INVERNESS & BLACK ISLE U3A
STUDY DAY
DISCUSSION GROUP TOPICS
During the afternoon session the Study Day split into groups to discuss one of the following topics. Members of a Discussion Group were given a briefing sheet with their Conference Pack and a copy of the briefing sheet and a summary of each Group's discussion is included on the Group's page.
1. HERITAGE
The Highland landscape has been shaped by human and natural processes over thousands of years and is strikingly evidenced in the archaeological and historic features that are visible today. The best-preserved are the 'high status' castles and stately homes, many of which are state-funded and provide iconic tourist attractions.
However, the plethora of 18-19th century farm buildings, mills, smithies, cottages and crofts, as well as the visible signs of their associated agricultural practices, that are scattered across the Highland landscape have not received the same attention. Where preserved, they are generally voluntarily maintained by community groups and grant-funded through local heritage societies or trusts.
How much of our Highland heritage do we want to conserve/preserve? Should there be a recognised system for determining the 'value' of these remains - so that the 'best' are not lost to modern residential developments and commercial agriculture?
2. EDUCATION
How do we educate ourselves and future generations about the issues facing us on the use of our landscape?
Many of our decisions on what should happen to our surroundings are based on very understandable emotive feelings about our direct surroundings and ‘not in my back garden’ attitudes.
How do we get past this? How do we develop the tools to make reasoned and informed decisions on what happens to our environment and landscape especially when the majority of people live in urban areas and have little or no interest in what happens in rural areas.
Most of us do not have a background in the scientific, geographic or economic knowledge required to weigh up the pros and cons of the issues so are left to the vagaries of the media and to scientists who often do not agree even amongst themselves.
How do we overcome this in a world that inundates us with information but doesn’t give us time or tools to become educated and fully informed?
The discussion group will look at how we can educate and inform ourselves and how this can be developed for the future generation, the ones who will be affected by our decisions.
3. INDUSTRY AND ENERGY
Agriculture has had an impact for 4000 years, progressively removing the tree cover. 250 years ago, ‘improved’ agriculture began to impose straight-line boundaries in the straths and depopulate the uplands. Although pre-industrial iron smelting destroyed large areas of woodland, the Highlands largely escaped the industrial revolution. North Sea oil and gas exploration and extraction have had an impact along the coast in recent years. The straight lines and monoculture of plantation forestry have had a major impact. Natural regeneration is now being encouraged to soften the visual landscape but this requires unsightly deer fencing. The hydro-power developments of the 1950s reduced their visual impact with underground tunnels and stone clad power stations. The associated pylons are less sympathetic. Wind farms have a major visual impact because they are most effective when sited along the ridge.
1. Agriculture has traditionally operated outside the planning system; should it continue to do so?
2. Should industrial development continue to be confined to the coast?
3. How do we achieve a balance between economic forestry and amenity woodland?
4. There is technical scope for more hydro development but how and where should it be encouraged?
5. Further wind farm development is probably inevitable but can we ensure that part of the benefits is used to enhance the landscape in other respects?
4. LANDSCAPE
The Highland Landscape has developed and evolved through a series of interacting processes –climatic, geological, ecological and cultural – over time and at a variety of scales.
We are told that Scottish Landscapes are unsurpassed and one of the country’s greatest assets. At the same time it is accepted that landscapes will continue to change and that we have a duty to help manage this process.
Some landscapes are robust and can accommodate change, others are more sensitive and development within such an area might change its character irrevocably.
The Landscape Group will explore this issue, defining the characteristics of Highland Landscapes in terms of landforms, buildings, scale, pattern and colour and the equally important issue of feelings of tranquillity, remoteness and wildness.
Should we consider these landscapes as amenities to be protected or resources to be developed? To what extent will the development of the existing landscape impact on the natural and human environments? What are the economic and social consequences of landscape conservation?
5. POPULATION
The population pattern of the Highlands has long been one of rise and decline. Peaks of population occurred in the Bronze Age and again at the end of the eighteenth century before the Clearances and mass emigration decimated the glens. Today older people are attracted to the quality of life to be found in the Highlands while young people seek new opportunities elsewhere in the world.
Highland Council aims to make the Highlands one of Europe’s leading regions creating a diverse yet competitive economy with an improved transport infrastructure. Economic success and population growth are closely linked. A more accessible Highlands with increased job opportunities and recognised high quality of life will attract many people into the area.
How many more people can the Highland region sustain? Should future growth be concentrated along the coastal firth lands? How do we attract younger people into the more isolated yet high value scenic areas without compromising the ‘wilderness’ factor?
6. TOURISM AND RECREATION
In evaluating the influence of scenery on recreation and tourism we should consider three separate groups of people.
a. those established in the Highlands who live and work here
b. those who choose to come and live in the Highlands
c. visitors to the Highlands.
For category (a) the scenery may influence the occupation and/or recreation. Occupations may include providing services for visitors and recreations may include walking, climbing, skiing, water sports, fishing, etc.
With category (b) the scenery of the Highlands may have played a significant part in the decision to move here.
When category (c) were questioned (by VisitScotland) on their reasons for visiting the Highlands, 57% mentioned scenery – by far the most frequent reason given; even reasons mentioned less frequently such as walking, skiing and fishing depend to a significant extent on the scenery.
Thus recreation and tourism are intimately connected with the scenery of the Highlands and this discussion will consider ways in which the lives of those who live in the Highlands (a and b above) and the experience of those who visit (c above) can be enhanced.
