Sense of Place Project gets underway
On Monday 5th October work started on improving the area around the old curling ponds in Glen Nevis. Volunteers from the Lochaber Support Service at Birchwood Highland and Friends of Nevis gathered with Martin Faulkner from Scottish Natural Heritage, and Anna Trafford from the Nevis Partnership to survey habitat in the ponds area. After consultation with local people, environmental improvements will take place and any invasive foreign species removed. The aim is to improve the area for visitors, locals and wildlife.
Environmental improvements and a gateway at the old curling ponds are being done under the ‘Sense of Place Project’ which is funded by The Nevis Partnership, European Regional Development Fund, Scottish Natural Heritage, Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Mountaineering Trust and Highland Council. Our picture shows the curling ponds as they were back in the 1890's and although we can never go back to scenes like these, there is much that can be done to improve the entrance and environs of Glen Nevis. Specifically we are hoping to:
• define an entrance to Glen Nevis
• improve approximately 0.5ha. environment around the Glen entrance
• produce information leaflets, a self guided walks book and a booklet about life in the Glen
• establish three information and interpretation boards
• set up a photographic and creative writing portal linked to this website and produceof a book of collected images and poems • enhance visitor experience
• foster a sense of ownership, care and responsibility of the Nevis Area amongst the local community
• improve the entrance to Glen Nevis
• build on the ‘Friends of Nevis’ framework of volunteers to help with long term maintenance and management
• enable other integrated and linked activities to raise awareness of the environmental and sustainability issues affecting the Ben and the Glen and bring about a change in attitude and behaviour towards responsible access