Venue: Kinlochewe Village Hall

Time : 09.30 - 16.00

Description

Each year accidental wildfires destroy uplands and woodlands and release large quantities of CO2 into the air and reduce soil fertility.

This event is about learning from past experience, and good management practice, with the aim of preventing out of control burning.

The conferencet is for land managers, and people with a general interest in the subject. The programme includes presentations, practical information and workshops.

9.30 Tea/ Coffee

10.00 Welcome - Audrey Sinclair, Chair Wester Ross Biosphere

10.15 Wildfire Awareness Week - Jenny Grant/Gavin Skipper/Children

10.35 The role of fire in estate management David Allison, Head Stalker, Reay Forest Estate

11.00 Comfort break

11.10 The effect of wildfire on wildlife - Ian Evans, Assynt Feld Club

11.30 'Fire Blanket’ : research into peatland recovery from wildfire - Roxanne Andersen, UHI Environmental research Institute

11.50 Wildfires from a Scottish Fire and Rescue Perspective - Bruce Farquharson, Area Commander and Wildfire Capability Lead and Alex McKinley, Group Commander, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

12.40 Panel Discussion

13.00 Lunch

14.00 Workshop training

Getting it right - choose 1 workshop from:

1) Learn about good management practice to avoid out-of-control burning, and how to be prepared if there is a wildfire. To be held at Beinn Eighe Field Centre. Led by Doug Bartholemew, Beinn Eighe, NNR and Scottish FIre and Rescue Service

2) Are there alternatives to fire for improving fertility? : Led by Peter Cunningham, Fisheries Officer, Skye and Wester Ross Fisheries Trust. In Kinlochewe Hall

16.00 Tea at the hall