Strathspey conservationists lay praise at cablers' door
Credit where it’s due, say the Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation Group – who have praised a team of cable layers for protecting valuable rare plants along the way.
“It was a job well done by a team of Broadband cablers,” said BSCG convenor Gus Jones this week.
“We were pleased to see the team come to the rescue of some rare pinewood plants.”
With their careful and professional approach to the task in hand, the cable layers took great trouble to protect the rare plants at a woodland wildlife hot spot in Nethy Bridge.
The roadside cabling near the “Forest Village” runs through important habitat for wildlife including woodland on the Ancient Woodland Inventory at School Wood that is home for much wildlife of conservation concern, including the rare green shield moss, various rare bees and unusual insects as well as supporting red squirrel, crested tits and toothed fungi.
Said fellow BSCG member Roy Turnbull: “We were delighted to lend a hand, marking important patches of two kinds of flowers known as wintergreens near School Wood.
“The level of concern and care shown by contractors working for A. Willox & Sons who are undertaking the cabling work was great.
“Fortunately these plants are evergreen and the covering of snow was shallow and soft enough for us to be able find them.
“The Highland Council remembered to tell us when work was going to start and we’re really grateful for help by contractors in making sure these plants were safeguarded.”
Dr Deborah Long, head of Plantlife Scotland, endorsed the great job done: “This a really good example of all the benefits that can be achieved when local conservation groups work with contractors.
“The wintergreens are a group of beautiful flowers that are highly characteristic of our native pinewoods. It is heartening to see their conservation as a key part of road verge management, which is sensitive enough to avoid harm to these plants, securing a stronger future for them in the national park.”
