Island groups take a share of £10 million climate fund
COMMUNITY groups on Skye and Eigg have received a share of £10 million from the Climate Challenge Fund.
More than 100 organisations across Scotland benefited from the funding to support local action on climate change.
Broadford and Strath Community Company, based in south Skye, received £ 58,900.
Project officer Nicolas Kelly said the money will be used to create new community food growing areas.
The community company has six poly-tunnels on the island where residents take a plot and grow their own produce. It hopes to buy another two tunnels this year.
He told The Oban Times: ‘We want to encourage more people to grow their own food to reduce the area’s carbon footprint.’
Twenty-two people are currently using the poly-tunnels to grow vegetables including carrots, corn and courgettes.
Mr Kelly said the company is working with schools and hotels on a compost scheme. Food waste is disposed of in a compost bin which the community company uses at the allotments to reduce the amount of waste going to land fill.
Mr Kelly added: ‘We are hoping to work more with the schools. We already have one group of pupils from Portree High School, but would like to get Plockton High School and Broadford Primary School their own plants.’
The company is also working on a wood re- cycling base where joiners and builders bring wood waste to be re-used rather than binned.
‘The key is to reduce the area’s carbon footprint and encourage people to be aware of climate change,’ said Mr Kelly.
The money has also created a new part-time position for a project officer who will focus on working with schools to promote environmental projects.
Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust has also had a cash boost of £130,550. The trust, which runs Eigg Island Going Greener project, provides residents with advice on energy efficency to reduce carbon emissions.
Maggie Fyffe of the heritage trust said the project will also provide locally-sourced wood to help residents and businesses switch from coal heating.
Ms Fyffe said: ‘Part of the money will be used to build a drying shed for wood to encourage more people to use wood as their main source of fuel and lessen their reliance on coal. The money will also be used as part of a larger forestry project.’
Other groups in the Highlands and Islands getting a cash injection were Lochaber Environmental Group, Spean Bridge Community Centre, Tagsa Uibhist, Tighean Innse Gall and Bragar and Arnol Community Trust.
Since the fund was launched in 2008, 986 awards totalling £ 85.8m have been made.