MCoS Statement on Alladale

Robin across at BlogPackingLight pointed me to the Mountaineering Council of Scotland's recent position statement on the Alladale Project (pdf link). They conclude that:

The member organisations of this group find this unofficial, but well-publicised project, as unacceptable as stated. We call for a recognition that the unnatural density, probable artificial feeding and commercial nature shows that this project is a safari park, which would require a zoo licence, and hence is completely different from what it is promoted as which is a re-wilding project. A full project study should be undertaken, followed by an environmental statement stating the legal basis on which this project will be based.

And here's a link to the YouTube version

I wrote some notes earlier on the recent programme shown on the BBC, and then immediately repeated after the 6 episodes were finished showing on BBC Scotland. I didn't post anything about later episodes as I really could not be bothered reporting on the one-sided shallow programme. It was not a documentary. I don't know what it was other than merely following around people on the estate. No attempt was made to do any follow up. Unlike "Trawlermen", the estate and Mr Lister's project is not a sealed bubble, but the programme may have given that impression.

Overall, I find it intriguing that the Scottish Government does not get involved when its own access laws are being challenged, and seems to just wait for people to raise objections, despite the publicity. I find it ludicrous that the MCoS or the Ramblers' Association get involved in court cases when it is the rights of people in Scotland that are being challenged. Maybe I'm missing the point, but isn't that what our government is for?

The Real Monarch of the Glen ep1

Message sent to BBC iPlayer folk:

Cracking job on the iPlayer, but when will you include BBC Scotland and not just BBC England? For example, some mates down south wanted to watch "The Real Monarch of the Glen" (BBC2 Scotland), so I pointed them to your iPlayer. Only then did one of the chaps point out your lack of regional programming.

I'm not interested in when the TV down south will show the prog, but just why your iPlayer is biased against us up here. As you are constantly working hard to improve the iPlayer, I hope that this oversight will be corrected shortly.

The programme - merely reshowing clips from the original, with expanded material. Mr Lister playing to the camera when eating ants in Scandinavia. Terms like "the cycle of life", "enclosed reserve", "fenced reserve" and "let's just do it". Sweeping statements from the programme-makers "make a remote spot ... a little wilderness", and "now the first animals are back".

I'm sure the BBC will bring out inconsistencies, like bringing employment to the area, but the construction workers were Polish (heck, maybe they live in the area, I don't know). 700 brown bears in the whole of Sweden (stated the script), yet Mr Lister wants wants to introduce 12 to his small estate. Estate: 23,000 acres. Sweden: 111,188,530 acres. Obviously pure maths doesn't work here as the scientists know how much room these bears need. The same bears that  "won't be shy as they'll have less woods to hide in".

Anyone up for pony-trekking in amongst un-shy brown bears? I think I'll need to bag that Munro before the whatever-it-is-just-don't-call-it-a-zoo opens.

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Filed under "Celebrity Interviews", there's an interview with Mr Lister in the Daily Record (story-link). Just don't bother doing a search for the word "zoo" in the interview. Nor is there mention of the Local Authority's objection to part of the proposal. In fact, the only mention of opposing views is in the statement that "Ramblers - some of whom have raised opposition to Paul's plans - currently number 300 on the estate each year." Therefore it could be implied that the number of objections are a subset of 300 (here's a link to the MCoS newsletter in case you want to hear objections from non-Ramblers).

But, hey, I wasn't going to start listing faults with the media. Good luck to the project. I've said things elsewhere that you can read if you are interested, so I won't repeat them here.

"Scotland is a nation on the move. We will accept nothing less than success." Oh, that was the First Minister, during his "Free to Prosper" speech and not Mr Lister.

I look forward to the rest of the series, and hope that the later programmes reveal more facts about Scotland being open for business, though perhaps the term "Monarch" in the title says all about the due deference being paid so far.

ListerWorld

I'll reply here to Mike's post across on "Puppy's World" about the BBC "Natural World" program last night about Paul Lister's Alladale development. I've mentioned it a few times here in the past, so isn't new news (posts). I'll state here that I haven't watched the programme yet. I'm waiting for a more relaxing time, as I have heard/read interviews about this in the past and the stance taken by the developers winds me up.

But I wish people wouldn't keep using the Outdoor Access Code, and Land Reform Act as a hammer to knock developers. Would there be objections if the land was flat? Or there wasn't a Munro in the vicinity? But then we have Blair Drummond safari park, and zoos in Scotland already and no-one is suggesting that access laws are used to allow people to walk freely into the enclosures. Of course not. Are there any rights of way being removed? I haven't heard of any, but I could be wrong.

I have objections to the development, but other people have arguments in favour. There have been a number of high level planning 'debates' (totally the wrong word for these arguments) in Scotland recently. It would seem that no-one is happy with the planning laws. But they are the laws that we have, and people should not be allowed to sidestep them. That is what we have state authorities for - to make sure that people from the lowest to the highest in the land all obey the laws. I think I managed to keep a straight face writing that bit!

I'd love to go hiking amongst native woodlands rather than the bland industrially-minded plantations. Deer kept on the move by the threat of a wolf pack would probably benefit the native plants. Bears are different, and when one escaped in Scotland in the 1980's (or was it the 70's?), an intensive search was mounted to catch it. This is what we have licensing and official approvals for - to make sure that everything is up to standards before dangerous animals are released into such a large area (where this differs from smaller safari parks and zoos). I'm sure the insurance companies and backers also demand no less.

If, in future, there are hiking and camping tours through land clear of bears and nasties, I'd pay a fee for that privilege - to hear the wolves howl in the distance, and see the elk plod across the hillside. Just so long as there was no grizzly ripping my tent open and making off with half my face attached to its claws.

I'll second Mike's comment "Right i am off to get the flak jacket and tin helmet and find a big deep hole to hide in".

If you missed the programme and want to watch it, you'll find it in the BBC iPlayer - don't tell me what happens.

No Alladale bothy

Reading the Mountain Bothies Association newsletter, they report that the Alladale bothy has been taken back by the estate. Any howls heard in the area just now will be from tourists - for that is what hillwalkers are - and not the wolves.

In the slogan that seems to being mentioned by the current Scottish leadership: Scotland is open for business. As is the improved Corrour bothy. It is ready for you to do your business too.

Unleash the Hounds

Opinionated rubbish posted in response to Chris Townsend's article "Alladale Again: Bothy Closed, PR Machine Ramped Up"

Well, the landlords are doing it again. Bring it on, and we'll see if Scotland really is a democracy. My great-grandfather was a Pairc raider, spent time in jail for standing up to the landlords. Is this a land fit for heroes, or a place where the law is pochled when money is on the table.

A few jobs (some for locals, or just open to all?) and ignore the tourists that come worldwide to hike in Scotland, bringing money to local communities and not just the estate. Hey ho, the money can go elsewhere, I'll certainly not be visiting after I've bagged the Munro.

I'll second Chris' comments - I'd love to see some more re-introduced species. Unlike some people, for me I like new experiences rather than speed and running. Slow and steady, taking in all I can, enjoying life and enjoying the experience, trying not to pi55 off too many people - okay, no-one that doesn't deserve it anyway. And a quick knee in the nuts of any wolf that gets too close, crying the old Gaelic warcry of "gwan yah bass!"