Dunmaglass, Scotland facts for kids
Dunmaglass is a large area of land, about 14,000 acres, located in the Monadhliath Mountains of Scotland. It's known as a "shooting estate," which means it's a place where people can hunt certain animals like pheasant, grouse, and duck. Dunmaglass is about 15 miles south of Inverness, a city in Scotland.
For a long time, Dunmaglass was owned by Sir Jack Arnold Hayward, who passed away in 2015. He was also famous for being the chairman of a football club called Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.. Dunmaglass is also important because it's the historic home of a Scottish family group called Clan MacGillivray.
Wind Power Projects
In the 1990s, a single wind turbine was built on the Dunmaglass estate. It was placed near the top of a hill called Beinn Dubhcharaidh. This turbine is no longer working today.
Plans for a Wind Farm
Later, in 2005, a company called Renewable Energy Systems (RES) suggested building a much larger wind farm. Their plan was to put 36 wind turbines on the Dunmaglass estate. Wind farms use many turbines to create electricity from the wind.
However, some groups were worried about this plan. Scottish Natural Heritage and the John Muir Trust were concerned about how the wind farm might affect the local golden eagle population. Golden eagles are large, protected birds, and there were fears the turbines could harm them or their habitat.
Revised Plans and Debate
In 2008, the company changed their plan slightly. They submitted a new proposal to the Scottish Government for 33 turbines instead of 36.
The Cairngorm National Park Authority did not support the wind farm idea. They believed it would negatively impact the natural beauty and wildlife of the area. However, the Highland Council, which is the local government for the region, supported the project. This shows that there can be different opinions when it comes to balancing energy needs with protecting nature.
