WINDFARM U-TURN

Scottish Ministers approved a development of a 50-turbine windfarm which had originally been refused permission by East Ayrshire Council (EAC).

Swedish energy company, Vattenfall, had appealed against the decision to the Scottish Government, who gave then gave their consent.

South Kyle Windfarm lies east of Bellsbank, comprises 2402 hectares, is south-east of the B741 Dalmellington-Dalleagles road and east of the A713 towards Carsphairn.

RARE SPOTS

An Ochiltree man was overjoyed to tell the world that three types of endangered birds had returned to a nest at Low Moss, a raised bog near Lugar.

Mike Howes, a regular visitor to the area, had spotted curlews, lapwings and skylarks, three red-listed species, breeding in the area.

It was thought that the reappearance of the birds was due in no small measure to habitat enhancement work carried out by East Ayrshire Coalfield Environment Initiative.

Mr Howes said: “The work at Low Moss is a fine example of how habitat loss can be reversed and how we can encourage the return of breeding birds such as lapwing and curlew to fill the air with the traditional sounds of East Ayrshire peatlands.”

SANQUHAR ATTRACTION

School pupils and university students from near and far were enjoying a galactic experience at Sanquhar.

Along with groups from a diverse range of organisations, their destination was the stunning Crawick Multiverse, for its annual outdoor education programme.

The site had staged interactive theatre performances and solstice celebrations and was earning an outstanding reputation for educational visits.

Educators were being encouraged to venture amid the galaxies — Sanquhar Academy had visited, with more than 70 pupils going along.

Another group travelled a bit further to visit — from the University of Wisconsin-Madison — a transatlantic journey of almost 4,000 miles.