Friday, 16 May 2025

Loch Ness Biodiversity Policy Forum

Concerned about damage and loss of the natural environment in the Loch Ness area, primarily caused or threatened by major renewable developments, this Forum recognises the importance of delivering local biodiversity and environmental improvements through the planning process. The forum is keen to ensure that all relevant decisions on planning applications within the Loch Ness area, shall:

• Improve local biodiversity and the natural environment

• Improve the management of land for nature

• Increase tree cover

• Avoid the use of natural open spaces for development

• Rigorously assess the local biodiversity of brownfield and greyfield sites prior to

their re-use for development.

The Forum aims to do this by:

1. Gathering information concerning relevant policies, laws and regulations regarding the protection of the natural environment and biodiversity.

2. Ensuring relevant statutory organisations and elected representatives are aware of the forum and its concerns.

3. Reviewing relevant planning applications and ensure biodiversity rules are included in the development.

4. Encouraging major developers, working in the area, to accept greater responsibility for, and commitment to, the improvement of biodiversity in the area.

5. Ensuring statutory bodies enforce relevant biodiversity planning policies, laws and regulations to new major developments, amendments and extensions around Loch Ness.

6. Holding developers and associated statutory bodies to account when biodiversity is threatened or undermined by a major development in the Loch Ness area.

7. Promoting the activities of the forum to the wider community.

8. Working with local Community Councils, Community Trusts and other organisations for support and to organise events and guest speakers on topics that will help the group to achieve its aims.

9. Liaising with other related groups and individuals to ensure there is no overlap of activities and to work with them to achieve a common goal.

The Forum is open to anyone with an interest in protecting the environment in the Loch Ness area, recognising that Net Zero and Nature Positive must not be considered in isolation. Nature supports the regulation of the climate, and habitat loss due to human activity, reduces that regulation.

For further information contact: Tina Jordan dunrigh@hotmail.com

2026

February (2 stories)

3 February 📚 Mobile Library Visiting Tomorrow! 🚐✨

The Mobile Library is rolling into the area tomorrow, Wednesday 4th February, so pop along and say hello to Mark! Stop & time: • The Wildside Centre &ndash...

3 February RSABI Fundraising Event

Don't miss out on an incredible evening of music and laughter with the talented Farmers Choir performing in Aviemore late February in aid of RSABI and SAYFC.  ...

January (12 stories)

28 January Six Nations: Scotland 🆚 England LIVE at The Wildside

💘 This Valentine’s Day, find someone who loves you as much as you love rugby 🏉   We’re streaming Six Nations: Scotland 🆚 England LIVE at The Wil...

27 January 🌳 Development of Inverfarigaig Forest School 🌳

A community member has been in touch about the possibility of setting up a Forest School within our community. With the support of the Community Trust, a short survey has...

26 January 📚 Mobile Library Visiting Tomorrow! 🚐✨

The Mobile Library will be in the area tomorrow, Wednesday 27th January, so pop along and say hello to Mark!   📍 Stopping points & times: • Errogi...

22 January 🔥 Free Firewood Available – Whitebridge Area 🔥

A member of our local community, has been in touch with Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust (SFCT) to let us know that he has a significant amount of larch firewood...

21 January Large grant application from BCC for Foyers Stores Acquisition - Update

A Board meeting is taking place this evening in order for Directors of SFCT to consider the application and agree their recommendation. As the Chair of SFCT explained at ...

20 January Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who came along to the public meeting at the Wildside last night. We had a fantastic turnout, with 110 people attending in person and 26 joining u...

19 January Agenda for Public Meeting - Regarding the Foyers Stores Acquisition

Please find the agenda for tonight’s public meeting at the Wildside Centre regarding the proposed community acquisition of Foyers Stores.   1. Welcome &n...

14 January Apply for our Project Coordinator role

👋 Friendly reminder!   There’s still time to apply for our Project Coordinator role at Stratherrick and Foyers Community Trust ...

8 January Notice to the Community: Change of Date for Public Meeting on Foyers Stores

Stratherrick and Foyers Community Trust (SFCT) would like to update the community regarding the previously announced public meeting relating to the proposed purchase of F...

7 January 🌟 New Year, New Opportunities! 🌟

Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust is here to support your projects with our grants! 💡✨ 📅 Next application deadline: 21st March 2026 Learn more about ...

6 January 🎉 Calling all community organisers! 🎉

Do you run a class, group or one-off activity in one of the local buildings? We’d love to help spread the word! 💛 Our SFCT Community Calendar is looking a ...

6 January Mobile Library Visit Cancelled – Wednesday 7th January 2026

👋 Hello and welcome to 2026 from SFCT! 🎉 We bring news from the Mobile Library as our first update of the year. 📚 Mobile Library Visit Cancelled – Wednesday ...