Northern Lights
- Thread starter highlandsflyer
- Start date
I must say that I too don't have a seat on either side of this. I am just pointing out a few points that I see from being local to this. I was just admiring the picture to be honest.
I have spent a large part of my life involved in wildlife conservation of varying degrees in a few different and varied places on the planet. From a very basic level this is at least opening it up and trying to educate people who otherwise may not have visited this site. Locals don't like it, well its the vocal ones who yell they don't like it. To be honest in Caithness, the older well established families don't like any sort of change, and tend not to like anything done to the land unless there is a government handout with the annual farm payment. So the alternative to this was ....nothing.
It is not just RSPB involved in this though they are one of if not the major stakeholder along with SNH etc. I am certainly not a fan of RSPB due to differences of opinion on professional conservation issues. Planning is an issue, the main being that while consultations have taken place and objections listened to, the main consent is all through Highland Council as highlands flyer stated and this is all taken over a hundred and forty miles from the site in Dingwall. Not locally through Wick or Thurso. It makes any consistant objections/ meetings attended etc very difficult for locals. My own opinion based on several issues in the past is due to the economic situation of the councils I really don't think they could sustain a very long legal fight with some of these major organisations anyway. I don't think that's the case here but some of the dubious practices regarding windfarms up here may be due in part to this. Funnily enough the RSPB have not objected to applications for several windfarms to the west of Thurso. We also post mortem a good few birds from these windfarm sites for my work.
Can see where your coming from with your description as well mate. A few years ago there was a lot of oil feared spilled around the coast up here and, seizing a PR opportunity RSPB organised a meeting to set up search of the coast to identify and small patches of oil washed ashore and count how many birds affected. At the time, the organisation I worked for had a large group of marine medics and volunteers based up here, so of course we supplied the bilk of the people. After a short briefing we were to go out in groups of two or so and take a couple of mile stretch each. I asked about the bird count and what was the plan if we found any oiled birds, we really just did whales dolphins and seals. They told us just to leave them as they weren't set up for it, they were only interested in the habitat, not the individual. Well you can imagine my groups reaction to this. We ended up with thankfully only three minor issues with birds that needed help and they were taken to the seal hospital. I also had to point out to the ale swigging bearded lady in the cardigan that was clearly on her first outing from the Edingburgh office that taking oil samples in plastic bottles is not a good thing. I did this politely and afterwards to one side but it was not taken very well. There was no way she would get a non contaminated oil sample in a plastic bottle, had to point out that the bottles were made of oil and would leach into the real sample once the oil was added. We were then all contacted later to say if we found any oil they would bring us glass sample bottles and not to use the plastic ones.
So as I said I am neither for or against. It could have been done better, of course. It could also have never been done. I ride out that way a bit and there are not many visitors really in the grand scheme of things. This might bring the few extra people a week that have a meal at the hotel, maybe stay a night.
Jamie
I have spent a large part of my life involved in wildlife conservation of varying degrees in a few different and varied places on the planet. From a very basic level this is at least opening it up and trying to educate people who otherwise may not have visited this site. Locals don't like it, well its the vocal ones who yell they don't like it. To be honest in Caithness, the older well established families don't like any sort of change, and tend not to like anything done to the land unless there is a government handout with the annual farm payment. So the alternative to this was ....nothing.
It is not just RSPB involved in this though they are one of if not the major stakeholder along with SNH etc. I am certainly not a fan of RSPB due to differences of opinion on professional conservation issues. Planning is an issue, the main being that while consultations have taken place and objections listened to, the main consent is all through Highland Council as highlands flyer stated and this is all taken over a hundred and forty miles from the site in Dingwall. Not locally through Wick or Thurso. It makes any consistant objections/ meetings attended etc very difficult for locals. My own opinion based on several issues in the past is due to the economic situation of the councils I really don't think they could sustain a very long legal fight with some of these major organisations anyway. I don't think that's the case here but some of the dubious practices regarding windfarms up here may be due in part to this. Funnily enough the RSPB have not objected to applications for several windfarms to the west of Thurso. We also post mortem a good few birds from these windfarm sites for my work.
Can see where your coming from with your description as well mate. A few years ago there was a lot of oil feared spilled around the coast up here and, seizing a PR opportunity RSPB organised a meeting to set up search of the coast to identify and small patches of oil washed ashore and count how many birds affected. At the time, the organisation I worked for had a large group of marine medics and volunteers based up here, so of course we supplied the bilk of the people. After a short briefing we were to go out in groups of two or so and take a couple of mile stretch each. I asked about the bird count and what was the plan if we found any oiled birds, we really just did whales dolphins and seals. They told us just to leave them as they weren't set up for it, they were only interested in the habitat, not the individual. Well you can imagine my groups reaction to this. We ended up with thankfully only three minor issues with birds that needed help and they were taken to the seal hospital. I also had to point out to the ale swigging bearded lady in the cardigan that was clearly on her first outing from the Edingburgh office that taking oil samples in plastic bottles is not a good thing. I did this politely and afterwards to one side but it was not taken very well. There was no way she would get a non contaminated oil sample in a plastic bottle, had to point out that the bottles were made of oil and would leach into the real sample once the oil was added. We were then all contacted later to say if we found any oil they would bring us glass sample bottles and not to use the plastic ones.
So as I said I am neither for or against. It could have been done better, of course. It could also have never been done. I ride out that way a bit and there are not many visitors really in the grand scheme of things. This might bring the few extra people a week that have a meal at the hotel, maybe stay a night.
Jamie
I see what your saying Highlands Flyer
Jamie
Normally this is so up here but not out here. I got to be honest Until RSPB and the clearing of the forestry for the bog nobody would ever have been coming here in touristy numbers at all, not like they do round the coast. If this area was left empty it would stay empty. Its not exactly high in numbers now.
Jamie
I agree that there should be wild places that are kept as wild places. Such as we do back in Australia. National Parks are one of the most effective ways to protect, open up or close off vast tracks of naturally important land. This wont happen up here as there are far too many vested interest in open land, be it windfarms or RSPB ie: Forsinard etc. We even have a tidal 'windfarm and wave plant going in just off the coast from me in in the Pentland. Sometimes the most effective way to protect these places from industry is to show its being used by the people. If they use it they may look after it and protect it. National Parks in Scotland seem to be a recent thing and like mostplaces it will take a few generations and a will for it to happen for it to grow to remote areas.
And no, I was wrong to say all families use the grants for guidance, though from my experience through seeing it first hand the advice they are given, a grant can make a big difference to either backing or not. The energy companies know this only too well.
Bigger things happening just now and these put into perspective how lucky we are.
Take care my friend
Jamie
And no, I was wrong to say all families use the grants for guidance, though from my experience through seeing it first hand the advice they are given, a grant can make a big difference to either backing or not. The energy companies know this only too well.
Bigger things happening just now and these put into perspective how lucky we are.
Take care my friend
Jamie
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