Ness Islands Enhancements

A £440,000 enhancement of the Ness Islands, the popular beauty spot in Inverness, is progressing well with tree management and new and upgraded street lighting completed and a new seating arena due for completion by the end of this month.

New benches are due for installation later this month with new Gateway features to follow before the end of the year. New bridge decks and balustrades are scheduled for installation in January/February, next year. 

A tender process is under way for bridge, footpath and bank repair works, while there are plans to organise more rhododendron and brash clearance and some re-planting now space has become available. 

Members of Inverness City Partnership visited the islands recently for a progress report on the project.

Provost William Smith said: “The Ness Islands is a real treasure for local residents and visitors alike and the environmental improvements will add greatly to people’s enjoyment of this beauty spot.  I am pleased with the progress that is being made.”
As well as overseeing tree management work to fell and thin 6% of mature trees and 26% of smaller trees which are dead, damaged or causing other risks, the City Partnership has commissioned four artists and craftsmen to sculpt new features in wood, natural stone and metal. They are Keith Barrett, Nigel Ross, Adam Booth and Chris Bailey.
Information on the history and natural features of the Islands will be developed and made available through leaflets and websites and an educational activity ‘story sack’ created for use by rangers, schools and other groups.
-ends-