This week’s bumper crop of updates;

• The Community Land Scotland Annual Conference on the 7-8 June at Sabhal Mor Ostaig has announced that the key note speaker will be the First Minister Alex Salmond. The Trust is working with CLS to organise workshops and event management.
• The last in the series of the environment groups winter talks is this Wed March 20th at Ardvasar Hall at 7.30pm when Roger Cottis will give a presentation titled "Mammals of Skye".
• Chris will be attending a meeting on Raasay with the local community group on Wednesday to give advice on forestry buy outs and community forest planning.
• The SCT Environment Group is having a Tormore Forest 'Spring Clean' this Saturday, 16th March 2pm-4pm. It is an opportunity to assist in the management of our community forest by pulling up unwanted conifer seedlings along the access track. Families welcome. Meet at the forest track entrance. Wear: outdoor clothes, stout shoes or boots Bring: strong gardening gloves if you have them (some can be provided), secateurs or loppers, waterproofs. Note: only a moderate level of fitness is needed although this activity may not be suitable for those with bad backs!
• Sharon will be attending a petrol station seminar in Helmsdale next Tuesday the 19th March.
• Several weeks ago the board of the Trading company was approached by a local community member regarding the possibility of leasing the Armadale Filling Station. After several weeks of negotiations the potential lessee has withdrawn his interest. We wish him well in his future endeavours. The Trading company will now look at ways for the retail facility to move forward.
• The Trust has been invited to the “The Future is Local”, Communities Day at Scottish Parliament on Fri 26 April. Debates, presentations and workshops on a variety of hot community topics, some of which will be held in the main debating chamber.
• Angus and Jane will be attending the World's Largest Social Enterprise event at the SECC in Glasgow on Thursday. The Trust will be promoting the work of our community group and promoting the area as a tourist destination by giving out hundreds of Visit Sleat tourism leaflets. We are located at stand 30.
• Board meetings next week for Renewables and Trading.
• Good meeting last week with the Forestry Commission which outlined possible partnership working at the Kinloch plantations. We still await the district valuation figures for the forest areas of interest.