Eagles away

LOCHABER GOLDEN EAGLES TAKE TO SOUTHERN SKIES

Iain ferguson Golden eagles from Lochaber are heading south to help repopulate areas where they are either in serious decline or have vanished completely. Native to Scotland, historic persecution and changes to land use have put these reclusive and vulnerable birds at risk of disappearing from their remote homelands. Depending on conditions such as availability of food and nesting areas, these birds generally lay only one egg but in Lochaber where the habitat is generally more favourable a clutch of two is, if not common, more prevalent than in other areas. Thanks to Jahama Highland Estates, working in conjunction with The South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, when ‘twins’ occur one of the young birds can be relocated to an area in which the population is in a much weaker position, helping to strengthen and over the years re-establish the species. A licence from NatureScot allows the project to translocate up to 10 young eagles each year, across a five-year period. The first four birds that the team successfully moved to the area are now thriving in southern skies and across the Borders area with occasional forays into northern England. Two of these birds have come from locations across Jahama Highland Estate. When twins are present and are between six and eight weeks old, they are carefully collected and translocated to southern Scotland. This can go ahead once they are fully feathered, capable of keeping themselves warm and have the strength to grip and tear their own food. Each young eagle is given regular health checks and has a metal identification ring attached to its lower leg. The birds are carefully and sensitively transported to an aviary location in the Moffat Hills prior to being released into the wild six weeks later. The fabulous birds are also fitted with a satellite tracker to allow further study and to ensure their health and well-being is being fully supported. So the next time you are out and about in Lochaber and see the majestic, soaring golden eagles be proud that birds from this part of the world are playing a key role in improving the bio-diversity of other parts of Scotland and the UK to ensure the survival of this iconic species.

Photograph courtesy of South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project

FASSFERN HIGHLAND GINS AND ROSLIN WHISKY – THE TASTE AND TOAST OF LOCHABER

Fassfern Highland gins may be one of Lochaber’s newest products but it is born from an area steeped in heritage linked to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the ‘45 rising. It is said that the prince himself picked a white rose from a bush as he passed through Fassfern, after landing at Glenfinnan, and this became the symbol of the Jacobite cause right through to the present day. Local plants also feature prominently in one of the new gins, which has the flavoursome content of wild Lochaber Brambles, carefully picked and selected at their prime before being added into the gin-making process. This has proved to be very popular to the palates of gin lovers and plans are already in place to increase collection of the berries at the height of this year’s growing season. Second of the small batch production is a dry Highland gin, featuring the smooth flavours of Juniper and citrus, equally palatable in bringing out the slightly more bitter subtlety of the liquid. Conceived and created by Aaron Ross and his recently deceased father, Colin – a ‘whisky man’ for over half a century, highly regarded in the international industry and much loved locally – the business also offers a 15-year-old single malt Allt a’ Mhullin, marketed under the brand ‘Roslin’, the name of Colin’s house. Laid down in barrels previously used for a number of other alcoholic drinks over a long period of time, it is instilled with a unique flavour, making it a highly desirable, much-soughtafter product by both individuals who enjoy a whisky and dealers. A high quality product, with each label and box bearing a facsimile of Colin’s signature, the first bottle was hand labelled by Colin himself just before he passed away. This will remain in the family as an ongoing symbol of his everlasting presence in their lives and that of the business. Aaron said: ‘This was a project dad and I were working on for some time; in developing the products, how they would be marketed, and even right down to the design of the packaging. We never expected that he would not be with us when we were ready to launch, but I am really happy he was able to see what we had achieved together and celebrate his role by hand labelling and signing the very first bottle.’ Other than the drinks, Fassfern also offers a range of glassware from which to enjoy its products and even, as a mark of the times, a specially-branded face mask. Information about Fassfern gin and Roslin whisky can be found on www.fassferndistillery.com