News
Game on for Venison
2nd September 2010
Catering industry professionals in the Cairngorms National Park have been enjoyed a celebration of venison yesterday (Wednesday 1 September) at the Glen Tanar Estate, near Aboyne.
Three expert venison chefs, Nichola Fletcher author of the 'Ultimate Venison Cookery' book, award-winning chef George McIvor of the Full Range and Serena Humphrey owner of the Deeside Smokehouse were on hand to deliver interactive food demonstrations and give fellow chefs and cooks new ideas of how make the most of venison in their recipes.
Organised by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) in partnership with Glen Tanar Estate, today's event comes just ahead of National Eat Venison Day on Saturday 4th September.
Will Boyd Wallis of the CNPA said: "Research shows that consumers want to see locally sourced, fresh produce on menus and in a place like the Cairngorms National Park where people can travel about and see deer or take part on stalking, it's great then see that wonderful local resource appear on local menus."
Another venison extravaganza is planned for the area later in the year with Scotland's first ever Venison Festival, organised by the Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms Destination Management Organisation, taking place from the 26-31 October. Find out more about the festival here
Journeys in nature for Kingussie pupils
2nd September 2010
Helping young people develop a sense of place, identity, values and a sense of responsibility is the aim behind a series of learning journeys that second year pupils at Kingussie High School are embarking on next week (Tuesday 7 September).
Organised by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and led by members of the SpeyGrian Educational Trust - a diverse group of artists, ecologists, writers, historians, musicians and educators who promote outdoor learning - more than 90 young people and ten teachers will spend the day walking, cycling, canoeing or horse riding their way through the local landscape, exploring the wildlife and culture of the Insh Marshes National Nature Reserve and the Cairngorms National Park.
Head of Education at RSPB Scotland and SpeyGrian trustee, Dr Joyce Gilbert said: "The concept of a journey is a great way to help people discover the intricacy and wonder of their local landscape, wildlife and culture and we hope that for these students at Kingussie High School, the experience will be really inspiring.
"The RSPB is committed to playing our part in ensuring as many young people as possible have contact with nature and we believe that partnership working is the key. In this case we have come together with the Spey Grian Educational Trust, the University of Stirling, Kingussie High School and the local community to deliver ten different outdoor learning journeys on the 7th September. 'Journeys in Nature' has been designed to support the Scottish Government's Curriculum for Excellence, and includes a follow up day on the 8th where pupils will be encouraged to share their experiences through a variety of media from writing to sculpture. These will ultimately be included in a touring exhibition 'Creative Journeys' which is planned for spring 2011."
Writer Linda Cracknell is leading the pony journey - 'Wild Words' - up through Glen Banchor with local equestrian Ruaridh Ormiston. She added: "Moving slowly through a landscape is an essential human experience. It gives us the chance to observe the world closely through all the senses, frees up our creativity and imagination, and gives us a big blast of fresh air. Journeys provide a great context for exploration and learning. It's very exciting for so many of us to be doing this at the same time."
John Tracey, Head Teacher at Kingussie High School said: "Kingussie High School is very fortunate to be located in such a wonderful part of Scotland with such rich outdoor environments on our doorstep. Perhaps we take this for granted sometimes. This partnership with agencies and creative individuals is helping us - staff and pupils - go across our doorstep to more fully appreciate the learning environment of which we are apart."
The other journeys in nature that the Kingussie High School pupils are taking part in are:
- Paddle with a Poet - canoeing through the RSPB's Insh Marshes Reserve with poet and photographer Gerry Cambridge and Pete Moore from RSPB Scotland.
- Biking and Biodiversity - a bike ride which will take pupils up Glen Feshie with artists Catriona Gilbert and Sarah Hughes.
- Footsteps in the Park - seven different walking journeys with textile artist Jan Kilpatrick, writer Tom Bryan, willow artist Jane Wilkinson, sound artist Barney Strachan, sculptors Ross Robertson and Richard Bracken, place-based educator Alan Britton and Chris Salisbury who is a story teller and bushcraft instructor.
Support for the 'Journeys in Nature' project has come from a variety of sources, not least of course the local community with volunteers joining the pupils on the various journeys and thus becoming local mentors, helping to bridge the generation gap and contributing to a strong community identity and cohesion.
Financial backing has come from Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) via the European funded LEADER programme, RSPB Scotland, Awards for All, Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice, Book Trust Scotland and Kingussie High School.
Patricia Methven, Grants Manager at the CNPA said: "The Cairngorms Local Action Group is delighted to support Journeys in Nature, encouraging young people to explore the Park, its wildlife and its rich cultural heritage. We are particularly pleased with the concept of members of the community getting involved in these outdoor learning experiences sharing their own local knowledge and stories."
It is hoped that other schools in and around the Cairngorms National Park will also have the opportunity to take part in Journeys in Nature. For more information about SpeyGrian log onto their website
CNPA Board and Planning Committee Meetings
30th August 2010
The CNPA board and planning committee next meets on Friday 3 September in The Albert Hall, Ballater at 10.30am. Read the board papers here and the planning papers here.
Celebrating Venison in the Cairngorms National Park
24th August 2010
Catering industry professionals are being urged to sign up for a venison extravaganza at Glen Tanar Estate in the Cairngorms National Park on Wednesday 1 September.
The event, which will take place just ahead of Scottish Venison Day (4 September), has been organised by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) in partnership with Glen Tanar Estate and will involve interactive butchery and food demonstrations.
Three expert venison chefs Nichola Fletcher, George McIvor and Serena Humphrey will be sharing their favourite venison recipes and giving participants ideas on how to make the most of their menus.
Will Boyd-Wallis is a Senior Land Management Officer at the CNPA and sits on the Scottish Venison Working Group and the Cairngorms Deer Advisory Group. He said: "Working with my colleagues in the food and drink sector and in partnership with Glen Tanar Estate, we hope this special celebration of venison will inspire cooks and chefs working in and around the National Park to make the most of Cairngorms venison. More and more people want to eat local, healthy food and it doesn't come much more local than venison.
"Deer are extremely important to the National Park from a natural and cultural heritage point of view and for the economy of the Park in terms of people coming to the area for stalking, wildlife holidays and of course, the production and promotion of venison. This will be a really good opportunity for catering industry professionals to share recipes and get the most out of venison."
Celebrating Cairngorms Venison is a free event but booking is essential. To book a place please contact Laura Grant at the CNPA by telephone: 01479 870500 or email
First Local Plan for a Scottish National Park moves a step closer
20th August 2010
The first Local Plan for a Scottish National Park is a step closer after the Planning Committee of the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) agreed no further changes are necessary before it is adopted.
The Local Plan sets out detailed planning policies to guide development in the Park over the coming years and all planning applications within the Park will need to relate to it.
The Cairngorms National Park Local Plan will replace the current Local Plans covering the four local authority areas within the Park: Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland and Moray.
Responses following a public consultation on modifications to the Local Plan have been analysed and considered by the Planning Committee, meeting in Boat of Garten today (Friday, 20 August 2010). The Committee decided no further changes are needed and Scottish Ministers will be notified that it is intended the Local Plan will be adopted on 29 October 2010.
CNPA Director of Strategic Land Use, Hamish Trench, said: "Public consultation has been an important part of the Local Plan process. It has helped us to shape the Local Plan for the Cairngorms National Park. Since the formal stages of the plan preparations started we have produced four versions of the Plan which have all been changed to take account of responses received. During the process, 546 individuals, community groups, organisations, and developers responded."
CNPA Planning Committee Convener Duncan Bryden said: "This is a significant day for the Cairngorms National Park with this being the first Local Plan for a Scottish National Park. We have been working towards this day since 2004 - it has been a long and not always straight-forward journey but we have listened to what people have said and feel we have a Local Plan which aims to achieve a consensus between people's needs for housing, recreation, economic development and the special environment of the Park."
In addition, the committee agreed that a Working Group will be set-up of local people, planners, landowners and others to look at affordable housing in Boat of Garten.
The CNPA has produced supplementary planning guidance which expands on the detail of some of the policies in the Local Plan as well as providing additional information and guidance. Some of this guidance is open to public consultation which ends on 24 September 2010.
Details of the Supplementary Planning Guidance and comment forms are available here or by contacting the CNPA offices in Grantown-on-Spey or Ballater. Further information is available from the Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Office, Albert Memorial Hall, Station Square, Ballater, AB35 5QB. Tel: 013397 53601.
Recruitment Opportunity
20th August 2010
Administration/Receptionist position at CNPA head office in Grantown on Spey. More information here
Inspiration for housing in the Cairngorms National Park
13th August 2010
Board members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) have been exploring the sort of sustainable, eco-friendly housing that could be built in the Park in the future.
They spent today (Friday, 13th August 2010) looking around 52 houses at Scotland's Housing Expo in Inverness.
Speaking at the visit, CNPA Planning Committee Convener Duncan Bryden said: "It's hugely inspiring in terms of the wide variety of approaches and techniques that have been used not just in the houses but the spaces between them - something that's important for a community. The use of local materials especially Scottish timber and stone is very impressive.
"It's been encouraging to see a mix of people here today - many of them young people who are the market of the future. They've seen what's possible in terms of design and efficiency and will hopefully put pressure on developers to provide it."
The CNPA is drawing up a Sustainable Design Guide to encourage everyone - architects, designers, builders and their clients - to choose buildings designed to fit in to the local landscape.
Scotland's Housing Expo is the first of its kind in the UK and runs from the 1st- 31st August 2010 in Inverness. Visit www.scotlandshousingexpo.com
Outdoor Learning just got easier
3rd August 2010
A brand new resource pack designed to make learning outdoors easier has been launched by Scotland's two National Park Authorities and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNPA joined forces with SNH to produce the comprehensive guide - Getting INTO Scotland's National Parks and Nature Reserves. It is aimed at reducing some of the barriers to outdoor learning in Scotland's special places with information, advice, resources and a host of helpful contacts for teachers, staff and volunteers.
Outdoor learning is a cornerstone of the Scottish Government's new Curriculum for Excellence and it is very much seen as an opportunity that should be experienced by children in schools across Scotland, especially those who might face barriers to engaging with National Parks or National Nature Reserves.
The pack - which is not just aimed at schools but any type of organisation taking groups outdoors - is based on a formal research project that revealed what gets in the way of people using these areas for learning, for example age, disabilities, financial constraints and so on.
Elspeth Grant, Social Inclusion Officer at the CNPA said: "Whether it's groups of school children or adult groups, National Parks and National Nature Reserves have a considerable amount to offer in terms of outdoor learning. We therefore want to make planning and organising a learning trip as easy as possible for people. The Resource Pack is a great starting point for teachers or group leaders to help them ensure that they have a successful experience from health and safety information to ideas of what to do."
Alison Wilkie, Learning Development Adviser at LLTNPA added: "Scotland's National Parks and National Nature Reserves are inspiring places to visit for individuals or groups, for formal learning or just a great day out. The new Resource Pack will show people just how easy it is to make a trip happen, with useful contacts who can provide support from the planning stages all the way through to the actual day of the visit. We hope examples of how others groups overcame barriers will help more people from a wider range of backgrounds enjoy the National Parks and National Nature Reserves."
Stuart Davies, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Stirling-based area officer - projects and strategy, confirmed: "Here in Scotland we are lucky to have such fabulous nature and landscapes. Our National Parks and Nature Reserves are second to none and everyone - particularly children - should have opportunities to enjoy and spend time in these special places. We hope this new guide will help them to do that and inspire teachers and other leaders to make it happen."
Copies of Getting INTO Scotland's National Parks and National Nature Reserves are being distributed to schools and organisations across Scotland this month. Click here for more information or please contact Elspeth Grant at the CNPA on tel: 01479 870506 or email and Alison Wilkie at LLTNPA on tel: 01389 722 125 or email.
Supplementary Planning Guidance documents now available for consultation
24th May 2010
A number of supplementary planning guidance documents have been put out for consultation today (Monday 24 May 2010 which will support the Cairngorms National Park Local Plan when it is adopted.
These draft documents provide additional information and guidance to help everyone understand the policies in the Local Plan and ensure that their developments meet the requirements of the policies. A variety of issues are covered in the guidance from the importance of good quality, sustainable design of all new developments to how the provision of affordable housing will be assessed.
The supplementary planning guidance documents, and associated SEA Environmental Reports, are currently out for public consultation, from Monday 24 May to Friday 24 September 2010. As well as the Sustainable Design Guide, documents covering water resources, affordable housing and natural heritage are covered as well as development briefs for sites at Newtonmore, Grantown-on-Spey, Dulnain Bridge and Kincraig.
CNPA board member and planning committee convener Duncan Bryden said: "The Cairngorms National Park Authority welcome comments and feedback on the contents of the supplementary planning guidance and we hope as many people as possible take this opportunity to give us their views."
Work is ongoing to produce guidance on a variety of other topics and these will be available for public consultation later in 2010.
A number of SEA Environmental Reports have also been prepared. These result from a Strategic Environmental Assessment being carried out on specific supplementary planning guidance documents.
People can download the documents and complete a comments form on the CNPA website at or they can obtain copies by contacting the CNPA offices in Grantown-on-Spey or Ballater. A number of Highland, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Angus council service points also have copies that can be viewed during their normal opening times.
Further information in the first instance can be obtained from the Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Office, Albert Memorial Hall, Station Square, Ballater, AB35 5QB. Tel: 013397 53601. Email
Sign up for outdoor training events
9th April 2010
The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) has just announced details of a series of training courses, taking place this summer and organised by the Land Based Business Training Project (LBBTP). The courses are specifically aimed at anyone working in the outdoors with visitors or guests and only cost £10 per course to attend.
LBBTP manager Andy Rockall said: "These courses are ideal for anyone involved in taking others out to enjoy the special qualities of the Cairngorms National Park whether they work as a mountain guide, a countryside ranger or a stalker. We expect there to be a high demand for places on these courses so if anyone is interested, please don't hesitate to get in touch as allocations will be on a first come, first serve basis."
The first course takes place on Friday 23 April and is all about Reading the Landscape: Why does the Cairngorms look like it does? An archaeologist, a geologist and a landscape architect will answer the question and explain the effect of the natural and human influences on outdoor workplaces leaving participants with a better understanding of the landscape and some knowledge of how to read and interpret it.
The other training events are:
- Thursday 3 June - Wildlife in the Cairngorms. This course takes a look at the wildlife of the Scottish mountains, why the mountains are important for wildlife and what are the most common animals, birds, plants and insects.
- Tuesday 24 August - Gaelic in the Cairngorms. Part of the cultural richness of the Cairngorms National Park is that it is overwhelmingly a Gaelic landscape so this event is designed to help people learn some of the Gaelic mountain names, colours and other landscape descriptors. The day is aimed at non-Gaelic speakers.
- Wednesday 15 September - Telling the stories of the Cairngorms National Park. The Cairngorms is a place rich in natural and cultural heritage and we all have stories about the place to share. This course is designed to allow people to share those stories and develop methods and techniques for telling those stories effectively.
- Tuesday 28 September - Understanding the Scottish Outdoor Access Code takes participants through the Code and the legislation and peoples' rights and responsibilities with a focus on how the Code impacts on people working outdoors.
This programme has been organised by CNPA in discussion with the Mountain Leader Training Association, the Association of Mountain Instructors, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, the British Association of International Mountain Leaders, has the kind support of Glenmore Lodge and is made possible by the funding support from the European Social Fund.
All of the courses will be based at Glenmore Lodge, near Aviemore and booking is essential. For more information or to book a place on any of the courses contact Andy Rockall on tel: 01479 870535, email or Sam Masson on tel: 01479 870537, email.
For past news articles, please see the News Archive page.