Park Talk – Bliadhna mhath ùr!

Park Talk – Bliadhna mhath ùr!
By Sandy Bremner, Convener, Cairngorms National Park Authority
Bliadhna mhath ùr! Happy New Year! While I might live in the east of the country where Doric is king, Gaelic was once the dominant language in much of the Cairngorms.
You just have to look around you, or pick up a map, to see that Gaelic is still of particular significance here in the Cairngorms National Park – or if you prefer, ‘Pàirc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh’ – even though these days it’s not spoken by as many residents as it once was.
Translations are often contentious, but think about our place names such as Newtonmore, translated as ‘the new town of the moor’; Bellabeg or ‘the little town’; or the one that always makes me smile – Glenshee meaning ‘fairy glen’.
Sometimes the translations pose more questions than they answer. Loch Mallachie means ‘the loch of the curse’ but who or what was being cursed?
It is a fascinating language and, as a public sector body in Scotland, the Cairngorms National Park Authority has a duty to prepare a Gaelic Language Plan. The third edition of this plan is out for consultation for six weeks from 25 January and we are seeking your views on how we use and develop Gaelic in our everyday work. Please get involved if you can, to help create a sustainable future for Gaelic.
Talking of the future – 2024 is shaping up to be an exciting one here in the National Park. Despite a backdrop of tight public sector budget settlements, the Park Authority has seen a small increase in its resource, following the Scottish Government budget which was announced just before Christmas. There is also a national peatland budget and a nature restoration fund sitting with Scottish Government. We will receive further information on allocations from those in the coming weeks.
All this funding – and more that we hope to attract over the course of 2024 – will be invested right here in the Cairngorms National Park, helping us to continue to meet ambitious targets to deliver for people and nature, tackle climate change, reverse biodiversity loss and support communities.
Of course, it is only by working with our many partners – as well as securing finance – that we can achieve the objectives we have in our sights. There are so many people already working hard across the National Park to combat the challenges we face, but by pulling together and seeking out that extra financial support, we can help individuals, groups and organisations to deliver more, faster, and on a landscape scale.
I look forward to continuing to play my part as Convener of the Cairngorms National Park Authority Board. It is our job to guide and shape the work of the Park Authority, ensuring that both the natural environment and local communities are cared for and sustained for current and future generations.
And I look forward to getting out and about across the National Park and catching up with more of you in 2024.
Tapadh leat (Thank you)
Alert
Latest from the National Park
Statement on wildfires
An update from Grant Moir, Chief Executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, on the ongoing wildfires in Moray and Highland.
New Nethy houses get green light
Meeting in Ballater, the Planning Committee approved applications for a development of 35 houses in Nethy Bridge and a floodplain restoration scheme on the River Dee.
Call for views on Core Paths Plan
The Core Paths Plan is a statutory plan that designates a network of paths sufficient to provide reasonable access for the public to enjoy the outdoors across the National Park.
Relevant alerts
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Firefighters from Scottish Fire and Rescue, estate workers and others are currently working to extinguish wildfires near Carrbridge and Dava. Members of the public are asked to avoid the area. If you live nearby, please close your windows and doors to avoid smoke in the vicinity.
Several roads in the Carrbridge, Dava, Grantown-on-Spey and Knockando areas remain closed. The B9007 is closed from the junction at Duthil to Ferness. The A939 is closed from Grantown-on-Spey to Ferness and the A940 is closed at Dava. The B9102 is closed from Grantown-on-Spey to Upper Knockando and Dallas. The snowgates at Carrbridge are closed.
Scottish Fire and Rescue are in attendance and the public are advised to avoid the area, including footpaths. Road users are asked not to ignore road closed signs.
For all the latest information check out the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland website and social media.