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Ferintosh Environmental Group (FEG)

Friday night's "Red Squirrel" evening was most enjoyable and the poem competition was won by the following entry. Sheila explains, "You would have needed to be there to know why and how this was written. Lesley took such a fit of giggles that she was unable to read her and Graham's effort out!"

 

A phone call from squirrel

Written by Claire Foot, Pru Ward & Joanna Chance

Hello…. This is Mr Churchill

The Red Squirrel is phoning to say

thanks for the inspirational and tempting feeder


Facilities featuring new thermal heating

generously provided for winter comfort

The fruit ripening on the trees create great meals

My visits are becoming a bit of a bad habit

making me lazy

 

But I’ll have to guide my friends here

to become members of your restaurant

We’ll all be busy this autumn

vigorously storing all the good stuff for later

 

I must now be going off to tell everyone

However you could do with inventing

a handset that’s easier for squirrels to use

 

11March 2011

 

Date and time of next meetings: 6 April, 11 May, 8 June 2011

Earlier this year we had a work party that made a start on creating a riverside path from Corntown to Conon, building a section of gravel path and clearing overgrown vegetation.

Since then two sections of very sturdy wooden steps have been taking shape in the steading at 7 Corntown, and now we’re ready to install them on the steep bank that is the major obstacle on the route. This will involve positioning the sets of steps on the bank, joining them together, and fixing them to supporting posts. We will also need to prepare the paths at the top and bottom of the steps, and if we have time, install the handrails and fencing. Some of this will be heavy lifting work, but there will also be a range of other tasks.

So, if you want to help to improve access to this interesting and attractive route, please come along on Saturday 9th October. We’ll be starting at 10am, and finishing in the afternoon. You can come along for as long (or short!) as you like, but we will need people most in the morning to position and install the steps. Park at the steading at 7 Corntown (see http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=255257&Y=856032&A=Y&Z=115 ) and if you arrive when there isn’t anyone there, walk past the steading down the road towards the river.

Please wear suitable clothing, footwear and gloves. There will be soup, sandwiches, tea, coffee and cake - so let us know if you are coming so that we can make sure there’s enough.

To see the wonderful results of this working party click on the following link.

If you want any further information or directions, please get in touch.

Sheila and Graham

9 Corntown

Conon Bridge

Ross-shire

IV7 8HR

01349 861991

The following link will take you to photographs of the recent "Red Squirrel" event.
The meeting to be held on Wednesday 11th August has been cancelled. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 7th September.
The following link will take you to the photos taken by Sheila and Graham at the recent bird ringing session.
They have been provided by Sheila and Graham.
Lesley Robb's FEG articles in the recent Community Newsletter 'The Noticeboard' has encouraged some new faces with new ideas to join us in 2010.

Have a look at the pictures of our two December events on the links below. Both were incredibly successful, well attended and lots of fun!

We look forward to seeing you and bringing your ideas for future activities.

Regards, Sheila Maher and Graham Sullivan

To see a collection of photos taken at the recent event in the Culbokie Woods click here.
To see a collection of photos taken at the social evening in the Ferintosh Hall click here.
We will have details of most of our events in future editions of Noticeboard, the Ferintosh Community Council Newsletter, although sometimes the timing doesn't work out (as with the December edition), so we do intend to keep you informed by email as well.

If you want any further information about Ferintosh Environmental Group or it's activities, please get in touch.

Sheila

The following link will take you to Sheila and Graham's posting of the bird ringing photographs. 

Bird Ringing photos at Corntown


The Black Isle Horticultural Society’s Annual Flower and Produce Show has been held each August for over 40 years in the Gordon Memorial Hall, Rosemarkie. We are always on the look out for new participants, whether they want to show a favourite pot plant or prize winning vegetables, or enter the tastiest pot of Blackcurrant jam. It’s fun and not as daunting as you might think – many people start entering after visiting the show and thinking that they’ve got something just as good in their own garden.

After a very long and distinguished record as Show Secretary and Chair, Ken Fenwick from Braelangwell has handed over the reins to Graham Sullivan, Show Secretary, and Hugh Fearn, Chair. Both are keen local amateur gardeners, Hugh in Rosemarkie and Graham in Corntown.

We are trying to widen and increase participation in the Society and in the Show, and would appreciate any help your Community Council may be able to give by publicising the Show in your community, either through any local newsletter you may produce, displaying posters, or just telling folk about it. We would be happy to come along and briefly talk to your Community Council about the show and/or society. Alternatively we can send you additional copies of the show schedule and a poster to advertise our show on 15 August.

If you, or other people in your community, are at all interested in showing or just want to see what it is all about, BIHS Show Schedules are available from Graham on 01349 861991 or sheilaandgraham@corntown.org.uk

Some photos of our, once again, successful outing in the Culbokie Forest.
Our thanks go to Shona, Forestry Commission, Graeme and Sheila, Lesley and David.

Here we are following a red squirrel quiz. The questions and answers were numbered and randomly scattered around the forest.

Our 'prize' after the succesful completion of the trail was to be able to decorate a drawing of a red squirrel with natural materials from the forest floor.

Our next venture was to go hunting for a bear trying to identify everyone of 30 plus natural items surrounding us in the forest.
A great time was had by all!

Some photos from our recent Amphibian evening.













A couple of photos from the Winter Social - a good time was had by all!




Art Project, Ferintosh Hall, 8th November

 

 

An album of all the photos taken by Nicola and Roger can be found by clicking here.

Mushroom and Maggots Walk, Sunday 21st September 2008

Leaders; David Genney and David O'Brien




This wren's nest was built in a rope hanging in a shed. At least five young fledged in July, spending a day flying around the shed before eventually being enticed outside by a parent.




The entrepid explorers of the Drummondreach Woods

127 households volunteered in Culbokie for the 3 bin recycling trial!
Up date: There was a very good response for the trial and 127 volunteers will take part which is excellent news. Letters have been sent to everyone letting them know that they will be included in the trial. The start date for the trial is Thursday 7th February. The volunteers’ green wheeled bins will be taken away on Wednesday 30th February and exchanged for the 3 new wheeled bins, 1 kitchen caddy and a detailed information booklet. At the end of the trial the Council will provide the volunteers with new replacement green bins.

On Friday 25th February a reminder and a sticker will be sent to those on the trial asking them to put their green bin out for collection, and to put the sticker on their bin so the delivery men don’t get confused when exchanging bins! One of the Recycling Advisors will go out with the delivery driver to offer any help and advice to anyone who needs it when the bins are delivered.

Background: In recent years, The Highland Council’s recycling rate has improved from 5.6% 2003/04 to the current rate of approximately 30%. This has been achieved through a combination of recycling points, centres and kerbside collections.

Currently around two thirds of households in Highland have the opportunity to recycle at home. This service is mainly confined to larger settlements where housing densities are higher and collection rounds can cover up to 1000 houses in a day. This service included additional collections of paper & cans and garden waste collected alternate fortnightly.
In order to increase the amount of waste that is recycled in future, The Highland Council plans to look at alternative methods of collecting waste and recycling in the more rural areas. Culbokie has been chosen as an area, which would be suitable to carry out this trial because of its location and the current lack of kerbside recycling service in the village.
The proposed trial will consist of a 3-wheeled bin system, which will include:
· 1 x brown 240 litre wheeled bin for garden and food waste - collected weekly.
· 1 x blue 240 litre wheeled bin for paper, cans, plastic drink bottles and cardboard – collected fortnightly.
· 1 x red 240 litre wheeled bin for residual (non- recyclable) waste (excludes food waste) - collected fortnightly.
·
The 3 bin recycling trial will provide The Council with valuable information on recycling participation, contamination levels and will highlight any potential issues with the collection of food waste on a weekly basis with garden waste.

The trial will run from January 2008 to July 2008 and householders who volunteer will be provided with the necessary information regarding the recycling service. This will be an exciting trial, which will hopefully determine the future collection system for waste and recycling throughout the Highlands.
Householders should look out for further information regarding the trail which will be delivered to them the week beginning 3rd Dec. Volunteer places are limited to 100 households only so taking part in the trial will be on a first come first served basis.

If you would like to know more about the trial or would like to register to take part, there will be Recycling Advisors on hand at 2 drop-in sessions at The Findon Hall, Committee Room between 4pm and 7pm on Thursday 6th December and Tuesday 11th December to provide further information. Alternatively, please call 01349 868439 or email recycle@highland.gov.uk for further information.


Report on the November meeting now posted. Click here.
"Mushrooms and Maggots Walk"  Sunday 30th September, Culbokie Woods
Led by Dave Genney and David O'Brien
Click here to view more photographs. 

The walk on Monadh Mhor 11th July


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A view of our evening walk in the Culbokie Woods.

 

Report – Culbokie Wood evening walk with the Easter Ross Ranger.

Four hardy souls from the community plus two others joined Martin Hind the Highland Council Ranger to walk round Culbokie Wood looking and listening to the dusk chorus for our local birds including tree pipits, various warblers and others. Unfortunately it was a bit dreich which dampened the spirits of the songsters although willow warblers, chaffinch and a number of other birds were heard. It is possible that some people may confuse Willow warblers and chaffinches as their song is similar but as explained to the group the willow warbler is the soprano opera singer to the chaffinch’s pub singer in quality. Song thrushes were heard with their repeating phrases i.e. singing a phrase and just in case you didn’t hear it repeating it again for your benefit. Have a listen next time you are in the woods.

Much of the walk was spent looking downward at the local flowers, which was just as well as we spotted Coral Root orchid which we later found out hadn’t been recorded at this location before. About 30 of this discrete pale yellow green plant were counted in a ditch so if you are out walking your dog keep a sharp eye out for this and other rare plants and let the environmental group know.

A common plant along the ditches is Bugle with its purple flowers but at the first main crossroads a white sport of this plant was seen. Other plants included heath spotted orchid, tormentil (a low growing four yellow petaled flower), bilberry, heathers and various ferns.

So despite the weather a reasonable outcome with the finding of the Coral root orchid.

Hope to see you at a future walk or event.


        Coral Root orchid                        Bugle - white variant
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A selection of photographs from our Open Day held on Saturday 12th May 2007 in the Kinkell Hall

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