The Newsletter for the Campaign

THE CAIRNGORMS CAMPAIGNER Autumn 2005

INSIDE THIS HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE ISSUE: CAIRNGORM ESTATE TO BE DISPOSED OF? Highlands and islands enterprise Word has reached us through the then Highlands and Islands Cairngorm estate to various channels that Highlands Development Board (HIDB), be disposed of? and Islands Enterprise (HIE) are although it remained part of the W e live in looking to divest themselves of Forest Park under the terms of the interesting times their estate on Cairn Gorm, Feu Charter granted by the and a vigorous perhaps even through a Forestry Commission. The cairngorm campaign community buyout. The land reasoning behind the transfer was is needed! includes not only Coire Cas and that it was considered more Large scale Coire na Ciste and the smaller appropriate for the important sponsored events in corries immediately to the east, but downhill ski developments to be the high also the Northern Corries of Coire handled by a development agency. Cairngorms. an t-Sneachda and Coire an Subsequent events have done Lochain, plus Creag an Leth-choin little to support that theory as the Scottish Water (The so-called Lurchers Gully). HIDB often applied more zeal than applies to improve the Badenoch and insight to its subsequent promotion Strathspey water Until April 1971, the land belonged of development there and made supply from Loch to the Forestry Commission as part basic mistakes. Einich. of the Glenmore Forest Park. Thereafter, the Secretary of State The estate has major strategic Large scale deer for split up the estate with significance for the future of the culling in Glen the upper half of the Park going to Cairngorms massif. There is a Feshie.

Muddle and monitoring on Cairn Gorm.

Hello Gastreum Striatum!

What are your concerns and what do you want of the campaign?

Situations vacant.

Local plans and the national park plan. The northern corries from across – part of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise estate and a Site of Special Scientific Interest Page No 2 Autumn 2005

well-established principle in nationally and internationally mountain management that the important areas of the Cairngorms successful protection of key core through judicious management of areas succeeds or fails depending development. It does not sound a on the management of what suitable candidate for a community happens in foothill approaches to buyout! “. . have as a first it. The Central Cairngorms have consideration such foothill buffer areas around It also leaves in the air questions the protection them except in one critical area – such as who would own the of nationally and that is Glenmore, of which the facilities like the day lodge, and HIE Estate forms the upper funicular railway etc. on Cairn internationally northern half. Here, major Gorm which are currently owned important areas development has lapped to the by HIE, and how would a new of the border of the vulnerable central landowner deal with the situation Cairngorms plateaux and what happens on this if the current operator collapsed? through key area is important for the future At present the infrastructure of the judicious of the whole Cairngorms. Major ski area is owned by HIE and management of tension can arise between this leased to the ski operating development. It protective function and the fact company. If the operation at Cairn does not sound that the Glenmore Forest Park, Gorm became unviable financially, a suitable candidate for a including the HIE’s estate, is a very who would be responsible for the community major recreational resource for the costs of the removal of the buyout! “ Badenoch and Strathspey tourist infrastructure? At least for the industry. In addition, parts of the funicular, this responsibility rests land, including the Northern with the current owner – HIE. Corries SSSI, are of significant Would they maintain this national value in their own right. responsibility after disposing of the land? If not, would anyone Whoever owns the land would considering bidding for the estate need to be able to not only finance be foolish enough to take the risk the considerable costs of of the continual survival of the maintaining a heavily used estate, current operation? The costs of but also have as a first removal would be a hugh financial consideration the protection of burden for any prudent owner to take on.

CAMPAIGN WEBSITE

More detailed information on many of the issues discussed in this website can be found on our website at

www.cairngormscampaign.org.uk Autumn 2005 Page No 3

WE LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES AND A VIGOROUS CAIRNGORM CAMPAIGN IS NEEDED!

EDITORIAL

You may be wondering why you had not heard from the Campaign for some time. The answer is Many things are simple.With the departure of Bill taking the Wright, project officer, and Ian attention of the Lawson retiring as the convenor, campaign not the Campaign has had to just the reorganise and rethink its forthcoming development. This does not mean National Park that we have been idle on are catchment plans for the Rivers Plan. Cairngorm issues, as you can see Spey and Dee, designation of sites from the contents of this under the Natura 2000 newsletter. programme, dedesignation of parts of the National Nature At the last AGM, members Reserve within the Cairngorms, recorded their thanks to Bill and Ian reform the of Common Agricultural for all their work and long service, Policy, review of the Scottish but it is appropriate to repeat this Forestry Strategy, giant pylons here again. The Cairngorms through the northeast end of the benefited greatly from their efforts. Park, and much else besides that Bill has gone to be the Director of will influence the future of the Rural Scotland and we wish him Cairngorms. So, there is still much success in his new job. Ian to do. T o rise to this continues to serve as a director of challenge, the the Campaign and contributed to To rise to this challenge, the Campaign will this newsletter. Campaign will need all the support need all the you, as members, can give. We support you, as Meanwhile, many things are taking are always looking for more members, can the attention of the Campaign, not involvement from its members. So, give. just the forthcoming National Park if you have expertise you think Plan. The usual issues grumble on might be of use, or even if you just – the funicular, control of deer want to be involved, we would be numbers, etc. But in addition, there pleased to hear from you.

Drennan Watson [email protected] Page No 4 Autumn 2005

CAIRNGORM ISSUES

In each newsletter issue, we will put forward the CC’s views on an issue in the cairngorms – this issue we report on five.

SHOULD FUNICULAR PASSENGERS BE PERMITTED TO LEAVE THE TOP “ . . the STATION OF THE FUNICULAR RAILWAY arrangement AND WALK UP CAIRN GORM? was there to protect vulnerable and At present, as most CC members to leave the upper station and walk previously will know, people arriving at the top on the mountain. A briefing paper damaged station of the funicular are not was prepared for a recent meeting areas.” permitted to leave the buildings of the Board of the Cairngorms and, for example, climb to the National Park Authority for summit of Cairn Gorm on foot, as consideration of the situation. The those who have walked up Coire paper did not recommend that Cas can do. This rather unusual alteration of the arrangement be arrangement is the result of the actively considered but that the tension between the requirement situation be monitored, and that to permit large numbers of people seems to have been the to use the funicular to reach higher conclusion. altitudes and the need to protect the plateau areas beyond that Media interest was stirred however were subject to spreading damage and the CC convenor went on by the numbers of people going radio and TV in Scotland there after arriving near the summit explaining the CC’s position – by chairlift. In order to obtain namely that the arrangement was European funding, a legally there to protect vulnerable and binding agreement was signed to previously damaged areas. If preserve the “closed system”. someone could produce a magic Cairngorm Mountain Ltd., formula whereby large numbers of Highland Council, and Scottish people could be released onto the Natural Heritage are signatories to mountain and the old proven and this agreement but not the Park serious problems not recreated, authority. then the Campaign would be interested. Given however, that A small minority of people have various people who knew the area urged that this arrangement be and the problems well spent a lot changed to increase revenue to a of time trying to think of a better hard-pressed company, which is alternative, that seems unlikely to losing money, and permit people happen. Autumn 2005 Page No 5

LARGE SCALE SPONSORED EVENTS IN THE HIGH CAIRNGORMS

In February, the Campaign was Damage to vegetation near contacted by Aid International UK footpaths can be measured 50m regarding a proposed large-scale away from the path. This is partly sponsored hike across the High because the easy terrain permits Cairngorms. The Campaign walkers to walk freely away from responded that, while fully paths, and partly because acknowledging the value of the windblown granitic particles from work done by such an exposed soils on the paths impact organisation, it regrettably on vegetation at that distance. opposed such events in the High Cairngorms, despite the careful Even by International Aid’s own organisation put into the event by description, several hundred Aid International. people would have to use the area for this one-off event. Inevitably The opposition is based on the such an event must be well high vulnerability of the plateaux publicised to make it a success, and other high mountain areas, and we have found that such due in particular to the thin infertile publicity has a knock-on effect in nature of the granitic soils , the cool encouraging others to use the short growing seasons, frequent areas publicised in this way. . freeze-thaw cycles and high wind speeds that discourage growth The Campaign expressed its and cause wind erosion of bared general support for the efforts of soils. All of this produces a thin International Aid UK and hoped it plant cover to stabilise soils and would find a more suitable area in support wildlife and which which to stage your event. It also is easily damaged and slow to has been in contact with National “It is an area recover. Park Officials stating that they that can take need to develop a policy on such only limited The damage done to the plateaux events. human traffic.” areas in particular by human feet has been extensively studied and Full text of the Campaign’s letter documented. It is an area that can is accessible on our website at take only limited human traffic. www.cairngormcampaign.org.uk.

If you have any issues that you want to write in about, or feel the Campaign should take up, let us know. Page No 6 Autumn 2005

SCOTTISH WATER APPLIES TO IMPROVE THE BADENOCH A WATER SUPPLY FROM LOCH EINICH.

Water from Loch Einich supplies local protective designations, as large areas of Badenoch and well as being in the Cairngorms Strathspey, stretching from around National Park and a National The water is of Newtonmore to Cromdale. The Scenic Area, Loch Einich is a high quality water is transferred from the loch Ramsar Site, part of the requiring little down the glen by pipeline to the Cairngorms SSI, National Nature treatment and Black Park in Rothiemurchus from Reserve, and Special Protection the altitude of where it is distributed to Area. It is also part of a proposed the supply consumers. Scottish Water has World Heritage Site and lies within permits the identified two particular values of the catchment of the whole served this water supply. The water is of Special Protection Area. There are area to be high quality requiring little few sites in the UK with so many supplied by treatment and the altitude of the layers of environmental protection, gravity and no supply permits the whole served ranging from the local, Scottish, pumping. area to be supplied by gravity and European and international level. no pumping. These two features make this a relatively cheap water There is a further problem with source. There are however Loch Einich. It is not just the water several problems associated with stored within a reservoir that is the supply. important. Most of the water stored in catchments is generally in the Firstly, due to poor installation of groundwater that supplies the From this point sections of the original pipeline, reservoir through surface and of view, Loch breakages occur in the these below-ground flows. This second Einich is sections, leading to water bursting store buffers the impacts of dry probably the out dramatically in the middle of periods on the reservoir levels. worst water the glen, as well as temporary loss From this point of view, Loch source in the of water supply to the area. Since Einich is probably the worst water Eastern there is little water stored in the source in the Eastern Highlands, Highlands, distribution system, rapid having very limited groundwater having pretty emergency repairs are needed, storage within its catchment so limited often in poor weather conditions. that the loch level falls fairly rapidly groundwater in dry periods. This is why Scottish storage within Secondly, housing is expanding in Water sometimes has to pump its catchment so that the loch the whole of Badenoch and water out of the loch into its level falls fairly Strathspey and, by about 2015, pipeline. rapidly in dry extra supplies will be needed. periods. Studies have indicated that, The proposal from Scottish Water technically, the easiest option is to reline (note not realign) some would be to take the additional six kilometres of the current water from Loch Einich. This pipeline, with just a few short would, however, almost certainly stretches needing relayed by involve building some sort of a digging trenches. CC members dam in Glen Einich. Apart from examined the planning application Autumn 2005 Page No 7

AND STRATHSPEY

submitted, and accompanying as ground for proposing increased Environmental Impact extraction from Loch Einich. This Assessment (All 5 volumes) and remains unclarified. The CC also discussed the situation with the believes considerable problems could develop during the pipe- Authority and staff of Scottish lining operations. There should, Natural Heritage. People must for example, be minimal disruption receive good water supplies, but to access to the Glen during CC objected to the application on construction. Environmental several grounds. These included impacts could yet turn out to be the failure to address properly the more substantial than predicted. risks that relining operations would not work, which would result in If you are visiting Glen Einich and long trenches being dug through experience or observe problems the glen, the lack of adequate of this kind that give you concern, detail in how environmental contact us through our website or damage would be mitigated directly. through prevention and restoration, and inappropriate Some other issues remain. duties for the onsite, supervising Leakage from the distribution environmental manager whose job system to consumers beyond the description in the Environmental end of the pipeline at Black Park Assessment seemed more suited was, until recently thought to to a public relations manager. exceed 50%. It is important that Scottish Water reduces this The Park Authority has given considerably. Also, it appears that planning permission, with Scottish Water is still not even conditions. Discussions with the monitoring how much water it is Any proposal to Park Authorities and examination extracting from the Loch. Without dam Loch of the planning conditions show such measurements it cannot Einich would be that most of the issues raised by know if it is working within the limits opposed by the the Campaign have been of the Water Order that give it Campaign. addressed. The Park Authority permission to extract. insisted that Scottish Water submit a detailed Environmental and Any proposal to dam Loch Einich Mitigation Plan before giving would be opposed by the planning permission and the Campaign. Campaign will examine this plan. Full text of the CC’s statement of Some uncertainties and issues objection are downloadable at our remain. CC was anxious that website. commitment of capital and resources to upgrading this www.cairngormscampaign.org.uk pipeline should in no way be taken Page No 8 Autumn 2005

LARGE SCALE DEER CULLING IN GLEN FESHIE. WILL THE NEW DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN PERMIT THE REGENERATION OF THE PINE FOREST? As deer grazed out the young pine deer counts made in each one, and seedlings, Glen Feshie has long cull targets created to reduce the been the scene of conflict between total deer population to about 1050. deer management and the need to To do this would mean reducing the regenerate the Ancient Caledonian sporting stag “yield” from 150 to 80 Pine Forest. The natural and the owner, who spends about regeneration of pine and other £300k per year on the estate, and seedlings in Glen Feshie has been keeps it for recreational purposes, made more difficult by the way in has accepted this. which most of the mature native forest grows in the narrow floor of Success or failure of the effort will the glen. In winter, hard weather be determined by a monitoring drives deer down into this sheltered scheme designed to measure area and a whole year’s crop of habitat response - tree regeneration seedlings can be devoured in a few will be the important indicator of this. Additionally, the days. The high deer numbers practical contribute to the speed with which What made these arrangements common sense this happens. possible was a combination of of the resident factors. These include the factor at Glen Recently, amid major controversy, willingness of the estate owner in Feshie Estate, the Deer Commission for Scotland Glenfeshie to reduce the sporting and a new- (DCS) entered Glen Feshie and stag yield, the nature of found carried out a major cull as part of an neighbouring landowners including willingness by estate plan to reduce deer numbers. the National T rust, the involvement the DCS to Two members of the Campaign of the National Park Authority, and stick its head Committee therefore arranged a the success of such an approach above the meeting with the estate factor to demonstrated by SNH at its nearby parapet obtain a clear understanding of what landholding at Inschriach. encouraged the had been done and to inform him of Additionally, the practical common process. the Campaign Committee’s view on sense of the resident factor at Glen the action. Feshie Estate, and a new-found willingness by the DCS to stick its Basically, the action was the result head above the parapet of concerted action to reduce deer encouraged the process. populations between four local estates. These were Glen Feshie Now, if this reduction to the deer Estate (of which the owner is population targets does not lead to Danish), the National Trust for the regeneration of the pine forest, Scotland as owner of Mar Lodge what can be done? That is a bridge Estate, the Forestry Commission that will have to be crossed if we and Scottish Natural Heritage. come to it. Meanwhile, the Campaign wrote to the DCS and the Under the new deer management Glen Feshie factor expressing their plan, within Glen Feshie Estate, the support for the work and also made land was divided into five subunits clear its support to Scottish Natural for management purposes, accurate Heritage. Autumn 2005 Page No 9

MUDDLE AND MONITORING ON CAIRN GORM A major condition attached to the current monitoring scheme did planning permission for Cairngorm not fulfil the Section 50 agreement, Mountain Ltd (CML) to build the and that monitoring on Cairn Gorm funicular railway was the did not integrate with any other How did such a preparation of a Visitor monitoring programme which poor monitoring Management Plan (VMP). An might have provided suitable data. programme important part of this was the Considering the three major come to be design and carrying out of a aspects of the programme – that accepted in the monitoring programme to assess is of the visitor survey, footpath first place? the numbers, movements and condition, and impacts on habitats, impacts of visitors. It was also it concluded none were fit for agreed that, if there were to be any purpose. significant changes in the VMP, then Scottish Natural Heritage SNH has now imposed major (SNH) would consult publicly on conditions and alterations to the these. CC committee members monitoring programme, but it visiting Coire Cas have found that shows just how badly things can the strict standards of prevention go wrong without watchdogs. and management of ecological A new external contractor has damage applied to the been appointed by HIE and CML. construction company which built A survey of the birds including the funicular were not being dotterel will be done separately by maintained by CML. another contractor. Work is about to start on the lines the first report It came to the Campaign’s notice was meant to follow and with new that changes in the monitoring methodologies. programme had been agreed between SNH, the Highland However, this all leaves open two Council (THC) and CML after an questions. How did such a poor independent report had been monitoring programme come to be prepared on the monitoring accepted in the first place? Also, programme. Since there had been why was there not public no public consultation, CC consultation when major changes committee members insisted on had to be made to such an The campaign seeing the independent report. important part of the VMP? has insisted on being consulted What it contained was revealing. The Cairngorms Campaign has on any further The report concluded that the taken up the second question at significant monitoring programme’s least and has impressed on SNH changes to the objectives had been confused that it would expect to be consulted Visitor from the start, key objectives had on any further significant changes Management not been kept in focus, visitor to the VMP. Plan surveys were of little or no value,

Page No 10 Autumn 2005

CAIRNGORM STORIES

A series of interesting happenings in the cairngorms, with a story in each issue of the newsletter. This time, it is the story of the finding of a new species in the Cairngorms. HELLO GASTREUM STRIATUM! NEW EARTHSTARS FOUND IN CAIRNGORMS AREA

A species of earthstar fungus, Geastrum striatum, has been discovered growing near Nethy Bridge in Strathspey. This is understood to be the first record of the species for the Cairngorms area, and about its most northerly occurrence in the UK. Only eight previous records for Scotland are known, though they are commoner further south.

Earthstars initially grow underground as a sphere composed of an inner The Campaign and an outer layer. The outer layer splits into lobes that bend outwards would be and downwards to form a star-like pedestal. This lifts the inner layer a interested to few centimetres above the ground. The spores are then released from receive any the inner layer via a “beak” at its top. further reports, so please keep The earthstars were found in autumn 2004, an exceptionally good year your eyes open, for fungi. Six individuals were found together by Roy Turnbull, a member particularly in of the Campaign, under old pine trees at the edge of meadows he owns. the winter when He said “I am sure that none have appeared there for the previous thirty they are easy to years, since my bee-hives are nearby, so I go there frequently and would find. have noticed them. It is interesting to speculate whether the earthstar mycelium have been in the soil for decades and have only just started to fruit, or whether they are starting to colonise this area, possibly as a result of climate change. A somewhat similar sudden appearance occurred in 2003, when a greater butterfly orchid - the only one known for miles around - flowered in the meadow just in front of my house. Again, I am sure that none has appeared there for the previous thirty years. The meadows have been managed to encourage wild flowers under the Environmentally Sensitive Areas scheme, and it seems to be working.”

Since this earthstar discovery was publicised, another reported find was received from a little further north at Tomatin. The Campaign would be interested to receive any further reports, so please keep your eyes open, particularly in the winter when they are easy to find. Photo by Dr. Gus Jones

Roy’s Earth Star Autumn 2005 Page No 11

WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS AND WHAT DO YOU WANT OF THE CAMPAIGN?

As we have already said, much has happened and changed since our last newsletter. Old issues have died, others remain, and new ones STOP PRESS! have been born. The Committee of the Campaign like to think that we have our ears to the ground and that, through various links, we quickly ISSUES T H E become aware of issues and concerns. However, no doubt we are CAMPAIGN IS missing some. If you feel that issues that concern you are not being ACTIVE ON addressed, or if you observe something in the Cairngorms that you think the Campaign should know about, then please contact us – we may or SEE NEXT may not be able to address them, but we will respond. ISSUE!

Remember this is Your Campaign! We are only as good as our members Low flying and your involvement with it. We need to know what concerns you and helicopters in what you want from the Campaign – so with the dawning of a new era, the Cairngorms! please let us know you thoughts. Sustainable deer management

HELP THE CAMPAIGN The National Park Plan

Consultation on SITUATIONS VACANT the Management of The Cairngorms Campaign is in need of volunteers to help. If Mar Lodge you are interested in doing any of the jobs below, or helping Estate by the them, then do let us know. National T rust for Scotland Membership secretary:- Not the routine of putting letters in envelops etc. That is done by our Campaign secretary, but the creative business of building the Campaign’s membership.

Newsletter Editor :- Bringing together the quarterly newsletter to members. Also needs some creativity.

Fundraising Group:- We do need to have some people focused on just raising funds

Obviously it would help to be reasonably near the scene of action, but you might be able to help with some aspect of them even if you were not! Page No 12 Autumn 2005

LOCAL PLANS AND THE NATIONAL PARK PLAN IN THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK There is considerable confusion in The National Park Plan will set out the minds of many people about the how the CNPA and partners are First of a series different plans the Cairngorms going to deliver the four aims of the of articles National Park Authority is to prepare. Park. It co-ordinates the work of designed to We asked the Cairngorms National CNPA and all other public agencies inform Park Authority to outline the functions in so far as they affect the aims of members of the of the Park Plan and Local Plan and the Park, so it will have an impact on factual the timetable for their introduction. every public body working in the background to Staff kindly provided this short article Park. All public bodies will have to a Cairngorm for the newsletter and this is what co-ordinate their work to ensure that subject. they said:- the aims of the Park are achieved.

The Cairngorms have many special The Local Plans takes its strategic qualities - from the unique landscape direction from the vision and of arctic mountain plateaux, semi- objectives of the Park Plan. The two natural forests, rivers and lochs and kinds of plans are being prepared in the species that are found there, to close collaboration. The Local Plan the distinctive local communities, is being developed through a very recreational opportunities and innovative and extensive public cultural life. consultation and involvement process. This will continue through A key role for the Cairngorms 2005 as it is drafted and re-drafted, National Park Authority (CNPA) is to and each stage of the consultation put in place two kinds of long-term process will help to inform the plans for the management of this National Park Plan too. very special area. The National Park Plan will put in place an overall The CNPA Board will consider a draft strategy for the Park, which all public vision for the National Park Plan in bodies, communities and other April 2005 and a first draft of the interests within the Park are involved Local Plan will be published in May. NEW POSTAL in shaping and delivering. The Local There will be another round of ADDRESS FOR Plan will determine local land use, community consultation on the Local THE such as the pattern of built Plan in summer 2005, and intensive CAMPAIGN development, in the area in the discussions will continue to take future. place with partners and stakeholders The Cairngorms about the National Park Plan. Campaign has a These two kinds of plans are closely new postal related, which is why we have The draft National Park Plan will be address. It is decided to develop the two in published for public consultation in tandem. By May 2006 both plans will spring 2006. Following the Cairngorms be going through the formal consultation, the final draft will be consultation process before they are completed and submitted to the Campaign, submitted to the Scottish Executive. Scottish Executive for approval in PO Box 10037, The plans will be crucial for delivering autumn 2006. The final round of Alford, many of the priorities for the area – consultation on the Local Plan will AB33 8WZ such as enhancing the special also take place in spring 2006 and it qualities of the Cairngorms and will then be submitted to the Scottish providing more affordable housing. Executive.