Ferintosh Environment Group (FEG)
Latest information regarding the Community Market now posted, click on the "Community Market" in menu above.
The entrepid explorers of the Drummondreach Woods
127 households volunteered in Culbokie for the 3 bin recycling trial!
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
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.
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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