Chanterelles a’ fàs ann an Gleann Afraig | Chanterelles growing at Glen Affric NNR. ©Lorne Gill/SNH

Mar thoradh air an taic airson na ceanglaichean eadar a’ Ghàidhlig agus àrainneachd na h-Alba a dhaingneachadh, tha Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba, le taic bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig, air leabhran-iùil Gàidhlig air rùrachd a chruthachadh; thathar a’ smaoineachadh gur e seo a’ chiad iris de a seòrsa. An dèidh latha soirbheachail airson luchd-rùrachd Gàidhlig ann an Dùn Staifhinis as t-Earrach – air a chumail fo sgèith SNH le Mark Williams agus Ruairidh MacIlleathain – dh’iarradh air Ruairidh fiosrachadh a chur ri chèile ann an Gàidhlig mu chuid de na lusan dùthchasach a ghabhas ithe. Am measg na nochdas ann, tha a’ craobh-challtainn agus creamh sa choille, cnò-thalmhainn is deanntag nam pàircean agus lus a’ ghoill is maraiche ri taobh a’ chladaich. Tha na feamainn so-ithe ann cuideachd.

Thuirt Becky Shaw, oifigear Leaschadh Dùthchail SNH, ‘Chan e a-mhàin gur e seo leabhran-iùil mu na lusan agus feamainn so-ithe is blasta air ar stairsnich, ach gu bheil e na ghoireas-ionnsachaidh, feumail do thidsearan is pàrantan, agus a’ sealltainn do chloinn na h-ainmean Gàidhlig agus ceanglaichean cultarail aig mòran lusan. Tha e a’ cur ri goireasan eile a thathar a’ leasachadh mar phàirt dhen phròiseact ‘Scotland’s Natural Larder’ a tha ag amas air ceanglaichean a thogail eadar daoine agus biadh nàdarrach, agus air dearbhadh mar a tha sinn a’ faighinn buannachd às àrainneachd shlàn.’

http://www.snh.scot/rurachd-lusan-fiadhain

Cairgein – feamainn so-ithe ainmeil aig na Gàidheil | Carragheen seaweed. ©Laurie Campbell

Gaelic Foraging Guide

As part of our support for the strengthening of the links between the Gaelic language and Scotland’s environment, Scottish Natural Heritage, with support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig, has produced a Gaelic guide to responsible foraging – thought to be the first of its kind. Following a successful day for Gaelic-speaking foragers at Dunstaffnage in the Spring – run under SNH’s auspices by Mark Williams and Roddy Maclean – the organization asked Roddy to compile a Gaelic guide to some uses of common edible plants. Species highlighted range from the hazel and wild garlic of the woods through pignut and nettle of fields and farmland to such maritime delicacies as sea sandwort and common scurvygrass. Edible seaweeds also get a strong mention.

Creamh a’ fàs ann an TNN Coille Shrath Chluaidh. | Ramsons (wild garlic) growing at Clyde Valley Woodlands NNR. ©Lorne Gill/SNH

Becky Shaw, SNH Rural Development officer, said ‘This is not only a guide to the wide range of edible and delicious plants and seaweeds available on our doorsteps.  It’s also a great resource for learning, useful for teachers and parents and introducing children to the Gaelic names and cultural connections of many common species. It’s a good addition to other resources developed through our Scotland’s Natural Larder project, which aims to connect people with food from nature and demonstrate another of the many ways we benefit from a healthy environment.’

You can download the booklet here.