A year gone by, where are we now? CNI Spring Update

April has been a month of abrupt and harsh weather, with one crofter reporting it’s the worst lambing weather they’ve seen. How does this tie into a CNI update? …

Keep reading to find out.

With our funding deadline of March 31st gone by, and our budget spent down to the last penny, (well, almost,we had 27p remaining), an update is long overdue. 

Last June, the island got access to its piggy bank of £160,000 from the Scottish Government. Since then, we (Rosie and Tom), alongside the community and with help from project partners, have been working on converting those pennies into improvements for Raasay. Following actions from the Community Climate Action Plan, which address our environmental impact whilst enhancing living conditions and making Raasay a more resilient and sustainable community. 

This time last year, the weather was not so fickle and all the projects were mere ideas on pieces of paper. Since then, lots has happened, and some of these projects will get their own articles. For now, we will keep it short and stick to where the project is at now and what’s happened since the last update in the new year. 

ALL THINGS HOUSING

No. 35

RDT has been successful in the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) bid for the acquisition of No. 35 Inverarish Terrace. After sitting vacant for three long years, the property is crying out to be used. As part of the SLF application, RDT have secured funding for a part-time housing officer to spearhead the refurbishment over the next year. We’re thrilled to announce that Rosie will be taking on this role, in addition to her current CNI responsibilities. Stay tuned, as there’s a chance this project could grow from one property to three!

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Collective Retrofit

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Rural Housing Scotland Conference

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LAND PROJECTS

As a subject which spans many realms, and is wrapped up in many layers of human interpretation, a dedicated article on this topic will be released shortly. For now, a brief update:

Working towards enhancing our Biodiversity and sequestering environments has led to the controlling of Invasive Species, which is where most of Tom’s focus lies for now.

The creation of an island wide managament plan is underway, the first steps will be to map the troublesome species – primarily Rhododendron Ponticum, the not so hidden killer. Mapping is crucial to understand the beast we’re dealing with. 

Initially it was thought external consultants would be the sole option to carry out the survey work, however we will now look to do it in combination using local skills, providing employment and an opportunity for upskilling. Funding has been allocated for the mapping and subsequent removal. Efforts to control invasive species provide a chance to cut two branches with one saw: 

1. Removal will return space for the native local plants and animals to once again inhabit, this space will improve biodiversity, carbon sequestering potential and open up access to quality land.
2. Tackling this, using local labour, is reinvesting back into Raasay through employment opportunities and up skilling.

SRUC Carbon Audit Ground Truthing

The CNI land group who have been helping steer the work being carried out by SRUC are focusing on ways to better understand the Carbon Audit of the land done last year. The group have pointed towards the need to have better understanding of the emissions within this, particularly of peatlands and forestry which have a very large Green House Gas impact. Additionally, we have asked if they could do a piece of work looking at the environmental consequences of managing an area in the lens of promoting a native habitat. The area chosen was Loch A’Mhuillinn. 

A team from the Environmental Science Department of Tennessee University will be visiting the island on the 13th-14th of May. This will be the first visit of what will hopefully be a lasting collaboration. We will be working on collecting various useful environmental data that could eventually intertwine with oral and written history to tell the story of the island. If anyone has suggestions or ideas for citizen science projects that could be part of this get in touch.

COMMUNITY HALL IMPROVEMENTS

The community hall, a vital hub for Raasay and CNI’s HQ, has now received two out of the three planned upgrades. The latest is replacing doors, working with local contractor Torr Civils & Building, who did a grand job of replacing the old saboteurs with new Marine Grade commercial spec. These doors are robust and thermally efficient, capable of keeping footballs in and the gales out, making the hall fit for cooking a roast at the cost of a penny. Thanks to HIE who provided match funding towards the purchase of the doors. 

See here for an appearance on BBC alba. 

Plans for solar PV and battery storage upgrade installations are still in progress. Since the last update, over £55,000 in funding from Local Energy Scotland & SSE has been confirmed. The roof has been deemed to be up for holding the solar panels by the structural engineer, and a G99 application to connect to the grid has been submitted. Now to twiddle our thumbs.  If it goes ahead, it would make it the island’s first Net Zero building!

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RAASAY HOUSE

At first glance, it wouldn’t be a silly assumption to think this listed grand old estate house, turned hotel, would be an energy efficiency black hole. Well, this isn’t entirely the case. The rebuild that followed a devastating fire in 2009, means that it was insulated to 2013 building standards, though its heating comes from gas boilers. 

Working with Raasay House Community Company (community owner) and the Raasay Outdoor Company (Tennant), CNI has funded a feasibility study into alternative low carbon heating solutions. With this report in hand, possible options can be explored with all parties involved to see if Raasay house can follow in the low emission footsteps of the hall. 

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WOOD FUEL GROUP – BRING ON THE MACHINE

We went along to see the wood fuel groups new processor that CNI funded earlier in the year. Hopefully it helps them continue to deliver a vital energy source for the island. 

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Hungry for more? Here’s the news of the food projects. 

WALLED GARDEN IMPROVEMENTS

Reinstating Glasshouses

Following the theme of local fuel produce, onto the kind that goes in the mouth – Food! Restoring the glasshouses in the walled garden is still the main focus to increase the food growing capacity. Working alongside RHCC and the food group, installing an electrical connection alongside carrying out groundworks are the first steps, which have been quoted for and should be carried out in the near future. From there, we will search for funding to reinstate these impressive structures. 

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Growing Classes 

The community walled garden with support from CNI have been running ‘Get Growing’ classes aimed at bolstering food production on Raasay by helping residents grow their own veg. We all eat food and all our food relies on the top 6 inches of soil, we have to look after it. The classes have been a delight, creating a supportive learning environment for all experience levels.

CNI SIDE GIGS

Eigg’s new community hub

Last week Rosie was invited to attend the grand opening of Eigg’s new community hub. The community owned hub is the first thing you see as you come up the slip. An impressive building merging old and new and offering space for a cafe/pub, community shop, business units and laundry, toilet and shower facilities. The site is powered by a combination of energy from Eigg’s own grid (solar, wind, hydro, batteries and back up generator) and a wood fired biomass boiler for their hot water needs fueld through their local wood fuel initiative.

Paths

Money has been set aside to develop a walking path alongside the road between school park and the hall. This stretch has been highlighted by residents who don’t feel safe walking there with fast or heavy traffic, especially with prams and children. The development of an active travel path between the hall and school enhances safety and encourages walking, reducing car use and associated emissions. 

Resilience Plan 

CNI is working on developing a Climate Impacts Resilience plan, climate impacts are everywhere, meaning this plan could cover a surprising amount, from disrupted ferry services to plans in times of power outages. The idea is to develop the backbone of a plan, so the community can bolt additional sections on as it likes. 

Round Table leads to Net Zero pledge

Spring Festival 

In the shadow of last year’s festival, a smaller affair was held this year. The day included: 

The film sparked some interesting conversations about our food systems. For those wanting to find out more about the importance that soil plays, find out here.  Feedback on ways to get more local produce to the community was collected during this discussion.

Where to now?

With a few core projects now having substantial roots in the ground, the majority of our focus will be developing these further, and where possible develop other actions from the action plan. Funding this year has been reduced on both fronts, with a resource budget of £65k and an expected capital budget of £50k yet to be confirmed.

The imperative to act is stronger than ever, aside from a particularly unforgiving turbulent April, in the last 12 months many climate records have been exceeded, with temperatures rising quicker than expected. Raasay is a mere pin head in the grand scheme of things, but then couldn’t every single person say that? And if they did, who would the responsibility lie with? It lies with all of us as stewards of this planet that supports all life.

The job last year has been varied: Project management to speaking at conferences, the workdays are never dull, and the nature of yearly funding cycles, whilst not ideal for long term strategy, makes the job exciting. Seeing the projects begin to take shape, brings appreciation and pride. Appreciation not so much for the projects, but for the community, who without, none of this, including our jobs, would exist. So thank you Raasay.