TWO new areas have been added to a scheme which alerts hillwalkers about the location of deer stalking in the Highlands.

The ''Hillphones'' project, promoted by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCS), was launched last week for the third consecutive year.

It provides answer-machine information about stalking in six areas, covering a total of 48 Munros and several other popular summits.

According to an SNH spokeswoman, the service aims to improve communications between deer stalkers and hillwalkers, who are urged to telephone the information service before setting out.

Mike Dales, MCS access and conservation officer, says: ''By

providing easily accessible information, the Hillphones scheme

provides a means of ensuring that hillwalking and stalking can co-exist on the same mountain at the same time.''

The two new schemes - for Glen Shee and Drumochter - will

operate alongside those at Grey Corries/Mamore, Glen Dochart/ Glen Lochay, north Arran hills, and south Glen Shiel.

The stalking season started last week and ends on October 20.

JUDGING of the six Scottish entrants in the Britain in Bloom competition will end today. Aberdeen, Alness, Comrie, Drumnadrochit, Perth, and Pitlochry are all in line to win awards for the most beautiful and clean villages, towns, and cities in the country.

The six communities qualified for a place in the Tidy Britain Group's Britain in Bloom final after winning awards in the Beautiful Scotland in Bloom campaign last year. The 57 communities in the final will be awarded points for their imaginative use of flowers, shrubs, trees, and landscaping. Other environmental factors,

such as litter, graffiti, and

dog fouling, will also be taken into consideration.

Rob Dickson, director of Keep Scotland Beautiful and chairman of Beautiful Scotland in Bloom, says: ''To secure a place in the final of Britain in Bloom is a significant accomplishment for the six Scottish finalists. ''They should all be congratulated for what they have achieved as they have had to ensure that their environmental improvements have been sustained throughout the year. They deserve every success in the UK competition.''

The results will be announced at a ceremony in Bath on September 30. The 1998 Beautiful Scotland in Bloom awards will be presented in Aberdeen on September 22.

ENVIRONMENTAL groups have welcomed the results of a survey which shows more than two thirds of local people support a nearby wind farm in the Highlands.

The survey found that 68% of those questioned back the 34-

turbine Novar Wind Farm, near Alness, Ross-shire, with only 3% expressing their opposition to

the project.

Supporters say the farm has brought a number of benefits to the area and no-one believes visitor numbers had been affected.

Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoES) and WWF Scotland say that the results reflect the patterns of support for other UK wind farms.

WWF Scotland policy officer Martin Mathers notes: ''This reflects the clear message from the Government that global warming is not going to go away and that we need to act now to tackle the potentially devastating effects or run the risk of leaving a legacy of environmental problems for our children.

''Wind power is part of the solution and, as this survey once again shows, people support the development of wind power in the UK.''

FoES energy projects manager Dr John Green agrees: ''It is time for policy-makers to realise that where schemes are sited in a sensitive way, the vast majority of people are in favour of wind power.''

The survey was commissioned by operators National Wind Power.

n WE welcome any comments, suggestions, or contributions. As well as our normal postal address, telephone and fax numbers, you can e-mail us on environ@cims.co.uk