Old Packhorse Bridge Carrbridge

Fraoch Wood is located on the outskirts of Carrbridge.

Carrbridge village is a magical place for tourists but much more importantly it is first and foremost  a local community.  The village and local residents  face  real challenges on a day to day basis to secure, maintain and improve  front line services as well as protecting their local environment.

More to follow on Carrbridge as I get to know it but for now have a look at Carrbridge News.

Inspirational to see a community working together especially as seen through the eyes of younger folk at a local level.  The quality of the programming both visually and in terms of content and editing is obvious.

A great film project for young people and it also shines a clear light on the voice of the local community and the importance of community capacity building for the future.

Please have a look for an insight into what the Highlands and local communities are really about.

Carrbridge News a great youth project. For more info and the latest broadcast.

Click Here.

Apologies for the silence on the blog but the snow has really brought the project to a standstill.  Correction has prevented it from even getting properly started.

It’s probably 8 weeks now since the first big dump of snow around the Carrbridge area and terms like “cold spell” can no longer come anywhere near describing how bad this winter has turned out to be.  The further dumps of snow this week are going to prolong the big freeze into March.  It’s going to be the winter that we all remember but surely spring is going to prevail soon?

I have spent the intervening weeks online building up some appreciation of what is involved in tackling Fraoch Wood and making some great connections with people who have expertise in woodland management and great folk who are just interested and recognise the importance of wildlife, conservation and the  enjoyment of woodlands generally.  So in many ways although really frustrating, the last few weeks have been very productive.

Hopefully the diary will come to life in the weeks ahead with some real news on what I’m doing in the woodland.  I also need to update the site with links to my emerging network of friends and organisations that I have connected with.

So watch out for the thaw!

As I have got into this project I have become increasingly aware of a whole range of conservation issues.  One example  is the apparent loss of bees.

On-line media reports and social networking sites like Twitter and facebook are all carrying stories about the threat of diminishing bee populations in the UK.

Within the Cairngorms there is a particular focus on the Mason Bee – Osmia uncinata & Osmia inermis.  Both bees are rare and are only found in the Highlands of Scotland.

Osmia uncinata approaching Bird's Foot Trefoil

Osmia uncinata is found in Scots Pine forests whilst Osmia inermis requires herb rich grasslands.  Osmia inermis has only recently been recognised as a separate species and has therefore probably been under researched or recorded.  Both species depend upon Bird’s Foot Trefoil.

The Mason bee has suffered in part from a loss of habitat, farming methods, commercial afforestation and cessation of grazing  as well as from wider issues facing bees across the UK and beyond.

In researching this brief post I discovered The Highland Biological Recording Group and their excellent web site which contains a wealth of information as well as details of the groups activities.  The photograph is by Murdo Macdonald and has been sourced from the HBRG site.

I have posted this information in part to support the campaign to raise awareness about bees generally and more specifically to offer some support to  Help The Vanishing Bees event on Bloggers Unite.

Click Here.

The Fraoch Wood Blog is still new but over time it will become part of a wider network of blogs (Blog Roll) related to woodland management, wildlife conservation and the great outdoors.

There will also be other relevant websites (External Links) that will be listed if they offer related content.

Fraoch Wood Links Library

Hopefully the Links Library will provide you with a useful resource of all the information that the Fraoch Wood Blog can draw upon and therefore make your personal visit more worthwhile.

If you know of any relevant blogs or external web sites that could possibly benefit visitors please add them below.

All potential sites will be screened and assessed to the above criteria before being allowed so be patient if the  link you submit  does not appear within 24 hours.

So the list is likely to be relatively short and succinct.

All non relevant links will be rejected.

Feedback always welcomed.

Click Here.

I saw a red squirrel today although it was over a 100 miles south of Fraoch Wood.

There is a lovely woodland adjacent to my home in Cambusbarron, Stirling which is currently under serious threat from developers.

It is called Gillies Hill a site of  significant historical importance within Scotland as well as being a fabulous mature woodland in it’s own right.  Gillies Hill supports a wide range of tree species and wildlife habitats and serves as an invaluable retreat into a natural diverse woodland for local people and visitors alike.

I spent this afternoon at Gillies Hill,  an enjoyable few hours in a magical place.

On a more negative note but of serious concern must be the question of the long term future survival of red squirrels across Scotland?  I saw large numbers of grey squirrels all over the woodland today.  I took some photos of them but you didnt really want to see them did you?  Luckily with a bit of perseverance and a large chunk of good fortune I finally came face to face with a red squirrel and it really made my day.

Red Squirrel Gillies Hill Cambusbarron

The photo on the left given the poor light and the poor photographer was the best you were going to get.  So not worth clicking on to enlarge!

So a bit off topic location wise but on the money as seeing red squirrels up close in February is a real treat.

I’ll close on the question of culling grey squirrels.  It’s obviously unrealistic and unacceptable to suggest we can eradicate the grey squirrel within Scotland but selective culling to prevent their spread is producing results most recently in the north east ?

As a snapshot today my worry was the grey squirrels were everywhere but the red squirrel was a real hard find.

To really understand the importance of Gillies Hill as both a woodland and an historic site within Scotland please visit:

Save Gillies Hill Campaign.

Click Here.

You can also visit our Red Squirrels in Scotland page.

I finally managed to visit Fraoch Wood today for the first time since acquiring the woodland in December. ( I did look around prior to purchase in Oct 2009)

The long cold spell to date in the Cairngorms has prevented me from actually being able to visit until today despite repeated drive bys!

Given the snow line  I still had to park  a mile away and then I walked into the woodland for a good look around.  The snow was about 2 feet deep so it was heavy going under foot.  I was unable to survey the woodland in any methodical way but it was just a great buzz to be there and to see it covered in snow.

I’m putting together a page on the visit with first impressions and photos as it marks  the real start of my project.

For the full story.

Click Here.

Every month a blogger hosts The Festival of Trees on they’re own blog.

The festival pulls together contributions and highlights content from other similar tree related blogs.

The Feb 2010 Festival of Trees has just been published by Ash on Treeblog.

Click Here

Planning to visit Fraoch Wood for the first time proper next Wednesday and Thursday.  I have been unable to get access through January due to the snow and it looks like the weather might play a part again.  I always planned to start the project properly in February to coincide with finishing work so I’m going to make every effort to get on site next week.   It surely won’t be as bad as it was over the New Year period?

Plans for February include making some detailed notes and taking photographs.  I’m also hoping to arrange to meet some of the agencies on site to get initial advice on how best to proceed.

I have also made a lot of good contacts on line this month, so hopefully the blog will have a lot more relevant and interesting content on woodland management, wildlife and conservation generally through February.

Keen to make a start!

Red Squirrel

I have just added a page on red squirrels in Scotland.

More information to follow in the days ahead.

Plant for the Planet

Why don’t you consider planting a tree around the 21st March to support World Forestry Day?

Have a look at our Tree Pledge Page.

The United Nations Environment Programme also has a campaign running to plant a billion trees by the end of 2010.

The initiative also links well with the International Year of Biodiversity as planting a locally indigenous tree can help biodiversity and wildlife habitats.

Plant a Billion Trees – for more information:

Click Here

The current Fraoch Wood web site is only a few holding pages which I put up when I first registered the domain name.  Most of my time since has been spent developing the blog that you are now reading.

The blog is now largely sorted in terms of it’s appearance and functionality, so I have now turned my attention to developing a proper web site which I hope will be fit for purpose.

It is at a very early stage but should develop pretty rapidly from next week onwards.

To check out progress on the new web site and to get a quick sneak preview of the style and layout.

Click Here.

I called by Fraoch Wood both yesterday and again today but I still can’t get any access as there is about 60cm of snow piled up along the verges from the passing snow ploughs.

So I’m back at the pc again talking about woodland conservation, biodiversity and wildlife protection rather than doing.

The project really only gets underway from February when I finish work so plenty of things still to plan and organise in the meantime.  Hopefully the snow will melt over the forthcoming two weeks.

I bought an axe today and was at pains to ensure the chap behind the counter knew I was sane.  My first purchase of any kind for the woodland and still need to look at assembling a basic set of woodland tools.  I’m keen to stick to using hand tools but yet to see how realistic that proves to be.

Snowdrops in Scotland

It’s a great lift when you see the snowdrops pushing through in January.

We have had such a big freeze over the last 3 weeks that’s only now with the thaw that snowdrops are beginning to pop up.

Follow the link to the Visit Scotland web site for more information on The Scottish Festival of Snowdrops including some great venues and events where you can visit and  enjoy them over the next few weeks.

Click Here

2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity and my first year as custodian of Fraoch Wood.

To mark both  events with some action I intend to plant trees.

Please visit our Tree Pledge page to see how you can make a small personal contribution to biodiversity in 2010  by having a tree planted on your behalf in Fraoch Wood.

The offer is free.

National Biodiversity Network

It’s important for me to get a good understanding of the various species that occur locally and that may be under threat.

The National Biodiversity Network Gateway provides a fantastic resource of maps, data and further references.

Click here.

The buffer zone in Kielder Forest Northumberland has been extended in an attempt to slow down the migration of grey squirrels travelling north across the Scottish Border.

Full story on the BBC News web site.

Three weeks of sub zero temperatures and further snow In Scotland have raised concerns about wildlife including our native birds and the plight of the bumblebee.

People are being encouraged to feed garden birds which are struggling to find food and water.

There are also concerns that the bumblebee could be seriously affected this year.  Some bumblebee species are already in decline in many parts of Scotland.

The queen bumblebee hibernates over winter by burrowing underground.  With such a prolonged cold spell many could die off.  For more information on bumblebees visit The Bumblebee Conservation Trust Website.

Click Here.

A great BBC video link on how a bumblebee warms up for flight.

Click Here.

Trees4Scotland

I am just about to exit my business at the end of Jan and amongst the many other  things I will be doing,  I want to devote some spare time to Fraoch Wood.

I have just found the Trees4Scotland website.  They have some excellent information and ideas on how your business could make a valid contribution.

If you are in business and are seriously considering your CSR responsibilities why not  check out this  site.

Click Here.

International Year of Biodiversity

The United Nations have declared 2010 as the International Year of  Biodiversity.

Empty words unless both institutions and individuals get involved.

For more information:

Click Here.

To be blunt the spade was never going  to do the job.

A very friendly neighbouring farmer who without my knowledge, had been looking out for both myself  & the cottage  during Julia’s absence, turned up to help and had a go with his pick up and a tow rope,  but still the car refused to budge.

A minor set back.  He promptly returned with a JCB and the problem of the “townies car in the garden”  was quickly resolved.

I’m reminded of the years I spent living in the Highlands not far from Dornoch, where that attitude of helping out your neighbour for no gain was self evident on a regular basis.

A great place and great people.

Thanks Ian!

It started snowing heavily this afternoon so I decided to try and get the car from the cottage down to the road in the belief that I would be more likely to get away in the morning.

Unfortunately I couldn’t remember exactly where the drive was (it disappeared in the snow shortly after I arrived) and I have somehow managed to reverse into the garden.

Apart from laughing at my own self inflicted problem, the real issue is having a rear wheel drive car.  It’s useless in any snow.  So as part of finishing work this month I am going to find a half decent 4×4 that I can use to get to and from and into the woodland.

Hopefully with some effort and a spade I’ll be heading south in the morning.

Sunset near Dornoch New Years Day 2010

I’m staying at a cottage near Dornoch for New Year.  This was today’s sunset.

I wish everybody who reads this a wonderful 2010.

Travelled north today to Sutherland and dropped by Fraoch Wood but unable to stop as the snow ploughs had left a 1m high pile of snow along the verges.  A pity, but short on time anyway as snow was forecast.

Snow now falling in the Aviemore and Carrbridge areas and causing some  travel problems.

Now in Dornoch in a cottage for Hogmanay, the fire is lit, it’s  baltic but will all be very cosy once I get it warmed up.

Will drop in on Fraoch on my way back on the 2nd Jan.  I hope!  Some photo’s of Dornoch & Sutherland to follow from the iphone in the coming days.

I’m still stuck in Stirling and unable to travel as I had hoped.  Two main problems are my car which is rear wheel drive is still stuck in the snow and secondly the main A9 road north is continually subject to closures as a result of weather related accidents.  If you use Twitter follow @trafficscotland for the latest reports.

There are also intermittent snow showers throughout the Highlands.   I have tried unsuccessfully today to hire  a 4×4,  so will just have to sit it out.

I will have another look in the morning but hopes of Hogmanay in front of a real fire in a cottage in Sutherland are beginning to fade.

I had also planned to take some photos of Fraoch Wood on the way and/or down so I am also now struggling to update the blog with any new images and progress generally.

Still its early days and patience is called for.

The Scottish Crossbill

The Scottish Crossbill is unique to Scotland.  It is the only bird that is endemic in Scotland and exclusively restricted to the UK.

This  image and more information on the Scottish Crossbill can be viewed on The Welcome to Scotland web site.

There are many other forms of Crossbill but The Scottish Crossbill is restricted to the pine forests of  the Highlands and their numbers whilst unclear are very small.

More detailed information can also be found on The Trees for Life web site.

I have added a new page (check the Sidebar) which lists key priority species for The Cairngorms National Park.

Hopefully I can cover them in more detail in the coming weeks.

Scottish Wildcat

An extensive survey of the wildcat population was completed during 2009 and it will be published in the New Year.

Click Here

Image sourced from The Scottish Wildcat Association.  Visit their web site.

Scottish Wildcat

The Scottish wildcat is in decline and needs urgent work to protect it and to sustain its population. The Cairngorms National Park is one of it’s few strongholds.

A number of agencies are now collaborating to tackle the challenges of protecting the wildcat. For more information just Click the Link.

Highland Tiger – The Scottish Wildcat.  A fantastic source of information and great photography as the image here confirms.

Another dump of snow overnight has again delayed plans for a visit to Fraoch Wood.  I was orginally hoping to travel today but I will now wait and see what the travel reports say before heading off.