In Brief

* The GeoSearch problem is escalating around the Bignold Mausoleum where the end of the trail encourages searchers to remove stones from the nearby wall. Unfortunately, it is a retaining wall for the ancient graves adjacent to it, and the wall is regularly being damaged both on top and at its foundation.


 

* University students can now study for a Masters’ in Food Security and, specifically, learn how genetic modification could play an important role in tackling the Global challenge of a “World food crisis which is almost upon us”.  The world’s largest wheat importer, Egypt, has felt the brunt of the drought in Russia which reduced the wheat harvest by a quarter.

 

* If, like me, you don’t throw out those old desk diaries (some are just too beautiful) then see if you have a copy of the 2005 diary - the names of the days are the same, and it wasn’t a leap year, which would have altered the dates.

 

*An article in the Scottish Farmer warns that Scotland faces an “environmental disaster” if Europe carries out its threat to ban the key bracken-control chemical, Asulam. The NFU Scotland said that there was a very real possibility that the country could be left defenceless against uncontrollable bracken growth.  I do know that small areas can be cleared by cutting for three years consecutively.

 

* It was good to see Josephine Dean's report in the March issue of An Carrannach. In particular she mentioned that wrens had been seen locally having survived the winter - so far. It is snowing again as I write…


 

* At a sale in Dingwall the park champion from Thurso, sold to the Orkney judge for £900.  The “showstopper” is by Roadside Jack The Lad!


 

* Having ploughed through Corriemoillie wind farm application report, I am pondering the several references to the Local Development Plans for Ross and Cromarty EAST (that is us, folks!) 2007.  These immense documents reside in Libraries, Post Offices and, presumably, on line.  Will they be current, under review or soon to be declared obsolete by the time decisions are made? And will we still have those Post Offices and Libraries?



* I expect our new gardening expert could have told me that after collecting molehill soil, home-made compost and river sand then mixing it and barrowing it to my greenhouse (Dingwall) raised bed that I would only achieve the magnificent depth of 3 inches (8 centimetres)!  So, it was off to the garden centre for “3 Bags for £10”.  They are still in the car and snow is covering the bed now!

 

* Financial crises are having tremendous effects on Sponsorship, particularly for sporting events: Golf, Tennis, the Tall Ships Race, etc. are cited!  The general public perceive a contradiction when companies - which put huge amounts of money into Sport sponsorship - are also raising the price of their brands and even, in some cases, making employees redundant.  The companies justify this as the need for along term view, continuously raising awareness of ‘known’ but sometimes forgotten brands.

Pam Morrison