AN CARRANNACH The General Interest Magazine of Lochcarron, Shieldaig, Applecross, Kishorn, Torridon & Kinlochewe Districts NO: 358 OCTOBER 2017 £1.00 Wester Ross Biosphere Celebration Wester Ross was officially welcomed into the UNESCO network of world-wide Biospheres at a ceremony held in Kinlochewe Village Hall on Monday 4th September. Close on 60 members and supporters of the Biosphere were present to witness the presentation of the certificate from Meriem Bouamrane who is the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme Specialist as well as being the Coordinator of the European MAB Programme. Madame Bouamrane, who came from Paris to present the certificate, had spent the weekend in Wester Ross and Lochalsh, meeting and talking to a number of community groups and getting an appreciation of the scale and diversity of the area covered by Wester Ross Biosphere, which extends west of Garve, from Coigach in the north to Glenelg and Arnisdale in the south. The accolade is based not only on Wester Ross being an area of outstanding natural beauty, but more importantly it contains communities willing to work together to strengthen local economies and to connect people with nature and cultural heritage. It means that Wester Ross is now joining a family of 669 biospheres in 120 countries across the world. The celebration, a culmination of the submission of application to UNESCO which was successful in March 2016, was opened in the traditional manner by Eoin Cumming, a pupil of Gairloch High School, playing ‘High Road to Gairloch’ on the pipes. In her speech, Madame Bouamrane explained the philosophy behind the UNESCO MAB Programme and that, of all the UNESCO programmes, it puts people at its centre. Being a biosphere is a collective commitment to create and live in a better world. (Continued on page 2) 1 She said as part of her speech, “The AN CARRANNACH designation of Wester Ross as a biosphere is a tool for people, for your community to manage its future, by inspiring today a Published by An Carrannach Society, Lochcarron. positive future to next generations and to the Chairperson: Joanna Macpherson world. “It is thus a long term commitment and an Treasurer: Tony Caminiti international engagement. It is a historical 10 Kirkton Road moment today because you can prove Lochcarron IV54 8UF something deep, to yourselves and to the 01520 722 148 [email protected] world: that people are not the problem, people are the solution. People have the power to Mailing: Hilary “Post” Rooke shape their own destiny, to enact their own visions of their future.” Distribution: Anthea Zell Audrey Sinclair, WRB Chairperson, accepted Area Representatives: the certificate on behalf of WRB and in her Applecross: Lenore Small 01520 744 337 response, recognised that the event was a Kishorn: Carol Cocks 01520 733 213 milestone in the journey of WRB. She added, Shieldaig: Lucy Kerr 01520 755 368 “I am proud that we have become only the Torridon: Glyn Meredith 01445 791 270 second area in Scotland to be awarded this Features: accolade. It is also good to realise that we A Word from the Church/On Reflection have joined a family and to know that there is Gardening – Maureen Lyon – 01520 733 488 help and support available from other email [email protected] members of the network of UNESCO Nature Notes – Hatty Arthur – 01520 722 551 biospheres as we work to achieve our aim of email:[email protected] helping our communities work together and to Advertising: [email protected] remain alive and vibrant.” Local Rate: After the formal ceremony, the pupils of Entertainments, Sales, Services, Trade – Kinlochewe Primary School entertained the Whole Page £24, Half page £14, Quarter page £7 audience with a song, followed by a Gaelic Single items for sale or wanted - £4 with advert or £5 if song from Eoin. invoiced Out of Area Rate: Please email us for prices Amongst those present was Maree Todd, MSP, who said, “I was born and brought up in Insertions: the Biosphere – in fact I am named after the Births, marriages, deaths, acknowledgements. loch which is at its centre. Being aware of Congratulations, thanks notices – No charge how fragile the area is, I am pleased that Subscriptions: people are prominent in the MAB Programme. 11 issues post paid, U.K. £25.00 : Australia £66.00 I am delighted to celebrate this achievement Canada and USA £60.00 and wish WRB all the best.” Contact [email protected] Sue Walker, Vice Chair of Scottish Natural Heritage, was also present and commented, Editorial Content “Today is a great opportunity to celebrate the Material for publication must be emailed to Michelle Teago at :[email protected] or a phone call to success of the communities of Wester Ross 01520 722688 in achieving the UNESCO Biosphere designation. This shows the value of the Material intended for publication must include your environment in supporting economic and name and address. social development. SNH looks forward to continuing to work with the communities of For general information or enquiries email Carolyn Caminiti Wester Ross in delivering their aspirations for at :[email protected] or phone 01520 722148. (Continued on page 3) Please note we can now accept copy in any format.. Cover photograph by Peter Teago CLOSING DATE FOR THE The An Carrannach Society does not accept NOVEMBER 2017 ISSUE responsibility for the content/accuracy of reports, articles and advertisements received. The views MATERIAL MUST BE RECEIVED BY expressed by contributors are NOT necessarily NO LATER THAN 15TH OCTOBER 2017 PLEASE those of the Society. E&OE. 2 (Continued from page 2) Shieldaig Fete & Skiff Rowing the Biosphere.” Further information about Wester Ross Regatta Biosphere can be found on its website www.westerrossbiosphere.com Shieldaig held its annual Fete incorporating a Also from Audrey Sinclair, WRB Chair Skiff Rowing Regatta for the second time, in [email protected] 01599 534238 August just before the schools went back at Or the end of the summer holidays. The weather Natasha Hutchison, WRB Project Officer was lovely – a first for 5 years – so the right [email protected] decision was made to change the date to a 01854655265 later weekend in August. It was a great success and a huge amount of money was made, from which the village funds all its other annual events for children, bonfire night, Christmas parties etc. Teams came from all over Scotland once again to compete in the rowing regatta. The boats looked wonderful on the water all lined up like Viking longboats – only this time they were friendly! Shieldaig sported rowing teams in each race having spent the Spring finally “getting it together on the water” and hopes to participate in other regattas around Scotland now we have a trailer. Avoch were overall winners of the Regatta with Ullapool A team, second and St Andrews coming third. The event really started on the Friday night with the annual raft race followed by music, a hotwok supper (thanks Alan and Linda), Lochcarron Fundraising Group for music and dance – much merrymaking. On Highland Hospice Fete day there was a great selection of food and drink available including for a second year the magnificent seafood bar which was a huge success and once again ran out of food! There was a great deal of fun generated by COFFEE the traditional egg throwing, crazy golf, bottle stall, hill race, dog show – to name just a few of the things that were on offer to folk on the MORNING day. A huge thank you is due to all those who kindly gave up their time putting in lots of CHRISTMAS effort behind the scenes for weeks in advance CARDS/GIFTS to make the event happen and to all those who generously donate time, money, fish and BOTTLE STALL other things. Then thanks to all the people who volunteered on the day to man the stalls, RAFFLE run the food and drink bar, village hall teas and not forgetting the clear-up on the Sunday morning. It could not happen without all this Saturday 7th October help. A final thank you to all the sponsors of the Regatta, local businesses and those further afield. THANK YOU EVERYONE. 10am to 12.00pm Lochcarron Village Hall Date for diary – we’ve decided to stick with the change of date i.e. the last Saturday of Please come & support the school holidays. See you there……. HIGHLAND HOSPICE 3 Scottish Episcopal Church Courthill Chapel, Kishorn Are you looking for Occasional Services for October Sunday Service 10.30 a.m. Sunday Worship? October 1 Eucharist Rev. John Searl The Scottish Episcopal Church 10.30 a.m Harvest Festival (Part of the Anglican Communion) October 8 Holy Communion meets in Kinlochewe (Church of Marcus Given 10.30 a.m Pentecost 18 Scotland Building) October 15 Eucharist on the first Sunday each month Rev. Heather 10.30 a.m Pentecost 19 Widdows Autumn Services: October 22 Eucharist Sunday 1st October 2017 2.30pm Rev. Francis Minay th 10.30 a.m Pentecost 20 Sunday 5 November 2017 2.30pm October 29 Eucharist Celebrant and Preacher: Revd Pam Shin- Rev. John Searl kins 10.30 a.m Pentecost 21 Tel: (01445) 781346 November 5 Eucharist (Scottish Charity Number SCO20389) Rev. John Searl 10.30 a.m. Remembrance Spotted on a church notice board: For more information, ring: ‘There are some questions that cannot be answered by Google’ Marcus Given Rita Sykes 01520 722 617 01520 722 995 Rev. Heather Widdows or Rev. John Searl 01445 712 176 01445 741 231 Roman Catholic Mass CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Father William MacLean APPLECROSS, Monthly on Thursdays LOCHCARRON & TORRIDON Contact 01478 613 227 Urgent 07717 222 492 Charity No: SCO32334 Times and Places of Worship for FREE CHURCH October 2017 LOCHCARRON & 1st October Lochcarron 10.30am APPLECROSS Torridon Community Hall 1.00pm th You are welcome at our services 8 October Lochcarron 10.30am Lochcarron Church Street IV54 8YP Shieldaig 1.00pm Applecross 1.00pm Sunday 11am and 6 pm 15th October Lochcarron 10.30am (Crèche and Sunday Kinlochewe 1.00pm school) 22nd October Lochcarron 10.30am Midweek Wednesdays Applecross 1.00pm 7.30pm Shieldaig 1.00pm th Applecross Camusterrach IV54 8LU 29 October Lochcarron 12 noon 3 pm every Sunday Other events as intimated.