When Jo Hazell decided to run the London Marathon for charity she found her inspiration in North Kessock neighbour Isla Grist, who suffers from skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa. Jo tells us all about her day to remember, and the months of training that led to it, in our Summer edition.

Someone in the middle of a different kind of training is Dionne Proctor from Avoch, who will take part in Inverness Glitterball later this year in aid of Special Needs Action Project, the learning difficulties charity which helps her son, Dylan.

Also busy fundraising is Nicole Kazlauskaite of 1st Avoch Sea Scouts. She tells us about the 2027 World Scout Jamboree in Poland and what she’s doing to get there.

The 1st Chanonry Scouts are looking forward to some adventure too, but more adult leaders are needed. Rebecca Rawlinson describes what the youngsters get up to, and how you can help.

When James Mullery took his own life in 2017, his parents Patrick and Wendy from Cromarty were determined that other people shouldn’t suffer. They founded James Support Group in his memory. We learn all about it.

Other local charities also feature in the latest edition. We follow 10 years of the Cromarty Care Project, catch up with another year of activity by Macmillan Cancer Support and learn about the Black Isle Need to Play Association.

Gardens are blooming all over the Black Isle. We get ready for Cromarty Open Gardens, look back at 10 years of Avoch Community Garden, peer into local contributors to Scotland’s Garden Scheme and take a slight detour to Strathpeffer’s annual StrathPetal event.

Mandie Cran spent decades in the Army and as a spare time sailor. Her globetrotting ended in Avoch, from where she told us about an adventurous past and an equally full present.

The Black Isle boasts 10 Sites of Special Scientific Interest. In the first of a two-part feature, Julian Paren tells us what they are and where to find them.

Cromarty’s toads – and other wildlife – are enjoying safer lives thanks to the team fitting toad ladders inside the town’s drain gullies. Read all about it, and more, in the bumper 44-page Chatterbox out now – and still only £2.

Russell Turner
Editor