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Ythan
Project
The Ythan
Project was developed by the Formartine Partnership in 2001 and
it involved local people in protecting and enhancing the river
Ythan, by restoration of the river at key sites and holding ‘fun
days’ that encouraged kids and adults to discover more about what the
river has to offer.
The
project worked with local farmers, raising awareness of the assistance
that is available for managing farms in a way that creates and maintains
habitats for wildlife, and which also helps to protect the river
system.
The
project partners were Aberdeenshire Council, Forest Enterprise,
Formartine Partnership, Macaulay Institute, River Restoration Centre,
SEPA, SNH and the Ythan District Fishery Board
Although
the Ythan Project itself was completed in February 2005, some of the
volunteers who were involved in the project are continuing the work as a
new group called the Ythan Project Volunteers.
Having
maintained working links with the original project partners, the group
are now beginning the work of further enhancing and maintaining
the river.
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A
Family Day Out with the Ythan Project Volunteers
Dire
predictions of a hard winter are yet to be fulfilled. Saturday’s
Spring-like weather was greatly appreciated by Ythan Project Volunteers
who met at Gight Woods for their first event of the new year.
On
this occasion we were working with the Forestry Commission, removing
tree tubes from established plantings, putting in some additional trees
and clearing litter.
Plastic
tree shelters (tree tubes) are a cost-effective alternative to fencing
in establishing broadleaved trees, but can damage, or even kill the
trees that they are designed to protect if left on too long.
In
theory they are supposed to biodegrade before they begin to constrict
the growth of the tree. Our experience on Saturday showed that some
plastic is reluctant to give up the ghost, and a number of the trees
that we were liberating – particularly birches – had already
succumbed. We therefore had some gaps to fill, using gean, hazel and
rowan, protected with a different, and hopefully superior design of tree
tube.
This
weekend’s event was deemed a success by the Forestry Commission
personnel that were involved, and we are looking forward to future
collaboration. If you would like to join us on our next outing,
telephone Richard on 01358 761360
Brian
Martin
Barrie Seddon
Jackie Cumberbirch &
& Fiona Leith
John Leith
Richard Firmin
Stuart Smith & John Leith Keith
Hammerton
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MAP
of Formartine
We
are currently working on a new tourism map for the Formartine area, on
which we will have an up to date list of places to visit and things to
do in Formartine.
The map is now at the
design stage, and we are looking forward to seeing it in print, later
this month.
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Community
Consultation - 'Planning for
Real
Supported
by Aberdeenshire Council and Shell, the Partnership is helping to engage
communities in the Formartine Area in this novel process.
The
initiative is helping local people to identify their priorities for
development of their area, using a community-built model of their
village or local features as a focal point for discussion.
People
can then express their concerns, desires and ideas by placing comment
cards onto the model. The comments are then addressed by the community
in partnership with service providers.
The
first Planning for Real event in Formartine took place in Rothienorman
in November 2002. Issues identified included:
Above:
Members of the
Rothienorman
community consider options for of
their village, focusing
on the model, built as part the ‘Planning for
Real’ process.
A 'Planning
for Real' event was also organized by the Woodhead & Windyhills
Community Trust, as a focus to identify routes for development of
footpaths in the community-owned woodlands of
Woodhead
and Windyhills.
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Turriff,
Oldmeldrum, Foveran and Udny Station communities have also held events,
and are currently working towards achieving the goals and addressing the
issues that were highlighted from their consultations.
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If
your community would like to do a community consultation, be it to
address a lack of facilities, a traffic problem, a desire to develop a
new building, or evolve a new group, please contact the Partnership,
and we will help you to meet your aspirations.
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