Recent projects

Wonder what these 'twa (Linlithgow Palace) corbies' are discussing?  Perhaps we should be brushing up on our Jackdaw for our latest evaluation project with Historic Scotland! 

This is a picture of Deep Mud Drain which runs through Witches Coffin Pool and looks out on to Sailors Grave Bay.  Sound a bit creepy and off-putting?  There's a reason for that.  This is part of Merkinch Local Nature reserve in Inverness where Interpretaction has recently completed a very community-focused interpretive plan.

There are some anxieties about possible access by children or dogs to areas of the reserve with tidal drains.  Put up signs on site and you draw attention to them which may have the opposite impact from the one you hope for.  The community mapping process Interpretaction undertook here as part of the interpretive planning revealed that Merkinch people have sensibly been using offputting placenames for years, they'd just fallen out of modern usage.  The Sailors Grave name for example stems from a firth ferry tragedy back in the late 19th century.  Presumably the corpses were washed up here.  The names are now back on the map. 

So anyone for a paddle in Deep Mud Drain?  No, we didn't think so...

It's amazing what you can learn from a few pegs and a clothes line.  These local teachers are working out the chronology of the Caledonian Canal, just one of a wide range of activities from a new 'Great Caledonian Canal Brainstorm Kit' now available on termly loan free to Highland schools.  Aimed at upper primary school and lower secondary school classes, the kits make extensive use of the Caledonian Canal archive. 

So are you ready for the mystery of the exploding lighthouse?  If so, contact Lucy Kenworthy on lucy.kenworthy@britishwaterways.co.uk

We had great fun recently working with the Community Garden team at Boat of Garten (renowned for its steam trains) to produce a suite of three benches, a flower-shaped picnic table, and an interpretive panel. 

Three verses on the benches were written by local people, with us but not by us - and that's how it should always be, if at all possible.