Forest plantings mark 10-year anniversary for UHI West Highland.

Iain Ferguson

While primary school children will be learning about creating wildflower gardens, ‘older’ learners will also be improving the natural environment by planting trees to mark the 10th anniversary of University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) West Highland.

Just as trees put down roots for nourishment and binding the soil together, UHI brings students from across the world together in nourishing learning and forming their own community.

Planting trees is also part of a “Future Forest” project in which students work with the Nevis Landscape Partnership (NLP) and estate owners such as Jahama Highland Estates and other local partners. Around 500 indigenous trees have been planted on sites that have been identified close to each of the 10 UHI centres around the West Highlands.

Due to the restrictions surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic the project took a little longer than planned but the final celebration planting in February saw a group of students brave heavy rain to create groups of hazel and oak broadleaf near the Lower Falls Car Park in Glen Nevis. Interpretive signs will also be installed to give more detail about the UHI West Highland Anniversary project.

Recently The Countryside Skills with Ranger Training course in which the students are involved gained a highly commended award in the

Employer Connections category at this year’s College Development Network Awards 2022, which recognise the talent, innovation and achievement demonstrated by colleges, their staff and their learners.

Other work in the glen includes the provision of additional car parking spaces, a service bus turning area and, importantly, the addition of public toilets which are already making a real contribution to improving the visitor experience and has helped in the mitigation of waste and litter being discarded in Glen Nevis.

Alvance British Aluminium has also recently involved staff and their families with the planting over 300 native trees in the area adjacent to the Lower Falls Car park and it looks -tforward to taking forward further native tree planting projects across the wider landholding.

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