26 April 2024 Issue 2575 © ULLAPOOL NEWS
Ullapool Primary Take 2nd Place In The Maths Challenge
The Maths Challenge, held at Dingwall Academy is open to Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils across the Highlands. A school can enter a team of 3 to participate in five rounds of mathematical challenges.
Whilst there was an element of competition between schools, the emphasis of the day was on working together, mathematical thinking skills and enjoyment.
Mrs Mason accompanied Andrew Sorley Munro, Guillian Moyne and Daniel Mason to participate in this challenge. The challenge involved a Poster Challenge (based on problem solving in Geometry), a Round Table Challenge (each team solving problems against the clock), Head to Head Challenge, a Team Challenge (30 minutes to solve as many questions as possible) and finished with an exciting Relay Challenge.
Thirty one schools participated with Ullapool Primary taking an amazing 2nd place!
‘I really liked the fun relay at the end and think we got a lot of points in this,’ said Guillian. Daniel said ‘I’m really pleased we came second.’
Andrew summed up the day by stating ‘it’s not luck, it’s skill.’
*****
Reay Forest Visit for Ullapool High School
Pupils from Ullapool High School had a great visit to Reay Forest Estate recently, braving some extremely wet weather in the process – basically it rained all day until just before departure time!
However, the youngsters seemed to really enjoy themselves, as they learnt more about such diverse subjects as the importance of peat restoration, machine maintenance, why ponies are still a vital part of work on many large estates, and the various environmental issues that rural work has to tackle these days.
Hospitality featured as well, as many estates now offer visitor accommodation as part of their income streams, and one of the highlights here (well, two of the highlights here) included a competition to see who could tidy a bedroom quickest, and then some cake decoration in the kitchen. Hospitality takes many forms!
Did they enjoy themselves? Read on –
“Revving the Quad bike was really exciting”…….“Despite the rain, we give it a 9 out of 10!”……. “Lots of different jobs in hospitality – I hadn’t realised there were so many things to do”…….. “Felt good about planting trees to create a wildlife corridor”
The day was organised by Reay Forest Estate in partnership with Countryside Learning Scotland, and support from DYW (Developing the Young Workforce) through their Ullapool co-ordinator, Neil Lebeter. It included schools from Ullapool, Gairloch, Kinlochbervie, Tain and Farr. This follows the first event two years ago, and has proven very popular with everybody involved.
The local contact for Countryside Learning is Douglas Gibson, based in Gairloch: (douglas@countrysidelearningscotland.org.uk) – full information about the charity can be found on their website and social media channels
*****
Path Improvements in Wester Ross
Two very popular paths in Wester Ross have recently benefited from improvement works.
The paths to Ullapool Hill and Flowerdale Waterfall near Gairloch were in need of some attention after sections had become very boggy or had eroded away due to very heavy rainfall this winter.
The Highland Council’s Outdoor Access Manager, Phil Waite, tendered the work then appointed contractors, Alex Grant (Gairloch) Ltd. As they are specialist path contractors they utilised ‘as dug’ material for new surfacing. This is found in the subsoil and its use minimises disturbance to the site and reduces the cost.
This material, when appropriate, is often much more in keeping with the landscape and surroundings. Care must be taken that it is of the right consistency and not waterlogged. One small area had to be replaced with imported material when waterlogging from a hidden source did occur. Drainage on all these improved sections was key and so lengths of new ditches were dug and associated culverts, cross drains and waterbars placed where necessary along the path.
The improvement works carried out on the Ullapool Hill route included a section at the start of the path at Broom Park and along a section of the link path at Braes. This section had suffered badly due to water damage ‘gullying’ down the centre of the path after a bad winter storm.
*****
Opportunity for people in the Highlands to comment on Boundaries Scotland revised constituency boundaries for the Scottish Parliament
The Second Review of the Scottish Parliament by Boundaries Scotland is currently underway. Boundaries Scotland is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations for:
• constituencies and regions for the Scottish Parliament;
• the number of councillors on each council in a local
government area;
• the number of wards for local government elections and their boundaries; and
• the extent of council areas.
This review of the constituencies and regions of the Scottish Parliament by Boundaries Scotland commenced on 1 September 2022. On Tuesday (16 April) they published their revised proposals for new constituency boundaries for the Scottish Parliament.
The summary for The Highland Council area is as follows;
• All of the existing constituency names have been retained.
• Retained one constituency boundary – Caithness, Sutherland and Ross from the provisional proposals.
• Make changes to the other two constituency boundaries (Inverness and Nairn; and Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) to the south of Inverness to align with a ward boundary, following feedback from the public on the provisional consultation.
People now have an opportunity to provide feedback on these proposals as part of a consultation which is now underway and will run until Wednesday 15 May 2024.
Constituency Maps – Revised Proposal Maps: Caithness, Sutherland and Ross |Inverness and Nairn | Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
Comments on the Revised Proposals can be made on the consultation site https://boundaries.scot, where you can view the boundaries of the revised proposals and compare them with the existing constituency boundaries, see consult.boundaries.scot.
Comments can also be made by email to boundaries.scot@scottishboundaries.gov.uk, or by writing to Boundaries Scotland, Thistle House, 91 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5HD. All comments should be submitted no later than 15 May 2024 which is the end of the statutory consultation period.
The Boundary Commission will further consult on proposals for the boundaries of Scottish Parliament regions in 2024, with a report to be submitted to Scottish Ministers on the revised Constituencies and Regions by 1 May 2025. If subsequently approved by the Scottish Parliament, the new boundaries will be effective at the next Scottish Parliament election, expected in May 2026.
*****
It’s Cast Off for Historic Tall Ship Bessie Ellen’s Commemorative Round Britain Tour 19th April 2024
One of the last remaining Westcountry ketches, the Bessie Ellen, has set sail from Gloucester, embarking on the first leg of her commemorative Round Britain tour. Hoisting her original flag from 1904, this majestic vessel is a celebration of a by-gone era with her Round Britain inviting young and old to watch her sail.
Starting at Gloucester, Bessie Ellen’s Round Britain tour sees her call in at fourteen ports around the UK, including the Orkney Islands, Newcastle and Ramsgate. One of her final ports of call will be Sutton Harbour in Plymouth, where Bessie Ellen was built in 1904 and from where she used to deliver cargo from 1907-1940.
Prior to Plymouth, Bessie Ellen will cross the channel to attend esteemed Brest Maritime Festival, joining in with the 30th anniversary celebrations. As the largest maritime festival in Europe, over 1000 vessels gather here to honour traditional sailing, showcasing an incredible range of vessels in one single place.
As Bessie Ellen skipper, owner and guardian Nikki Alford explains “We are excited to set sail for our Round Britain tour, celebrating this beautiful ship and enabling numerous communities around the United Kingdom to enjoy access to Bessie Ellen and see first-hand why she is so special. I’m touched by the massive response to this old girl big birthday year, and the crew and I look forward to welcoming friends old and new aboard this historic adventure!”
Listed on the National Historic Ships register, Bessie’s remarkable heritage has seen her witness the changing tides of history quite literally. Nikki Alford has owned and sailed Bessie Ellen for 24 years, lovingly restoring it from the shell of a hull in Denmark to building a successful charter business in the UK.
Today, Bessie Ellen sails guests around beautiful, remote locations, the stories of times gone by etched into her timbers with whispers of the past telling tales of daring adventures, incredible discoveries and the relentless spirit of exploration and preservation. Vessels such as Bessie Ellen are a vital part of our maritime heritage, serving as tangible links to our past and the traditions, skills and stories of those who sailed before us.
*****
Ullapool Primary Take 2nd Place In The Maths Challenge
The Maths Challenge, held at Dingwall Academy is open to Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils across the Highlands. A school can enter a team of 3 to participate in five rounds of mathematical challenges.
Whilst there was an element of competition between schools, the emphasis of the day was on working together, mathematical thinking skills and enjoyment.
Mrs Mason accompanied Andrew Sorley Munro, Guillian Moyne and Daniel Mason to participate in this challenge. The challenge involved a Poster Challenge (based on problem solving in Geometry), a Round Table Challenge (each team solving problems against the clock), Head to Head Challenge, a Team Challenge (30 minutes to solve as many questions as possible) and finished with an exciting Relay Challenge.
Thirty one schools participated with Ullapool Primary taking an amazing 2nd place!
‘I really liked the fun relay at the end and think we got a lot of points in this,’ said Guillian. Daniel said ‘I’m really pleased we came second.’
Andrew summed up the day by stating ‘it’s not luck, it’s skill.’
*****
Reay Forest Visit for Ullapool High School
Pupils from Ullapool High School had a great visit to Reay Forest Estate recently, braving some extremely wet weather in the process – basically it rained all day until just before departure time!
However, the youngsters seemed to really enjoy themselves, as they learnt more about such diverse subjects as the importance of peat restoration, machine maintenance, why ponies are still a vital part of work on many large estates, and the various environmental issues that rural work has to tackle these days.
Hospitality featured as well, as many estates now offer visitor accommodation as part of their income streams, and one of the highlights here (well, two of the highlights here) included a competition to see who could tidy a bedroom quickest, and then some cake decoration in the kitchen. Hospitality takes many forms!
Did they enjoy themselves? Read on –
“Revving the Quad bike was really exciting”…….“Despite the rain, we give it a 9 out of 10!”……. “Lots of different jobs in hospitality – I hadn’t realised there were so many things to do”…….. “Felt good about planting trees to create a wildlife corridor”
The day was organised by Reay Forest Estate in partnership with Countryside Learning Scotland, and support from DYW (Developing the Young Workforce) through their Ullapool co-ordinator, Neil Lebeter. It included schools from Ullapool, Gairloch, Kinlochbervie, Tain and Farr. This follows the first event two years ago, and has proven very popular with everybody involved.
The local contact for Countryside Learning is Douglas Gibson, based in Gairloch: (douglas@countrysidelearningscotland.org.uk) – full information about the charity can be found on their website and social media channels
*****
Path Improvements in Wester Ross
Two very popular paths in Wester Ross have recently benefited from improvement works.
The paths to Ullapool Hill and Flowerdale Waterfall near Gairloch were in need of some attention after sections had become very boggy or had eroded away due to very heavy rainfall this winter.
The Highland Council’s Outdoor Access Manager, Phil Waite, tendered the work then appointed contractors, Alex Grant (Gairloch) Ltd. As they are specialist path contractors they utilised ‘as dug’ material for new surfacing. This is found in the subsoil and its use minimises disturbance to the site and reduces the cost.
This material, when appropriate, is often much more in keeping with the landscape and surroundings. Care must be taken that it is of the right consistency and not waterlogged. One small area had to be replaced with imported material when waterlogging from a hidden source did occur. Drainage on all these improved sections was key and so lengths of new ditches were dug and associated culverts, cross drains and waterbars placed where necessary along the path.
The improvement works carried out on the Ullapool Hill route included a section at the start of the path at Broom Park and along a section of the link path at Braes. This section had suffered badly due to water damage ‘gullying’ down the centre of the path after a bad winter storm.
*****
Opportunity for people in the Highlands to comment on Boundaries Scotland revised constituency boundaries for the Scottish Parliament
The Second Review of the Scottish Parliament by Boundaries Scotland is currently underway. Boundaries Scotland is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations for:
• constituencies and regions for the Scottish Parliament;
• the number of councillors on each council in a local
government area;
• the number of wards for local government elections and their boundaries; and
• the extent of council areas.
This review of the constituencies and regions of the Scottish Parliament by Boundaries Scotland commenced on 1 September 2022. On Tuesday (16 April) they published their revised proposals for new constituency boundaries for the Scottish Parliament.
The summary for The Highland Council area is as follows;
• All of the existing constituency names have been retained.
• Retained one constituency boundary – Caithness, Sutherland and Ross from the provisional proposals.
• Make changes to the other two constituency boundaries (Inverness and Nairn; and Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) to the south of Inverness to align with a ward boundary, following feedback from the public on the provisional consultation.
People now have an opportunity to provide feedback on these proposals as part of a consultation which is now underway and will run until Wednesday 15 May 2024.
Constituency Maps – Revised Proposal Maps: Caithness, Sutherland and Ross |Inverness and Nairn | Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
Comments on the Revised Proposals can be made on the consultation site https://boundaries.scot, where you can view the boundaries of the revised proposals and compare them with the existing constituency boundaries, see consult.boundaries.scot.
Comments can also be made by email to boundaries.scot@scottishboundaries.gov.uk, or by writing to Boundaries Scotland, Thistle House, 91 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5HD. All comments should be submitted no later than 15 May 2024 which is the end of the statutory consultation period.
The Boundary Commission will further consult on proposals for the boundaries of Scottish Parliament regions in 2024, with a report to be submitted to Scottish Ministers on the revised Constituencies and Regions by 1 May 2025. If subsequently approved by the Scottish Parliament, the new boundaries will be effective at the next Scottish Parliament election, expected in May 2026.
*****
It’s Cast Off for Historic Tall Ship Bessie Ellen’s Commemorative Round Britain Tour 19th April 2024
One of the last remaining Westcountry ketches, the Bessie Ellen, has set sail from Gloucester, embarking on the first leg of her commemorative Round Britain tour. Hoisting her original flag from 1904, this majestic vessel is a celebration of a by-gone era with her Round Britain inviting young and old to watch her sail.
Starting at Gloucester, Bessie Ellen’s Round Britain tour sees her call in at fourteen ports around the UK, including the Orkney Islands, Newcastle and Ramsgate. One of her final ports of call will be Sutton Harbour in Plymouth, where Bessie Ellen was built in 1904 and from where she used to deliver cargo from 1907-1940.
Prior to Plymouth, Bessie Ellen will cross the channel to attend esteemed Brest Maritime Festival, joining in with the 30th anniversary celebrations. As the largest maritime festival in Europe, over 1000 vessels gather here to honour traditional sailing, showcasing an incredible range of vessels in one single place.
As Bessie Ellen skipper, owner and guardian Nikki Alford explains “We are excited to set sail for our Round Britain tour, celebrating this beautiful ship and enabling numerous communities around the United Kingdom to enjoy access to Bessie Ellen and see first-hand why she is so special. I’m touched by the massive response to this old girl big birthday year, and the crew and I look forward to welcoming friends old and new aboard this historic adventure!”
Listed on the National Historic Ships register, Bessie’s remarkable heritage has seen her witness the changing tides of history quite literally. Nikki Alford has owned and sailed Bessie Ellen for 24 years, lovingly restoring it from the shell of a hull in Denmark to building a successful charter business in the UK.
Today, Bessie Ellen sails guests around beautiful, remote locations, the stories of times gone by etched into her timbers with whispers of the past telling tales of daring adventures, incredible discoveries and the relentless spirit of exploration and preservation. Vessels such as Bessie Ellen are a vital part of our maritime heritage, serving as tangible links to our past and the traditions, skills and stories of those who sailed before us.
*****
