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Gearing up for a green future as group from Farr in the Highlands cycles to to the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood to highlight eco issues and climate change with MSPs Jim Fairlie, Liam Kerr and then Emma Roddick


By Ian Duncan

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A group of friends has successfully cycled from the Highlands to Holyrood to highlight green issues and climate change to MSPs.

They set off from their home village of Farr and cycled between 30 and 40 miles per day with one daily rest period to keep them happy and motivated throughout the trip.

It was organised by Kristina High, a 46-year-old consultant anaesthetist at Raigmore Hospital, and Philine Van Der Heide, a 52-year-old consultant paediatrician also at the hospital, and they were accompanied by their children – 11-year-old Lente Robinson, 10-year-olds Olly and Freya Baraclough, and Heather Robinson (8).

Ms High said the trip was a resounding success and had passed quite a few interesting places during the journey south, adding: “We were happy to clock them for the future and carry on.

“We were able to see the changing landscape of our beautiful country, and think about how the wild areas could be protected and how other areas could be rewilded.

“It was a great geography lesson for the children, and it allowed them a very different view of places they had been to by car or train before.”

She praised the national cycle network, set up by Sustrans,

which mainly follows quiet roads and cycle tracks and is well signposted.

“We found the cycle tracks in Perth and Edinburgh particularly good following these routes, and wished that Inverness would up its game with protected cycle lanes,” she said.

“There’s still a lot of room for improvement. Sometimes cycle lanes would stop and lead you straight onto a busy road, some crossings were across busy roads. A particularly difficult one was the A9 crossing just north of Tomatin. We had to wait for ages for a break in the traffic to get all of us across safely.”

There were a number of highlights during the trip which included their ultimate destination of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood and meeting MSPs.

Ms High said: “We met three MSPs, and the children were able to raise their concerns about the environment and suggestions for solutions. In Perth, Jim Fairlie came down to the River Tay to meet us while we had lunch in North Inch.

“He spent time with us, listened really nicely to the children with their points about the environment, and told us a bit about his work. He was a shepherd and a farmer, which puts him in a very good place to represent his constituents in Perth and Kinross.

“He introduced the first farmer’s markets to Scotland in 1999, and we chatted a bit about how the convenience and prices in supermarkets discourages people from buying locally grown food.

“So we are dependent on trade deals made in Westminster, and people are generally happier to buy food shipped around the world, often from places with questionable environmental practices because it suits us in terms of convenience and cost.”

Outside the parliament they met with Liam Kerr and then Emma Roddick and Ms High said their meeting with Ms Roddick was also constructive.

She added: “She is well placed to discuss issues around public and active transport as she told us she doesn’t own a car and travels mainly by electric bike and public transport. She was also very impressed by the children’s journey to Holyrood, and said she would raise the journey, and our messages, as a motion for support in parliament.”


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