"Our Tiree Mum"
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| Visitor to the Hynish Centre abseiling on the
Isle of Tiree |
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Around 300 young people from all over the UK visited Alan Stevenson
House in 2004. Alan Stevenson House is the activity centre on the
Isle of Tiree where The Hebridean Trust provides disadvantaged children
with an opportunity to develop their skills. They benefited from
taking part in activities including kayaking, canoeing, paddle surfing,
rock climbing, abseiling, hill walking and mountain biking. Whilst
many of the groups visiting in 2004 had been before, several new
groups appeared and, as ever, Monica Smith, the warden, was praised
for her warm hospitality and culinary skills. She even won the award
for being "Our Tiree Mum" by an inner city school group
from Scotland.
Now into a New Year and a new season, Monica looks forward to the
challenges ahead in 2005. The number of subsidised groups visiting
has steadily increased and reservations for 2005 are up again. The
Trust subsidises the cost of providing the visits and, although
income is increased with more groups staying, the higher level of
subsidies increases the costs, so the Trust is faced with a deficit.
Whilst Monica has enlisted local help on a paid for and voluntary
basis over the years, there are a lot of long hours and the weight
of responsibility a role of this type brings. The stage has been
reached where the Trust needs to recruit a new employee to assist
Monica. It is anticipated that this role will, initially, be a seasonal
one but may have year round responsibilities in the future. Naturally
the Trust is pleased to be able to create a new job on the island
and is currently seeking funding for the position.
The Trust maintains strong links with schools, community groups
and social workers and is rewarded with comments including, "For
young disadvantaged people there is no doubt that a trip to such
a place is a wonderful experience". Monica herself sums up
the personal rewards of the role, "When you realise the hardship
and lack of opportunity these young people face back home you get
a warm feeling when you see their once withdrawn faces literally
start to beam after just a few days."
If you would like to enquire about how you can help
the Trust fund the essential new role
please contact the Development Office on 01865 311468 (info@hebrideantrust.org)
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Housing in Demand
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| Family Life at Upper Square, Hynish ©
Historic Scotland |
One of The Hebridean Trust's objectives when it set out to restore
the lighthouse shorestation village of Hynish, Isle of Tiree, was
to help reverse the population decline on the island by creating
low cost housing. The lack of low cost housing is an increasing
concern in many rural areas in Scotland. This is mainly associated
with the composition of housing stock and the costs of renting or
buying a house.
The Trust has created 12 properties that are available for let
but housing availability is still poor on Tiree, particularly for
those looking to rent. The Trust and Argyll & Bute Council are
the main providers of rented accommodation on the island but the
Trust augments this using its housing stock in converted listed
buildings.
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House prices and house site prices have followed national
trends. This has resulted in the cost of housing being beyond
the financial reach of most young families. Indications are
that the demand for low cost housing is not currently being
met which restricts the accessibility of the island as a destination
for economically active in-migrants. In fact, many factors
combine to identify a shortage of housing as a key issue preventing
the development of the Hebridean islands.
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Upper Square, Hynish © Historic Scotland
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So, the Trust has taken the opportunity to invite applicants
for its recently available property at Upper Square, Hynish from
further afield - provided they bring something extra to the party!
The added ingredient the Trust is seeking is a tenant with building
trade skills, so that they can attend to the Trust's own repairs
and maintenance work and apply their skills elsewhere on the island.
Who knows, maybe they'll help with the housing demand by building
a house or two themselves!
If you would like to enquire about how you can
support the Trust's increasing repairs and maintenance costs on
the Category A listed buildings in Hynish please contact the Development
Office on 01865 311468 (info@hebrideantrust.org)
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Invite to dinner
Volunteers and colleagues of The Hebridean Trust on the Isle
of Tiree were invited to a dinner to thank them for their
support and commitment. The dinner was well attended by 19
guests. Mike Stanfield (Chairman) took the opportunity to
thank Jan Hunter for her contribution. Jan, who retired as
a volunteer in 2004, had been a loyal volunteer at Sandaig
for many years. The dinner was held on Saturday 2nd October
at The Glassary Restaurant, Sandaig, Isle of Tiree, next to
the Trust's Sandaig Thatched Cottage Museum.
If you are able to offer your skills on a
voluntary basis across any of the Trust's project areas please
contact the Development Office on 01865 311468 (info@hebrideantrust.org)
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Developments
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Sandaig © Historic Scotland
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Sandaig
Thatch Shortage
Work on restoring the roofs of the Sandaig Thatched Cottage Museum
on the Isle of Tiree has been hampered by a shortage of thatch.
Recent storms, which have caused extensive damage across the area,
have further blighted the work. The Trust is pursuing on and off
island solutions to bring the roofs of the cottage, barn and byre
back to their former glory. Following the publication of the Trust's
last newsletter, one of its members made a very generous donation
towards the repair work.
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Morton Boyd House
A visitor car park, including two spaces for the disabled, has
been created by The Hebridean Trust in Hynish, Isle of Tiree. It
is situated in front of Morton Boyd Hall, which houses The Story
of Skerryvore Lighthouse exhibition, and was developed by Touchwood
Renovations of Tiree.
The Skerryvore
exhibition, housed in Morton Boyd Hall, Hynish, is open
daily and entrance is free to the public
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Alan Stevenson House
Work is almost complete on the toilet for the disabled and access
improvements at Alan Stevenson House, Hynish, Isle of Tiree. The
former stores building was converted by The Hebridean Trust 14 years
ago to create accommodation for visiting groups of disadvantaged
children and a facility for local community and social events. It
is also used to provide catering and refreshments for visitors to
Hynish. The improvements, undertaken by Touchwood Renovations of
Tiree, are a welcome development for all users.
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St Edward's centre Canna
Work is well underway to solve the problem of water ingress at
St. Edward's. There is an agreement with the National Trust for
Scotland to complete the programme of improvements and remedial
works in partnership with The Hebridean Trust. With the South face
of the tower and some other elevations having been repointed, the
building is starting to dry out. Work will recommence in Spring
2005 and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2005. It is hoped
that study groups will be able to start enjoying the facilities
in 2006.
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Friends get Younger
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When 12 year old Joe Withers-Green was given £200 to
donate to charity, he quickly made up his mind that The Hebridean
Trust was his first choice. Joe was drawn to the work the Trust
does to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and, being
keen on the environment, was fascinated by its role as owner
and conservation manager for the Treshnish Isles. He decided
that the best way he could contribute to and become involved
in the Trust's work was to take out life membership as a "Friend
of The Hebridean Trust". Little did Joe know, however,
that his decision would land him the honour of becoming the
Trust's youngest member.
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Now 13, Joe is looking forward to a trip to the Treshnish Isles
with his father this Summer. He hopes to visit in May, around
the time the Trust plans to have a team carry out an archaeological
scoping trip. The archaeology of the Treshnish Isles merits
further research into the interactions between the settlement
and agriculture of the islands and their fortifications. It
is not known, for example, if the fortifications overlie earlier
Viking settlement. The castle, which is divided between two
islands, is unique and of considerable national importance.
It is expected that the archaeological survey itself will be
one of the projects the Trust undertakes in 2006. The Trust
has already received some financial support for the archaeological
reconnaissance trip and is currently seeking funds for the remainder.
It will later launch an appeal to fund the proposed 2006 survey.
Although Joe's visit will not coincide with the Trust's survey
of the breeding colonies of seabirds, which will take place
in June 2005, Joe should have the opportunity to enjoy the greatest
single wildlife spectacle of the islands. In particular, the
concentrations of seabirds on Lunga, especially in the vicinity
of Harp Rock.
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Puffin © Dr Dirk Funhoff
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The most significant features of the seabird fauna are the large
number of guillemots and storm petrels. Manx shearwaters also
breed on the Treshnish lsles in significant numbers while puffin
numbers are the largest in the southern Hebrides. The corncrake
has recently become one of Britain's most endangered species of
birds and their breeding range is now mainly restricted to a small
number of islands in the Hebrides, including the Treshnish Isles.
The Trust is currently fundraising for the seabird survey.
Joe comments, "It's very rewarding to contribute to the
charity and I'm really looking forward to visiting the Treshnish
Isles - I had no idea that I'd be the youngest member when I joined".
The Trust welcomes new members and, as Joe has demonstrated, there
are no age limits!
If you would like to enquire about how
you can support the Trust's archaeological or seabird surveys
please contact the Development Office on 01865 311468 (info@hebrideantrust.org)
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Accommodation availability
There are a few weeks/weekends available for the 2005 season in
both Morton Boyd House (sleeps up to 8) and Alan Stevenson House
(sleeps up to 24) in Hynish, Isle of Tiree. Families and couples
welcome. You can check the latest availability for our accommodation
by visiting our web site at www.hynishcentre.co.uk
For more information
on Tiree and the Hynish
Centre please send us your address - we will send
you a copy of our full colour Tiree Brochure.
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Bright Start for Skerryvore Exhibition
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| Visiting the Story of Skerryvore Lighthouse
exhibition © Historic Scotland |
The Story of Skerryvore Lighthouse exhibition, opened by The Hebridean
Trust in Hynish, Isle of Tiree last Summer (see Summer
2004 newsletter) has exceeded visitor number expectations and
received some very positive feedback.
During its first four months of opening, it is estimated that the
exhibition received almost 4,000 visitors.
Analysis of comments from the visitors' book has revealed that
the exhibition has been effective in increasing visitors' understanding
of the heritage of Skerryvore Lighthouse and Hynish and awareness
that this heritage needs to be protected for the future. Among locals,
there is evidence of instilling a sense of place in the community
and a commitment to preserve their heritage.
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Few exemplify this more than Hynish resident, Maureen McMullen,
who kindly volunteered to oversee the exhibition and who enjoys
the feeling of participation the role gives her. "It's good
to put something back into the community," says Maureen.
A survey for the island highlighted that visitor groups are predominantly
interested in knowledge transfer; looking for a learning experience.
The extracts from the visitors' book indicate the exhibition's success
in appealing to these groups, and satisfying the interests of a
wider cross section of visitor ages and interests, including the
inspiration for some artwork from one of its younger visitors!
Admission to the exhibition is free but the Trust welcomes donations.
The Trust uses the donations to contribute towards the running costs
of the exhibition. The Trust also welcomes financial support towards
its maintenance programme for the exhibition.
If you would like to enquire about how you can assist
the Trust with the maintenance costs please contact the Development
Office on 01865 311468 (info@hebrideantrust.org)
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The Hebridean Trust Trustees:
Michael Stanfield (Chairman)
Professor Ian Boyd
David Christie
Alan Smith
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The Hebridean Trust
North Parade Chambers
75a Banbury Road
Oxford OX2 6PE
Tel/Fax: 01865 311468
www.hebrideantrust.org (email:info@hebrideantrust.org)
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For more information
on Tiree and the Hynish
Centre please send us your address - we will send
you a copy of our full colour Tiree Brochure.
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Join the Friends of the Hebridean Trust
We need your support! We invite you to join the Friends of The
Hebridean Trust where you will be helping us to conserve the unique
Hebridean way of life and environment. Your membership or donation
can help develop new projects, to ensure future generations will
continue to enjoy a rich and varied experience of life in the Hebrides.
See our pages on membership
and learn more about the other ways you can
help the Hebridean Trust.
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The Hebridean Trust
North Parade Chambers
75a Banbury Road
Oxford
OX2 6PE
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Email: info@hebrideantrust.org
Tel/Fax: 01865 311468
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