The quarterly newsletter of Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust

Look what’s happening in the Carse of GowrieIt started with an avenue of internationally important giant redwood trees at Inchture, followed by a surveyon the existence and viability of historic orchards. Over the last year, the Trust has seen a high proportion of its work centred on the Carse of Gowrie.

The Carse now forms the latest Big TreeCountry (BTC) cluster area, benefi ting from support and investment from a rangeof partners. Money raised from guests at The Gleneagles Hotel through theSupporting Big Tree Country scheme,yhas allowed the Historic Orchards Projectto really take off. A further Scottish RuralDevelopment Programme (SRDP) grant through Forestry Commission Scotland(FCS) means the area now has a dedicatedproject offi cer, Andrea Partridge, to takeforward its development over the next two years.

y working osely with he Carsef Gowrie nitiative (CGI)– a partnership between the ocal Carse of Gowrie Group(CoGG)and PKCT – Andreawill identify

And there’s more...

www.pkct.org

The June meeting of the Trust Executive Committee awarded £33,000 in grants to community groups and organisations

Fossoway Access and Amenity Project Group is developing a circular route around Crook of Devon, Drum, and Rumbling Bridge. A key element of the proposed route is a bridge across the River Devon. A £20,000 grant from the Trust will help the group complete the 4km path which links to a longer loop using Rights of Way to Yetts of Muckart, and Rumbling Bridge Gorge.

In 2010, the geocachers are coming to town! A Mega Event, part of the Perth800 celebrations, is expected to attract over 1,000 people from Scotland and around the world. The Trust contributed £5,000 to support the event, a simple, enterprising way to encourage visitors to explore the BTC countryside.

A kind of global treasure hunt, geocaching was invented in May 2000 when a GPS enthusiast placed the fi rst cache at Beaver Creek in the David Douglas School district of Portland, Oregon. He published the

co-ordinates on the internet and challenged anyone to fi nd the cache using their own GPS device. There are now over 800,000 caches worldwide.

At the recent launch of the Mega Event, a Perth800 Bear travel bug set off on its mission to reach Aschaffenburg.

The remaining £8,000 was awarded to The Scottish Veterans’ Garden City Association, formed ‘to provide and maintain cottages for disabled ex-service and Merchant Navy personnel’. The association recently upgraded The Veterans’ Memorial Garden in Pitlochry, supported by The Gannochy Trust, and would like to extend the wheelchair access to Faskally Loch, providing a circular path for disabled users, and an additional link to the Core Path Network from Pitlochry.

The work of the Trust is only possible thanks to support from the following:

The lastword …

Hot off the press

• Cyclists in Perth are sure to love the recent upgrade to the Right of Way

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at Newhouse Farm on the western ppg

edge of the town. Similarly, the removal of the steps over the old

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railway embankment and resurfacing pp

of the link between the Lade and Dunkeld Road are proving popular amongst our friends on wheels.

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• Castle Huntly, Longforgan enjoys a brand new hardcore path and bridle gate to replace the mud and diffi cult

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stock gate on the Bogley Burn pp

Circular Path.• The second volume of the walks’

booklet Experience Big Tree Countryis due out soon. Make sure you

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don’t miss it!

Edition 6: Summer 2009

don t miss it!

Contact Robbie GordonT: 01738 475348 E: rgordon@pkct.org

I hope you’ve hadan enjoyable summer.

So what has the Trust, been up to? Muchemphasishas been on promoting our stunningcountryside and all that we haveo offer.

Felicity Martin released Experience Big Tree Country Volume 1. The Trust helped support the walks booklet,which is proving very popular.

Along with Blairgowrie & EastPerthshire Tourist Association, the Trust launched a new map of the Cateran Trail, including information onaccommodation and local businesses. In addition, a suite of new postcards promoting the Trail is available, and we’re looking at merchandisingpossibilities.

Two openings attracted press andministerial attention. Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham offi cially opened Pine Cone Point in Craigvinean Forest. A steady walkuphill from the Hermitage is rewarded by spectacular views down the Tay.

Meanwhile, at Scone Palace, the new David Douglas Pavilion containsinteresting information on the work of our local plant collector.

I’d personally recommend a visit toboth places as well as the many other BTC sites throughout the area.

Bob Ellis

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Stuehpocat

opportunities to promote and developthe fruit growing aspect of the area. This will include helping local businesses to market their wares, andfi nding new and innovative ways toraise awareness of the importance of the area both locally and to visitors.

A linked path network is also proposed, and Andrea is tasked with helping to raise further funds to carry the project forward beyond the two years.

Andrea benefi ts greatly from work already carried out through CoGG. The group recently attracted the interestof Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham and an STV news crew.

Visiting the orchards, Ms Cunningham said: “This is an exciting project tosafeguard and enhance existing orchard remnants. It’s also an excellent example of how SRDP funding is being used to revitalise and support local communities and economies.

“Thanks to this local partnership and the sterling work of local enthusiasts, this project is reviving the area’s longhistory of fruit production. I wish it every success.”

Contact Robbie GordonT: 01738 475348 E: rgordon@pkct.org

Amongst other things, the CGI runs hands on training events to preserve the historic orchards, including astudy weekend at the beginning of September. A training event for the staff at Gleneagles was also held to enable them to talk about the project to guests, encouraging them to take part in thevoluntary contribution scheme … withgreat success!

Ms Cunningham recently returned tothe Carse to offi cially open the new link from Errol to Loan Brae, known locally asThieves Walk – a project grant aided byPKCT and Quality of life Trust.

And that’s not all. Inspired by the giant redwoods outside their school, Inchture Primary wanted to fi nd a way to halt thedamage to the trees caused by a hugewaterlogged area. Helped by the Trust’sRobbie Gordon, the school successfullyapplied to the BBC Breathing Placesand was awarded a grant to develop the area. Drainage removed the immediate threat, and landscaping turned it into awildlife pond.

Incorporating willow weaving to form viewing platforms and duck-friendly slopes into the water, the school children now have a fantastic learning resourceright on their doorstep. If you’re in thearea be sure to take a look.

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Ready to be used, the new path at Errol

Peeking at wildlife through the willow weaving at Inchture

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STV’s Lynne Rankin holds up a bottle of Port Allen cider for viewersAllen cn cideider fr or viewers

…and how it looked on TV

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Contact Robbie GordonT: 01738 475348 E: rgordon@pkct.org

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The winners show off their awards with Louise Batchelor

Launch of Perth800 Bear travel bug © PKCT

Helping projects get off the ground All photos © PKCT

Projects on the go...

Scotland’s fi rst circular, long-distance route is being re-visited by the Caterans – marauding cattle thieves – along its length. Unique, wooden waymarkers depict the warriors, to be named in a forthcoming schools’ competition. The waymarkers were hand-carved by our own Robbie Gordon and gifted to the Trust. They were recently admired by a local journalist, helping to raise the profi le of the Trail through a page-length feature in The Courier.A set of postcards produced using photographs from local photographer Mike Bell, is now available from accommodation providers and businesses along the Trail. Along with the new Cateran Trail leafl et, the promotion of the area is defi nitely stepping up a level.

Wooden warriorson the Cateran Trail

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Enjoying the Trail at Cochrage Muir © Mike Bell

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A Cateran to show you the way © Mike Bell

Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park can fl y its Green Flag with pride after being awarded the status in July this year.

Similar to the Blue Flag scheme for beaches, the Green Flag denotes a site of quality supported by the local community. Kinnoull is managed by Perth & Kinross Council (PKC) countryside rangers and Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS). The site has benefi ted from new paths and interpretation through the Big Tree Country Heritage & Access Project.

Niall Lobley, PKC senior countryside ranger responsible for submitting the application said: “Around 120,000 visitors a year enjoy the beautiful woodlands, diverse wildlife and expansive views. The award is in recognition of the hard work and investment by a range of local organisations and groups and we are delighted to receive it.”

Charlie Taylor, FCS, Tay Forest District added: “The award is excellent news. A lot of planning and hard work has gone into the management and care of our woodland park and Green Flag status is well deserved.”

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A Green Flag for Kinnoull

It’s not just people who enjoy Kinnoull Hill © David Coe

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Ranger-led walk through the woodland park © VisitScotlandIIKK

Contact Niall LobleyT: 01738 475393 E: nafl obley@pkc.gov.uk

The Big Tree CountryHeritage and AccessProject has providedsites throughoutPerthshire with afacelift or completeoverhaul. Over thelast few monthsthe Trust and itspartners have beencelebrating itssuccess.The opening ofthe David DouglasPavilion in SconePalace by LordStormont coincidedwith a visiting USfi lm crew, thereto record part ofan educationaldocumentary onthe life of our famous plantcollector.Further upstream, and on much higher ground, EnvironmentMinister, Roseanna Cunningham, opened Pine Cone Point, the new viewpoint in Craigvinean Forest. Zig zagging its way through the forest, a new trail leads from the Quarry Car Park above the Hermitage. The trail, which was developed to allow access for most abilities, opens out at the new wooden shelter to reveal breathtaking views down the River Tay.

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Happy faces at the launch of Pine Cone Point© FCS

Syd House, FCS joins Lord Stormont at the opening of the new David Douglas Pavilion© Scone Palace

Out to launch

A local photography competition unearthed some talented amateur photographers and provided a taster for themany sites on offer in the Crieff cluster.The winning photograph, andseveral of the other entries, can be seen on the new BTCinterpretation boards, and inthe new Crieff Path Network leafl et, due for completion inthe next few weeks.The boards replace the fadedand outdated existing ones, giving them a fresh new BTClook in keeping with those found on other sites such as Scone Palace, the Hermitageand Kinnoull Hill.The leafl et features paths throughout Crieff, includingthe newly enhanced LoversWalk due to be offi ciallyopened later this year.

Raising the BTC profi le in Crieff

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Contact Angela HughesT: 01738 475256E: ajhughes@pkct.orgor Andrew BarrieT: 01738 475239E: ajbarrie@pkct.org

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Snowy Crieff from Laggan Hill© Blanche Haddow

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A winning photo - Lady Mary’s Walk © Salvatore Carida

As you should all be aware by now, it’s time for the Big Tree Country Awards. This is where we celebrate your efforts to ensure visitors and locals really make the most ofthe area.The theme for this year is Families and Childrenand as usual, there arethree categories:• Education• Local business• CommunityWe are delighted that news broadcaster Fiona Armstrong has agreed to host the event and will join us for afternoon tea and the awards ceremony in The Gleneagles Hotel on Sunday 27 September.Details of the winners and the event itself will be featured on our website and in the next edition of our newsletter.

We know how amazing the countryside is here in BigTree Country, but there are many people who have yet torealise and experience it for themselves. The Trust has been working with partners on a series of publicationspromoting the area.After much cajoling from the public, freelance journalist Felicity Martin was persuaded toamalgamate her weekly columns in the PerthshireAdvertiser into the fi rst volume of an informative rbooklet extolling the virtues of walks available in BTC. A PKCT grant helped Experience Big TreeCountry – 12 walks around Perthshire into publication. It features a variety of walks for arange of abilities. Accompanied by colourfulphotographs, and full of Felicity’s personal knowledge of the area, the booklet is a must for walkers of all ages. The virtues of walking are well known, for health, general wellbeing, and theenvironment. Often, to get to the area in which you would like to walk involvesa journey in itself. Which is why the Trust, in association with VisitScotland and the transport department of Perth & Kinross Council, has published a second, updated version of the popular Take the Bus for a Walk booklet.kA great example of joined up thinking, the booklet enables you to coordinateyour walking with public transport. Takes the stress out of planning a walk and lowers your carbon footprint – a win-win situation for you and the countryside.Finally, keep an eye out for the new Birks of Aberfeldy and Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park leafl ets currently in production. Fantastic new photographs, interesting facts, and a map of the site, make them a handy pocket guide.

And not forgetting our own awards …

Big Tree Country in print

Contact Angela HughesT: 01738 475256E: ajhughes@pkct.org

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nA coveted BTC award© Zoe Barrie

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Bob and Paul help Felicity launch her new book© Ivy Mae McIntosh

Contact Angela HughesT: 01738 475256E: ajhughes@pkct.org