District News, February 17 2023

Tarbert

 

Castle trust gets to work

 

Tarbert Castle Trust volunteers laid strong foundations for the new year with their first work outing of 2023 – after the trust got a helping hand from youngsters from the local secondary school.

 

On the afternoon of Friday February 3, pupils from Tarbert Academy joined on work experience while the following morning, there were 18 volunteers, and a mammoth effort by all moved six to eight tonnes of gravel to create new paths at the castle.

 

Robert McPhail, trust secretary said: “The new and improved paths will enhance the visitor experience as they explore the ruins.

 

“Permission has been granted by Historic Environment Scotland for further work on access routes and we have made arrangements to complete this before Easter.

 

“We also hope to start the long and detailed discussions with HES on further archaeological exploration in the coming year.

 

“It was great to see community volunteers rally round to progress improvements."

 

"attachment_872314" "aligncenter" "169"] The new path allows access to the castle ruins.

 

Argyll

 

Communities encouraged to make Argyll blooming beautiful

 

Communities involved in projects to improve their local neighbourhoods are being invited to join more than 200 groups already working with an environmental charity to receive recognition and support.

 

Registration for two long-standing environmental improvement initiatives, Beautiful Scotland and It’s Your Neighbourhood, is now open until April 30, 2023 and participation is free.

 

These initiatives aim to encourage and inspire community action and feed into the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) UK-wide Britain in Bloom campaign.

 

Beautiful Scotland is for groups that have come together to improve their whole village, town or city, and has judged and non-judged categories, with awards up for grabs.

 

It’s Your Neighbourhood is for smaller scale projects, such as community gardens, Friends of Park groups, or groups of neighbours improving their street or a nearby green space.

 

It isn’t a competition but has "levels of achievement" to encourage progression.

 

Groups that register for either initiative will receive support, mentoring and recognition for their ongoing greening and growing efforts throughout the year, and have opportunities to nominate themselves for a range of awards.

 

While shrubs, flowers and trees are an important part of an entry, there is also a significant focus on environmental, biodiversity and climate change issues.

 

For example, reducing water use, planting for wildlife and repurposing or recycling, as well as addressing litter, graffiti and improving vacant properties or sites.

 

Yorkhill Green Spaces in Glasgow won the NatureScot It’s Your Neighbourhood Pollinator Friendly Award at Keep Scotland Beautiful’s annual seminar in November 2022.

 

The group helped reverse pollinator decline by promoting pesticide-free, peat-free gardening and sustainable green space management amongst other activities which focused on local biodiversity.

 

Fiona MacLeod from Yorkhill Green Spaces, said: “Taking part in a national initiative meant that our community could be supported to improve the biodiversity of the local area and we are very proud to have been presented with this award.

 

"It’s Your Neighbourhood is a fantastic way to engage your community in helping protect and enhance their local environment.”

 

Groups are expected to find ways of involving the wider community throughout the year, through activities such as fundraising events and linking up with others. This year, there is an optional theme of Health and Wellbeing to focus activities and events around.

 

Last year, volunteers across the country contributed almost 200,000 hours, equating to an economic value of more than £2.5 million.

 

Juliette Camburn, community projects officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “It is becoming increasingly important to focus action on climate change and take positive steps to protect and enhance biodiversity in communities.

 

"Volunteers across Scotland make a huge contribution to the essential work being done to tackle the climate and nature emergency we are facing, helping make Scotland clean, green and sustainable for nature and people.

 

“We’d love people from well-established groups, through to those just starting out, to register for free support and recognition through the Beautiful Scotland or It’s Your Neighbourhood initiatives this year.”