Delegates gather for rural affairs event

ENVIRONMENT Minister Richard Lochhead was yesterday in Inverness to address the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Scottish conference.

Mr Lochhead, SNP MSP for Moray, gave a 30-minute keynote speech at the 15th biennial event at the Drumossie Hotel.

The conference went on to cover a series of rural affairs and environment issues affecting land and watercourses in Scotland.

Among the items discussed by 100 delegates were the potential impact of pine martens on capercaillie and future challenges facing salmon fisheries.

Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust chief executive Teresa Dent said: “Mr Lochhead gave a very helpful speech acknowledging the contribution game management makes to the Scottish countryside and that it impacts on 95% of the Scottish countryside.”

She added: “The conference was an opportunity to get our members together and brief them on the latest research and the implications from that.”