News Archives - Page 35 of 35

SHAMED again questions further designations

September 9, 2014

Map of the proposed ‘West Coast of the Outer Hebrides SPA’.

Campaign group Southern Hebrides Against Marine Environmental Designations (SHAMED) has raised questions over plans to designate the west coast of the Outer Hebrides – from Barra to southern Harris – as a Special Protection Area (SPA).

Plans to create the new designation – which would aim to protect species including Great Northern Divers and Slavonian Grebe – were published by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) in August.

Reacting to the news, South Uist community landlord Storas Uibhist said the proposed SPA would be a matter of “major concern” to islanders. North Uist councillor Uisdean Robertson said the islands were being “squeezed” by environmental designations and might as well be declared “a national park”.

Now SHAMED – which led the fight against the eventual creation of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) at East Mingulay and in the Sound of Barra – has added its voice to the debate over further designations.

In an open letter, SHAMED chair Angus MacLeod asks for clarification on the impact the SPA would have on potential future marine renewable energy developments in the area.

The full letter is re-printed below:

Dear Sir,

We have known since March 2010 that the Scottish Government was searching for new EU Special Protection Areas in our waters. The result of that search is a proposal for a huge SPA to the west of the islands, running from Taransay to Barrahead.

Surely this community should be discussing the possible impact of this site?

We need to know what will happen to the potential for marine renewables in our local area. The waters west of Barra and Uist were identified for development by the Scottish Government in 2008 as an alternative to the now protected Sound of Barra location. Now the alternative site itself is in danger of being designated.

I think we should also be asking how the “locally-led” Sound of Barra SAC management can possibly work now, since the new SPA proposals will cover most of the SAC waters within the Sound.

I would be happy to hear from anyone who shares these concerns.

Yours faithfully,

Angus MacLeod

Chairman for SHAMED

2 Eoligarry

Barra

Support your local mill!

September 9, 2014

The first Harris Tweed from Uist Wool yarn to receive the Orb.

by Uist Wool

Uist Wool is now looking to purchase local fleece for the new mill which will start full-time production in Autumn 2014.

We are keen to work closely with crofters and wool producers in establishing a regular supply of local fleece for Uist Wool to spin into a range of yarns for use in knitwear and weaving.

The benefits of selling to Uist Wool:

Better prices for good quality fleece

Local wool is used productively and creatively

Supporting a new industry based in Uist

Helping create new jobs in the community

Keeping our local economy vibrant

Uist Wool will use a range of grades to assess the quality of fleece and to set the final payment to the crofter/wool producer. Generally, finer, softer ‘Hogg’ fleece will be graded higher and the older, coarser wool will be graded lower.

In order to be suitable for our low-volume high-quality spinning, the fleece must be:

Largely free of paint and excess vegetation

Dagging and skirting removed or ‘Dump the Lump’!

Well-sheared i.e. without second cuts which shorten the fibre

Any breed, but separated by breed

Fleece will be graded based on the age of animal, staple length and ‘handle’ of the fibre. Staple length and handle are affected by genetics and condition. Uist Wool will grade fleece into A, B or C categories by a combination of these qualities and aim to develop a fair and simple grading system.

Stornoway-based designer Rosie Wiscombe wearing her unique Hebridean Hoody woven by Sheila Roderick of Scalpay Linen from Uist Wool yarns.

Over 500kgs of local wool, kindly donated in 2012 and 2013 has already been sorted and graded in preparation for the first run of machinery at the mill in Grimsay. Uist Wool would like to thank these pioneering contributors and encourage others to come forward to discuss selling their 2014 wool clip to the mill.

Uist Wool yarns will be designed to take advantage of the best qualities of local fleece for products such as textured knitting yarns, tweed, interior fabrics and floor-coverings. We are happy to discuss your fleece with you in more detail as we all try to make the most valuable products from island sheep.

If you are interested in selling or donating fleece to Uist Wool please get in touch with Dana MacPhee on 01870 602597 or 07798 561022. E-mail: info@uistwool.co.uk

Grass in the spotlight at annual Blackland Conference

September 9, 2014

Reclaimed blackland field at Kenary, Grimsay.

By the Blackland Project

Grass is the most important agricultural resource in Uist.

As Frank Fraser Darling said: “We should be able to grow grass as good or better than most parts of the country because grass likes plenty of rain and a mild climate.”

But what can we do to get the highest nutritional value for good cattle, sheep and wool?

GOOD GRASS = GOOD FEEDING = GOOD WOOL will be launched at the Michaelmas Open Day on the croft at Kenary, Grimsay, on Saturday 13th September.

The Blackland Conference will begin at 10am, followed by the opening of the Snàth exhibition from Uist Wool at 2pm in the new Wool Shed.

Tours of the working heritage machinery in the mill will take place throughout the afternoon.

The Blackland Conference will include a presentation on ‘Grassland Assessment and Renewal’ by Iain Eadie of Germinal Seeds, on local resources for soil fertility by Dr. Ken Davies with Neil Ferguson, on the initial CAP plan which may increase payments for managed grassland by Donald Murdie, and a lot of discussion about grass among the participants (please bring your ideas, comments, and questions).

There will also be short ‘hands-on’ workshops on Evaluating Blackland (Mary Norton), Results from the Seaweed/Potato Trials (Annick Merlin) and Sward Assessment (Ken and Iain).

Good feeding is essential for good wool and valuable finished products, as Uist Wool is now demonstrating.

Yarns spun from local fleece – Blackface, Cheviot, Hebridean and others – are the basis for new designs in fashion and interiors being created by Western Isles makers in the Snàth exhibition as part of Hebtember 14.

Included in Snàth is the first Harris Tweed from Uist Wool yarn to receive the Orb as well as many other innovative products. The Snàth exhibition will run Monday to Saturday until 27th September and be displayed in the Crofthouse at Kenary.

Sandwiches, teas and baking by Grimsay cooks will be available from noon to 4pm.

Please telephone 01870602597 or 01870-602954 for information. All are invited to attend.

Welcome to your new website

September 9, 2014

Welcome to your all new Am Pàipear website!

For some time we have been busy developing an online platform that will supplement the news and information supplied in the print edition every month.

Throughout this process we aimed to deliver a website that is elegant, easy to navigate, and above all functional.

Now complete, we hope you like what we have produced and that www.ampaipear.org.uk will serve our community well for many years.

Here are some of the key features of the new site:

NEWS

Our new site allows Am Pàipear to properly bridge the gap between editions, providing continuing, relevant news coverage supplemented by quality pictures.

WHAT’S ON?

Our new online What’s On? section will hopefully become the place for people to find out about local events in our area.

Listings are free and may be supplemented by unlimited text plus photographs and graphics. Locations are also mapped to aid visitors to the islands who wish to enjoy some of the activities on offer locally.

Listings will also appear in the print edition. Please e-mail your event details to: whatson@ampaipear.org.uk

CONTACT

If you are looking to reach the Am Pàipear team, details and an online contact form are provided on the new website.

Details for subscriptions and copy deadlines are also provided.

ADVERTISING

Space for advertising is available on the new Am Pàipear website. Please contact sales@ampaipear.org.uk to enquire and discuss possible combination deals with the print edition.

In due course we hope to further develop the website to incorporate e-commerce aspects, including the sale of digital copies of Am Pàipear.

In the meantime, happy reading!

Iain Stephen Morrison – Editor

SHAMED again questions further designations

Support your local mill!

Grass in the spotlight at annual Blackland Conference

Welcome to your new website

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