Viking event hailed huge success

Thirty people including eighteen children turned out to a recent Viking event organised by The Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers and Forestry Commission Scotland’s Borgie Forest team.

Borgie Forest log cabins were the setting for a Viking boat building event, which was held on the 24th May. Participants enjoyed decorating wooden shields and swords with their own designs. They painted the carved head, tail and sail for the Viking boat and each child painted a pebble with their name written in the ancient Viking runic alphabet.

The children helped to assemble the Viking kit boat with supervision and the decorated items were attached to boat. The final ceremony was the hoisting of the decorated sail and the children where then photographed in the boat complete with Viking helmets and decorated swords.

Paul Castle, Highland Council’s North Sutherland Countryside Ranger said: “The event was a great success with everyone getting involved and having a wonderful time. I would like to thank Forestry Commission Scotland’s Borgie Team for providing the venue, all the materials and making the Viking boat in kit form for the children to assemble. Without their kind help none of this would have been possible.”

Steve Jack, for Forestry Commission Scotland, said: "We had a great time helping with the long boat and enjoyed an excellent day out. It was really enjoyable for us to turn our skills to something new and to show the children how timber from a forest can be turned into a usable product. I think our efforts were really appreciated by the children, who loved the boat."

Borgie was one of the Forest Commissions' original plantings in 1920. All but 20 hectares of this forest was destroyed by fire in 1942. Scots Pine and Spruce, which survived, are now some of the tallest trees in Sutherland at over 100 feet tall. A forest walk runs along the edge of the River Borgie, one of Scotland's most famous salmon rivers. There are lovely views up the river towards the centre of the forest, especially in Spring when the gorse is in flower. Near the entrance to the forest lies A'chraobh. The spiral feature created using native trees and carved local stone was designed and created by the local community.

The Highland Council Countryside Rangers are a partnership between The Highland Council and Scottish Natural Heritage with the aim of promoting public enjoyment and appreciation of the countryside and conserving wildlife.

All ranger events can be found in the free ranger guided walks and events booklet. Ask local countryside rangers for a copy or find them listed on the Highland Council website by going to http://www.www.highland.gov.uk/ and searching for ranger events.