In Brief

* I was amazed to read the following in our local daily paper: Windfarm companies behind six facilities were paid for several hours between April 5th and 6th this year. Nine hundred thousand pounds was paid to six operators in compensation for NOT producing electricity!  One of the companies benefitting was Scottish Power, who operate near Alness. "The National Grid had overloaded because of high winds in Scotland on April 4th and 6th" said the report.

* Most of the sandy west coast shoreline between North Uist and Bara could be at risk of being swept away by coastal erosion.  A body studying how to tackle climate change warns that new homes may have to be built well away from existing villages to escape predicted rises in sea levels.  Nice to hear of some long term thinking!

* A firm in Scourie confirmed that it contributed the fresh salmon to the dinner seved at the Royal weeding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

* A clump of large green leaves on the roadside in front of my home has grown into a robust, tall and yellow flowered plant.  I thought it would grow into a Foxglove but now I see it fully grown I think it is probably a Ploughman's Spikenard flowering earlier than its usual July. 'Spikenard' is an old word for ointment. 

                                            
(Ed: we've uploaded photographs onto the iSpot website, asking for help in identification. At the time of writing nothing to report - to be continued in the next newsletter. If anyone has any ideas please let us know).

* The RSPB has warned that farmers' efforts to protect Scotland's rarest wildlife could be undermined by tougher CAP checks.  They say that the changes meant CAP support could now only be claimed on land which could be used to produce agricultural goods.  "Brussels needs to rethink its policy.  The recent clampdown made no sense and was having significant UNINTENDED consequences", said an NFU chief executive.

* Ross-shire's biggest school is to be led by its first ever female Rector.  The top job at Dingwall Academy has been given to Mrs. Karen Cormack, who has already been at the Academy for twelve years. "There is nowhere else I would rather be" she said.

* After a speedboat drove through a school of Bottlenose Dolphins, Dolphin watchers are being warned that it is an offence to intentionally disturb marine animals.

* A letter writer to the Scottish Farmer is also concerned about CAP reforms. He fears that the prospect of Brussels removing lower taxed fuel for agricultural purposes and terminating single farm payments in 2013, will cause farm tractors to become too expensive to run and British farming will go out of business. The cost of food would rise even more.                                        
Pam Morrison