Stornoway pupils get behind Biodiversity theme
Children of Stornoway Primary School helping launch three new Biodiversity posters, alongside Councillor Angus Nicholson, John Love (SNH) and Anne MacLellan (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Biodiversity Officer).
Promotion of the Western Isles biodiversity theme took another step forward last month with pupils at Stornoway Primary School helping Councillor Angus Nicholson to launch a series of stunning biodiversity posters at the school.
The posters were produced by the Comhairle in association with the Western Isles Biodiversity Partnership and Scottish Natural Heritage with funding from the Scottish Executive’s Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme. The three, A1 size bilingual posters promote Native Woodland, Saline Lagoons and the Great yellow bumblebee, in line with the first phase of Western Isles habitat and species action plans, launched last summer. The posters provide information about the species or habitat, and the issues affecting them, and highlight what communities can do to help maintain and enhance their local biodiversity.
They will be distributed to all primary and secondary schools, colleges, voluntary groups, visitor centres, libraries and other public places throughout the Western Isles. And the Gaelic content will promote their use in Gaelic schools, pre-school groups and colleges.
Poster promoting the Great yellow bumblebee
The launch coincided with a series of local community workshops held throughout the islands by the Western Isles Biodiversity Partnership. These were held in Stornoway and Shawbost in Lewis, Barra, South Uist, North Uist and Harris. They aimed to gather the views of the public on the five latest draft species and habitat action plans for Corncrake, Corn Bunting, Dunlin, Irish lady’s-tresses, Orchid and Cereal Field Margins. Communities in the Western Isles expressed interest in posters during a similar public consultation exercise in December 2003.
At the launch, Cllr Nicholson, chair of the Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) Steering Group, said: “An important objective of the Western Isles LBAP is to raise awareness of the importance of the habitats and species which are found commonly throughout the Western Isles but which are important nationally or internationally. These posters are a fantastic resource for raising awareness not only in schools but in communities throughout the islands. I hope that people will be encouraged to become involved in action for biodiversity as even the smallest changes in the way things are done in the home, croft, garden or school can make a real difference.”
Posters are available from Anne MacLellan, Biodiversity Officer for the Western Isles on 01870 602425 or email: amaclellan@cne-siar.gov.uk