When the veg are finished, the chickens will clear it all up. There is potential for so much more and yesterday my letter appeared in the local paper; The Strathspey Herald. I was bemoaning the fact that so much land around Grantown is not being used despite the national park (Cairngorms National Park) and the estates professing to support wildlife, crofting and "grow your own" initiatives. Instead, beautiful fields stand neglected, either empty or rented by horse owners (well, just one horse owner who sub-lets even though I understand she is not supposed to) and they are being over-grown with ragwort (poisonous to livestock incidently) and bracken. The fields are also poached and water logged. Yet the estates will be receiving money for just owning this land.
Scotland and who owns the country makes for interesting reading. So too does the history of the land, from the Glen Coe massacre, the clearances, the Scots abroad, mainly Canada, and to modern times with the establishment of the national parks that seem to allow development indiscriminately. Shame not to nuture and adore this beautiful countryside.
Maybe I'll get a response to my letter...
Meantime, Grantown is full of tourists and motorbikes for the English Bank Holiday. Thunder in the Glen and the Highland Games and every bed is taken. The weather turned foul at 5pm and it rained and rained. Pity the campers and bikers but I'm sure it'll not dampen anyone's spirits...and my weeds will grow even more unwieldy!
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