Blogs

A recent article by the Mannin Branch of the Celtic League draws attention to a shocking proposal by the Manx Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot to import Grey Partridge to the Isle of Man. The purpose being so that hunters can shoot them! This revolting proposal stands in stark contrast to those that truly support nature conservation. Not least the great work of pioneering Welsh naturalist and ornithologist Peter Hope Jones recently reported on by Transceltic.

Peter Hope Jones ( 1935 - 13 July 2020 ) was a Welsh naturalist and influential figure in Welsh ornithology and he sadly passed away in July 2020.  Llên Natur, the excellent Welsh nature publication, has just produced an item on his life and times in Llên Natur Bwletin 150. As they rightly say "We lost a giant among naturalists this month. Peter Hope Jones inspired a generation of Welsh naturalists with his exceptional expertise and gentle manner."  

A petition has been lodged with the Scottish Parliament (Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba) demanding ministers take action to give full legal protection to Scotland's ancient woodlands before Glasgow hosts the COP26 climate conference in November next year. The petition was created by Rhu (Scottish Gaelic: An Rubha) residents Audrey Baird and Fiona Baker, on behalf of the Help Trees Help Us campaign group.

The Peatlands Partnership has had approval to prepare a bid for UNESCO World Heritage Site status for an area of peatbog, lochs and bog pools called the Flow Country. The area stretches across Caithness and Sutherland in Scotland. The bid, if successful, would result in the special designation being in place in three years' time.

On this day 27th July, 1593,  Welsh Roman Catholic priest William Davies was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Beaumaris Castle, Anglesey (Welsh: Castell Biwmares, Ynys Môn). He was born in Croes yn Eirias, Denbighshire, (Welsh: Sir Ddinbych) and although his date of birth is not known for certain one source gives it as 1555. After being ordained as a priest in April 1585, he worked as a missionary in Wales.

The increasingly unpopular Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK), Boris Johnson, has been visiting Scotland this week. In what is seen as an attempt to try and counter the rise in support for Scottish independence the visit has been widely thought of as a failure in regards to shoring up the Union. The Union in question being the 1707 Acts of Union that declared that the kingdoms of England and Scotland were "United into One Kingdom by the Name of Great Britain".

NEWS RELEASE FROM CULTURE VANNIN:

Jeelane Tootagh - Diary of a Wimpy Kid now published in Manx!

Best-selling Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney is now available in the Manx language.

News from the Celtic League:

An alarming news item has been published by the Celtic League into an ecological disaster that is at present unfolding south of the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. A massive fleet of mainly Chinese trawlers have spread a wall of nets some 350 kilometres (218 miles). Effectively a 'wall of death' for fish, sharks and marine mammals.  The article by Bernard Moffatt can be read below:

"A Net Wall Stretching 350 KM Spells Destruction For Marine Life

Kernow

21 Mys Gortheren 2020

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with enormous sadness that we announce the passing of Craig Weatherhill whose demise over the weekend of Saturday 18th July, 2020 to Sunday 19th July, 2020 at the age of 69 years, has sent a shock wave of grief through our Cornish community.

Craig was so many things to so very many of us.

Coire a'Bhradain is above Glen Rosa (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Ruasaidh) on the Island of Arran (Eilean Arainn). As reported by the National Trust for Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Urras Nàiseanta na h-Alba) archaeologists have been investigating the remains of a small roundhouse located high up on Coire a’ Bhradain. First discovered in 2001 by Arran Mountain Rescue Team members Ali Hume and Henry Murdo, it is Arran’s highest round house at about 1270 feet (390 metres) above sea level.