Chatterbox 109

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Page 2 Black Isle Chatterbox Summer 2024

Black Isle Chatterbox

Printed and published quarterly for the Black Isle

by Chatterbox Community News Group

In The Picture

Chatterbox provides a vehicle for any member of the community to demonstrate his or her opinions or beliefs, so long as these are not defamatory or offensive.

Publication does not mean articles are the opinion of the magazine or its production team.

Send stories, letters and adverts to: The Editor, Chatterbox, Burnside Cottage, Newhall, Balblair, Dingwall, IV7 8LT; phone 07963 714474; email editor.chatterbox@gmail. com

Next Issue

The Autumn edition of Chatterbox will be on sale in September.

Deadline for articles, photos and adverts is August 1st.

Advertising

Go to www.chatterbox news.co.uk for details. We give 15% discount to advertisers who book for the year.

The Team

Editor/Layout: Russell Turner editor.chatterbox@ gmail.com Advertising: advertise.chatterbox@ gmail.com Secretary: Liz McKinlay 07709 200132 lizzymac4402@gmail.com Treasurer: Aileen Battye treasurer. chatterbox@ gmail.com Chairman: Liz McKinlay Reporters: Sandy Mitchell, Anna Ginestri Chatterbox was founded in September 1997

by Jack Malpas ISSN 2399-1879 We support the Black Isle Tourism Team

Janice Macleman, who lives by the avenue of cherry trees in Avoch, remembers when they were planted 60 years ago, when there was also a pond and a putting green nearby. Who else has memories – or photos – of times past on the Black Isle? Share them with us.

Email editor.chatterbox@gmail.com

A View from the Black Isle

Make the most of our post offices B

Y the time you read this, the Greentree gift shop will have closed and Fortrose will have lost its post office.

This may be good news for Bob, who’s been ready to retire for a while, but not so good for post office users who now have to do their business in Avoch, Cromarty or Culbokie.

The Munlochy post office, which disappeared a few years ago, was never replaced, so the loss of a second is a worrying development. Fortunately, those that remain are secure, according to Estelle at Cromarty and Allan at Avoch.

However, we shouldn’t take anything for granted, especially since the closure of so many bank branches means that for some people the post offices are often the only place to carry out financial business. Online banking is fine, but not much use for paying in cash.

The best way to ensure our post offices survive is to keep using them – whether that’s for mail services or to make use of the variety of retail opportunities

offered alongside stamps and parcel postage. We’ll miss them if they’re gone.

S

ooner or later, when Highland Broadband gets around to digging up the road through Newhall and our household avails itself of its services, I’ll become one of the increasing number of people who no longer has a landline.

This also means that sooner or later the editor of Chatterbox will only be available on a mobile number (or email, of course). If you wish to update your contacts now, the number is 07963 714474.

T

hanks to everyone who contributed to my fundraising in aid of Young Lives vs Cancer. Completing three half marathons and the Virtual London Marathon in March and April helped me hit my £1,000 target.

Your generosity is appreciated.

Russell Turner Editor

Cover: Cherry blossom in Avoch

Photo: Sandy Mitchell

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 3

News

Harbour gets ready for next 250 years

By Colin Dickie, Chair, Cromarty Harbour Trust

C

romarty has for centuries been a crossing point for travellers to the north and the harbour is at the heart of the community. It is a rare John Smeaton harbour and was built by his friend John Gwynn between 1781 and 1785 and further improved in the 1870-1880s. It has been a centre of the town and its activities for over 240 years. For reasons noted later, that starts to be a meaningful date.

Originally an important trading port and emigration departure point during the Clearances, the town and harbour thrived through the fishing boom and hemp trade but subsequently declined after wartime service and the rise and fall of the oil industry.

Cromarty and its harbour have a strong story of history to tell which resonates with wider social and historic changes in the Highlands as well as playing its part in the defence of the nation.

Today the harbour plays host to a throng of leisure craft and small fishing boats, and is home to a thriving wildlife watching business, and is the base for Aberdeen University’s Marine Research Team. It also provides berthing for the Cromarty-Nigg ferry and periodically other marine support vessels within the Cromarty Firth. It is hoped that the harbour can find a new role with the offshore renewables activity now going on in the Firth and with the continued growth of tourism in the Highlands.

Whilst the harbour has survived well for 240 years, it does show its age, which is largely down to its position at the tip of the Black Isle and its exposure to the prevailing weather and tidal swings that we experience. Significantly,

The harbour in its heyday.

Facing Page: Renovation of the weather-beaten East Pier is vital.

with the harbour being a category A listed structure, it also costs a great deal of money to maintain because of the specialist skills and materials needed to undertake the type of repairs required.

If this all sounds very familiar, it is, and readers may recall the article in the Autumn 2020 edition of Chatterbox, highlighting the work that had just been undertaken to bring in several substantial harbour improvements, including new sheds and industrial scale fendering on Smeaton’s Mole to accommodate the summer ferry. That work to improve and renovate has continued and has seen stabilisation and pointing issues addressed on the West Pier and on the Mole. Ahead for the volunteer team lies the East Pier, perhaps the only truly

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remaining original part of the 1784 harbour.

Our Conservation Statement of 2002, prepared by Andrew Wright, still applies today. In relation to the East Pier, he commented: “The harbour has distinctive aesthetic qualities which may be attributed largely to the curved shapes of Smeaton’s design; to the east the pier remains largely unaffected by later development, and the serpentine form and elegant detailing of the parapet contribute to this perception.”

We are fortunate to have some historical pictures taken at various points in time that amply show the kind of activity going on in the harbour, how the East Pier was used, and how magnificent it looked.

As we now enter the final phase of restora-

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tion of the original inner harbour area, it is worth handing out some plaudits. Over the last six years, Cromarty Harbour Trust has undertaken a phased repair and renovation programme costing c£800,000 to date. This programme has only been possible with the perse-

verance and energy of our volunteers, some dedicated to the funding effort, others to ensuring that the harbour continues to function well and safely. Financially, capital works could not have been done without the support of several charitable bodies, public bodies,

local shops and a considerable amount of hands-on fundraising and press ganging. We now have a dedicated page on our website at cromartyharbour.org, giving thanks to those that have brought us thus far. It has been no small achievement. Of note has been the ➤

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 5

News support we have received from Historic Environment Scotland (HES), who have been our primary funders and continue to be so.

Having them involved in the process allows others to come on board.

So what are the issues we are looking to address? Part of the dialogue with HES required that we appoint a conservation architect to conduct a heritage appraisal. The outcome is a report highlighting the historical importance of every aspect of the East Pier, concluding with the priorities for repair. Reassuringly, the report identified that many aspects of the East

Pier have a high heritage significance. It went on to conclude that as a maritime structure that is fully or partially submerged by the tide and is exposed to a very harsh and demanding environment, the foundations are equally exposed to a high degree of degradation and erosion. These foundations were also examined and recommendations for repair put forward and prioritised based on current condition, heritage significance and public safety. In all, 11 major parcels of work have been identified as needing to be addressed, but not all are the same size or of the highest priority.

Don’t miss your ‘Harbour Angel share’

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orking with the community-led GlenWyvis Distillery, Friends of Cromarty Harbour has laid down a special cask of whisky which is expected to be ready to enjoy when the harbour celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2034.

The 200-litre rum-based barrel will evoke memories of the role the harbour has played in trade and emigration, not forgetting its naval role in both world

wars and more recently with oil.

Members of the public are invited to buy a “Harbour Angel’s Share” from this cask for £60. The share will then be bottled in 2034 in time to celebrate the harbour’s 250th anniversary. The initial offer is restricted to 200 shares.

For more information and to secure your share’ go to https://bit.ly/3WexDSl or scan the QR code above.

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Since the end of 2022 we have been building towards securing the necessary funding to be able to commit to a parcel of works that address the most historically significant repairs and those in the worst condition. With HES committing to 40% of the estimated cost of repair, the remaining 60%, which amounts to over £200k, has come from 11 organisations including FCC Communities Foundation, EB Scotland, Garfield Weston Foundation, Dalrymple Donaldson, The Cromarty Trust and Friends of Cromarty Harbour. Both Global Energy and The Port of Cromarty Firth (Community Fund) contributed.

The upshot is that an initial parcel of works will now proceed to tender and, subject to a successful process, it is anticipated that work could commence within the next 12 months (timetabling is difficult due to our weather and contractor commitments).

Returning to local involvement in securing the necessary funds, it is difficult to underestimate how vital this is in any wider pitch for funding. At the harbour, we are fortunate to have an adjacent charity, Friends of Cromarty Harbour, which seeks to help Cromarty Harbour in its efforts to repair and renovate the harbour. In the main, the charity raises funds via merchandise sales on the Harbour Trust’s website. This also brings in matched funding grants. The Cromarty Trust also performs a similar role for the local community, including the harbour, and we are delighted with its continuing support for such an important aspect of the town’s heritage and standing.

Both Cromarty Rowing Club and Cromarty Boat Club also assisted financially.

So we are now up and running with the next phase of the project which should keep us busy until the end of 2025. The challenges facing the harbour will not end there and consideration also needs to be given to addressing the condition of the outer Admiralty Pier, probably from 2026 onwards. Built in 1913, it went on to support the fleet coming ashore in both world wars. For now though the focus is on improving the uniquely curved and historically important East Pier.

No matter the size, all donations are welcome and you can find out how by checking out the Friends of Cromarty Harbour webpage.

All support we receive is hugely appreciated. l http://cromartyharbour.org/ friends-of-cromarty-harbour/

News

TBI offers more help to repair and reuse

By Lyn McLardy

L

the challenge, then there is also a facilitation pack available.

Recycling our single-use coffee cups is not as easy as it appears to be and despite most single-use cups looking and sounding like they can be easily recycled or composted, unfortunately they require specialist facilities. They also cannot go into our normal bins or home compost heaps, so the simple solution is a reusable cup which most of our local businesses are more than happy to use, with many

ots has been happening through Transition Black Isle as part of the Highland Community Waste Partnership and we’ve been busy working alongside local businesses and community groups to look at the various ways we can join forces to reduce our consumption of ‘stuff ’, reduce our use of single-use items, cut back on our food waste and find new ways of sharing items.

We’re delighted to be supporting the Black Isle Repair Cafe event which is on Saturday 1st June 1-4pm in Avoch Community Centre, where it will be celebrating two years of repairs! As well as the usual repair stations and a chance to learn some new skills from the volunteers (please bring your repairs along on the day) we also have some live music and kids’ activities as well so a great afternoon out for the family. Free entry and all repairs and refreshments are by donation. The Black Isle Repair Cafe encourages the use of reusables so you’re very welcome to bring along your own mug for coffee/tea.

If you miss the June event, the Repair Cafe will be taking a wellearned break over the summer but will return for the Highland Climate Reusable cups are available at Rosemarkie Beach Cafe.

Festival Event on Saturday 7th September – keep an eye out for more details! offering a discount if you bring your own.

We’ve been running the Zero Waste Food We’ve been able to provide some cost price Challenge which is open to everyone and there Keep Cups for sale which you can find at the are various ways in which you can take part. Rosemarkie Beach Cafe or at the Black Isle You can join in one of the workshops that we’re Repair Cafes if you don’t yet have one yourself. running across the area, take the challenge Our Keep Cups are barista coffee standard size from the comfort of your own home or, if so perfect for those coffee refills on the go. you’re a community group wishing to take on As part of the Keep Scotland Beautiful

#choosetoreuse campaign, we have been able to work with the Black Isle Library to provide a paper cup recycling box to recycle paper cups from their coffee machine. You can pop these in here and they will get picked up to be recycled.

We are delighted to be one of the six new community Refill schemes across the Highlands. Go online or download the Refill app to find where you can obtain refills for water, coffee, food containers and plastic-free shopping. Getting involved as a local business or community group on the Refill App is easy – get in touch with us for more info on how to join.

We are also starting to develop a ‘Library of Things’ across the Black Isle, the idea being that there are lots of items across the area that could be shared with others. We are currently trialling some Transition Black Isle e-bikes so keep an eye out for developments across the area. This should be a great way for people to hire larger, more expensive items that it isn’t necessary to own. If you’re a community group and have items that you’d like to make available for community use please do get in touch.

If you’d like to find out any more about any of the above projects, have any ideas or want to be involved with future events, please contact laura@transitionblackisle.org or lyn@transitionblackisle.org.

Keep an eye on the Transition Black Isle & Highland Community Waste Partnership Facebook and Instagram pages or check out www.transitionblackisle.org where you can also sign up to the monthly newsletters which have a whole host of useful information.

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 7

News

Golf course repairs progress – at a price

By Sandy Mitchell

S

ometime after our last issue, BBC Scotland news followed our story about damage to the Fortrose and Rosemarkie golf course with a piece covering the coastal erosion affecting over a hundred links golf courses all around the Scottish coast. The lead item showed the damage on the Black Isle and included an interview with the golf course spokesman, club president Douglas Simpson – a retired headmaster of Fortrose Academy. The club also featured on the STV news with captain Cathryn Field interviewed.

The damage was caused by the unusual power of Storm Ciaran in late October and early November, as shown by the dramatic photographs in our Spring Chatterbox article.

Recently, I went back to the golf course and took photos of the repair work that has been carried out.

You will see from the images that the areas around the first and second tees are now protected by rock armour, while the intervening area where the footpath was washed away has simply been infilled with sand by GF Job. This stretch is clearly very vulnerable to another further storm surge from the east.

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The temporary and vulnerable sand infill between the 1st and 2nd tees.

News

Left: Erosion caused by Storm Ciaran in late October last year near the 1st tee. Right: Extensive but expensive rock armour in the same area.

From the club general manager I received the following updated information: The total bill from the contractor GF Job who carried out the works amounted to £163,917. The work included: l To supply and place rock armour around the 1st tee for 57 metres then the same for 55 metres around the 2nd tee. l To supply and install HSP6 geotextile material round the 1st and 2nd tee areas. l To supply and install clean filter stone and riprap rock to protect the Scottish Water outflow pipe from damage due to rock armour. l Additional haulage and the shaping of sand at the beach between the 1st and 2nd tees.

(This is the area shown in my photo of that area so clearly vulnerable to being washed away by a new storm surge.) l Reinstating the beach access ramps for

“

access/exit onto the beach to carry out the works.

The Go Fund Me page we set up has raised an additional £25,000 to date. See: https:// www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-us-withour-coastal-erosion-issues Assistance has come from Scottish Water amounting to £43,100 to protect their outflow pipe to the left side of the 1st tee area and from Highland Council we have received ONLY £6,500 as they insisted that unless we put in a path to the left side of the 1st tee area they would stop us from carrying on the necessary works to protect the golf course!

We have also been quoted with an additional price for the supply of rock armour replacement between the 1st and 2nd tees which remain unprotected in the main which will cost in the region of £225,000 as it covers an

area of around 240 linear metres. This work we are unable to do at this time right now due to financial constraints.

The above Go Fund Me is an invitation for anyone who may want to help the golf club with this huge expense and also to assist the club in trying to restore the core path which the local authority do not see as a priority. The club is member-supported and provides employment and leisure facilities for the Black Isle area and beyond as well as an attraction from visiting golfers from all over the golfing world.

Aside from questioning the parsimony and unhelpful threat from the Highland Council it would also be interesting to know more about the content and quality of what flows through the Scottish Water outflow pipe.

”

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 9

News

Culbokie all set for a tasty day L

ocal food and drink producers will be at the heart of the Black Isle Food and Drink Festival in Culbokie from midday to 4pm on Saturday, 24th August. Over 25 stall holders will be offering tasters to tempt your taste buds with a rich variety of local produce, while players from popular local group, Fèis the Music, will enhance the atmosphere with lively traditional tunes.

There will be a fabulous line-up of demonstrators, who will showcase different dishes and techniques, as well as offering tasters.

There is something special for the younger generation too. Tickets for the demos are limited, so pre-booking will be offered from midJuly, by calling in at Culbokie Community Market or making reservations by email. Keep an eye on the CCT Facebook and website pages for updates.

As an exciting prelude to the festival, we are delighted to announce that Sarah Rankin, 2022 MasterChef Finalist, will be giving a demonstration at Findon Hall on the evening of Friday, 23rd, at 7pm for 7.30, August. Sarah will be chatting to food influencer Kelly, of Haimanaway, as well as preparing a delicious dish from her recently published cookbook.

Guests can look forward to lively chat, nibbles and wonderful wine, generously provided by WoodWinters Wines and Whiskies.

Raddery to open up for chat – and cake

F

ollowing the very successful autumn event, Raddery House is hosting an Open Gates weekend this month to share the updated project plans with the Black Isle community and friends.

There will be visual displays, an opportunity to chat to the Raddery House Board and the project consultants – and to enjoy cake!

Chair Bev Smith said: “Community support

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and input into the project is fundamental to its success and being on site at Raddery is the best way to bring the vision to life. A warm welcome is extended to all to enjoy this special place.”

The open weekend takes place on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th June at 2-4pm Raddery House. There is free entry, parking and refreshments.

Meeting to consider closed church’s use

By Nicola Underdown

L

ocals in Avoch and surrounding villages are being encouraged to attend a meeting on Tuesday 4th June to discuss the future of the Avoch Parish Church. The church closed its doors in late 2023 and the Church of Scotland has since indicated it would sell the building.

A meeting of 20 people was held in May, in the Avoch Pavilion, to discuss whether there is a will within the community to explore a community right to buy. A member of the group confirmed that the Church of Scotland had deferred advertising the sale of the property until the outcome of that meeting. The Church also confirmed the valuation price as £40,000.

Following discussion, the informal group decided it was necessary to hold another meeting involving more people and other key organisations within the community. The purpose of the next meeting, which will be

held in the Avoch Parish Church, is to establish whether there is broad local support and capacity within the community to develop a business plan for sustainable ownership and maintenance of the building for local benefit. It will also give people the opportunity to gather, see inside the church and consider its potential use.

An application for a Community Right to Buy must be made by an eligible community body and be approved by Scottish Ministers.

Possible uses of the church that have been discussed so far include a community meeting space, heritage centre, a men’s shed or a multi-use facility.

There has been a church on the Braehead in Avoch since 1493. The current building, with a seated capacity of 400, was rebuilt and opened in 1871 and sustained a strong congregation for well over a century.

At the meeting, members of the group noted that villages and towns all across

News

Scotland are taking steps to ensure historical community assets, such as churches, are retained for community benefit. Taking on the management of assets like this can generate income for the benefit of the whole community.

There is a clear process for registering a community interest in such buildings, but purchasing a building takes time and effort. It needs a group of people to work together to spread the load and to either work within an existing eligible community body or set up a new body – such as a community trust – that has a constitution ensuring that it operates on behalf of the community.

The meeting – at which all interested people are welcome – will be held in Avoch Parish Church, Braehead, from 7.30pm-9pm on 4th June. l Changing times as churches amalgamate: Pages 22-23

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 11

News

New team sets out to

By Elaine Fetherston

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ocal charity Black Isle Cares (BIC) is creating a new team of general volunteers to help vulnerable members of the community with practical, every-day tasks. This exciting new development is a result of research and development work recently undertaken by BIC to help plan its future activities and services in a way which reflects the needs of the area.

The research was made possible by Highland Council Community Regeneration funding and included speaking to other local partners such as Black Isle Men’s Shed, churches and health professionals, looking at how BIC promotes its work (including a smart new logo!) and how it can work in a more environmentally conscious way. Another central part of the work was a consultation with members of the community carried out by the University of Highlands & Islands.

One of the main outcomes of this research was finding out what barriers and challenges people face in rural communities on the Black Isle. Well recognised issues such as lack of transport, need for accessible group activities to alleviate social isolation and better awareness of local services in the area were all highlighted.

BIC already provides a range of support to people who find themselves isolated from their communities through health issues and lack of family or social connections. This new team of general volunteers will complement the existing BIC services and will enable them to develop much needed group activities in particular. General volunteers can help with a range of practical tasks such as shopping, DIY and gardening, and transport to activities and appointments.

The nature of volunteering is changing and it is recognised that people often want to put something back to their communities but have limited time due to their other commitments.

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Celebrating the charity’s recent birthday.

Becoming a BIC general volunteer is an ideal way of helping your community on an occasional and flexible basis. If anyone is interested in learning more about joining the Black Isle Cares team, BIC would love to hear from them

improve care

– just email admin@blackislecares.com or befriending@blackislecares.com or call 07548 343375 for further information.

Volunteers in the garden outside the charity’s office at the Black Isle Leisure Centre at Fortrose.

News n Black Isle Cares was established as a charity in 2015 to support more vulnerable members of local Black Isle communities by identifying local needs & barriers and working to address these through the provision of services and effective partnership working. Its objectives are to increase local provision, aid the delivery of services and empower our local people to live healthier and inclusive lifestyles with dignity, choice and confidence.

n BIC delivers a Befriending service, Meals at Home service, Community Garden project (located outside the BIC offices at Fortrose Leisure Centre), Intergenerational Activities with the local schools and a Food Sharing Shed.

BIC currently delivers its services to the villages of Fortrose, Avoch, Rosemarkie, Killen, Cromarty, Resolis, Culbokie, Tore, Munlochy and North Kessock. n Black Isle Cares is a registered charity in Scotland (SCO45371) and has an office base in the Black Isle Leisure Centre in Fortrose. BIC was proud to be awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2022.

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 13

News

By Jenny Brogden

A

s we eagerly anticipate the upcoming Black Isle Gathering on Saturday October 19th, at the Black Isle leisure Centre and Theatre, we are looking for your support in making the event an even bigger resounding success.

The gathering brings together locals and visitors alike to celebrate our rich cultural heritage and the spirit of community. However, we need your help and your and assistance to ensure that this year’s gathering is one to remember.

How You Can Help: l Volunteer Opportunities: The Black Isle Gathering relies on the dedication and hard

You can contribute to a BIG success

work of volunteers to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Whether you have a few hours to spare or can commit to a more extended

role, there are opportunities available for individuals of all interests and skill levels. From assisting with setup and teardown to staffing information booths and providing support during the events, your contribution as a volunteer is invaluable. l Donations and Sponsorship: Financial support plays a crucial role in covering the costs associated with organising and hosting the Black Isle Gathering. Your donations help fund everything from venue rentals and equipment to entertainment and promotional materials.

Additionally, businesses and organisations have the opportunity to become sponsors, gaining exposure to a wide audience while demonstrating their commitment to community involvement. l Spread the Word: Help us spread the word about the Black Isle Gathering far and wide. Share information about the event with friends, family, and colleagues, both locally and beyond.

Utilise social media platforms, community bulletin boards, and word-ofmouth to generate excitement and encourage attendance. Every additional attendee contributes to the vibrancy and success of the gathering.

Get Involved Today: We invite you to join us in making the Black Isle Gathering a truly memorable experience for all who attend. Whether you’re able to volunteer your time, provide financial support, or simply help spread the word, your contribution is invaluable and deeply appreciated.

To learn more about how you can get involved or to sign up as a volunteer or sponsor the event go to our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/ blackislegathering – or contact me at jenny.brogden@btinternet.com. Let’s come together as a community and ensure that this year’s Black Isle Gathering is the best one yet.

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Vandals won’t deter RAFT team’s efforts

News

By Lucy Vaughan

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osemarkie and Fortrose Trust (RAFT) was established by the trustees of Groam House Museum in 2019. As a charitable trust, its objectives were and remain to identify projects of benefit to the communities of Rosemarkie and Fortrose and to seek out and secure funding to resource them. The first major project, and indeed the key driver behind the creation of the trust, followed the proposal by Highland Council to close the public toilets in both Rosemarkie and Fortrose.

The trustees of Groam House Museum, (supported by the Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council), stepped in to create RAFT, its formation benefiting from two public meetings. Since then, it has had a fresh set of trustees bringing continuity and consistency to the operation of the toilet facilities in Station Road, Fortrose, and Mill Road, Rosemarkie.

Our trustees are a great group of local volunteers – Roderick Beasley, Andy Dorin, Marlyn Foster, Hannah Mather and myself.

The toilets are open 24 hours, seven days per week and all year round. I am sure they have brought welcome relief to many! Both have accessible toilets. They are a key local resource and appreciated by residents, visitors, delivery drivers and key workers. We have great support in Fortrose from Mr and Mrs Downie and Mr Mather – our neighbours.

They look after the planting beds outside the toilets and, thanks to their expertise, the plants flourish. We also have a great facilities manager for both buildings in George Mackenzie who keeps everything in great order.

We currently have five trustees, plus one on sabbatical.

Doug Maclean (who was our previous Chair and pivotal in setting up the trust) also continues to provide guidance and expertise.

I have definitely enjoyed being part of the team to provide this local service. We have had some challenges recently including, sadly, a few incidents of vandalism (particularly in Fortrose). However, Andy sprang into action to attend to the damage and we had hoped things would remain quiet on that front. Since drafting this article, we have had more vandalism in the female and accessible toilet. Our local councillor Morven-May MacCallum and the police are assisting in trying to stop this.

Our treasurer, Roderick, puts in a lot of time

Some of the team outside the Fortrose toilets (from left): Wilma Downie, who looks after the plants; Hannah Mather and Lucy Vaughan, RAFT; Richard Cherry from the Black Isle Men’s Shed; Alastair Clunas.

Left: the Rosemakie toilets.

and, as we are now registered for Gift Aid, makes our donations go a bit further than previously. It does take time and effort to manage the buildings, so we really appreciate the works of all our trustees.

We do, however, run at a deficit. We rely on Highland Council’s Comfort Scheme – which supplies some funding each month. Otherwise, we rely on donations. We recognise that these are very generous and have increased slightly

over the last 12 months. We will be trying hard this year to break even, so any financial support is welcome. We have recently received a very welcome donation from another local charity, the Black Isle Charge Charity shop.

Many thanks.

We would also appreciate any offers of help as additional trustees or, simply, if you notice anything broken or out of place to let us know.

The toilets are run on behalf of our community, so it would be great to have as many people interested as possible. l info@rosemarkieandfortrosetrust.org

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 15

News

Care for cadets wins honour for Flora

S

taff Sergeant Instructor Flora Thomson was presented with a Certificate for Meritorious Service by Joanie Whiteford, the Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty, in a ceremony at the base of the Fortrose Detachment of the 1st Battalion The Highlanders Army Cadet Force.

Flora joined as an adult instructor in April 2013 and became detachment commander in November 2017.

“During her time in the ACF she has shown a commitment towards delivering the cadet experience and care for cadets and adults who have met her,” the nomination stated.

“She has been involved with running the welfare cadre at camps, dealing with homesick and unwell cadets.”

By Cindy Campbell

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roam House Museum has reopened its doors for the season, open daily 1pm-4pm. We open outwith these hours for groups – just get in touch to schedule a private viewing. Please pop along to support your local museum.

On the ground floor we continue to display our exquisite set of sculptured stones from the important Pictish Christian monastery that was in Rosemarkie 1,250 years ago. We also have a small display panel on the Rosemarkie Man, the Pict who was brutally murdered on our shores in the 5th century; and who doesn’t love pondering a good murder mystery? For those who prefer to be active with their hands, we have a Pictish-style harp for playing, ribbons for plaiting into a Celtic knot, stamping and colouring activities.

Up the stairs we have continued the theme of Tracing the Celtic Knot through the ages, with our stunning Victorian bling, Iona Celtic art souvenirs from the Ritchies, and new pieces from the George Bain collection on display. We also have a video of modern artists who keep the Celtic Revival going today.

Our local history collection is not currently

Groam House back in action on display in the museum, but we are in the process of moving this collection to Rosemarkie to make it more accessible for local use. We hope to have this in place by the end of the year. In the meantime, you can read some stories from the local history collection on our website, including ones about the lemonade factory, the poor house in Fortrose, and photos of Rosemarkie High Street in the early 20th century.

Our gift shop has some outstanding new items this year. With free admission and the multitude of local artists in stock, why not consider buying your next gift from the museum? Our items are reasonably priced, and all proceeds go towards keeping our doors open.

Page 16 Black Isle Chatterbox Summer 2024

Local artists in our gift shop include Alsorts Arts & Crafts freehand engraved wine glasses and goblets, Asgard (Pictish and Celtic) Jewellery, Cath Waters, Earthgems, Leah Grace wooden chopping boards, Just Hammered laser-cut steel coasters, Lynne Donald’s fused glass art, Sally Knight’s hand-thrown ceramics, Sarah Dunton’s paintings, Anna MacNeil’s Harris Tweed bags, and much more. Marj Tait has created a Groam House exclusive line of Black Isle products with a lovely Celtic design incorporating Pictish symbols, Celtic knots and dolphins. With “Black Isle” on many, these are ideal gifts when visiting.

We hope to see you soon. l https://groamhouse.org.uk

News

North Kessock’s Eco Warrior Kids mark the official start of installation works, with the help of Laura.

In April, North Kessock Primary broke ground on the first Flourish school garden installation. Laura Dorantt, the Flourish liaison teacher, tells us about the initiative.

F

lourish is a new charity based in Munlochy. Our aim is to normalise gardening and outdoor learning in schools, measure the impact of our approach and present a case to government for wider rollout. We’re working closely with Highland Council and St Andrews University plus we have six years’ experience running a therapeutic horticulture programme for school children on the Black Isle Brewery farm.

This is the first Flourish school garden, and our ambition is for all schools to have, or at least have access to, beautiful and high-quality multi-purpose outdoor areas. Wonder and awe are essential experiences for healthy childhood development and so we feel strongly about making these spaces as beautiful as possible.

I have over 20 years’ experience working with children, in the UK and overseas (India, New Zealand and Australia). It was when I completed a Permaculture Design Course in Australia in 2014 and worked with my permaculture teacher in NSW Primary school ‘Food Forests’ that I decided to become a primary school teacher to teach growing and regenerative practices in schools.

By regenerative practices, I mean regenerating the land, our physical and mental health, and the resilience of our communities. For me, these cannot be separated; to do one we need to do all.

My love of the outdoors started at an early age on childhood holidays in Norfolk. I have

Garden charity wants kids to Flourish

fond memories of being completely free to roam with the other village children – playing on the village green, rope swings over rivers, building rafts, sneaking around the back of the carpenter’s workshop to see the ferrets.

As a family we would take evening walks to buy eggs and veg from the local farm. A connection to nature at an early age never leaves you. This is what we’d like to inspire in our young people. Without this delight it’s hard to connect with nature. Without a connection we cannot know something, and it is hard to care for something we do not know.

The original Flourish garden is on site at the

Photo: Callum Mackay, hnmedia

Black Isle Brewery, where produce for the bars is grown using organic, no-dig and permaculture methods. JJ Gladwin, the founder of Flourish, manages the farm in partnership with her husband, David Gladwin. JJ manages the gardening side of the partnership and is herself a garden designer.

She started welcoming groups of school children to the farm six years ago. Since then, small groups of children come to the farm on a weekly basis. The children feed the animals, collect eggs, and partake in seasonal growing/ gardening activities. It’s a therapeutic horticultural programme and, at present, we work with children who find traditional classroom learning extremely challenging. The effects on the children are moving. Simply, we would like the benefits to be felt by as many children as possible.

To affect real change, we need an evidencebased case to take to government. We’ve been working closely with the Highland Council for the past year and gained charity status in September 2023. We’re working in partnership with St Andrews Uni School of Psychology and Neuroscience with whom we’ve developed a metrics package which we’ll use to measure the impact of our approach.

The next three years form the scoping study – install three gardens into three schools (two primaries and one secondary), with a dedicated liaison teacher in each school, then measure the impact and take the methodology, evidence and financial implications to government (starting with Highland Council). We’re a small charity with a big vision. l www.flourishcharity.org l www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ flourishgarden

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 17

Black Isle People

Spotlight to shine on designer’s simplicity In August, The Old Brewery in Cromarty will stage an exhibition of furniture designed and made

by John Vaughan of Fortrose. His son-in-law, Peter McIlhenney, tells us about the man.

J

ohn Vaughan was the most gregarious of men; always ready to talk, to debate and to endorse and pursue fairness and simplicity in life and work. That last element, simplicity in work, almost captures the principal subject of this piece – John’s designs for and the making of furniture.

John was born in Llanfyllin, Wales, in 1925.

He served in the Royal Navy, then went to Liverpool University to graduate as an architect. Via Dublin, Hertford, and Clydebank, John took up the post of County Architect with Ross and Cromarty County Council, working from Dingwall. It was while in Liverpool that John met Bernice. They married and brought sons David and Guy and daughters Lucy and Ruth into their world and, for a time, a peripatetic life.

It is perhaps trite to say that experiencing active service in West Africa and, then, the aftermath of the war in Liverpool and elsewhere formed or promoted John’s ideals, but he was a firm socialist – along with many of his peers of the time – and almost all of his efforts in architecture were publicly funded and for public use and enjoyment. John was progressive and effective throughout his career as an architect: award-winning in both youth and maturity and shining in four geographically separate local authorities. It was the expansion of regionalisation – a loss of intimacy with communities – that caused him to rethink things. This ultimately led to a disenchantment

John and Bernice Vaughan meeting Princess Anne. with local government’s ways and, unwilling to stay at the helm of an organisation he could not champion, John took to private practice – with a distinct leaning towards designing and making furniture.

It is important to highlight the parallel change made by John’s wife, Bernice, during that last stretch of his career. Of course, Bernice had been in there all the way, looking after a clutch of four children and much much more but, seeing that her husband had, effectively, opened up a path of mutual opportunity, she returned to her vocation as a nurse. Bernice

Page 18 Black Isle Chatterbox Summer 2024

first updated her qualifications and went on to become a prominent member of Raigmore Hospital’s paediatric department. Bernice was an amazing woman.

So, to that furniture thing.

John started his explorations with seriousness whilst in Glasgow. An early piece, as an example, used a single sheet of plywood to make a functional and aesthetically happy table – generating waste only as sawdust. Upon achieving a long-term home in Fortrose, John worked from a big shed, then a purpose-built workshop, to create more and more often

Black Isle People

Left: Armchair from John’s 2x1 phase in the early 1990s. Centre: Oak armchair designed and hand made by John in the late 1980s.

Right: One of John’s design sketches.

deceptively simple-looking works. He used the brand name Whatnot Furniture, changing to Chanonry Design in the mid 1990s.

Although there was plywood early on, John moved into using only solid hardwoods: oak, beech, elm, ash and sycamore. Timber was purchased off-the-saw through visits to Russwood (Newtonmore) and Cromartie Sawmill (Strathpeffer). John’s method moved from items arrived at through the assembly of components – using mechanical fixings – via a mixture of fixings and carpentered joints to culminate in highly refined fixing-free pieces.

His last range came from a self-imposed stricture similar to that brought by the single sheet of ply; only 2”x1” sections were allowed. The outcomes are superb and, perhaps, the finest of his oeuvre.

John was prolific in exploring ideas with rough drawings on bits of scrap paper or newspaper. Nothing was safe. The downside of that is very little survives of his ‘from the hand’ work. He did, however, make a full set of formal drawings which are in the good care of his children. Some of those drawings will be on display at the exhibition, accompanied by piec-

John and Bernice meeting the Queen and Prince Philip at Invergordon in the mid-1970s when John was County Architect. The timber frame Norwegian housing, in the background, was being built to house oil workers. es made by John and others made by David Vaughan to his father’s designs. A highlight will be the showing of one of a pair of bar stools made by John some 40 years ago and loaned by Jim Anderson of The Anderson Hotel and Bar in Fortrose. Visitors will be encouraged to try that and many other pieces

at the exhibition, which will also endeavour to interpret the origins of John’s deep interest in furniture while delivering greater detail to the evolution of his design ideas. l John Vaughan, Furniture Maker is at The Old Brewery, Cromarty, from 7pm on 9th August to 4pm on 11th August.

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 19

Black Isle People

Cafe sets out to raise funds for Maggie’s

By Liz McKinlay

A

s we move out of spring into summer, businesses are extending business hours and shaking off their winter garb.

Our much-loved Avoch cafe, No.19, is one such business.

Though it’s busy all year, it will be focusing on charities, as well as food, for the coming season.

The cafe has become a gathering place for all sorts of activities especially charities. Jenni, who jointly runs the cafe with her daughter, Emma, explained: “We’ve supported a number of charities over the two years we’ve been open but we’ve decided to focus on one this year.

“We chose Maggie’s Highland Cancer charity for a number of reasons. Maggie’s Centres were opened to fill a need in the care for cancer sufferers, their friends and families. We also thought if we make one big push for one charity, it would be more worthwhile in raising the charity’s profile.”

Maggie’s Highland is attached to Raigmore Hospital. The centres are not government funded and are entirely dependant on charity. Though not officially part of the hospital, it’s recognised that health and well-being of cancer sufferers and their families and friends need a special place to meet.

Page 20 Black Isle Chatterbox Summer 2024

Black Isle People

Jenni and Emma – putting Maggie’s at the centre of a year of fundraising.

Photo: Liz McKinlay

The Maggie Centres are now a big feature around the UK, set up by Maggie Jenks and her husband Charles when Maggie had cancer and realised there was nowhere informal for cancer patients to meet and chat. Charles is a landscape designer and realised the surrounding environment was important to healing and well-being, so most of the centres are a unique design with very homely interiors and beautiful gardens.

As living with cancer can be stressful, relaxation classes and mindfulness are offered in the centre and online. There are many support systems in place and all it requires is a phone call to the centre to find out what will suit best.

The UK now has 24 such centres. Maggie’s Highland was opened in 2005.

The centres are entirely dependent on charity so Jenni and Emma are going all out to raise as much as they can.

They have planned a number of events, including Guess Teddy’s name and there’s talk of a Teddy Bears’ picnic for families in the summer. Emma is doing a parachute jump in August and in October Firewalk Scotland has been booked and is looking for 30-50 sponsored folk to walk over coals for the charity. All the details are/will be available in the cafe.

There will be various events like cancer rec-

ognition presentations from NHS Highland, ladies’ afternoon and evening events. As most of us know someone with cancer, this is a great charity to support.

Maggie’s Highland – one of 24 centres across the UK.

No.19 is open 7 days a week for summer, so make sure you have a look at all the events when you’re there as well as having your lovely snack. Or if you just want to give a donation, pop in and you can donate there.

The cafe is now part of the Comfort scheme, which means while public toilets are closed, you may use the cafe facilities.

A reminder that the cafe does afternoon tea boxes to take away and can provide outside catering for small birthday parties and small funerals.

It is open from 9am-4pm Monday till Saturday, 10am-4pm on Sundays.

Maggie’s Centre Highland can be contacted at highlands@maggiecentre.org or by phoning 01463 706306.

Its opening times are Monday-Friday 9-5.

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 21

Looking Back

Changing times as churches amalgamate Following recent church closures, Maggie Wynton chronicles years of change on the Black Isle

Fortrose elders in the 1970s.

I

n the centre of Fortrose is Cathedral Square where the ruins of the ancient Cathedral and Chapter House stand and nearby is the Roman Catholic Church of St Peter and St Boniface. The Free Church of Scotland, recently and beautifully rebuilt, is situated in Church Street and lovely St Andrew’s Scottish Episcopal Church is in Academy Street overlooking the waters of the Moray Firth. The former Fortrose Parish Church stands in the High Street, its tall spire stretching up to the sky. The nearby village of Rosemarkie has a lovely parish church, that overlooks the Firth. It celebrated its bicentennial in 2021.

The two congregations of Fortrose and Rosemarkie Parish Churches united in 1967.

That same year the Rev Finlay MacLeod, was appointed as the minister of Avoch Parish Church. He was the last minister; when he retired, Avoch was linked with Fortrose and Rosemarkie.

I believe that in 1983, the downstairs pews of Fortrose Parish Church were taken out and replaced with stackable chairs. This made the use of the building much more versatile. As well as being used regularly by church groups such as Bible Study, the Women’s Guild and a variety of youth groups, it was also used as a venue for concerts and performances by choirs such as the Black Isle Singers, fundraising sales, coffee mornings and an occasional wedding reception. These many uses meant that even if folk weren’t coming to the Sunday services, they were using the church building. This was very positive.

The two parish churches of Fortrose and Rosemarkie were used on alternate months by

a fairly large congregation, a flourishing Sunday School and youth fellowship groups.

However, Fortrose Parish Church closed in 2014 due to outbreaks of recurring dry rot. It was sold and the money from the sale is held to provide repairs to Rosemarkie Parish Church.

The Presbytery Plan has meant the closure of quite a few churches on the Black Isle. Now, we are reduced to two Church of Scotland churches. Since January of this year, Rosemarkie Parish Church, now amalgamated with Avoch and Cromarty Parish Churches, is to be known as Black Isle East and Culbokie Parish Church is now to be known as Black Isle West. If this trend continues and decline is not halted who can say what will happen?

A previous and well loved minister, Rev Sam Torrens, spoke a lot about the concept of ‘Churches without walls’ meaning that the church buildings were only bricks and mortar

Page 22 Black Isle Chatterbox Summer 2024

– and to quote from Matthew: 18-19 Jesus said, ‘Where one or two are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them’. This gives Christians a hope that the Church will never die out, as long as people meet together in His name.

Over time, the influence of the Church has waned for a variety of reasons. People with young families are often time poor. Many are working to make ends meet. Contractual obligations, Sunday employment, increased workloads and responsibilities can mean that family times are no longer spent in church.

More stimulating activities are increasingly available, namely sport, music and days out.

Many of the younger generation seem to be umbilically connected to smart phones and/or tablets and as a result have become disciples of the internet. That said, many of us use the internet for information, shopping, banking,

Looking Back

Avoch, Fortrose and Rosemarkie churches by the late David Webster, a teacher at Fortrose Academy. booking activities etc.

Numerous surveys indicate that the proportion of individuals who do not hold religious beliefs is steadily increasing and perhaps now represents the majority of the UK’s population.

However, people continue to want to use the Church for their weddings and funerals although they don’t necessarily come to the Sunday services. Our church practises active Christianity in the community through various groups who organise events, such as afternoon teas, evening suppers and talks on a variety of topics as well as providing Christmas presents and food parcels to those in need and who are known to us. Knitted cardigans, jump-

ers, hats and baby bootees are regularly collected to be sent to Malawi with which country our Church has a long-standing link.

In conclusion I include the poem I wrote for the bi-centennial of Rosemarkie Church.

A prayer in celebration of our church 1821-2021 Halfway down the High Street is a short and narrow lane, at the end of which are metal gates.

Just open, go through and gaze in wonder at this hidden gem a charming church with its tall, imposing spire and marvel at the craftmanship

of Watson, Falconer and Maclean who built it in three short years.

The spire was built extremely tall a homing aid for those at sea.

Time passed, some seventy years or more then John Robertson remodelled its interior in glorious, honey coloured Scots Pine that is the hardest of the softwoods.

We thank you Lord for our church, for the sturdy men who built it, for the caring hands who keep it, for all the words spoken in faith.

For us your people, two hundred years is history.

For you dear Lord, two hundred years is just a breath.

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 23

Arts and Entertainment

Black Isle’s new choir is a Scottish first T

he People’s Show Choir (TPSC) Black Isle was established in September 2023 by husband-and-wife team and professional musicians, Baz and Ula Chapman. Having recently moved to North Kessock from Birmingham, where Ula had been conducting several choirs for many years, the idea of setting up a choir in the local area seemed only natural.

Thinking it would take a couple of years to build a choir from scratch, imagine their surprise and delight when, on launch night, over 80 people turned up to sing! The choir gave its first public performance to a packed-out audience at Fortrose Community Library in December, with popular hits from stage and screen, seasonal favourites, and plenty of audience participation!

TPSC Black Isle is part of a growing network of choirs run by The People’s Orchestra, a charity based in the West Midlands. As well as running a number of community orchestras and instrumental ensembles, The People’s Orchestra supports long-term unemployed people, particularly those with complex needs, in finding work. The charity works closely with volunteers and recently received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Conductor Ula Weber puts the choir through its paces.

TPSC Black Isle is proud to be the first choir in the organisation to be set up in Scotland.

The choir brings together people of all ages and abilities, from across the Black Isle and Inverness, to sing accessible and inspiring repertoire, with a focus on songs from the shows.

Charlie is a new member of the choir: “My husband Tony and I have lived in Fortrose for 23 years and enjoyed singing with the Black

Page 24 Black Isle Chatterbox Summer 2024

Photo: Andrew Fox

Isle Singers for some years. Unfortunately, this small choir folded and left a bit of a hole, so we were delighted when the show choir started up in North Kessock.

“Tony was trained as a cathedral choir boy many years ago, whilst I was raised with musicals, since both my parents worked in the theatre. Although I cannot read music, I enjoy the challenge of learning new songs.

Arts and Entertainment

The People’s Show Choir Black Isle at rehearsal in North Kessock...

... and at the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Inverness, in March this year.

“Being part of a community choir brings so many positive benefits, including meeting new people and feeling part of something.”

Maggie, another member of the choir, decided to join after a friend told her how much she was enjoying it.

“Our leader, Ula, and her husband Baz are an amazing team. Ula is a truly inspirational teacher who makes the sessions so enjoyable.

She exudes both positivity and fun while Baz is a wonderful musician and accompanist with a great sense of humour. The warm-up exercises generate heat, as the hall can be cold sometimes, while the warm-up songs become ear worms!

“The songs that we learn are always broken down into sections which makes the learning so straightforward. This is most definitely a Monday night must for me.”

TPSC Black Isle is just one of at least 40,000 choirs in the UK. It’s a safe space where people can come and express themselves, make friends and have lots of fun!

In fact, the health and wellbeing benefits of singing in a choir are now well-documented, with more and more research being undertaken in this field. When we sing together, we release certain endorphins, serotonin and dopamine, the ‘happy’ chemicals that lift our mood and help us feel better about ourselves.

Singing helps beat stress, boosts confidence,

and improves memory.

Choir member, Catherine, has always enjoyed singing and as a young adult was a member of amateur operatic groups, and frequently sang in public.

“As I settled into family life, that went by the wayside and I lost the confidence to sing in public and only felt comfortable in my own home. When I saw the advert for The People’s Show Choir on Facebook, I thought let’s give this a go. Well, it’s been amazing! From the first

For more information about the TPSC Black Isle and its parent charity, or to sign up for your free taster, visit www.thepeoplesorchestra.com rehearsal I actually felt like myself again and my confidence has grown immensely as has my ability to hit the high notes!

“Performing in public (for the first time in over 20 years) before Christmas was nervewracking but so enjoyable! The choir is very welcoming, and Ula and Baz bring so much experience, talent and fun to rehearsals. If you love musical theatre and films then this is the choir for you!”

Sheila enjoys being part of the choir: “I love music and singing but there’s something about

belonging to a choir that goes beyond that. I guess it’s the camaraderie, the joint experience of taking a new piece of music, learning it, practising, and eventually being able to produce beautiful sounding harmonies as a team effort that makes it so rewarding.

“We sometimes surprise ourselves with the outcomes, big smiles all around. It’s a very welcoming bunch of people too, no matter how good (or not!) your voice is, you do feel part of a supportive and happy group – and Monday nights are all about putting the rest of life to one side for a couple of hours and just focusing on the music and the choir – the troubles of the world disappear, for a while at least!!”

Every year, the entire network of People’s Show Choirs come together to perform in massed concerts, often accompanied by the orchestra. In July, TPSC Black Isle is making a special trip to Shrewsbury to take part in a large-scale choir showcase. Led by Ula, the event will be a wonderful opportunity for choirs to perform to each other and experience the magic of singing with hundreds of others.

The choir rehearses at North Kessock Primary School on Monday evenings during term time. The are no auditions, simply sign up on the website and come along for a couple of free taster sessions. The choir welcomes people aged 14 upwards, from all backgrounds and singing experiences.

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 25

Arts and Entertainment

Art and flowers come together in Cromarty elements used to create a design, such as flowers, foliage, the container, and the accessories.

Scale and harmony of the exhibit are also important and getting the rhythm and flow of the display balanced ensures that it is pleasing to the eye and that the interpretation of the theme is easy to envisage.

By Alison Palmer

T

he first week in June will see two very different artforms come together in Cromarty to provide a week-long show of Flower Arranging and Botanical & Wildlife illustration at the Art & Flowers display. The display is being held in East Church, Church Street, Cromarty from Saturday 1st June to Sunday 9th June from 11am to 4pm daily.

The colourful floral display is the creation of local flower arrangers from the region led by Cromarty’s Evelyn Wilson. The display has a nautical theme to mark the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution with over 2,000 blooms being used to interpret this theme and over 40 individual creations on show.

Evelyn has recently been appointed Northern Tour Secretary for the Scottish Association of Flower Arrangers with the task of co-ordinating floral art demonstrations for all clubs north of Aberdeen. She developed her enthusiasm for floral art from her mother who was an avid flower arranger, encouraged to learn the skills in the era of the famous Constance Spry.

Evelyn recalls carrying all the flowers to demonstrations to help her mother and, age 12, she attended flower arranging classes in Arbroath. She gained City & Guilds qualifications and studied at Creative Flower School in Myerscough, Preston for her Advanced qualification, following which she taught the art for 10 years. On returning to Scotland she became a member of the Ross-Shire Flower Club and is their current chairman.

Flower arranging is the art of creating beautiful arrangements that convey meaning and emotion with flowers, leaves, ornaments, etc.

Like any art, it requires the technical mastery of a sensitive creative who is able to combine

Scientific accuracy with visual appeal

A detailed illustration of a Pineapple by botanical artist Julie Price the elements they are working with in a special way. A number of techniques are used to achieve the creations including choosing the right proportions between the sizes of all the

Page 26 Black Isle Chatterbox Summer 2024

The botanical and wildlife illustrations on show are the work of 15 students who study with Cromarty artist, Julie Price, and include work by Julie herself. Botanical Illustration is a genre of art that endeavours to faithfully depict and represent the form, colour, character and detail of a plant, identifiable to species or cultivar level. The best botanical illustration successfully combines scientific accuracy with visual appeal. It must portray a plant with the precision and level of detail for it to be recognised and distinguished, from another species.

Originally, botanical illustration was a scientific method of recording the characteristics of plants in a highly detailed and accurate manner. As they scoured the world for new species, botanists would take an illustrator with them to faithfully record each plant so it could be logged for posterity. Botanical artists train not only in painting techniques but also in botany in order to bring science to the illustration.

Julie Price is a botanical artist who trained initially at Plumpton College in Sussex. She exhibited at the Society of Botanical Artists’ exhibition in 2000, was awarded an RHS medal at the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual exhibition 2004, attended a course with the

Arts and Entertainment

The wonderful display in East Church last year.

English Gardening School at Chelsea Physic Garden and was awarded the prestigious Diploma in Botanical Watercolour Painting (with credit) in 2012. Julie was invited to join Amicus Botanicus, a society for the alumni of The Chelsea School of Botanical Art in 2018.

She runs classes at her home in Cromarty, and elsewhere in Scotland, covering a wide spectrum of experience and ability. Some students focus on detail while others concentrate on colour and Julie encourages them all to show their individual style.

Some of the illustrations on show will be available to purchase.

A peaceful and historic venue Art & Flowers offers a varied and interesting display for all visitors but in addition the venue, Cromarty East Church, provides a peaceful and historic location for the beautiful artwork on display. The church is in the charge of the Historic Churches Scotland and was the inspiration behind setting up the trust in 1996.

The trust preserves places of worship of outstanding national importance which are no longer used for religious purposes, safeguarding them for current and future generations.

Photo: David Kent

Decay and damp threatened the survival of the church but its plight came to the attention of the nation in 2006 when it was a finalist of the BBC Restoration Village series. In 2007 the Heritage Lottery awarded a major grant towards the £1.3 million restoration project.

Historic Scotland and Highland Council were also major funders. l Art & Flowers is on from Saturday 1st June and runs until Sunday 9th June. It is open daily from 11am to 4pm in Cromarty East Church. Admission is by donation of £1 minimum with all monies raised benefiting local organisations.

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 27

Arts and Entertainment

New tutors take lead into a busy summer

By Nicki Slater Arts Development Officer, Cromarty Arts Trust

T

here’s a busy summer ahead for the Cromarty Arts Trust. We have a new tutor, fibre artist Sophie from Forest & Dot, who will be teaching a Florals class at the Stables on Friday 7th June. In a packed oneday workshop you’ll learn the new craze (but

an ancient art) of transferring the colours, pigments and patterns from fresh flowers and leaves onto silk and cotton by pounding.

Sophie will also teach how to make everlasting summer floral wreaths from Shetland wool rovings and British-grown dried flowers. The Cromarty Art & Flowers show in the East Church is also running that week, and of course the famous Open Gardens is on all Saturday and Sunday too.

There’s lots more craft running over the summer. There is a day-and-a-half workshop on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June where you can learn to ‘sun print’ with cyanotype.

This easy-to-do craft uses sunlight and everyday objects to create beautiful blue-and-white images. We’ll use this technique to create a striking tote bag.

Into July, we have two sewing classes going on. The first is over 13th and 14th July where anyone who can use a sewing machine and has made simple garments will be taught how to make a summer jacket. Sewing continues into the following week with a Summer Sewing School for ages 8+ over four mornings. Thanks to the Middleton Trust, there is a heavily discounted rate for those in an IV11 postcode.

Call the office for more details: 01381 600354.

Another new tutor for the Arts Trust, Ailsa Wilde, will be teaching silver jewellery-making over 27th and 28th July. This course is suitable for beginners and those with more experience.

Ailsa is based in Inverness and has recently set up Wilde Workshops, and we’re delighted she is bringing her skills to the Black Isle. This is your chance to learn how to make your own beautiful silver jewellery.

We have lots of live music over the summer too. One of Scotland’s finest folk musicians, Kris Drever, is playing a solo gig at the Stables on 12th June. We’re delighted he is coming to Cromarty as part of his Scottish tour and tickets are selling fast. Make sure you don’t miss him. The young trad musicians are bringing the annual ceilidh to Cromarty on 20th July on their Fèis Rois Ceilidh Trail – a great chance to support the young trad stars of tomorrow and have a good dance.

Amy Laurenson and Miguel Girão play on

Kris Drever.

Page 28 Black Isle Chatterbox Summer 2024

Arts and Entertainment

25th July. Amy was named BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2023 at Celtic Connections and has since toured throughout the UK with her band, appearing at the likes of Shetland Folk Festival, Edinburgh TradFest, Cambridge Folk Festival and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Amy has performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at Glasgow’s City Halls during BBC Burns Night 2024 celebrations. She was named in The List’s Hot 100 of 2023 for her contributions to Scotland’s cultural landscape.

Playing in Cromarty with Miguel Girão as a piano and guitar duo, they explore the music traditions and folklore of Shetland in fusion with the music of mainland Scotland, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. This will be another great musical night out.

Our final live music of the summer is Evanton-based trio the North Atlantic Project.

This innovative combination of harp, dobro, guitar and vocals explores Scottish folk and American bluegrass. This is a truly unique mixture of styles and instruments by three outstanding musicians.

Please support live music and keep it happening in Cromarty and the Black Isle!

While we’re on music, we are delighted to be able to carry on the tradition started by Lauren MacColl and run a Fiddle Weekend in

Above: Amy Laurenson.

Right: Floral Pounding.

Cromarty over 5-7th July. There are classes for all levels from Elementary through to Advanced and we have three brilliant tutors – AnnaWendy Stevenson, Fiona MacAskill and Zoe Living –coming to teach and play over the three days. You can join the individual classes or stay over for the weekend in the Old Brewery.

This will be a great opportunity to immerse yourself in fiddle music all weekend! Full details are on our website.

Finally, our visual arts classes run by talented artist Anna Wimbledon continue this August. Anna teaches oil painting and will run a three-day ‘en-plein air’ landscape painting

over 23rd to 25th and a two-day portrait painting class over 28th and 29th August. Anna’s classes are always popular and suitable for beginners and more advanced painters.

The Cromarty Group have their annual exhibition at the Stables from 9th to 18th August.

You can find out more information and make bookings for all the classes, courses, gigs and events at Cromarty Arts Trust through the website at www.cromartyartstrust.org.uk, by emailing info@cromartyartstrust.org.uk or calling 01381 600354 during office hours. We hope to see you over the summer.

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 29

Arts and Entertainment

Open Studios set June dates C

romarty Open Studios will take place over the weekend of Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June from 11am-4pm each day. Cromarty Open Gardens will be taking place over the same weekend.

This year a small and very select group of artists and makers will be participating: Emma Nightingale, Jim Pennie and Neil Thomson. You can see paintings, prints, glass, jewellery, wall hangings and wood turning. All the artists look forward to the weekend and there will be a warm welcome for visitors who come to see their work and the Members of the Black Isle Writing Group – you’re invited t0 join them. creative environment that they work in.

Cromarty held its first Open Studio weekend in April 2016 and since then the event has gone from strength to strength. Visitors are able to see inside the studios and find out more about the processes artists and makers use to create their beautiful work and buy direct from them.

To keep up to date with the latest news on Cromarty Open Studios weekend follow us at www.facebook.com/ cromartyopenstudios The atmosphere is always friendly and informal.

By Ruth Matthews Emma Nightingale Group members encourage and support one very second Wednesday something magi- another with the aim of making writing, and sharcal happens at Fortrose Library. In a wee ing their creativity, a positive and life enhancing room off the main library, a group of people experience. meet to share their writing. They often write about One of the disadvantages of such a small group deep emotional experiences through this process, is that numbers can get worryingly low and with but also light-hearted and funny poems and stories two members soon to move south, that is what is will have them laughing out loud. happening here. It is vital for the remaining memThey tackle subjects as far removed as the bers that this valuable community resource is kept Coronation and Desert Island Discs. They have alive, so they are actively seeking new members. written about their travels, their ancestors and You do not have to be an experienced writer, their responses to works of art and music and just someone who loves putting words on the page many more varied topics. and sharing them with others.

Writing about the group one member has this to If you are interested in joining the Black Isle say: “This writing group has been an inspiration Writing Group please contact by email: for me. The themes and prompts awaken my mind figgetyfegg@btinternet.com and gently push my writing into unexpected creaWe meet every second Wednesday during term tive channels. I surprise myself and hopefully time from 2pm for up to two hours. Dependent on entertain others. I love to sit and write with others, demand, we will consider evening meetings at an listening and learning.” alternative site in Fortrose.

Everyone welcome at writers’ group E

St Boniface Fair help sought

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his year’s St Boniface Fair will be held on Saturday 3rd August in Cathedral Square, Fortrose. The event aims to recreate an 18th century burgh fair, named after a local saint thought to have founded the original church in Rosemarkie.

In 1977, a group of residents invited stallholders to come along in period costume to sell their local foods and crafts.

The event has been held almost every year since.

We need volunteers to help plan the event and/or to help on the day: setting up stalls from 7am and taking them down again at 4pm, manning a stall or serving refreshments. It’s a fundraiser for the community council and other groups which promises to be a fun day out for locals and visitors, and a chance to meet neighbours and perhaps make new friends.

To take on any of the roles, please get in touch with the community council at fortroseandrosemarkie@gmail.com Lucy Tonkin Page 30 Black Isle Chatterbox Summer 2024

Out of Doors

Accidental gardener learns the hard way

By Patrick Vickery

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ardening was a pursuit that was of little interest until we bought our new house in the Highlands, only our new house in the Highlands came with a substantial garden that required upkeep. When the grass reached knee height I found a rusty scythe in the garden shed and set about cutting grass with enthusiasm. The neighbours watched from a distance with a degree of reserved amusement, unsure whether to offer the loan of a lawnmower or if vigorous scything was my way of expressing a lifestyle preference.

Several hours later I assessed my scything skills. Most of the grass remained long and straggly, much of it of varying heights, and some areas were entirely bald where I’d ripped the soil with the blade. Two weeks later we bought a lawnmower and confined the scythe to the past from whence it had come.

The next task was to construct a fence to keep the dogs separate from the road. One dog in particular had been hit twice, once by a motorbike, once by a car, but miraculously survived to tell the tale.

The drivers were very understanding, only there’s a limit to how many accidents of this kind can be sustained before somebody gets seriously hurt, so a visit to Novar Sawmill in Evanton was arranged to buy fencing materials, a trip to the hardware shop in Avoch for nails, then fencing commenced.

With most things practical it’s not possible to become an immediate expert and our first attempt was largely predictable. It did the job all right, no doubt about that, but the neighbours were instructed to refrain from leaning on it as it had a tendency to keel over under pressure. It took a week to complete, two months of fine-tuning to sustain A lawnmower the weight of a small neighbour, then a further month before it turned out to be acquired the stability and strength to support the random mass of a more use than a casual passer-by who might be stopping for a chat, a rest or a curious rusty scythe. peer into our front room.

“Don’t be stupid, man,” he barked, which The next project was to create a vegetable garden where we would spend many pleasant isn’t the sort of comment you expect from your afternoons weeding, hoeing and cultivating as local garden centre, “get your sticks from the a family. When I think back to those formative woods.”

So we thanked him for his corrosive insults vegetable growing years one particular moment comes to mind, some crude advice adminis- and returned home empty-handed, but nevertered by the owner of a local garden centre theless were undeterred from returning on when we went to buy bamboo canes to stake future occasions when he was surprisingly most helpful. our fine crop of peas.

Yes, gardening was a pursuit that was of little interest until we bought our first house, but from then on it acquired an increasing significance. What remains fundamental to the whole process, however, is the rich and humorous fund of mishaps and misdemeanours that continue to accumulate as the years go by. © Patrick Vickery

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 31

Out of Doors

Cromarty prepares to open its gardens...

By Alison Palmer

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ardeners in Cromarty are busy tidying their gardens in readiness to throw open their gates for Cromarty’s Open Gardens weekend on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June from 11am to 4pm.

This popular fundraising event offers plenty for visitors to see with over 25 gardens of all sizes to wander around and find inspiration for your own garden space. There will be tea and home baking, music on both days including a roving bagpiper, a plant stall, tombola on Saturday and a bric-a-brac stall on Sunday.

For those unable to walk the distance, Cycling without Age will be providing its Trike Taxi service, the cinema will have its doors open to let those who haven’t seen the facility view inside, and the new Cromarty Camping community motorhome/campsite is inviting

Each garden is a special haven for its owners. visitors to come and view the planting and see what is on offer on the development.

Tickets for the event are just £5 per person (under 12s free) and are valid for the two days.

There is a free dedicated car park for Open Garden visitors on The Links where tickets can be purchased on arrival. They are also available from The Hub at East Bellevue on Church Street.

All monies raised will be distributed between local organisations – last year £6,970 was dis-

Photo: Cromarty Camera Club

tributed to eleven groups and, hopefully, the event will generate an even larger sum this year. Many local businesses give generous support to the Open Gardens and Global Energy Nigg has again made a welcome donation to the event.

The sun always shines on Cromarty (well quite often!) so do come along and enjoy a fun and enjoyable day out. For more information, find us on Facebook – Cromarty Open Gardens.

The bus that will help take visitors around the gardens.

...and so does Strathpeffer T

he success of Cromarty’s open gardens weekend has given another Ross-shire village the courage to follow suit. Strathpeffer is set to have its first ‘open gardens’ weekend on 15th and 16th June – a week after Cromarty repeats its now annual event.

One of the organisers, Alison Munro-White, explained: “Cromarty Open Gardens was an inspiration for us – it’s such a great event – so when we were looking at ways to raise money for the British Red Cross and local projects here, we dared to hope we could emulate that success.

“Like Cromarty, Strathpeffer is a beautiful village with a fascinating history, and lots of super gardens. We’ve had some great help from Cromarty’s organising team, they’ve been extremely generous in sharing their expertise and support, and thanks to them we’ve been able to make ‘StrathPetal – Strathpeffer Open Gardens’ happen this year.”

Over 20 gardens in Strathpeffer will be open both days from 11am to 4pm. Tickets are £5 for all gardens and can be bought from the village’s community centre or the Old Station. There will also be live music, a tombola, plant stall and a vintage MacBrayne’s bus to help folk get about.

For more details visit bit.ly/strathpetal or the StrathPetal Facebook page.

Page 32 Black Isle Chatterbox Summer 2024

Out of Doors

Seeking the green life hidden in our firths Isla MacLeod, a Conservation Biologist with Mossy Earth, describes the Cromarty Seascape project – community-led marine enhancement in the firths surrounding the Black Isle

Native oyster remains found in Munlochy Bay, summer 2023.

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ave you ever wondered what might be beneath the waves whilst walking the dog at Rosemarkie Beach, or have you ever noticed a tinge of deep green at low tide during the summer months in some areas of our firths? If so, read on to learn about a project focusing on some special marine life situated right on our doorstep.

If you were to ask many Black Isle residents and visitors which species call our coastal environment home, they’d probably mention a charismatic mammal like the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), or a bird such as the common cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). Not so long ago I’d have fallen within this group.

Growing up on the Black Isle and studying at Fortrose Academy, I was none the wiser that we had local seagrass (Zostera spp.) meadows or that we once had native oyster (Ostrea edulis) beds. Despite having my heart and mind set on becoming an ecologist, these are things that I’d have much more readily associated with the west coast of Scotland. When I left school in 2012, there were no courses offered locally in anything ecology-related, so I then spent several years studying at Edinburgh Napier University. After graduating, I tried my best to flit to New Zealand to join my sister Eilidh, but alas the call of the Highlands and home brought me back.

To keep on-topic and avoid this becoming something of a biography, I’ll skip a few chap-

ters, but back in December 2022 I joined an organisation called Mossy Earth as a Conservation Biologist. With their support, I began putting feelers out to see whether we might be able to develop a marine enhancement project in the place my heart calls home.

There had been quite a lot of buzz surrounding community-led marine enhancement projects involving seagrasses and native oysters in other areas of Scotland, but nothing from around here. Why? I asked myself, now armed with the knowledge that we had seagrass beds locally and that native oyster beds used to be present here, too. Why not here? As it turns out, I

wasn’t the only one asking myself this.

I started chatting to these other projects, and they soon put me in touch with Francis Williams based in Inverness from what was then a newly established community group called Moray Ocean Community. From there, I met others including Terrie Sawyer, who is based in Cromarty. They had also seen fantastic work going on elsewhere with communities at the forefront, and also just wanted to get on and do something. Moray Ocean Community is a group of like-minded and welcoming people from the wider Moray Firth area, and I am pleased to report that they are now a ➤

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 33

Out of Doors Community Interest Company (CIC). I’d highly recommend reaching out to them if you’d like to get involved in citizen science with a marine focus in the Moray Firth!

With Francis’ boundless enthusiasm and plentiful ideas, we set about developing a marine enhancement project focusing on seagrasses and native oysters that has now become Cromarty Seascape. The project area includes the firths surrounding the Black Isle. It has been an adventure so far to say the least. But what exactly are we planning to do?

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istoric records suggest that there used to be systems of native oyster reefs throughout the Cromarty Firth, and the most recent record we’ve heard of living native oysters in the Moray Firth is from 1975, located in the Beauly Firth (McKay and Smith, 1979). In any case, there have been no verified records of native oysters in the firths surrounding the Black Isle since. With that said, we will continue looking for them just in case there are any long-hidden ‘wild’ populations.

At this point a fair question might be to ask why there is so much fuss surrounding native oysters. Known singularly as oisir or eisir in Scottish Gaelic, oyster beds were once widespread in the UK and known as ‘the poor man’s food’, but they have declined by 95% in the United Kingdom since the mid-19th century.

They once would have been present throughout our coastlines, but now they are mostly either considered absent or in small, fragmented populations largely due to overfishing.

When left to grow and undisturbed by overexploitation, pollution, invasive non-native species and safe from diseases, native oysters form living (biogenic) reefs capable of supporting a diversity of other species. Providing complex physical structures like crevices, they provide spaces for other organisms such as fish to shelter, feed and reproduce. Their ecological benefits are not limited to the habitat they create; an adult oyster can filter up to 240 litres of seawater per day, increasing water clarity and facilitating light-reliant species like seagrasses.

Because of their clear benefits to the ecosystems in which they are supposed to be present, we are working to establish a native oyster nursery in the Cromarty Firth and explore whether they could be successfully reintroduced. However, the project is not without its

Seagrass survey at Milton of Culloden, summer 2023.

Seagrass survey at Shoremill near Cromarty, summer 2023.

Page 34 Black Isle Chatterbox Summer 2024

Out of Doors challenges. There have been supply issues throughout the UK for young native oysters known as ‘seed’, and there are also diseases impacting the species that need to be considered with biosecurity measures put in place.

With all of this and more to take into consideration, we would be lying if we said the project hasn’t felt like an insurmountable task at times. Despite this, we have continued putting one foot in front of the other and the project is gaining momentum. We are aiming to install a small floating nursery this summer, ready for the oysters once supply issues have been resolved. We’ve also been undertaking surveys beneath the waves using our Remotely Operated Vehicle to build a picture of the seabed habitats already present in the firths, and we have gathered eDNA samples from sediment in the Cromarty Firth to see whether we might be able to use the method to monitor biodiversity at the nursery site near Alness Ferry.

Alongside our work with native oysters, we have been mapping seagrass meadows to start building a baseline of the habitat within the project area. Led by Francis and with the assistance of volunteers from Moray Ocean Community, there have been many walks in the (often muddy) intertidal zone.

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eagrasses might be something that you would more readily associate with the west coast of Scotland or faraway places, but we’ve sizeable meadows right here at home. Best viewed from mid-July to the beginning of September, these mini ecological powerhouses provide habitat for juvenile trout (Salmo trutta) and food for wading birds. They also have a complex root structure that stabilises sediments, prevents soil erosion, and they promote efficient nutrient recycling.

In the 1930s a significant proportion of seagrass in the UK is believed to have died from a wasting disease, which attacks the leaves and prevents photosynthesis, ultimately killing the plant. There have been further losses since the 1980s from factors including pollution from industrial, agricultural and wastewater processes.

Part of the challenge when it comes to promoting the recovery of seagrass meadows is that they suffer from cumulative impacts, and it can be difficult to identify why losses are happening where they occur. This is why hav-

Isla with her dogs on Rosemarkie Beach. ing groups of people from our local area invested in and taking ownership of their local seagrasses is paramount, because there’s nothing quite like local knowledge! Connecting with other local people with various interests has been extremely helpful, particularly those like local shellfish farmers and others with family ties here spanning decades.

This year we are on a mission to identify and map seagrass meadows within approximately 1,151ha of potentially suitable intertidal habitat. To do this, we will be using a combination of ground truthing with drone mapping, and we are also exploring whether satellite data might come in useful. We plan to use this information to see whether it might be beneficial to reinforce the seagrass beds already present through active or passive restoration.

Active being through planting, and passive being through the removal or reduction of pressures to promote recovery.

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ou should now hopefully have a good idea of who we are and what we’re doing, but now I feel it’d be a good time to outline the general purpose and aims of Cromarty Seascape. Ultimately, we’re aiming to: l Enhance the ecosystem resilience and func-

tion of the firths by enhancing and restoring biogenic (living) habitats. l Empower local communities to get involved and take ownership of the project. l Work in partnership with local organisations. l Generate easily accessible, open-source data and evidence for use by others.

To learn even more about the project, you can visit our website or watch our first project video on our YouTube channel.

You can support the project by getting involved, simply spreading the word or through financial contribution by becoming a Mossy Earth member. If you’d like to volunteer, please get in touch with Moray Ocean Community.

We’re exploring additional funding options, but at the moment Cromarty Seascape is solely funded by our Mossy Earth members. l Email: isla@mossy.earth l Website: mossy.earth l YouTube: @MossyEarth l Instagram: @mossy.earth Moray Ocean Community l Email: morayoceancommunity@gmail.com l Facebook: @morayoceancommunity l Instagram: @morayoceancommunity l X: morayocean

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 35

Opinion

Why meals in school

By Councillor Sarah Atkin Independent, Black Isle Ward

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ften, it is the lower key work as a councillor, away from committees, that can be the most interesting and impactful. This is true of the Food in Schools Group.

I’m pleased to have been part of resurrecting the group, dormant for many years, to a now strong team of committed professionals with an important agenda to advance.

Some context: Diet, and its impact on behaviour and learning has interested me for nearly two decades. This goes back to 2004/2005 when I saw press reports about the OxfordDurham trials, where Omega 3 supplementation was given to children in a randomised controlled trial and proved remarkably impactful. At that time this was the largest randomised controlled trial (RCT) of its kind. The cohort chosen were mainstream pupils with DCD/Dyspraxia (with overlap into ADHD and dyslexia).

Interestingly, whilst the improvement in motor skills did not differ significantly with the placebo group, the gains in reading and spelling were jaw-dropping. Over three months, gains in reading were 9.5 months and in spelling 11.4 months. In addition, those falling into the ‘categorical’ definition of ADHD

Sarah Atkin – trial results ‘jaw-dropping’. also decreased significantly compared with the placebo. The fact that this relatively inexpensive dietary intervention had been so transformative seemed incredible to me. Keen to know more, I made contact with the brilliant scientist behind this study, Dr Alex Richardson, and we worked on a series of policy confer-

Page 36 Black Isle Chatterbox Summer 2024

ences titled: Diet, Behaviour and the Junk Food Generation. Scotland was leading the way in the UK for healthy school food with its ‘Hungry for Success’ policy at this time too.

What children eat was moving up the political agenda. So, Dr Richardson’s work hit the zeitgeist.

One of the speakers at the first of the conferences I put together was David Rex, Specialist Dietician at Highland Council. What goes around, comes around because 20 years later, I’ve met David again but this time as a local councillor and member representative on the Food in Schools Group he leads.

My passion for education and the welfare (and wellbeing) of young people is widely known. What our children and teenagers eat impacts not only physical health but also brain development, cognition, mental health, behaviour and mood. In short, the ability to learn and to make the most of their school years.

Twenty years on from Oxford-Durham trials and the ensuing press interest, we are even more aware of the impact of poor dietary choices and dietary disadvantage on children.

Yet still society and national policy-makers fail to fully grasp this.

Post pandemic, behaviour in schools has become a national issue. Alongside this, we also have what many are calling a mental

Opinion

make the difference health crisis in young people. A crisis that will cost – and is costing – significant sums of money, and costing hugely in other ways too.

Could food/diet be part of the solution?

This is why food in schools matters.

Discussions in the Food in Schools Group have already been wide-ranging. Getting the food to the plate is just one (obviously important) part of the jigsaw – and a shout out for the amazing cooks and all who work in this service. They do a phenomenal job under very strict regulations. We also, though, need to think about how food is eaten; the culture around food and whether there’s time to enjoy food (the social benefits). It’s also about wider food education and ensuring all of our children know how to cook.

One aim of the Food in Schools Group is to advance the idea of food being a focal point of the school day, rather than something ‘fitted in’ around the other ‘important’ aspects of education. This will require a change of mindset.

On this theme, the importance of timetable design was referenced.

Many of our children and teens are on a daily blood sugar ‘roller coaster’. Their breakfast sugar ‘high’ will crash down into a low energy/poor mood zone fairly swiftly, making sustained concentration in lessons extremely challenging. For those who have no breakfast, it’s pretty much a low energy/low mood continuum. Every teacher will have an anecdote about the impact this has on the ability of pupils to engage with learning. Hunger will impact behaviour which, in turn, impacts upon learning and attainment of all pupils.

A low GI breakfast is going to ensure concentration and mood is more sustainable for longer. Our teenagers are up early and many don’t eat breakfast (not always for reasons of poverty either, although poverty is a big issue).

This strengthens the argument for breakfast provision (and thank you to those who put on a breakfast club. Local members have been delighted to support it) but also the time to eat it. To enjoy it. A few minutes can make a big difference.

One (primary) head teacher I met referenced a minor adjustment to their school day to address some of the behaviour issues at break-time. To better balance the school day,

‘Every teacher will have an anecdote about the impact this has on the ability of pupils to engage with learning’ five minutes was added to morning break time and five taken off lunch. Every child then had time to eat their snack. Pupils and staff weren’t rushed or stressed. There was a palpable positive impact. If break is rushed in a secondary setting, does that impact too? How long then are pupils expected to wait until lunch-time and are they able to sustain concentration levels? Maybe we need to ask teachers and pupils these questions.

There are many challenges to face in the school meals service. Cost being one. Uptake being another, especially uptake for those entitled to free school meals. Waste is an undeniable issue (and this is also being looked at within the council.)

However, it’s worth citing Sweden to support the benefits of school food.

Sweden gradually introduced free school meals for all primary aged children after the Second World War in response to worries about the nutritional quality of packed lunches.

The long term benefits of that policy have been studied. A couple of stand-out observations for me were that the longer children experienced school lunches (i.e. from an early age) the longer they stayed in education. Those from the poorest families, exposed earlier to the policy, had a lifelong earnings increase of 6% over their lifetime (which strongly suggests a link to good food and attainment.) They also found positive benefits for the most affluent families. So, both the children and wider society have benefitted from this policy.

One of the three researchers of the Swedish study was Professor Petter Lundborg. In answer to the question of universalism being too expensive, he flipped it on its head by saying that, in a sense, it’s costly not to have this policy in place.

Quite. This is an investment in our children for the long term.

This is just a brief insight into the many fascinating discussions I will be part of as an active member of this group. One aspect of my busy life as a local councillor. I’m looking forward to contributing to this agenda and hopefully having some influence now the group is up and running again. l The work of Dr Alex Richardson on diet and behaviour can be found at www.fabresearch.org

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 37

Page 38 Black Isle Chatterbox Summer 2024

Pangram’s Chatterbox Puzzle

No. 109

Post your solution to the Editor, Chatterbox, Burnside Cottage, Newhall, Balblair, Dingwall, IV7 8LT, marked “Crossword”. The first all-correct answer opened on August 1st will win £20 from Chatterbox.

Black Isle Chatterbox We couldn’t exist without the support of the Black Isle businesses which put Chatterbox on their shelves and get nothing in return – except the goodwill of their community. You’ll find the magazine on sale at:

Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........................................

Avoch

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Post Office (Fishermen’s Co-op)

.........................................

Cromarty Post Office

.........................................

Culbokie .........................................

Across

9 Best anaesthetic is top of the charts for 8 (6, 3) 10 Orate about Muse (5) 11 Catherine the Great, say, gets little thanks about poison (7) 12 Blue bag for unlucky American (3-4) 13 Old matter for musical work (4) 14 As toasting goes, fill up here? (3, 7) 16 Reconsider who done it (a dance) (3, 4) 17 Gorge in or on this (7) 19 Leave about a hundred pieces in film causing agitation (10) 22 Spring of surprise (4) 24 Squander in batter (7) 25 Rootstalk muttered repeatedly on stage (7) 26 Punned half-heartedly about to alter greatly (5) 27 Host ten, retain differently (9)

Spar

Down 1 2 3 4 5

Track introduction, perhaps by 8 (3, 3, 5, 4) Green team – Muir is out (8) Scope out merit (5) Status quo – really? (3, 5) Goes hungry, consumes drug, gets the opposite (6) 6 Crash helmets for crazy folk? (9) 7 Lama is about sausage (6) 8 Cook bland lard near gutted, remixed for, say, status quo (4, 3, 4, 4) 15 Stronghold I duet loosely with for strength (9) 17 Sorry about intro etc . . . (8) 18 Having withdrawn, I make my way back through water in 24 hours (4, 4) 20 Sin, a contended peninsula (6) 21 Shop vessel in police force (6) 23 Anger about right for the soft yet hirsute (5)

The winner of Crossword 108 was Ann McLennan, Gowanbrae Crescent, Rosemarkie

Answers to Crossword No. 108

Across – 9 Criterion, 10 Umber, 11 Ounce, 12 Sheepdogs, 13 Jackdaw, 14 Pyjamas, 17 Popin, 19 Jay, 20 Walks, 21 Not well, 22 Juryman, 24 Sketchpad, 26 Purge, 28 Moist, 29 Elevenses Down – 1 Echo, 2 Picnic, 3 Dependence, 4 Jigsaw, 5 Underpay, 6 Jump, 7 Abnormal, 8 Iris, 13 Japan, 15 Jaw-dropper, 16 Susan, 18 Pathetic, 19 Jalopies, 22 Judged, 23 Morish, 24 Sump, 25 Cats, 27 Else

Dingwall Spar, High Street

Fortrose John Munro, Butcher; Cromarty Bakery

Munlochy Munro’s Nursery

Rosemarkie Spar

Tore Ryefield Farm Shop Contact the editor if you would like to stock Chatterbox for sale To have Chatterbox delivered to your home, fill in the coupon below or go to www.chatterboxnews.co.uk

Summer 2024 Black Isle Chatterbox Page 39