Caithness.org News Bulletins

Volunteers are being asked to 'lose themselves' in the development of an amazing environmental feature in the grounds of Ferrycroft Visitor Centre, Lairg on Thursday 4th April.  Help is needed to plant a living willow sculpture to create the 'Ferrycroft Maze' - a community and tourism development project devised by Lairg Community Council and The Rotary Club of East Sutherland.

Funded by The Highland Council, Caithness & Sutherland Enterprise and The Rotary Club of East Sutherland, the aim of the maze is to capture the imagination of visitors to the area by creating a sustainable local environmental amenity.

The maze will be constructed from two-year-old 'willow wands' which will be driven into the ground and woven into arches. As spring progresses and the sap rises the willow will put out new leaves and the maze will start to have solid walls of greenery. A second layer of wands will be woven in next year to make the structure more robust.

In addition to the maze a small willow plantation will be started, this will mean that Lairg's willow craze can continue into the future with home-grown supplies.  Vice Convener of The Highland Council and local councillor Alison Magee says: "I am really glad that this project is happening and hope that there will be lots of support on the day. Using natural, living materials in this creative way will be good for the environment and good for the people of Lairg. This is a first for Lairg and is something that people can be involved with now and in the future. I hope the maze will be a boost to local people and visitors alike.

" Volunteers are asked to come along to the Ferrycroft Visitor Centre from 10am onwards on Thursday the 4th April. Highland Council's Landscape Officer, Anne Cowling and local Countryside Ranger, Ian Paterson will be on hand to help and advise. There will be some protective gloves provided but you are advised to wear warm clothes and waterproof footwear. Refreshments of soup and sandwiches
will also be provided.

What about a drystane maze based on the brochs for Caithness.  We are not short of stones - seen those quarries and all that left over stone after they have dressed the flags -  sitting doing nothing just perfect for a maze wall.........................................