Editorial for Newsletter Autumn 2005
You will read our comments on the Park Plan which George Boyd the Chairman has produced from the two volumes which appeared as part of the PLAN ie The State of the Park Report and the Park Plan. These are two magnificent documents which were worth waiting for but anyone unable or unwilling to read the 330+ pages of each would do well to acquire a copy of the Summary which is also beautifully presented. Comments and views were expected by 2nd September so we hope that many of our members took the opportunity to write in.
Since we are now in the National Park, initiatives which we took in the past are no longer possible. We have been disappointed in the response of the Park to our offers of help/support with paths programme and the rescue of some of the Archaeological ruins on the Island. However, we will persevere since the Park, by its own admission, cannot do everything itself.
It took much perseverance but I did eventually get the Map leaflet published showing the five Tarbet Paths which, with along with Forestry Scotland, were built some years ago. This leaflet has been distributed to all the Tourist Information offices in the area and is also available on our website.
I’m grateful for the letters of support received after the last Newsletter but have been disappointed by the level of communication in general. We would have liked to use the Website and email as a means of communicating information to members especially for the Walks programme but understand that computers are used by only a small proportion of the members so our postage costs were higher than expected. Although the numbers appearing for each of the Walks which have so far taken place (Inchcailloch and Stuckgowan House) fell short of expectations those who did participate enjoyed the experience and of course, we have another meeting on 25th October at Drymen Pottery. We think the meetings are sufficiently valuable for us to consider another program for next year. We propose a day trip to Inversnaid next spring but in January a visit to the Loch Lomond Pilgrimage Centre is planned so get in touch if you are interested. We would consider other ideas from members.
Another initiative we propose for participation by members is the production of a database and website of Wild Flowers in the Loch Lomond area. Photographs can be sent to me in any form available with only the name of the photographer, month and year photograph taken and approximate area. Even if we do end up getting dozens of photos of the same flowers, it will be an interesting exercise and may even help the Park in drawing up its own database. I will be grateful for any help in identifying specimens and I think I will define “Wild” as flowers growing out with any garden. I’m sure our members don’t need to be told not to pick any wild flower – think of the species which have suffered as a result of enthusiastic Victorian plant collectors! So if you have photos tucked away somewhere, send them in (they will be returned after scanning) or scan them yourself and email them to me.
I also want from members more photographs of the Loch and Ben to use on the Website and offers of photos for the front cover of the Newsletter so that we can chose images which show the beauty of the area we are trying to protect. Can I remind members that the Loch Lomond Thro the Lens Competition requires entries in February? The website has details HERE
My article on
Inversnaid Hotel is the first of a series on the Great Houses on Loch
Lomondside.
I am grateful to Mike Trubridge for the use of his booklet on the Hotel's
history but omitted to mention this in published Editorial - I will give the
acknowledgement in the next Newsletter. *
Which House you would like to see featured in the next Newsletter?
I hope you find the Quiz enjoyable and entertaining - I don't want too many people complaining that the questions were too hard (or that the answers are wrong!) And after perusing a Newsletter from 1995, I thought you would like to be reminded of some of the topics in “A Blast from the Past”
This lovely painting, specially commissioned from Margaret Latto, was the first prize in the AGM raffle which was won by Mrs C Hood.
* not in the published Editorial.