Illustrated Talk and Annual General Meeting

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Written by Administrator

Category: Meetings

Published: 30 October 2010

Wednesday 10 November 2010

Nethybridge Church Hall

AGM 7.00 - 7.45pm

Talk:   ‘Discovering Grassland Fungi – Strathspey’s Forgotten Kingdom’ 8.00pm

I am writing to invite you to attend the AGM on Wednesday 10 November at 7.00pm in the Church Hall on Dell Road, Nethybridge. After  the AGM we have an illustrated public talk on ‘Discovering Grassland Fungi – Strathspey’s Forgotten Kingdom’ starting at 8.00pm.  The talk will be given by fungi specialist and enthusiast on this ecologically vital group Liz Holden. Recently Liz has undertaken a project on the fungi of unimproved grasslands in our district which, as reported in the Strathy  of 20th October, has been welcomed by BSCG as a fitting piece of work for International Year of Biodiversity. As some members will know, Liz wrote the chapter on Fungi in the book The Nature of the Cairngorms. She has led workshops locally as well as a foray of the Grampian Fungus Group in Strathspey in 2009. Liz has coined many of the common names for our fungi. We hope members will be able to stay on after the AGM for her talk and will pass on word about it to any friends who may be interested. 

The existing committee automatically stand down at the AGM, and can then be re elected. All the present office bearers are willing to stand again, but we are looking for additional members. So if you would be willing to help on the committee in any way please let me know. New nominations are welcome for all posts and a nomination slip is enclosed. 

The present office bearers are:

Convener: Gus Jones
Vice Convener: Roy Turnbull
Secretary / Treasurer: Tessa Jones

Cairngorm relaxes funicular rules

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Written by Administrator

Category: Debates

Published: 07 July 2010

BSCG gave an interview to the BBC  for the Reporting Scotland news programme (see link for video) over the sudden Cairngorm Mountain Limited announcement about trial guided walks to the summit of Cairngorm. This was considered before the funicular got planning permission when it was considered impractical.

Passengers to go off the beaten track - Press and Journal

All change for the summit as Cairn Gorm passengers allowed to top - The Scotsman

Sunday Herrald article on An Camus Mor

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Written by Administrator

Category: Debates

Published: 21 June 2010

Sunday Herrald article on An Camus Mor: Endangered bug highlights plight of national parks By Rob Edwards, Environment Editor, 20 Jun 2010.

© 2010 BSCG.  An Camas Mòr site. The green dwarf shrub in the forgeground is bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi  a constant in this heathland vegetation community that was  overlooked  in survey for the developer.

BSCG deplore the CNPA decision for 1,500 houses on Rothiemurchus estate

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Written by Administrator

Category: Debates

Published: 16 June 2010

BSCG deplore  the  CNPA decision on Friday 11 June to give the go ahead to 1500 houses on Rothiemurchus estate within the Cairngorms National Scenic Area . We consider  this decision, that was for 400 more more houses even than   reccommended by the CNPA's own officials,  put the developer's interests  ahead  of the national interest of safeguarding Scotland's most precious countryside.

See articles in P & J and The Scotsman.

Photo: Lowland heath  at the ACM site.  This is a threatened habitat for which the UK has a special responsibility and is one of the outstanding wildlife habitats habitats that would be destroyed if the ACM proposals are ever given detailed permission (photo BSCG).

Rare weevil discovered by BSCG on the threatened ACM site

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Written by Administrator

Category: Debates

Published: 10 June 2010

© 2010 BSCG, may be used for reporting purposes with copyright credited.

A rare weevil discovered by BSCG on the threatened An Camas Mòr site this month. Magdalis duplicata a beetle in the weevil family is associated with Caledonian pine. It is classed  as a Notable A.  The invertebrate survey for the developer includes no notable beetles. According to the National Biodiversity Network there are records from only four  10km squares in Scotland  with 3 of these in the Cairngorms area. The most recent Cairngorms area reports seem to be field observations from Mar lodge Estate in upper Deeside on 7 and 8 July in 2000.  In a 15 year study between 1979 and 1993 John Owen  recorded this beetle in 4 km squares in Abernethy Forest.