Page 2 Summer/Autumn Joining the Highland Council Rangers Fungi walk The Highland Council Rangers held their annual fungi guided walk in Culag Woods this Sep- tember. Rangers Roz & Gwen led a group of 12 through the fascinating and bewildering world of fungi. This is a par- Angels Wings ticularly good year for fungi and Culag Enterprises the group was able to find a complete contract at long list of species from Brown Knockan Crag NNR Birch Bolete, to beautiful speck- led Puff balls, many different As part of an upgrade to types of Russula, Angels Wings, Bracket Fungus and of course the visitor facilities at Photographing Bolete mushrooms Fly Agaric. Puff Ball Knockan Crag, local sub- contractors working with Culag Enterprises have Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape Project completed the new walling Culag Community Woodland Encourage landscape-based arts important to each of the CALL adjacent to the car park. Trust is proud to be one of the and cultural projects. partners and to the project as a This wall has been con- founding partners of Coigach & whole – local planting stock is Assynt Living Landscape (CALL), The CALL partnership has re- urgently needed. structed to reflect the geol- an innovative new project now cently appointed Viv Halcrow as ogy of the Moine Thrust at underway in Assynt and Coi- Project Manager. Viv is working Hosting two artists-in-residence gach. CALL is a unique partner- with the CALL partners to en- to work with school children and Knockan which will be the ship: a mix of private, commu- sure delivery of the many and the community on a cultural back drop to new interpre- nity and charity landowners wide-ranging projects they have landscape project. With one tation material. working together. On a large identified as being important in artist based in Coigach and one scale - the current CALL part- achieving CALL’s far-sighted in Assynt, this is an exciting ners manage approximately aims. She is looking forward to project that everyone can be A new stone bench was 32,000 hectares of land in As- developing links with many involved in and enjoy. Funding also built next to the Rock synt and Coigach - this is a new people in Assynt and Coigach, has been applied for and a deci- concept in land and conserva- and will try to ensure everyone sion is expected by the New Room. This bench will tion management in Scotland. is kept informed of progress. Year. have a key pad fitted in the Other landowning partners are The current CALL partners are: warmly encouraged to join the Viv would be delighted to hear arm which will allow inter- Culag Community Woodland partnership to help it develop, from you if you are interested in action with the interpreta- Trust and anyone interested in CALL the CALL project. Please feel is very welcome to get involved. welcome to contact her by Assynt Foundation tion of the geology. Working on many different lev- email, phone or post, or via the Eisg Brachaidh els, it really is a project with CCWT office: John Muir Trust (Quinag) something of benefit to every- one. Viv Halcrow, Scottish Wildlife Trust (Ben CALL Project Manager, Mor Coigach) Viv is currently busy with devel- ‘An Taigh Fiodha’, Lael, Tanera Mor (Summer Isles) opment work towards two pro- Lochbroom, By Garve, jects: Ross-shire, IV23 2RS The construction of a commer- 01854 655212 The aims of the CALL partner- cial tree-nursery, which will 07739 428211 ship are to: underpin several jobs. An area [email protected] Improve habitat condition and of land has been identified for connectedness on a landscape this, on Little Assynt field, and a The Project is currently funded by: scale. decision on funding is expected Develop opportunities for train- by the end of October. Rein- ing, apprenticeships and jobs statement of native woodland is linked to the land. CCWT & Assynt Foundation host CWA visit to Assynt Several representatives from com- demonstrated a system with a munity woodlands throughout the winch whereby the fallen tree is Highlands visited Assynt during the dragged out following a zig zag- Summer in a joint networking day ging line. After an extended hosted by CCWT & Assynt Foun- guided tour of Culag Woods in the dation. Among them were board morning the group was shown members from Dunnet Forestry around the walled garden at Glen Trust who were keen to learn tech- Canisp and the wood chip boiler niques for extracting timber. installed as part of the refurbish- CCWT Director Jimmy Crooks ment of Glen Canisp Lodge. Urras Coillie Choimhearsnachd Chulaig Issue 10: 2011 Summer/Autumn Culag Community Woodland Trust NEWS UPDATE Mink monitoring at Little Assynt A big thank you to all the mink monitoring volunteers who are continuing to check the raft along the Leitir Easaidh Path. Work begins on the There have been no signs of footprints in the clay, although there have been unconfirmed Culag Woods Access Project reports of mink sightings along the River Inver & Loch Assynt. Work to upgrade the path network in Culag tions from the Highland Council Access Officer. With that in mind the new Woods started in May this year and will con- One of the sections already completed is the Highlands Mink Officer, Gunnar tinue through the winter months to be com- White Shore Path which is now smoother and Scholtz, brought along another pleted by March 2012. The project is being more accessible to those who are less able to mink tunnel and clay pad to funded under the Scotland Rural Development negotiate the previously rough nature of the CCWT. The tunnel has been Programme (SRDP) with further funding com- ground. A regular walker in the woods has placed near the junction of the new Loch an-t Sabhail Path ing from the Highland Council Ward Discretion- commented that the improved path enables with the way marked Fisher- ary Budget, Highland Culture Programme, The you to look around at the trees providing a man’s Path and will be checked Brown Forbes Memorial Fund, Scottish Moun- new view of the woodland where previously by the volunteers along with taineering Trust and the Hugh Fraser Founda- you had to watch out for obstacles under your the raft. Please report any tion. feet. However wilder paths, such as the ‘Are mink sightings to Gunnar at you brave enough’ Path will still be available to [email protected] 07825 fulfil the desire for scrambling over rocks and 184 080. tree roots. Checking the mink tunnel on the Loch an t-Sabhail Path. Routes to be upgraded within the project shown high- lighted in red Next Issue: The demand for improvements to the path network was highlighted in Community consul- tation in November 2008 and recommenda- The new and old sections along the White Shore Path More on the Culag Woods Access Project Learning the Gaelic alphabet in Culag Woods Little Assynt Tree Local author and poet, Mandy This is the poem from Mandy Nursery Project Haggith ran an A-B Tree session inspired by the children that day. in Culag Woods for Stoer and Lochinver Primary Schools. What’s the weather today? The completed shelter at Mandy has organised a series of Loch an t-Sabhail creative writing events in commu- The weather’s a splash of scent. nity woodlands celebrating the The weather wears princess pink. International Year of the Forest. The weather feels featherbed Contact: The events are based around the springy. Tree Ogham, the Gaelic Alpha- Get in touch with your The weather’s a rustly bluster. bet, which associates a particular The weather is wet but it's yummy news and views “A taste of heather honey will native tree species with each as honey. phone 01571 844368 make you shrink so that the letter. The children in Culag It’s heather weather! email Woods were looking at Heather heather will be the size of a tree” [email protected] which represents the letter U. .