What
is HEN?
The Highland Environmental Network is a voluntary member organisation promoting environmental
education in the Highlands. The organisations currently represented
on the Management Group are:
Highland Council,
BTCV Scotland, Aigas Field Centre, National Trust for Scotland (NTS), Glachbeg Croft Education Centre, Scottish Natural Heritage
(SNH) and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and other interested parties (individuals and groups).
HEN exists to :-
· Promote
environmental education, in its widest sense, in all sectors of the Highland Community
· Facilitate sharing of environmental information and expertise
· Encourage the involvement of individuals and community groups in environmental debate
and action
HEN’s Activities:
The HEN management committee meets about
every two months to oversee the functioning of the network. The HEN management committee is split into a number of working groups to oversee each of the key HEN activities.
The main activities of HEN
are:
· Annual Conference
· Newsletter
· Website
· Projects (e.g. schools food-growing project “Plot to Pot”).
· Networking
events
HEN Newsletter (An
Arainneachd)
This is issued three or four times a year and contains information on Highland environmental organisations, events, grants as well as
school and community news.
HEN Annual
Conference
This is built
around topical environmental themes and allowing members the opportunity of 'face-to face' networking as well as hearing keynote
speakers and participating in interactive workshops. In recent years a wide range
of themes have been covered such as:
· “Grounds for Action” in 2006, a hands-on practical day that focused on
school grounds and community gardens.
·
“Energise your Community” in 2005, which covered
community-owned renewable energy projects.
· “How to be a Healthy Community”
in 2004, which was about how to help sustain and develop the health of communities - environmentally, physically
and economically.
Networking Events
These are organised as needs are identified. Examples of HEN networking
events include a workshop in partnership with waste SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) to create a Highland-wide
Waste Awareness Plan, and a School Grounds networking day, which provided an opportunity to show case the activities of Highland practitioners who can help schools
improve their school grounds. In 2005, a network for educators to get together
informally to swap ideas and discuss common issues was created.
Projects HEN has been involved
in a range of projects, including community and schools project WHAM – Highland
Waste Minimisation (now finished), “Schools Out!” fieldwork project (resources available on the HEN website) and current pilot project ”Plot to Pot”
to help schools grow
their own fruit and vegetables.
Web site
An
online resource, where editions of An Arainneachd are available, as well as details of other HEN projects and updates from other groups and events. To see the site visit
www.highlandenvironment.org.uk
Get involved in HEN:
HEN is always delighted
to welcome new members. If you would like to get involved in HEN or simply receive the newsletter An Arainneachd, please get in touch using the contact details below.
Contact Details:
H.E.N, c/o: Glachbeg Education Centre, Allanglach Wood,
North Kessock,
IV1 3XD
