Tree planting site to be decided in Courier vote

INVERNESS Courier readers are being invited to take part in an online poll to choose a tree-planting location in the city as part of a UK-wide project.

Five potential sites in the Highland capital are in the running after nominations were invited and it is now up to the public to determine the winner.

The contenders include Dalneigh Primary School, Merkinch Nature Reserve and the Centenary Field opposite Cavell Gardens War Memorial.

Other suggestions are the roundabout near the Asda supermarket in Sir Walter Drive and the new Inshes District Park.

They were suggested after the Courier, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary, joined forces with city MP Drew Hendry who is among more than 500 MPs who will be planting trees as part of the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy, a network of forest conservation projects to mark her service to the Commonwealth.

The trees – two silver birch, two rowan, and a hazel – have been donated in a partnership between the Woodland Trust, Sainsbury's and ITV which screened The Queen's Green Planet, earlier this year.

Mr Hendry said trees played an important part in shaping communities and it was fitting the public should get the chance to determine a site.

He also felt planting the trees as part of the Courier's bicentenary celebrations was symbolic of the paper itself and its roots in the community for the last 200 years.

Dalneigh Primary School wanted to be considered as part of its development of outdoor learning.

Its nomination stated: "We would like to have the trees to encourage more insects and birds into the school grounds for the children to learn about."

Merkinch Nature Reserve was also suggested as a place which would greatly benefit from the trees.

"They'd be in a place that is well used and loved by many locals," the nomination stated.

The grassed area opposite Cavell Gardens War Memorial was suggested by Joe Davidson, chairman of the Inverness branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland.

It has been designated a Centenary Field under a nationwide programme which aims to protect parks, playing fields and other recreational spaces in perpetuity to honour the memory of the millions who lost their lives in World War I.

The member of the public nominating the Asda roundabout stated: "I know it's difficult because of the big light but would be nice to see a tree there everyday when driving past – or if not on the roundabout then on the ground to the left of the roundabout where there is a patch of land behind the fence."

Inshes District Park, which is the city's newest park in decades, has also been put forward as a contender.

Voting has closed.