The Bridge December 2021 by dunkeldandbirnam

Local News, Events and Information for the Dunkeld & Birnam Area

Corbenic Camphill Advent Market comes to our Dunkeld shop

Saturdays 4th, 11th and 18th December

This year, once again, because of covid19 restrictions we are unable to welcome everyone to Corbenic for our annual advent market Instead we are inviting you to come to our Dunkeld shop to browse and buy a selection of what is usually on offer at our fair including wonderful crafts; beautiful advent wreaths; home-made pickles & chutneys; the unmissable calendar as well as freshy made hot waffles, mince pies and Christmas biscuits We look forward to welcoming you ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Icelandic Christmas Traditions come to Dunkeld!

Iceland has an expansive Christmas Folklore, much greater than our own While we only have the classic red Santa Claus and the more traditional green Father Christmas, Iceland is greeted, or harassed, by a hoard of jolly rapscallions and child eating ogres ! The Yule Lads come in their hundreds, all of them sons of the hideous ‘She Ogre’ Gryla There are thirteen of these Yule Lads that make themselves known at Christmas time These are three examples If you want to find out the

Candlelit Late-Night Christmas Shopping is back! And this year it’s even bigger, and even more festive fun!

After the success of last year ’s late-night festive opening, this year the number of our community’s independent businesses taking part has grown to a whopping 35 and now includes lots of businesses in both Dunkeld and Birnam!

So, hold the date for Friday 10th December when our fabulous independent businesses will open their doors into the evening from 4pm to 8pm, especially for us, so as a community we can shop local in a Christmassy, candlelit and Covid-safe way

There’ll be lots of special offers on the night, plus a wonderful prize draw thrown in for good measure! As a community, we are proud to have such a wonderful range of independent businesses right on our doorstep This late-night shopping is, like last year, partly these independent businesses’ way of saying “thank-you” for the support we have given them through this tricky year, and partly for us to continue to show our support for them!

stories behind the other 10 Yule Lads, please come into the archive on the evening of the 10th December Thorvorusleikar (Spoon Licker) – He steals spoons of every size from bowls containing left over cake mix The rattling that comes with him is not from the spoons he carries, but from his ribs as his diet renders him much too thin

Skyrgamur (Skyr Gobbler) – He raids your fridges and pantries in search of creamy Icelandic Yoghurt He has a much healthier diet than his brother Bjugnakraekir (Sausage Swiper) – He hides in your rafters of your smokehouse and steals as many sausages as he can ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Would You Like Your Own Custom ‘Yule Lad’ ?

Choose 3 Characteristics and Steven will draw A Yule Lad to fit them on the night £5 Donation to the Archive

See more stories from our archives on pages 11 & 18 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk

Original Photo: Jack Cuthbert, Blue Magpie; Photshop Magic: Jane Saba, The Scottish Deli

Editorial 2

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As the world starts slowing down to a bump at the end of the year, I like to peep ahead into the glimmers of light of the New Year to help get, it and, me whirring again So, it was very cheering to read that the In Bloom team have been out planting hundreds of spring bulbs to bring us joy in the dark time of year Many thanks to all involved - I am already looking forward to seeing the fabulous early spring colour – well at least from the bulbs that haven’t got eaten by the rabbits and deer (See page 14) Their mention of a race against time however fills me with fear as I have a pile of plants still to get in before the ground hardens – not to mention all the leaves to rake before they turn into a soggy mass

Thinking of endings and new beginnings – many congratulations to Michael and Luna on their immense walk across Canada raising money for Trees for Life It has been an incredible journey and we are privileged to have shared their story over the past months There is a final fundraising push at journeys end If you can afford to buy one or both £5 raffle tickets on offer, then you will be supporting a great rewilding project as well cheering man and dog along the home straight Why not walk the one mile from the Birnam Gallery to Going Pottie and as you do so will Michael and Luna along to their final destination of the most easterly point of Canada, Cape Spear (See page 9 for the raffle info )

It was lovely to end the year with a contribution from our Friends over in Asheville (See page 20) Although they may be a much larger community than us there is so much we have in common One of these is that we are both communities that seem to rise to ‘doable’ action on a local level and believing that is important Let us hope we can find ways to work jointly on some environmental initiative in the coming years as they propose It only seems appropriate after COP26 that we work to ensure we are not ‘green washing’ but making a serious commitment to reducing our carbon emission Maybe set at target to one

of Scotland’s first ‘net zero emissions’ communities or similarly ambitious target Please send in your suggestions

As this edition covers both December and January, we will have had Burns night before we catch up again A couple of days after this there is another opportunity to brush up on your Scots language with a talk by Alan Riach on 27th January celebrating the poetry of Hugh MacDiarmid There’s a lovely quote in the notice on page 3 which I think I will repeat It is a positive reminder at end of the year that all we can do is to turn up as our best selves –whatever that might be – and with all those varied and wonderful people that make this great community

A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle ‘And let the lesson be - to be yersel’s, Ye needna fash gin it’s to be ocht else To be yersel’s - and to mak’ that worth bein’, Nae harder job to mortals has been gi’en ’

On behalf of Kirsty, John and myself, thank you for all your support and encouragement over the last year May we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2022 Looking forward to catching up again when the snowdrops are popping their pretty heads through the spring soil

Sally Robertson

Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group

Working constructively to get the best community outcomes from the A9 dualling proposals

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 27th January 2022 at Birnam Arts and by Zoom, at 7 30pm unless otherwise notified

All welcome then, and before that we hope that everyone has an enjoyable Christmas and Hogmanay!

The end October CG meeting was held for the first time since early 2020 at Birnam Arts, also with Zoom participation – this worked well! We considered the following from Gordon Ramsay of Transport Scotland (TS), regarding the A9 dualling plans from Pass of Birnam to Tay Crosssing: “In terms of an update I can advise that the Minister for Transport, Mr Dey, has taken a keen interest in this project Over the past few months we have had meetings with the Minister to discuss the project including the Co-creative Process, community feedback and the options currently being assessed ”

We had really hoped for rather more than this as it was 3 months since the Minister visited for briefing and hope that by the time you are reading this something more specific will be available It was felt that it is time to put more pressure on TS in light of the PH8 Community Survey/Action Plan, the report of which due to be published in the near future It will show that the community is concerned about the lack of certainty with regard to the A9 dualling plans, having a detrimental effect on people and businesses

It was reported that ecologist surveyors from SEPA had been doing A9 related investigations , though without any prior notification to residents

We also discussed of the correspondence between the Junctions Action Group and TS about interim safety improvement measures at both the Dunkeld and Birnam junctions (Some works at Dunkeld junction did in fact start in mid November) The need to engage with Perth and Kinross Council as well as TS was again noted, particularly on the issue of widening the turning lanes onto the A9 coming from Dunkeld

As always you can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail com, and to have your details added (or removed from) our mailing list; Also at Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group

Please Like and Share it Or just phone me!

Alasdair

Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361

Our page on "The Bridge" website, including key documents for download is: http://www dunkeldandbirnamnews co uk/community-council/a9-dualling

The latest Information from Transport Scotland is at: https://www transport gov scot/news/significant-milestone-as-four-more-a9-dualling-schemes-given-approval https://www transport gov scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-pass-of-birnam-to-tay-crossing/

BIRNAM ARTS’ OPENING TIMES

GALLERY AND CAFÉ | 10.00 til 4.00 | Wed to Sun SHOP AND MUSEUM | 10 30 til 3 30 | Wed to Sun

Birnam Arts’ doors are all open! From the Gallery to the Shop, Café to the Beatrix Potter attraction, and main events in the Auditorium - we’re all back, including our breakfast, brunch and lunch menu! As more unfolds, head online to hear the latest –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

'A Winter ’s Night'

Group Exhibition

Friday 19th November 2021 –Sunday 16th January 2022*

Arts News 3

EXHIBITIONS:

*Festive dates of closure inclusive Celebrating work by Scottish based artists and makers, join us for this one-of-a-kind group exhibition and support local and independent makers in the process Featuring well-loved favourites from Sheila Martin to Na’an Meikleour, multi-layered narrative printworks by Liz Myhill and Babs Pease, vibrant and playful ceramics from Ceri White Studios alongside lots more thoughtful, original and creative works There is a little winter magic for everyone in the Gallery, each piece will be the gift that keeps on giving We look forward to seeing you there! –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

PERFORMANCES:

Clydebuilt Puppets with Lost Bear ’s Christmas

Saturday 11th December

10.30am & 12midday

£5 – Ages 3+

The show must go on! With Santa Day sadly cancelled Birnam Arts have decided to stick with tradition and have invited Clydebuilt Puppets back to the art centre with their wonderful show Little Bear Lost Come and join Little Bear in his adventure, as he tries to find his way home, while bumping into his friends, Scary Shark, Polar Bear and Mischievous Monkey

There will be lots of fun filled Christmassy workshops throughout the day – check socials for details as they are announced

LATESHIFT XMAS PARTY!

Saturday 18th December 8pm

Birnam Arts

£15, plus Booking Fee

Happy Christmas days!! – Lateshift are back, after what seems like the longest time since they rocked the Birnam stage The lovely Dave Amos will be sharing the limelight with Pete Caban, Stuart Campbell, Gill Hunter and, newcomer to Lateshift, Stuart (Niz) Nisbet, who’s toured the world with no less than The Proclaimers and Justin Curry You all know the drill for the Lateshift Xmas Party – tickets fly out, so book them fast See you for the party!!

Celebrating the poetry of Hugh MacDiarmid

And the conservation of Brownsbank Cottage

Thursday 27th January 7 00pm

Tickets £10

Join Alan Riach – Professor of Scottish Literature at Glasgow University, as he celebrates the life of Hugh MacDiarmid one of Scotland’s greatest poets of the twentieth century

Alan will be highlighting the importance of Hugh’s home Brownsbank Cottage, Biggar, South Lanarkshire - where he lived from 1952 until his death in 1978 MacDiarmid’s Brownsbank charity took ownership of the cottage in 2016 with the aim of conserving the contents exactly as when Hugh MacDiarmid last laid down his pen

A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle

‘And let the lesson be - to be yersel’s, Ye needna fash gin it’s to be ocht else

To be yersel’s - and to mak’ that worth bein’, Nae harder job to mortals has been gi’en ’ Hugh MacDiarmid

Winter Saturday Family Film:

Jingle Jangle:

A Christmas Story (PG) 4th December 10.30am

No booking necessary –Donations welcome

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Story (PG)

Time to get into the festive spirit with this amazing musical adventure starring Forrest Whittaker, Keegan Michael Key, Hugh Bonneville, Ricky Martin, Anika Noni Rose and Lisa Davina Phillip Jeronicus Jangle, the famed toymaker of Cobbleton is heartbroken when his trusted apprentice steals one of his most prized inventions After years of sadness, it’s up to Jangle’s granddaughter to help heal the wound and help him rediscover his magical abilities

With jaw dropping steampunk inspired production design and tunes from Grammy Award winners Phillip Lawrence and John Legend this is a must see on the big screen with the biggest sound system possible!

misses

Arthur Christmas (PG) 18th December 10.30am

No booking necessary –Donations welcome

Everyone knows that each Christmas, Santa Claus delivers presents to every last child on Earth What everyone doesn't know is that Santa accomplishes the feat with a very high-tech operation beneath the North Pole

But when the unthinkable happens, and

out of hundreds of millions, someone has to save the day It's up to Arthur (James McAvoy), Santa's youngest son, to deliver a present to the forgotten tyke before Christmas morning dawns

Hannah Fisher, Sorren MacLean and Friends

Saturday 12th February 7 30pm

Tickets £14

Still on fire from Celtic Connections, we are super excited to welcome our home-grown talent Hannah back to her roots in Dunkeld

Now both living on Mull, Hannah and Sorren find musical inspiration in the landscape, seas and space of their tranquil home When not writing, recording and performing together, both are sought after session musicians and tour extensively with Idlewild, Mull Historical Society, King Creosote, and Roddy Woomble

This intimate performance with friends will include original and contemporary songs and tunes, blending rich vocal harmonies with bluegrass influenced fiddle and guitar tunes

WORKSHOPS & CLASSES:

BALLET

Adults ‘Ballet for Wellbeing’ continues Monday mornings from 10 30am-11 30am via Zoom (spaces available)

Children’s and Adults Ballet Classes take place in the Birnam Arts auditorium or The Dance Studio on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings at Birnam Arts

Please note: All children should arrive for classes ready in their ballet uniformcrossover cardigans and legwarmers may be helpful, as the studio doors will be open during classes for ventilation

THE BIRNAM ARTS BALLET SCHOOL is led by Royal Academy of Dance Registered teachers Emma Gray and Kelly McCole For further information, or for those wishing to join the school, please contact Emma Gray by email on: ballet@birnamarts com

ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES

CREATIVE KIDS

Join us for kid-centred workshops in the Visual Arts Studio on Thursdays after school! You will explore a variety of mediums ranging from printmaking to ceramics Each session is led by an experienced Arts Tutor and supported by a Creative Assistant To find out more and to sign up, email kate@birnamarts com

OPEN CALL: BA AiR STUDIO ACCESS RESIDENCY 2022

Birnam Arts is delighted to offer artists based in Scotland the opportunity to apply for a Studio Access Residency in February 2022 This is an opportunity for you to develop your practice in a space dedicated to creativity You will have 10 days flexible access to the Visual Arts or Dance Studio, an artist fee of £300, and opportunity to share your findings via an artist talk (with additional fee payable to artist) Full details of how to apply and closing dates will be shared online

Santa

one child

Arts News continued

BIRNAM ARTS - CONTINUED

SHOP

OPEN WED TO SUN 10 30 TIL 3 30

Immerse yourself in a festive wonderland of winter displays featuring handmade wreaths, Christmas table centrepieces, luxury stocking fillers and more You’ll discover natural, Scottish made soaps and toiletries; Harris Tweed handbags and accessories; a range of men’s heritage and classic accessories and of course a range of traditional and much-loved toys for the little ones

We will also join the Dunkeld & Birnam magical Christmas ‘Candlelit Trail’ late night shopping on Friday 10th December from 4pm til 8pm Looking forward to seeing you there!

BEATRIX POTTER

OPEN WED TO SUN 10.30 TIL 3.30

If you’re looking for the perfect retreat inside on these colder, winter days, come escape into the imagination of Beatrix Potter Learn about her historical ties to the area, as well as getting to know the much loved and celebrated characters from Beatrix’s tales And for the little ones, join us for some fun with activity boxes, a festive story corner - and if the weather ’s behaving better than the Two Bad Mice, there is a garden of sculptures to explore too –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

JOBS AT BIRNAM ARTS:

FRONT OF HOUSE

Supporting our busy programme of events at BA, we need a brilliant Front of House team to welcome visitors and work the cafe, catering and bar throughout the year A range of flexible shift patterns are available from part to full time For more information, head to www birnamarts com/were-recruiting-join-the-team/ Applicants should submit a CV and covering letter to manager@birnamarts com Everyone is welcome to apply, and we wholly encourage you to do so, regardless of background, culture, gender, ethnicity, age, or ability We hope to hear from you soon!

WINTER HOURS

Wednesday to Sunday until Thursday 23rd December 2021* Gallery & Café open 10am to 4pm

Shop & Beatrix Potter Museum 10 30am to 3 30pm

*check social media for any additional opening days, as well as confirmation of 2022 reopening –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Birnam and Dunkeld Film Society

All Films shown at Birnam Arts – 7:30 pm

Sunday 12th December 2021 -

The Man who Invented Christmas 2017 1:44m PG

The story of the creation of "A Christmas Carol," a timeless tale that would redefine Christmas Dickens struggles for inspiration against his frustrations and his characters' opinions in a literary challenge creating a classic tale that defines the essential soul of modern Christmas

Sunday 9th January 2022The Farewell 2019 1:40m PG

A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is diagnosed with terminal cancer She struggles with her family's decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own illness as they all stage an impromptu wedding to see grandma one last time

Sunday 23rd January 2022 -

Rory's Way 2018 1:47m 12A

Rory MacNeil, a rugged old Scotsman, travels to San Francisco to seek medical treatment He moves in with his estranged son Ian, as he sees his life getting transformed through a newfound bond with his baby grandson

Dunkeld & District Strathspey and Reel Society

Our fiddle orchestra, founded in 1932, meets in the Duchess Anne, The Cross, Dunkeld on Mondays at 7 30pm and we play an interesting variety of traditional Scottish music, old and new, under the direction and guidance of the well known local fiddle player and composer Pete Clark We are focusing for the coming months on music with a Perthshire connection, from Niel Gow to the present day Potential new members are always welcome and further information can be obtained from our secretary Duncan Thomson: 07531 520476, duncanwthomson@yahoo co uk, or our website, www dunkeldstrathspeyandreel org

Dunkeld Cathedral Art Exhibition

We normally held our AGM at the end of January, however a decision has been made to hold off until later in March 2022 in the hope we will have a better idea of the way forward for our Exhibition

2020 saw us celebrate our 50th anniversary with a greatly scaled down version due to circumstances at the time In previous years the exhibition started towards the end of June and ran for 10 weeks, open every day until 7pm We were able to take in around 1000 pieces of work from over 200 artists Visitors who bought a picture took it home with them - all over the world - and we could replenish the walls with another one from our ‘store’ We would sell over 400 items and had artists from all over the country, some professional as well as amateur We had a team of around 80 volunteers who helped to hang pictures and steward over the summer

In 2020 we only used the downstairs hall at the Duchess Anne and with nowhere to store pictures, had to limit the number of artists to around 80 Due to COVID, we lost around half of our volunteers, mainly due to age We had a 3 week exhibition and church funds benefitted by £3000

In 2021 we followed the same format, again a 3 week exhibition; we were fortunate to recruit a few new stewards with some artists coming to help, travelling from Luncarty, Blairgowrie and Falkland in Fife The church received a donation of £3250

We would like to extend the length of the exhibition in 2022, but this can only be done if we can recruit some new stewards We always had 2 stewards on duty and the times were 10-1 and 1-4 each day and 12-2 and 2-4 on Sundays

It is a good way to meet visitors and make new friends The exhibition brings visitors back to Dunkeld year on year, with many commenting how much they look forward to their visit Then there are visitors who just come across the Duchess Anne and enjoy the exhibition as part of their visit

If you would like to help next year, please get in touch by email to Dunkeldart@aol com or come along to our AGM in March, date will be announced in February Bridge

The Fairy in the Kettle

The Fairy in the Kettle has celebrated its fifth birthday with a 2nd edition

Re-published on the 16th of November, this beautifully illustrated picture book has received 5-star reviews and become a favourite read with many children around the world as its sales have spanned the globe

Perfect for pre-school and primary school children, The Fairy in the Kettle takes children on a magical journey to the heart of Bramble Glen

“That’s quite an imagination this author has, to come up with this story Everything is perfect, from the art to the plot to the words One of the best children’s books I’ve ever seen ” Paul Franco, Reviewer for Semi-Sweet Sixteen Books

Local author, Pauline Tait, has recently moved to Blairgowrie and is now enjoying writing both children’s and adult fiction

Leona’s adventures span three titles, with a fourth on the way

The Fairy in the Kettle, The Fairy in the Kettle’s Christmas Wish and The Fairy in the Kettle Gets Magical are available in store and online from all good bookshops including Waterstones, Amazon, Blackwells, and locally, Adventure Into Books in Blairgowrie

You can follow Pauline on her Social Media pages Links can be found on her website www paulinetait com

Joan Eardley Exhibition 27th November –28th February Perth Museum & Art Gallery

A new exhibition has opened to mark the centenary of the birth of Joan Eardley, who is now recognised as one of Scotland’s most influential artists, at Perth Museum and Art Gallery

The exhibition will offer visitors the opportunity to see some of Eardley’s most significant works, including her bold atmospheric paintings of the sea and her iconic paintings and sketches of children in the Townhead area of Glasgow

Sports, Health and Wellbeing 5

AIMS:

1: To transform the lives of people in the villages and surrounding areas through sport and leisure

2: To promote the various sports and leisure activities in the Dunkeld & Birnam area

3: To support the building and maintenance of sports facilities including a sports hall

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

All sports and leisure clubs are invited to join 'The Sports Hub ' Membership is free

Please send details of your club's activities and events to editor@dunkeldandbirnmamnews co uk for inclusion in the hub page of 'The Bridge ' For more details see: www dunkeldandbirnamnews co uk/sport

Sports and Leisure Hub and Leisure Group

MUGA project We really appreciate the support from the Leisure Group as this amount moves us very close to the total funding required for the facility A significant proportion of the Leisure Group’s funds were raised in memory of Robbie Melvin who died in a tragic road accident in 2005 by Kate Stansfield (

commemorate Robbie as part of the MUGA project

sports facility The Leisure Group and Hub have agreed a masterplan for the

Covered MUGA project We will now evaluate the next steps together including u

involved then please contact dbsportsleisurehub@gmail com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Dalguise Meditation Group

S i n c e t h e e n d o f O

due regard to Covid rules) Meetings take place once a fortnight on a Tuesday morning, from 10 30 to 12 30 in Dalguise Village Hall We enjoy sitting and walking meditations, discussions, and socialising over refreshments There is no charge, and we have no religious affiliation Meditation is a way of getting in touch with ourselves It involves training the mind, through regular practice, to become aware and awake in the present m o m e n t A

Anyone can do it, and those who have carried on their practice throughout the p r e s e n t p a

circumstances

guidance and wisdom from experienced meditators of different traditions

So if you would like to join our group and begin to experience the innumerable b e n e f i t s o f a r e g u l a r

faithanstey@gmail com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Tuesday Running Sessions

Every Tuesday evening for last 6 months athletes have been meeting at the Dunkeld and Birnam Highland Games Field to improve their distance running S t a r t i n g a t 6 1 5 p m , t h e s

manageable shorter distances repeatedly A single shorter distance is known as an “interval” or a “repetition” (sometimes shorten to “rep”) Such session are known as interval training or “doing reps”

There is a fixed recovery time between each repetition A target time for an athlete to run each interval is calculated from a recent 5km (e g Parkrun) time if they have one Hence each athlete runs at a pace suited to their training r

running speed over distance

The repetitions are performed around an approximate 400 metre loop marked o u t b y c o n e s A s e v e r y o n e , i r r e s p e c t

travelling from as far away as Pitlochry to train

W i t h t h e c l o c k s g o i n g b

has allowed the sessions to continue in the darkness Most athletes also wear a head torch

The sessions are for those 17 years and over There is no charge –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Arts News continued

ROMANS: Edge of Empire

Travel back in time with ROMANS: Edge of Empire to before Scotland was Scotland and Perthshire was Perthshire, and the land belonged to Celtic tribes The Caledonians, Maetae and later, the Picts Despite several waves of attempted invasion, unlike southern Britain – settled for nearly 400 years – Iron Age Scotland was never fully conquered by the Romans ROMANS: Edge of Empire will explore what life was like for Roman and Celtic lives on the north-western edge of the vast Roman Empire

The Antonine Wall: Beyond Boundaries displays the work of craftspeople who have been commissioned to create replicas of rare and unusual Roman artefacts found along the Antonine Wall, including a Roman wine barrel, an Iron Age ‘tartan’, and an African style portable cooker, amongst others Each object reveals stories of how individuals and communities (now and in the past) can break down boundaries and create a space where they belong Visitors will be able to come and get handson with history and learn more about the communities on the Wall then and now

ROMANS: Edge of Empire and The Antonine Wall: Beyond Boundaries is on display at Perth Museum and Art Gallery until 6th February 2022

Details can be found here: https://bit ly/cpkromans

Perth Museum and Art Gallery

Perth Museum and Art Gallery will be closed from 24th December 2021 for the Christmas and New Year holidays The Museum will reopen on the 7th January 2022

Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries

Birnam Library:

On the 18th of November, Culture Perth and Kinross reopened the doors of Birnam Library for browsing, borrowing and returning books To ensure the library can provide a safe environment for visitors, limits have been placed on the number of customers visiting the library at any one time Social distancing guidance and hand sanitising units will be available

Opening hours have changed and are listed below

Birnam Library opening hours: Monday: Closed Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 5pm – 7pm

Friday: 12pm – 5pm Saturday: 9 30am – 12pm Sunday: Closed 01738 459709 / birnamlibrary@culturepk org uk

Chattan Tea Room & Post Office

Notes from a Councillor 7

As I write this article to close 2021, I am awaiting the outcome of a COVID PCR test, the track and trace system notifying me that I have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive This situation unfortunately sums up the uncertainty that the last two years have been typified by the affects of the corona virus

I think this is a poignant time for us all to remember loved ones who have suffered and some who have ultimately lost their lives in the battle against this virus It is also a time to remember and thank our wonderful Scottish National Health Service for their dedication, work, and unrelenting commitment to saving lives We can never reward them enough in a purely monetary fashion

We also have to thank the wonderful community organisations and bodies that have stepped up to the plate and ensured that their local community and the most vulnerable within were taken care of However, I think that this community endeavour will be required throughout 2022 as well or until our communities are safe again

As we head towards Council elections in 2022, we face a difficult budget setting position where each of the political parties will be expected to set out their vision for the people of Perth and Kinross and will be expected to deliver on whatever election promises they make As I am part of the SNP budget review group, I am aware of the many difficult choices to be made and I have made my group aware that when the current Council talks about savings, they

are actually talking about cutting vital services All elected members must be aware of the difficult choices they make, that they affect everyone within the community but especially the most vulnerable and many of those who feel that their voice is not heard

Most of you who know me, know that although that this article started with ‘doom and gloom’ I am always as most of you reading this article are looking for the positives in life and there are many of those to be found within our local communities Working together and communication being the key to bringing all parts of the local community together, the numerous organisations within Strathtay Ward have proved their worth throughout the COVID pandemic As the delivery of Council services changes to be more community led the Council itself and officers within the council would be instructed to be more accessible and engaging with the needs and aspirations expressed by community led groups Dunkeld along with other areas hold a wealth of local knowledge, insight, and desire to deliver what their own community needs are I would like to wish everyone within Strathtay Ward, Perth and Kinross, Scotland and the World a really happy festive time and that together we can move forward into 2022 showing real progress against the global pandemic and against the climate change emergency which has been highlighted at Glasgow this year which have produced eyewatering figures of what must be achieved, though this looks unsurmountable as a whole, it like the Covid pandemic will have to be fought at a local level where individuals actions multiplied will make the difference required

Best wishes and a Happy New Year to each and everyone of you

Councillor Grant Laing

JOHN SWINNEY, MSP for PERTHSHIRE NORTH can be contacted at: 17-19 LESLIE STREET, BLAIRGOWRIE Tel: 01250 876576

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT, EDINBURGH EH99 1SP Tel: 0131 348 5717 e-mail: john.swinney@parliament.scot

Pete Wishart MP: Member of Parliament for Perth and North Perthshire pete.wishart.mp@parliament.uk Perth Office: 63 Glasgow Road, Perth, PH2 0PE. Tel: 01738 639598 North Perthshire Office: 17-19 Leslie St, Blairgowrie, PH2 6AH Tel: 01250 876 576

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A World Community

Michael & Luna - an update

Michael has finally, after many months of walking, looked out onto the Northumberland Strait and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean An emotional moment The weather has been mixed- rain, glorious sunshine and strong winds, and the temperatures are now plummeting A guardian angel or two have provided the means for a support vehicle and team, which means a warm bed and less walking for Luna Michael is walking on average about 45 km each day He was welcomed to the town of Pictou, known also as the birthplace of New Scotland, by the mayor of the town On a private visit to the Hector Heritage Museum Michael had the privilege of going on board ‘the Hector ’ , a ship that carried so many Scots away from their homeland As a tribute he sang an emotional rendition of the well-known Proclaimer’s song ‘Letter from America’, the lyrics of which were very much an inspiration in deciding to make this epic journey by foot across Canada

‘I wonder my blood when will you return to help us kick the life back into a dying mutual friend do we not love her do we have to roam the world to prove how much it hurts’- a verse that embodies much of what this journey has been for and about

They are now most certainly tackling the last stage of their journey, making their way across Newfoundland towards St John’s, and then not too far further on, to Cape Spear, the most easterly point in Canada They intend to get there by 5th December Michael and Luna, a huge well done By the time we read this in the Bridge Michael will have walked every step of the distance that separates Tofino on Vancouver Island to Cape Spear, Newfoundland For your strength and endurance, your songs and your smiles- and for all of the awareness and money raised for Trees for Life- we are all incredibly proud of you Thank you!

The recent quiz night and balloon race raised £1063 42 for Trees for Life Thank you for supporting Michael and Luna a Rewilding Journey

Have you been following Michael Yellowlees and his dog Luna on their 5,000-mile walk across Canada?

Sometime during the week beginning 5th December Michael will complete his epic journey raising money for Trees For Life to rewild the great Caledonian Forest in the Scottish Highlands To celebrate this incredible feat, local artist Mridula Basi from Birnam Studio Gallery and Julie Hunt from Going Pottie are offering Michael’s supporters the opportunity to win one of two amazing prizes! Wanting so support Michael in the best way she can, the talented Mridula decided to run a prize draw for one lucky person to win a £100 voucher for any work on sale at her gallery on Station Road in Birnam The voucher can be used to purchase a single piece or used as a discount towards something else in the gallery The £5 entry raffles can be bought in Mridula’s Gallery, Station Road, Birnam and at other outlets within Birnam

Is it time for you to get out of your kitchen? and back into the peace of the ‘office’?

Worried about fuel bills and the Climate Emergency? Stay warm and save the planet by working with us!

Join us from as little as £5 for a morning or afternoon at the community coworking space

• Free to join • Centrally located between Dunkeld and Birnam • • Tea and Coffee Included • E-mail coworkingdunkeld@gmail.com

Julie felt inspired to do something to support Michael and his wonderful cause and so created a very special and unique MacGnome for the occasionMichael MacGnome! Michael MacGnome is now looking for his forever home and he could be coming home with you very soon if you are the winner! The £5 tickets for this raffle are available at Going Pottie, The Dunkeld Fish Bar, and Kettles of Dunkeld

Both draws will take place at the end of our Dunkeld & Birnam Festive Late Night Shopping on 10th December 253 words excl headline Images attached For more information, contact: Mridula Basi - mridula basi@googlemail com

Julie Hunt - info@goingpottie com

Karen Yellowlees - karenyellowlees@yahoo co uk Alison Campbell - alisonscampbell@gmail com 07415461994

Royal School of Dunkeld supports Michael and Luna

In October Michael and Luna linked up with the pupils of the Royal School of Dunkeld and had a conversation about the work being done by Trees for Life, about what it’s been like to walk such a huge distance, and to hear about the terrible time when Luna was lost in the wilderness of Western Ontario The children have sent posters that they created to encourage Michael and Luna and have planned a walk to support the fundraising for Trees for Life A huge thanks to Mrs Williams and all the staff and pupils at Michael’s old school

Loch of the Lowes

Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre will be open on Winter Hours throughout December and January: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10 30am-4pm The way Christmas Day and New Year ’s Day fall this year, please note we will be open on Friday 24th December (Christmas Eve) and Friday 31st January (New Year ’s Eve) but closed over those week-ends

Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre is famous for the viewing window giving close-up views over the wildlife feeding area where birds and red squirrels have been coming in for seeds and nuts for over 30 years We keep the feeders stocked all year round and, rest assured, we ensure the food supply remains constant when we’re closed to the public If you regularly feed wildlife and plan to be away during the winter, please arrange for someone to keep up the supply in your absence, it could be the difference between life and death in a cold snap

This year the Winter Solstice falls on Tuesday 21st December (3 59pm) giving us the shortest daylight hours of the year Will we enjoy spectacles of sparkling frost,

rosy dawns and crimson sunsets or even snow? Who knows, but it will be cold - all the more reason for cheery fires, hearty food and showing appreciation to loved ones by exchanging gifts Our harmful impact on the planet is highlighted in ongoing environmental news coverage and informative TV and radio programs Over traditional midwinter celebrations we each have the perfect opportunity to find ways to lessen or eradicate our use of plastic, cut down on waste (excess food, excess wrapping paper etc) and, if we have an outdoor area, create a safe area for wildlife to feed and shelter

It’s surprisingly easy (and very satisfying) to cut back on waste and plastic when we put our minds to it Luckily in Perthshire, we have a wealth of creative artists, crafts people and local businesses and by purchasing gifts from them we not only negate plastic but support real families Why not pop up to our Visitor Centre shop and see our gorgeous Scottish Wildlife Trust Christmas cards along with a host of sustainable gifts like bird feeders, jute bags, Teemill clothing, wildlife books, binoculars and squirrel themed bamboo socks, not forgetting wild bird and hedgehog food! Choosing non-laminated wrapping paper (jazzed up with bio-glitter?) and using paper sticky tape (or simply folding the paper and tying it with ribbon or rafia) creates a beautiful, individual present Collectively, we can (and must) reduce the whopping 40 million plastic sticky tape rolls, and 108 million rolls of (non-recyclable) wrapping sent to landfill each Christmas in the UK There is an ever growing range of eco-friendly alternatives nowadays – it’s great fun to explore the amazing options From all the team at Loch of the Lowes we wish you a safe, warm and enjoyable time through our darkest months and into 2022! Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve, Scottish Wildlife Trust Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10 30am-4pm (except 25th & 26th Dec and 1st & 2nd Jan) Tickets available on the door

Photo by Kevin Taylor

Community News continued

Launching the First World War Digital Archive

Following a 4-year project funded by a LIBOR grant from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Army Museums Ogilby Trust (AMOT) is excited to launch The Ogilby Muster (TOM) TOM is an online platform which provides access to the First World War archives held in Regimental Museums across the UK Launching during Remembrance month, TOM has preserved the experiences and memories of those who served in the First World War for future generations

To access this amazing databasehttps://www theogilbymuster com/

Dunkeld Community Archive

The Scottish Horse were raised in 1900 during the Boer War Their Commander was the Marquis of Tullibardine, who later became the Duke of Atholl Their headquarters and training camp were based in Dunkeld and Blair Atholl

Dunkeld Community Archive (www historicdunkeld org uk) hold the Regimental Archive for the Scottish Horse

AMOT’s project has not only safeguarded the collection by digitising it, but has opened it up to the world for anyone to access, although there is still much work to be done to make the database fully searchable

Transcription work is in progress by our volunteers, so if anyone is interested in joining the team to do this valuable work, please get in touch with Dunkeld Archive

Three Churches in the Community

Thought for the Month

People are often quite disappointed when it is pointed out to them that there is no ‘little donkey’ mentioned in Bible’s Christmas story What about the ox and the ass; the carols singing about the animals? Sorry, but they are not there No camels, no oxen, no donkeys and sundry beasts of burden are mentioned Anyway, it takes a bit of imagination to picture a heavily pregnant woman getting on a donkey and being comfortable with the experience of riding from Nazareth to Bethlehem! Many imagined elements have crept into the Christmas story over the years, lots of them through Christmas carols, and my fear is that they can have the effect of giving the whole thing the air of a fairy tale After all, Christmas is really (or just) for the children so let’s go to town on the imagination and keep it that way

The two accounts we have in the Bible are a very small part of the whole Gospel story Only Matthew and Luke tell us anything about the birth and the elements they include are all there to point to the most important element of the Christian faith; that, as St Paul put it ‘God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself ’ Whatever aspects of the story we like, imagined or otherwise, that is what it is all there to tell God has come amongst us, seen in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and that is the best of all good news for a broken world

Celebrating Christmas, last year was very different and in some respects, is still not going to be the same this year because of covid However, nothing can stop us from celebrating the love of God come in the baby at Bethlehem

Have a happy and peaceful Christmas Fraser Penny

Church of Scotland Services

While services are almost back to normal we are still required to wear masks during services and reasonable social distancing should be maintained

The Kirk Session took the decision that we should move back to Little Dunkeld for services this winter and that we can safely have teas and coffees after the service there

November 28th

11am - Morning worship in Little Dunkeld 1st Sunday in Advent

December 5th

11am – Communion service at Little Dunkeld

There will not be an evening communion for the time being

December 12th

11am – Morning Service in Little Dunkeld

3pm – Bereavement service in Little Dunkeld

December 19th

11 00am – Morning Service in Little Dunkeld

2 15 – Carol service at Amulree

4 00pm – Christingle Service in Little Dunkeld

Christmas Eve

The Kirk Session decided not to have the usual Christmas Eve services this year simply because it involves large numbers of people gathering from all over the country Instead, weather permitting, we plan to have a short open air celebration at the Duchess Anne Nativity Scene which will take in midnight Details will be publicised nearer the time

Christmas Day

11 00am – Celebrate Christmas morning in Little Dunkeld with a short family service

December 26th

11 00am – Morning Service in Little Dunkeld

January 2nd

11 00am – Morning Service in Little Dunkeld

January 9th

11 00am – Morning Service in Little Dunkeld

January 16th

11 00am – Morning Service in Little Dunkeld

2 15pm – Service at Amulree

January 23rd

11 00am – Morning Service in Little Dunkeld

January 30th

11 00am – Morning Service in Little Dunkeld

Bereavement Service

Sunday 12th December at 3pm in Little Dunkeld Kirk

- a service of prayer, reflection and remembrance for people dealing with loss Families who have had funerals in the parish in the past year are invited by letter but there is a warm invitation to anyone who feels a loss keenly at this time of year, whether that loss was a few months ago or years ago The service lasts about half an hour and those who want to can stay for tea/coffee afterwards

Christingle

There is something really special about the annual Christingle service Through carols and an unrehearsed nativity play the story of Jesus’ birth is told again Young and old dress up to be part of the telling or you can just sit to watch the drama unfold and join in the songs Towards the end, when the Christingle candles are lit there is a special atmosphere of wonder and prayer as we remember the purpose of it all – that Jesus is the light of the world

Please join us this year on the 19th and at the end share Christmas refreshments before heading home

Kirk Session

The next meeting of the Kirk Session is on Tuesday January 18th at 7 30pm in Little Dunkeld Kirk

Online Services

Online worship continues each week on YouTube (search for Dunkeld Cathedral online ) You will find a new video each week and also all the services which have been uploaded since the start of the pandemic

Men's Breakfast

The men’s breakfast is meeting ‘for real’ again fortnightly in the Chanonry on a Wednesday mornings If you would like more details please contact Peter Mackie at Petermackie46@gmail com

Bible Study

An ecumenical Fellowship meets fortnightly on Tuesdays There will be a meeting on 23rd, November and 7th December This session we are using material from the Bible Society to study Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians

At the moment the meetings are ‘hybrid’ in that a group of us meets in the Chanonry but it is also possible to join by zoom with this link: Meeting ID: 858 4820 2739

Passcode: 940574

Contact details for that can be got from John Ferguson (john ferguson857@btinternet com ) or Fraser Penny (RPenny@churchofscotland org uk)

Thursday Youth Group

A group for P 7 and S 1 meets in the Duchess Anne on Thursdays between 7 and 8 30 For more information, please contact William Hogg (727053) or Fraser Penny (727249)

Booking Halls

Anyone who would like to book either the Duchess Anne or the Chanonry for meetings and events should contact Jill McCrory on chanonrydunkeld@gmail com

The cost of living crisis: Four ways to help those hit hardest

We’re all aware that the cost of living in the UK has risen significantly in recent months, with prices for energy and food at the highest we’ve seen in many years But did you know the devastating impact this is having on low income households in particular? According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the rise in costs could see those who are already struggling financially having to pay up to £700 more per year

On top of this, many of the protections put in place to shield those on low incomes during the pandemic have now come to an end, including the vital £20 per week Universal Credit uplift The reality is, with bills up and income down this Christmas, thousands across the UK will struggle to feed their families and heat their homes So what can we do? Here are four ways you can help right now

Donate to your local food bank / community larder

We’ve all seen the news about the growing level of child poverty in the UK and sadly the number of families relying on food banks right now is higher than ever Find out where your nearest food bank or community larder is and how you can support them If you’re not able to give financially, donations of nonperishable groceries and toiletries will most likely be welcome Look out for donation baskets in your local supermarket, or take your items directly to the food bank or larder

Check on your neighbours

Through our work at CAP, we know that debt and poverty can be an isolating experience Many people feel ashamed or embarrassed about their situation and are reluctant to ask for help It’s important to check in on those in your community who may be particularly vulnerable, and encourage them to seek the support they need sooner rather than later CAP’s free helpline number is 0800 328 0006 and capscotland org/help has more information about the services CAP provides

Write to your MP and MSP

While we can all do our bit to help, this is a problem that needs to be prioritised by those in power By writing to your local MP and/or MSP, you can draw attention to the injustices you’re seeing in your community and urge them to speak up on your behalf

If you can, why not arrange a face-to-face meeting with your MP and/or MSP and have a conversation about poverty concerns in your area?

Provide families with emergency food or fuel

This year, CAP Highland Perthshire’s Christmas appeal is raising funds to deliver hampers or emergency support to families and individuals in desperate need £45 could provide a single adult with an emergency food shop, £115 could feed a family of four, and £60 could help heat someone’s home with an emergency fuel top-up Together we can make sure families won’t go cold or hungry this Christmas Contact Angela on 07513 652597 or email angelahanvey@capuk org for ways to donate

Three Churches in the Community

Church Services and Contacts:

Weekly Services

Church of Scotland:

Dunkeld Cathedral at 11am

Every Sunday from Easter Sunday to Remembrance Sunday

Little Dunkeld Kirk at 11am

Every Sunday from the Sunday following Remembrance Sunday to Palm Sunday

Scottish Episcopal Church:

St Mary’s Birnam at 10am

Every Sunday

Roman Catholic:

St Columba’s, Mass 6pm

Every Saturday

Monthly and Occasional Services

Church of Scotland, Amulree

Third Sunday of the Month 2 15pm Servite

There is a Communion Service in the lounge at Servite at 3pm on the first Sundays of March, June, September and December

St Mary’s Episcopal Church Service Time: 10am

Said Eucharist (communion) every Sunday Beautiful organ music instead of hymns for the duration of the virus

Brilliant sermons too!

All are welcome in this space

https://www stmarysbirnam org uk/

Three Churches

Charity Shop

High Street Dunkeld

Opening hours:

Tuesday to Saturday 10-4

We would like to wish all our customers and supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and thank you for your support

The shop will closed from the 18th December until 4th January

Donations welcome during opening hours

Can you spare 3 hours a month to help in our shop?

Call in for a chat or contact:

Anne Graham: 07751 593421

Mara Maggio 01350 727585

Dianne Simpson 07796 920018

Marion Eglinton 07740 877504

Contact Details:

Church of Scotland:

Congregational Office Bearers:

Minister: Rev R Fraser Penny,B A B D , Cathedral Manse, Dunkeld, PH8 0AW

Tel: 01350 727249

e-mail: r fraserpenny@gmail com

Session Clerk: Mrs. C. McNicoll

Tel: 01350 727500

e-mail: mcnicoll431@btinternet com

Treasurer: Mr. John Gray

Highfield, Brae Stret, Dunkeld, PH8 0BA

Tel: 01350 728697

e-mail: gray john17@sky com

Covenant Officer: Mrs. Ann Bryce

Tomnagrew House, Dunkeld PH80BX

Tel: 01350 723228

e-mail: j bryce@farmline com

Organist & Choir Leader: Mrs Hazel Murch

Tel: 07867 642954

e-mail: hazel murch@gmail com

Parish Office: Mrs Jill McCrory

The Chanonry, 07808 703641

email: chanonrydunkeld@gmail com www dunkeldcathedral org uk

St Mary’s Episcopal Church, Birnam

The Rector:

Reverend Lesley-Ann Craddock

Priest in Charge of St Mary’s Birnam and Dunkeld

St Mary’s rectory, St Mary’s Rd, Birnam, PH8 0BJ

Tel: 07903 020509

email: lesley craddock@btinternet com

Part time = Friday, Saturday & Sunday

I can also be found dwelling nr LochNess

01456486663

Treasurer:

Penny MacGregor and Charles Cox

Vestry Secretary:

Adrian Freer

Tel: 01821 650536

email: adrianfreer@btinternet com

Organist :

John Walker B Mus, FRCO, LRAM, ARCM

Tel: 01350 727755

(www stmarysbirnam org uk)

The Meeting Place

THE MEETING PLACE is open again on Friday mornings from 10-12 in the Duchess

Anne Come and join us for a cup of tea or coffee and some delicious home baking All welcome - for further information please phone 01738 710399

St Columba’s Roman Catholic Church

Catholic Church Priest:

Father Neil Gallagher

Tel: 01796 472174

e-mail: stbridespitlochry@dunkelddiocese org uk

St

Bride’s Catholic

Church

Rie-Achan Road, Pitlochry PH16 5AL

Also served by St Bride’s:

St Columba’s, St Mary’s Road, Birnam, Dunkeld, PH8 0BJ

Priest: Father Neil Gallagher

e-mail: stbrideschurch@yahoo com

Our Lady of Mercy’s, Home Street, Aberfeldy, PH15 2AL

Priest: Father Neil Gallagher e-mail: stbrideschurch@yahoo com

Every Sunday we celebrate the presence of the Risen Lord amongst us during these Masses:

• St Columba’s Birnam, Saturday Vigil Mass at 6 00 pm

• Our Lady of Mercy’s, Aberfeldy, Sunday at 9 30 am

St Bride’s, Pitlochry, Sunday at 11 30 am

Holy Days of Obligation: Mass Times

St Columba’s, Birnam at 9 30 am -

Our Lady of Mercy’s, Aberfeldy at 12 30 pm -

St Bride’s, Pitlochry at 6 00 pm

Weekday Masses: Tuesdays, Our Lady of Mercy’s, Aberfeldy at 9 30 am Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, St Bride’s, Pitlochry at 9 30 am

We're missing all our Messy Church friends and families, but hope to see you soon.

Community News continued 14

Dunkeld and Birnam in Bloom

Autumn is a busy time for volunteers Main jobs include lifting and storing summer flowering begonias and dahlias to be replaced with heathers, cyclamen and other winter colour Raking or sweeping up fallen leaves takes time and many plants must be cut back

Of course we leave seed heads for the birds to enjoy but also try to clear wild flower beds as these plants like less fertile soil Our splendid hydrangea flower heads in St Ninian’s Garden are left over the winter With the first frost some of these spent flowers and seed heads are almost as spectacular as the summer flowers –worth a closer look

The new information board for the Beatrix Potter Trail looks quite at home now at the end of Torlee Road A great deal of work has gone into planting (and replanting) the hedge between the notice board and the south entrance to Birnam village Along the Old Hostel Walk itself, look out for a range of interesting ferns With the clearing of path edges, vegetation and some overhanging branches, these ferns should be even more impressive next year

We have planted hundreds of Spring bulbs with more still to go – a race against time before the frosts come

A variety of daffodils of differing heights have been selected for the planters and grass borders However, we fear we may have provided a tasty snack for rabbits or deer opposite the Servite Housing as the quantity of crocus bulbs we planted last year disappeared without a trace All gardeners have some disappointments! New volunteers have been made most welcome this year and occasional tasks undertaken by Corbenic residents (participants in the Community’s Garden Workshop), among others Wearing a high-viz vest allows us to pick our way over flower beds with a purpose! And sometimes we just delight in the pleasures of being outdoors – a well-placed rainbow and a spectacular sunset being among our recent sightings The English poet Keats loved the autumn (“season of mists ”) Pushkin, the Russian poet, wrote “What is the Spring to me? Give me instead Winter ’s austerity ”

Whichever is your favourite season, if you would like to help – do please phone someone in the group

Linda Speirs 727288

Liz Ibbetson 727203

Gien a Haund (helping older people)

With winter now upon us, the Post Office Tea Room have restarted their Wednesday meals for housebound elderly people To get these to people who need them, volunteers from Gien a Haund have come forward to carry on the important delivery job started last winter by Dot and Brenda When some services for older people are still in abeyance, it’s great that we’ve been able to get this partnership with the Post Office going once more

Meanwhile, the work to increase the number of benches around the village continues We’ve had some helpful contact with PKC’s Community Greenspace team to clarify the process for installing benches on public land aswell as advice on funding options A plan for maintaining any new benches is essential and will be included in any funding applications Our next step then is to identify sources of funding for both purchase and maintenance As we move forward, we’ll look to do so in partnership with other groups involved in improving access and maintaining existing benches in a drive to improve overall access to local amenities

On the Minibus front, we now have a date for our second volunteer to be trained in and sit the Midas test - in the hope that we will soon be allowed to assist with transporting some of our older citizens on essential journeys ( eg hospital / vaccine appointments)

On a broader, strategic front, we’re also involved in discussion with the Council and other local groups on how to encourage people into a career as a Carer, either employed or as a self employed Personal Assistant What sort of support might be needed to encourage people to take this step and what stops them from doing so ?

Finally, we’re looking to develop closer working with the surgery around the new challenges they are facing and how best we, as a community, can assist them

As ever, if you would like to join our number, we’d like to hear from you

E mail us on gien a haund@yahoo com or call 07754099030

Macintyre Wealth Management

pledge to help the local community with #12daysofMWM

The financial advice company donates over £1500 to worthwhile causes, whilst also supporting local businesses

Macintyre Wealth Management (MWM) are about to embark on #12daysofMWM, a Christmas campaign with the sole purpose of giving back to the local community

Each day, from 1 - 12 December, MWM are dedicating their resources to charities and projects doing incredible things As well as a Christmas donation, chosen by the charities themselves, #12daysofMWM will see the team sharing the impactful work these organisations do yearround

The annual campaign first launched in December 2020 and was a huge success After sharing their plans on social media, people rallied round to support the project and sent in suggestions of causes close to their hearts

The team then had a difficult decision on their hands

With all those suggested already being on the nice list, choosing 12 was no easy feat So they extended their budget and settled on supporting 19 fantastic charities

Since the campaign’s launch, MWM have met the teams behind local food banks, care homes and community gardens, as well as youth groups in Aberfeldy and Crieff who have become instrumental parts of the community and a lifeline for our young people

They have supported cafe’s cooking feasts for struggling families over Christmas, Kids’ Clubs providing affordable childcare and a Men’s Shed working to combat loneliness and get men talking about their mental health

In a bid to support local businesses, all requested donations (where possible) were bought from within the local community

This year ’s campaign will kick off on Wednesday 1st December, to follow along and learn more about each of the projects and how they serve the local community, check out the hashtag #12daysofMWM on Facebook and Instagram

Macintyre Wealth Management Ltd is a family-run business based in Aberfeldy, established by its directors Andrew and Jennifer Macintyre in 2018 They offer friendly, professional financial advice tailored to your individual needs

If you would like any additional information, please call 01887 377810 or email macintyrewealth@sjpp co uk

Trying to navigate Social Care? Support Choices can help

At some point in our lives all of us may need a bit of extra help to live our lives well For many of us this means accessing social care through the local authority

Whether you are looking into getting care and support for the first time in your life or you’ve had support in place for years, getting access to information, keeping things moving and feeling you have choice and control throughout the process isn’t always straightforward That’s where Support Choices can help We are a small independent charity set up to support people navigating social care We provide independent information and advice as well as community brokerage Since 2019 we’ve been developing and delivering a service which is approachable, accessible and effective throughout North Perthshire Now, thanks to new funding, we are excited to be building on our services in this area, as well as expanding to the Crieff & Comrie area and Perth City This project will embrace a brokerage approach, supporting individuals and families to exercise choice, control and creative solutions throughout their social care journey, leading to outcomes like this one:

“The help and advice we got from Support Choices has been a godsend I don’t think we would have got very far without them Its mind blowing the difference it has made to our lives We are less stressed because we know mum is being well looked after so we can relax for a bit ”

Our friendly team of community workers can help you at any point in your journey It might be that you’re looking for a little bit of guidance on how to get social care in place like this family member was: “Talking with Support Choices staff was like talking to a really well-informed friend, who understood what packages and support were available They helped me work out what we wanted for my dad and what things would make our lives easier ”

Alternatively, it might be that you need more in-depth guidance, with a Support Choices worker helping you through each stage of the process: “With more visits it became clear that my Support Choices Worker was knowledgeable, determined and a reliable strong advocate who gave me confidence and as a result calmed my fears ”

As well as providing independent support and advice with navigating health and social care through the local authority, Support Choices can also help with recruitment and with helping you to source other kinds of support, whether that’s community groups or practical resources: “Working with Support Choices was the first time I thought someone is going to do something practical that will make a difference for us both and it did ”

If you think you or someone you know would benefit from a conversation with Support Choices – get in touch You can find out more about how Support Choices can help at www supportchoices co uk or get in touch directly: 01350 729130 / info@supportchoices co uk

BIRNAM BOOK FESTIVAL IS BACK!

Mark your calendar for 20-22 May, 2022.

Our BIRNAM BOOK FESTIVAL Weekend Pass Gift Card offers access to all sessions throughout the festival.

It ’s the perfect Christmas (or Valentine's Day) gift for fans of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, panels, music, and book ish banter.

Purchase at The Birnam Reader (price £95) or get in touch for more information: contact@birnambookfestival.co.uk Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all at T he Bridge

Community Noticeboard

Amazing Story from the Archives

One of our new volunteers, Catherine McBain, moved to Inver recently and extensively renovated her new cottage Behind the wall on a 1965 extension she found the attached items The soldier in the photo in the centre of the beautifully hand embroidered regimental banner is Wiliam Stewart He was with the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders We have contacted their Curator up at Fort George and await a reply His medals (Pip, Squeak and Wilfred) were also there Other items include a silver football medal

The Community Orchard is recruiting!

Our Dunkeld and Birnam Orchard has had many successes this year Take our much appreciated Information Board, and Juicing Day at Big Apple Day, heralded as “the best yet”

Okay The harvest wasn’t spectacular And that brings me to the point of this article Had we had a bumper harvest, we would have been struggling to cope The truth of the matter is, we need not just more people to be involved, but some stronger people The Orchard is 13 years old now, and many of our merry band of helpers has aged with it

Our proposal is this How would you, or maybe a couple of you together, or even a family, like to “adopt” a row of trees? Up to a maximum of 16 trees What would be involved? Well the main one would be to prune the trees in the dormant period But don’t run away We can give guidance All of us prune a bit differently, and we haven’t killed the trees yet! What else? Well, you may have your own ideas We have dung to feed the trees You may like to clear the leaves beneath your trees - something we have not attempted, but which harbour the scab fungus which is all too prevalent in our apples You might want to do wildlife counts or create insect hotels

Whatever you fancy doing, you will probably be giving your trees more attention than they get at present When? The current “workday” is traditionally a Friday afternoon But your “team” could choose your own time to work, or for better social interaction we might start up a new traditional slot at the weekend

We Orchard volunteers are not abdicating responsibility, but we would appreciate reinforcements and a future legacy for the Orchard An hour or two in the Orchard is a fantastic way to de-stress

Come and find out for yourselves!

dunkeldbirnamorchard@gmail com

Katharine Melville

Facebook messenger: Dunkeld and Birnam Community Orchard

Looking for renting opportunity in Dunkeld/Birnam Area

Quiet/clean young female engineer looking to rent a 1-2 bedroom flat/house in the Dunkeld/Birnam area

Either Short term / Long term starting early 2022

Non smoker / no pets

If you have any opportunities please contact Hester at: hester.claridge@hotmail.co.uk or 07724940060

Pitlochry and District

Choral Society

As we have had to cancel our Christmas Concert this year, we are hoping to sing carols outside Fishers' Hotel on Friday December 10th and Saturday December 18th from 11-12pm and 1-2pm

Please come and support us

We are singing for charity

Doctors Surgery

Our Doctors Surgery will be open as normal with telephone consultations with the GP in the first instance

To help keep our phone lines available for the GPs use, please consider using our online prescription service via our website rather than phoning in your requests

Please consult our website for updates on our COVID vaccine clinics

See page 7 for all the latest Doctors Surgery News

Birnam Institute Library

http://www dunkeldandbirnamnews co uk/ business-showcase/1064-birnam-institute-library

Opening hours: Thursday 5pm-7pm

Due to Covid19 restrictions, the library will not be open for browsing Birnam Library is situated in the Birnam Arts Centre, Station Road, Birnam, PH8 0DS Tel: 01738 459709

RBS mobile bank visits Dunkeld and Birnam. Thursdays: Dunkeld, The Cross 14.50 pm to 15.20 pm and Birnam, Post Office 15.25 pm to 15.45 pm

News from our Community Council

Dunkeld & Birnam Community Council

Community Council Matters

Name Caroline Wilding

If you would like to contact the Community Council you can do so by emailing: dbcc correspondence@gmail com or email the Chair on dbcc chair@gmail com

You can also contact us via the messaging system on our facebook page

Of course, if you have the opportunity, then please do chat to any member of the Community Council if you bump into them while out and about

Meetings are held monthly at 7pm on the second Monday of the month Date of next meetings: 13th December 10th January 14th February

Venue: Online zoom meeting

Please email us on the above address if you would like to attend and we will send you a zoom invitation

To read the minutes of previous meetings and to find the agenda for forthcoming meetings, see: www dunkeldandbirnamnews co uk/community-news/ community-council

The Community Council is very happy to support the first Community Action Plan for the PH8 area which is now nearing completion From the Community Council, Calum Martin, Lachlan MacEwan and I sat on the Community Action Plan Steering Group We witnessed a mammoth community effort: 1 in 4 people in the PH8 area aged 5+ responded to the community wide survey; 45 tourism and hospitality providers responded to the business survey; 25 interviews were conducted with local organisations, services, businesses and public bodies; and three community engagement events took place, including the big community-wide feedback event at the Birnam Institute on 2nd October

This huge engagement exercise identified the highs and lows of life in the PH8 area The scenery and natural environment came up top of positives, and traffic, parking and poor cycle infrastructure were felt to be the biggest negatives, closely followed by the lack of housing for people to live and work locally

Our first ever 5 year Community Action Plan for the PH8 area will be published early in the New Year with six themes: Safe and active travel; Housing for all; Connectivity and care; Environment and a greener future; Community and culture; and A thriving local economy

The top two of these themes have been major priorities for the Community Council over the past year: ‘safe and active travel’ and ‘housing for all’

On travel the Community Council has engaged Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) Roads team in discussion about making our roads safer including by: tackling speeding, improving crossings and looking at options to make the Telford bridge safer and more accessible; improving and expanding cycle infrastructure; and addressing parking issues Despite our raising these community concerns consistently with PKC for more than three years, so far action from PKC in this area has been limited We’re hopeful that with the results of the Community Action Plan in hand we can apply even more pressure

On housing, the Community Council has had three meetings on this issue over 2021 and has been gathering information about the lack of housing and particularly lack of affordable housing locally I also chaired a packed and lively meeting on housing at the Community Feedback Event on 2nd October Through the Community Council and Communication Action Plan consultation and fact finding work the Community Council has found the following factors to be driving the housing shortage in our area: COVID, the shortterm let market, second homes, the lack of self-build plots and limited downsizing options

The Community Council has been working with PKC Affordable Housing team who have provided funds to Communities Housing Trust to carry out a Housing Needs Assessment Programme, which will be undertaken across five identified settlements in rural Perth & Kinross, including, at the Community Council’s

Connect

…

request, Dunkeld & Birnam, between now and summer 2022

The information collected through this programme will provide a basis for Communities Housing Trust, working in partnership with the local community, to build effective and targeted strategies for the development of our own community-led housing solution

For all those who would like to talk to the PKC Affordable Housing team and the Communities Housing Trust about the Housing Needs Assessment Programme, how it will be conducted in our area and the possible outcomes for the community, please join us for a meeting at the Birnam Institute (or online) on 2nd December 2021 at 7pm

Best wishes to all for the festive season!

Dunkeld and Birnam to join the PKC Housing Needs Assessment Programme

As a result of the Community Action Plan and Community Council prioritisation of housing, Perth and Kinross Council has added Dunkeld and Birnam to its Housing Needs Assessment Programme The aim of which is to develop a picture of the extent and nature of housing need and demand in our community This work will be carried out by the charity Communities Housing Trust, between now and summer 2022 The Housing Needs Assessment Programme is carried out in 4 stages; 1 community liaison; 2 developing community specific surveys; 3 implementation of surveys and analysis of results; and 4 production and presentation of the final reports The information collected through this programme will provide a basis for Communities Housing Trust to build effective and targeted housing strategies for communities to develop their own community-led housing solutions and to identify funding to support such solutions

Examples of Communities Housing Trust’s work can be found on their website: https://www chtrust co uk/ For all those who would like to talk to the PKC Affordable Housing team and the Communities Housing Trust about the Housing Needs Assessment Programme, how it will be conducted in our area and the possible outcomes for the community, please join us for a meeting at the Birnam Institute (or online for those who prefer to join remotely – contact caroline@csrobinson co uk for joining details) on 2nd December 2021 at 7pm

Linking Asheville, North Carolina, USA and Dunkeld & Birnam

For Auld Lang Syne: The Turning of a Year Asheville and Birnam & Dunkeld Twinning

By Doug Orr

As 2021 winds down, we reflect on the unusual nature of the past months but also turn our eyes toward the future as our valued twinning partnership continues to flourish and grow And what a year it has been: the tragedies and travails of covid, COP26 in Glasgow, a welcome turning of the page in American government, global stresses with the rising tide of nationalism and Brexit sealing borders, and the unchecked and accelerating impact of climate change

And yet on the local level, life is resilient and endures, neighbor to neighbor and community to community It reaffirms the ongoing relevance of Twinning and Sister City partnerships spanning the globe And those of us in Asheville lift a glass as the curtain is drawn on the old year, to our many friends and indelible memories of Dunkeld & Birnam Our Twinning relationship, forged in August/September 2017, builds bridges each successive year We came together in recognition of the many commonalities and shared values between our communities: the love of artistic expression, from music to art; books and education; outdoor exploration; crafts; horticulture; tourism; food and beverage; small business

entrepreneurship; spiritual life; and notably, environmental stewardship and action The latter is particularly in our sights in the immediate aftermath of COP26 It remains to be seen what the lasting outcomes of the Glasgow event will be with the global potpourri of nation-states, economic differences, national agendas and politics But we do believe that ongoing action on the local level matters and is doable Recent discussions within our Dunkeld & Birnam Committee raised the possibility of exploring ways we might join hands and include climate change and environmental issues as a way of working together in addressing such urgent concerns Perhaps the recent “Climate Café” idea, as encouraged by the Path2Glasgow initiative, offers one approach

Meanwhile we look to January 25 for our fourth annual Burns Night event While last year it took place primarily on Zoom, a silver lining was the inclusion of poem, recitations, and music from several of our Dunkeld & Birnam friends It was very well received and becomes a regular fixture of our Burns Night program We currently are finalizing plans for a live and streaming 2022 event and hope many of our Scottish friends can tune in Beyond January, our hoped-for May excursion to Scotland and the Birnam Book Festival, which was to be under the aegis of our book publisher, The University of North Carolina Press in celebrating their centennial year, has been postponed due to covid until May 2023

However some individuals here are making tentative plans to journey to Scotland and Dunkeld & Birnam in the course of 2022

So as we look to a new year in concert with our Dunkeld & Birnam friends, we embrace the upcoming winter solstice and its emergence from darkness, and a return of the light with renewed hope This sentiment is expressed poetically in the following “Poem for the Winter Solstice” by Asheville poet Sally Atkins:

This was how winter found us – lonely for light, and the sounds of birds, and flower’s fragrance

In the trembling silence of stars, like trees we sent our roots deep into the ancient Earth

We stretched our long branches of arms toward the dark sky in search of light

And yet it was the darkness that healed us

Out of the silence sound was born It was a music extending into the night

Out of the darkness light emerged We saw faces filled with wonder They were our own faces

We saw hands opening in a gesture of greeting They were our own hands

Perhaps there is still hope for us, for we know the old and holy ways

They are soft and slow like the secrets within, like words whispered in love

Like human breathing

Perhaps there is hope for us For we are, all of us, scared and scarred, and sacred

Scared and scarred and sacred

Turning toward the light, with hope and wonder

December/January ‘Stick on the Fridge Page’

Local Organisations - Contact Details

Listing for local voluntary organisations are free however The Bridge welcomes donations to cover the cost of these listings Please send donations to the Advertising Manager, John B Gray at Highfield, Brae Street, Dunkeld, PH8 0BA Many thanks Please contact the editor with amendments/additions

Organsiations - General

Local Organisations - Continued

Health Community & Services

Infinityblu Dental Care, Pitlochry 01796 470001

Infinityblu Dental Care, Dunkeld 01350 729198

Dentist

Phone 01350+

Dunkeld & Birnam in Bloom 01350 727288 Linda Speirs

Guide Dogs for the Blind 727346 / 727657

Friends of the Cathedral 01350 728697 John Gray

Probus Club 01738 787930 Sandy Love

Email: slove59@aol com

Horticultural Society 727255 Jan Silburn

Historical Society daveroberts132@btinternet com Dave Roberts

National Trust for Scotland North Perthshire Ranger Service - Office: 01350728641

The Meeting Place (Fridays DA) 727382 Jean Dickson

SWRI Email: evelyn menzies@sky com Evelyn Menziesl

SWRI Amulree 01350 723203 Jane Anderson

Chapter House Archive (Mon 10-12 & 7-9, Wed & Fri 10-12) 01350 727786

Bridge Club (Tuesday 6 45pm BI) 727294 Vilma Morison

Royal British Legion 01350 728884 W Forsyth

Tourist Association 01350 727324 Brenda Roddy

Friends of BI (nb not bookings see below) 723203 Jane Anderson

WRVS 01738 633975 Kathleen Coffey

German Shepherd Rescue, Scotland 01738 710111 Liz Bowers

Staffie Smiles Rescue 07743 180228 Shiona Cameron

The Orchard 727048 Katharine

@thefield 728926 Dave Roberts

Email: dblandtrust@btinternet com

3 Churches Charity Shop 01350 727237 / 07751593421 Anne Graham

Community Learning & Development

PKC CLD Staff 01738 459701 Email: dunkeldcomlearn@pkc gov uk Cat Gordon/Kim McBain/Alison May U3A 01796 483281 Meg Ross Email: megross@btinternet com

Sport

Dunkeld & Birnam Angling Association Secretary, Russ Jobson dunkeldangling@gmail com DBAA@live co uk

Bowling Club Gael Shaw 07977 911068 Gaelshaw@btinternet com

Badminton johnrmoy@googlemal com

Field Archery 07786 073686 01350 727911

Glendelvine/Spittalfield Cricket Club (all ages) Neil Wimberley

Website: www glendelvinecricketclub com Email: wimbo32@hotmail com

Golf Club (Visitors Welcome) 727524

Highland Perthshire Clay Shooting Club 07821 940252 Secretary Ted Carr Email: thecarr@waitrose com

Leisure Group (Sports Centre Project) 727361 Alasdair Wylie Curling 01738 454700 Claire Milne

Tennis Club m: 07740 586064 or 01738 710484 Shona Smith Email: shonamh@googlemail com

Tayside Orienteers 727048 Bill Melville

Running Club adrianrdavis@hotmail com Adrian Davis

Netball 723269 Tiffy Shedden

Yoga 728773 June Mitchell

Yoga 2 728783 Sue Atkinson

Uver 35's Rugby 07738 006738 iainhg@aol com

Tai Chi 07551029076 John Connelly

Music & Arts Cathedral Tower Bell Ringers 724218 Iona O’Connor

Film Society 727740

Handbell Ringers 01828 628109 Margaret Davidson

Birnam Institute - Arts & Conferences 727674

Just Singin’ 7 30 Weds BI 07545 219529 Carole Reid www justsingin co uk

BIPS howemarilyn@hotmail com Marilyn Howe

Birnam Youth Theatre Mon 5 00-6 30pm 727207

Dunkeld Strathspey & Reel Society 07531 520476 Duncan Thomson duncanwthomson@yahoo co uk

Silversmithing Wed 7-9pm 727674

Arty Kids Wed (from 18thApr) 4-5pm 6wks 727674

Birnam Arts Ballet Tues/Wed/Thu age4up 727674

Ceramics Tues/Thurs 10am-1pm 7-9 30pm 727674

Scottish Country Dancing 01738 561676 / 01350 727380 Helen or Dinah

Annual Events

Highland Games (August) www birnamhighlandgames com

Christian Aid Week 727867 Jim McCafferty Flower Festival (bi-ennial) 724255 Sheila Mannion

Art Exhibtion (June - August) 01738 710399 Margaret Scott

Arts & Crafts Fair (June & Nov) 01350 727968 Na’an Meikleour

Niel Gow Festival - Weekend close to March 22nd - petethefiddler@btinternet com

For Children

Baby & Toddler Group 07546 128902 Lesley Singers Playgroup 9 20-11 40 Tues and Thurs Playleader: dbplaygroup@gmail com Nursery at Royal School 01738 454470 Royal School Dunkeld Puddleduck Nursery 727117 Heather Morton Royal School of Dunkeld 01738 454470 Kids Club - After school care 07930 462944 Supervisor Sunday School - Church of Scotland 727249

Caputh Baby and Toddler Group Tues 10-11:30am - Lorna 07832 235 607

For Younger People

Girlguiding Dunkeld Trix Stephen, District Commissioner (Rainbows Brownies Guides Rangers): Tel 07770324173 Email guider@girlguidingdunkeld org uk Youth Café 727760 Linda McDougall

Youth Club Wednesday pm DA 727259 Fraser Penny

The Black Watch Army Cadets 07429 113439 Staff Sergeant Craig Ross Beaver, Cubs, Scouts 07766 071854 Martina Wolfe

Messy Church last Sunday in month 727259/727594 Fraser Penny/Deidre Gerrie

For Older People

Servite 01382 237158 Heather Campbell

Senior Citizens 727311 Ronalda Pattullo

Friends of Rivendell 728885 Fiona Ritchie

Hall Bookings

Duchess Anne 07808 703641 chanonrydunkeld@gmail com Jill McCrory

Chanonry 07808 703641 chanonrydunkeld@gmail com Jill McCrory

Birnam Institute 727674

Dalguise Village Hall 07746 392268

Amulree Village Hall www amulreehall org uk

Caputh Hall caputhhall@gmail com 01738 710 848

728826 Mr Greig, PS, BDS

Doctors 727269 Craigvinean Surgery

Chemists 727210 Davidsons

Chemist on Sunday 01738 643791 Asda, Dunkeld Rd, Perth

P&K Environmental Services 01738 476476

Library 01738 459709 Margaret Quigley

PKC Roads Dept 01738 625411

Community Council dbcc chair@gmail com Stuart Paton

Registrar (3/5 High St Perth) 01738 475121

Police (Tayside Non-Emergency) 101

Dates for your Diary

BA = Birnam Arts Centre DA = Duchess Anne Hall, The Cross, Dunkeld November 2021 - 16th

December

with PKC Affordable Housing team and the Communities Housing Trust about the Housing Needs Assessment Programme for Dunkeld and Birnam - Birnam Institute (or online for those who prefer to join remotely – contact caroline@csrobinson co uk) 7pm

Hannah Fisher, Sorren MacLean and Friends 7 30pm Tickets £14 For dates further ahead see: www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk

PH8 Community Matters

We’re almost there next steps to bring the Community Action Plan to life

Last month our Community Action Plan event marked the culmination of 6 months’ worth of community consultation, engaging with over 500 people and distilling all your thoughts and ideas into six key themes for priorities On Saturday 2nd October the community gathered at Birnam Arts centre to discuss, debate and re-imagine what is important to the development of our community over the next five years Each of the six themes were the subject of a workshop-type discussion to get down to the nuts and bolts of what needed to happen - and between these sessions, people could browse the information displays, write down their comments and ideas and place their all important red dots against the actions they want to see happen Huge thanks to everyone who turned out on the day, all the volunteers who helped to run the event and a very special thanks to Louise Watson for keeping all the children happily entertained in the play corner, so their parents could take part

So where do we go from here?

Well, since October, we have been working on putting all of the thoughts and ideas captured at the event and subsequent discussions alongside the survey results, interviews and feedback generated since we started in April This is all now captured in the final Community Action Plan Report, which is nearing completion We hope to be able to publish this early in the New Year It contains sets of actions under each of the six themes of: safe and active travel, housing for all, connectivity and care, environment and greener future, community and culture and local economy There are some long standing issues featured such as improving traffic management, cycling infrastructure and parking and finalising A9 dualling plans, as well as a fresh look at how to solve the issue of affordable housing and a range of actions to help make our community more sustainable, greener and resilient for the future

So far, we’ve had over fifty people express interest in becoming involved in one or more of the key themes, but if we’re to deliver the full Plan, it will take even more So if you’d like to get involved, please contact the e mail address beneath

Telephone & Fax: 01796 472494 Mobile: 07800 577259 Mon-Fri 8 00am to 5 00pm Sat 10 00am to 11 00am Introducing

Now that the current steering group has completed its task of facilitating the creation of a Community Action Plan, we intend to approach the Community Council with a recommendation that an interim body be established to take this work forward and to set up the appropriate structures and resources to support delivery of the Plan over the next five years We envisage that the work of the interim body will be completed by Easter 2022, with a clear structure in place thereafter to support the Plan

As always, if you would like to get in touch with any queries, concerns or, to express an interest in any of the issues mentioned above, please email us on ph8communitymatter@gmail com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ph8communitymatters for further updates

co uk

PETS

Lost and Found

If you have lost or found a dog, cat or other pet

FACEBOOK: Missing Pets, Perth and Kinross 07432 368792 info@dogfriendlyperthshire.co.uk

JD Cox Plant Hire

Mobile: 07836 615626

Email: diggercox@btopenworld com

THE GARDENER 0777 546 0373

Call: Mon-Fri 8am-8pm

Text: 7 days 8am-8pm FREE ESTIMATES HONEST, RELIABLE SERVICE

Grass cutting, Hedge cutting, Strimming, Leaf collection, Weeding/dig over, Edging, Gravel footpaths, Aerating, General tidy-up. All General Garden Maintenance work carried out to the highest quality on every job, everyday