; �1,750 for Bettyhill, Strathnaver and Altnahara Community Council for a viewpoint at Bettyhill; �2,014 for an outdoor educational play area at Ormlie Pre-School Centre; �3,110 to the Dunnet Millennium Committee for a sculptural dry stone dyke with wildlife illustrations; �3,116 to Plantlife for drain blocking at Munsary Peatlands; �3,580 towards the Keiss School Digg Project and �2,346 to ground improvements at North School (Wick).

The Skerray Historical Society received �5,000 for the Skerray Footpaths Project, while �4,857 went to the Tongue, Melness and Skerray Community Council for footpath and bridge developments at Castle Varrich.

The Golspie GREAN group received �10,000 for its recycling project, �3,000 went to the Sutherland Partnership to help fund the employment of a partnership manager, and �1,000 was awarded to the West Sutherland Deer Management Group for Habitat Assessment of Woodlands.

In Assynt, the Crofters Trust received �2,850 for 'What Lives in our Loch?' Project in North Assynt School, Historic Assynt was awarded �4,344 for developments at Inchnadamph, and �1,656 went to the Assynt Estate for the construction of wooden pedestrian access footbridges at Glencanisp.

Signs At Rosehall Forest

Other projects in Sutherland supported by SNH last year include: �3,850 to the Rosehall and District Action Group to help fund specially made nature signs at the Rosehall Forest Log Cabin Education Centre; �1,459 to the RSPB to help with the storm petrel survey project at Eilean Hoan; �1,805 towards a wildlife and nature garden for Kinlochbervie Pre-School Centre Association; �2,000 to the Bonar Bridge PTA for a community outdoor area; �3,849 to the Kincardine and Croick Community Council for the upgrade of the Culrain Footpath; and �5,000 to Balnagowan Castle Properties Ltd for a salmon exhibition interpretative plan at Shin Falls.

Lesley Cranna, SNH area manager in North Highland, said the support was part of SNH's commitment to promoting good stewardship, enjoyment and the sustainable use of the natural heritage in the North Highlands. She added: "By grant aiding such projects we hope to encourage more people to take an active interest in the natural heritage that surround them in the North Highlands which is a tremendous asset. The involvement of communities and schools is particularly encouraging as this involves working co-operatively on environmental projects which have wider public benefit. We are looking forward to helping more with environmental and access projects in the coming year."