Hundreds of entries for card competition
More than 300 entries from pupils in 30 primary schools across the Highlands have been received for Lochaber MSP Kate Forbes’ annual Christmas card competition
As well as featuring on the card, this year’s winning design will also be showcased on a Nevis Range mountain gondola at Aonach Mor near Ben Nevis.
Entries have come in from across the constituency, including from Broadford, Carbost, Drumnadrochit, Farr, Fort William, Kingussie, Mallaig, Raasay and Spean Bridge.
Ms Forbes said: ‘This is the third year in a row I’ve asked young people in primary schools across the Highlands to design a festive Christmas card for my constituency and I’ve been blown away by the number and the quality of the entries.
‘I’m going to have a very difficult job picking a winner. Even drawing up a shortlist has been exceptionally hard.
‘All the entries will be displayed in the windows of my constituency office in Dingwall.’
The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch added: ‘Perhaps this year’s winning prize has encouraged a few more entries. I love the idea the skiers, snowboarders and tourists coming to Lochaber will head up the mountain in a gondola and see a festive design by a primary school pupil.
‘This is about encouraging youngsters to get involved with something a little bit different and I look forward to announcing a winner next month.’
Chris O’Brien, chief executive officer of Nevis Range, agreed entries for this year’s Christmas card competition had been fantastic and is delighted Nevis Range is part of it.
‘The winning design will be on one of our gondolas all winter and we can’t wait to see it,’ he said.
Every primary school in the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency was sent a letter from Ms Forbes inviting them to take part in the competition, with the brief of an A5 drawing on the theme of a Highland winter, featuring aspects of the region’s landscape, culture and sports.