The quarterly newsletter of Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust Look what’s happening in the Carse of Gowrie It started with an avenue of internationally important giant redwood trees at Inchture, followed by a survey on 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 Tree Country (BTC) cluster area, benefiting from support and investment from a range of partners. Money raised from guests at The Gleneagles Hotel through the Supporting Big Tree Country scheme, y has allowed the Historic Orchards Project to really take off. A further Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) grant through Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) means the area now has a dedicated project officer, Andrea Partridge, to take forward its development over the next two years. y working osely with he Carse f Gowrie nitiative (CGI) – a partnership between the ocal Carse of Gowrie Group (CoGG) and PKCT – Andrea will 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 first 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 find 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 last word … Hot off the press • Cyclists in Perth are sure to love the recent upgrade to the Right of Way at Newhouse Farm on the western edge of the town. Similarly, the removal of the steps over the old railway embankment and resurfacing of the link between the Lade and Dunkeld Road are proving popular amongst our friends on wheels. • Castle Huntly , Longforgan enjoys a brand new hardcore path and bridle gate to replace the mud and difficult stock gate on the Bogley Burn Circular Path. • The second volume of the walks’ booklet Experience Big Tree Country is due out soon. Make sure you don’t miss it! Edition 6: Summer 2009 don t miss it! Contact Robbie Gordon T: 01738 475348 E: [email protected] I hope you’ve had an enjoyable summer. So what has the Trust, been up to? Much emphasis has been on promoting our stunning countryside and all that we have o 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 & East Perthshire Tourist Association, the T rust launched a new map of the Cateran Trail, including information on accommodation and local businesses. In addition, a suite of new postcards promoting the Trail is available, and we’re looking at merchandising possibilities. T wo openings attracted press and ministerial attention. Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham officially opened Pine Cone Point in Craigvinean Forest. A steady walk uphill from the Hermitage is rewarded by spectacular views down the Tay. Meanwhile, at Scone Palace, the new David Douglas Pavilion contains interesting information on the work of our local plant collector. I’d personally recommend a visit to both places as well as the many other BTC sites throughout the area. Bob Ellis y a s S t u e h p o c a t opportunities to promote and develop the fruit growing aspect of the area. This will include helping local businesses to market their wares, and finding new and innovative ways to raise 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 benefits greatly from work already carried out through CoGG. The group recently attracted the interest of Environment Minister , Roseanna Cunningham and an STV news crew. Visiting the orchards, Ms Cunningham said: “This is an exciting project to safeguard 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 long history of fruit production. I wish it every success.” Contact Robbie Gordon T: 01738 475348 E: [email protected] Amongst other things, the CGI runs hands on training events to preserve the historic orchards, including a study 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 the voluntary contribution scheme … with great success! Ms Cunningham recently returned to the Carse to officially open the new link from Errol to Loan Brae, known locally as Thieves Walk – a project grant aided by PKCT and Quality of life Trust. And that’s not all. Inspired by the giant redwoods outside their school, Inchture Primary wanted to find a way to halt the damage to the trees caused by a huge waterlogged area. Helped by the Trust’s Robbie Gordon, the school successfully applied to the BBC Breathing Places and was awarded a grant to develop the area. Drainage removed the immediate threat, and landscaping turned it into a wildlife pond. Incorporating willow weaving to form viewing platforms and duck-friendly slopes into the water, the school children now have a fantastic learning resource right on their doorstep. If you’re in the area be sure to take a look. p h h h Ready to be used, the new path at Errol Peeking at wildlife through the willow weaving at Inchture By cl th o In – b l G ( a – STV’s Lynne Rankin holds up a bottle of Port Allen cider for viewers Allen c n cide ider f or viewers …and how it looked on TV Contact Robbie Gordon T: 01738 475348 E: [email protected] s d 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