The Bridge March 2023

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

Community News

Voluntary Path Works

Encroaching laurels made the tarmac Inver to A9 bus-stop path unusable and users had to walk on the grass nearer the A9 kerb. Together with the very dirty wall behind, this stop was poorly visible.

Within a week of asking them, Bear Scotland cleared the overgrowing laurels, scraped the path surface and powerwashed the wall. A most impressive and prompt response especially as the work was carried out on one of the wettest days in a very wet November! Thanks. We followed up by cleaning the bus stop sign which is now bright and easily visible.

Next task – volunteers needed

Our next task is to cut back encroaching brambles and other vegetation on the link path between Inver and the Hermitage entrance. It’s a popular tarmac path used by cyclists and walkers. There are plenty other path needing attention too. We would like to link up with others who would like to help maintain our local paths. If you are interested in being involved please get in touch.

Stewart and Jane Pritchard (07763 882007 or 07761 037794)

3 Churches Charity Shop 10th Anniversary

The Rev Lesley-Ann Craddock, Rector of St. Mary's Scottish Episcopal Church, Birnam with Dunkeld. The Rev Emmanuel Adindu, St Columba's Roman Catholic Church, Birnam. The Rev R. Fraser Penny, Minister, Dunkeld Cathedral. Our aim was to help keep our churches open. ‘10 Years Later’ - They are ‘alive and well’. See page 13 for the full story.

Editorial 2

The Bridge

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My husband pointed out that is nearly a quarter of century since the millennium I found this a somewhat amazing fact and was catapulted back to remembering the supposed millennium bug that was going to drop aircraft out of the sky as the date ticked over to the year 2000 Fortunately, we all seemed to make it into Y2k unscathed at least from that perspective

Amazed as I was by his point, I was equally astonished to find it is a decade since a group of volunteers decided to set up the 3 Churches Charity Shop in what is currently Kat & Kat’s shop Gee whizz it really doesn’t seem more than a couple of years since we were advertising it’s launch Well done to everyone concerned in making this charity shop such a welcoming and successful place The stories on page 12 are just hilarious and, I hope, give you a laugh What are we customers like?! Thank you to everyone involved for running the shop and putting up with all our craziness with such good humour

May I give a big shout out for the new Dunkeld & Birnam Traditional Youth Music Group who are hosting a Taster Day on Saturday 25th Feb 2023,

between 10am and 12pm at Birnam Arts Centre I realise that by the time many of you will get your hands on this copy this date will have passed however if you are interested and aged between P4 – S2 you can still message the tutors on dbtradgroup@gmail com and also keep up to date via facebook www facebook com/dbtradgroup

A friend and I paused recently on a walk to gaze and reflect on a bag of dog poo left hanging on a tree We wondered if the person thought they might be helping the Dog Poo Fairy (DPF) by her not having to stoop down to pick up their poo What a generous gesture As we start to move into our important tourist season please can we all make a monumental effort to reduce the work of the DPF and make her day by making Stanley Park a Poo-free park (see page 9 )

To finish with other anniversary thoughts – please note the ‘hold the date’ request for the 20th Anniversary concert of Just Singin’ group on 17th June And to finish did you know that next year will mark the 50th Anniversary of The Bridge What shall we do to celebrate that milestone?!

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 23rd March, 7 30pm at Birnam Arts / Zoom unless otherwise notified, or unless events require one sooner. All welcome! We wrote to Cabinet Secretary Michael Matheson MSP in January requesting an urgent meeting and at the time of writing this (mid Feb) had received a formal acknowledgement but nothing more

The Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth MSP's announcement in parliament on 8th Feb that the 2025 target for completing the Perth to Inverness A9 dualling is not now achievable will have surprised few people here See the joint statement we gave to the press in the Junctions Action Group piece elsewhere in this issue

What is of most interest is her statement that:

“Ministerial decisions to complete the statutory process have been confirmed for eight of the nine remaining projects That covers more than 92 per cent of the length to be dualled For the one remaining section, we are continuing to progress with the Pass of Birnam to Tay crossing project and to identify a preferred route option following an innovative co-creative process with the local community An announcement on the preferred route there will be made this spring ”

That's still quite general but is a bit more specific than the “in the coming months” we've been fed for quite some time We shall discuss with Transport Scotland what community engagement measures they envisage in connection with that There are informal indications that they may be preparing for an event at Birnam Arts at the end of May

If there are significant developments by the time you read this we will have emailed everyone on our mailing list Contact details below

We continue to work on an update of “The Story so Far” which we now hope will appear in the April Bridge

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 (May 2019 for PoB to TC!) 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-

There has been a lot of news about the A9 in recent weeks and it is not possible to cover it all in a short article This is a summary of the key points

On 19th January we received a welcome letter, which detailed some of the proposed safety improvements for our stretch of the A9 through Birnam and Dunkeld

The following are the key points from a long letter from Transport Scotland:

The Minister for Transport recently outlined a £5M package of short term safety measures, beginning this financial year, to help address accidents of the type we saw last year on the A9

The proposed works will include enhanced road markings with acoustic properties, illuminated road studs, plus signage and marking improvements to emphasise the single carriageways and the transitions at dualled sections Further use of double white lines, to prohibit overtaking around junctions, will also be progressed where this is feasible Initial engineering works will be concentrated from south of Birnam (end of dual carriageway) to the Dalguise junction This allows initial investment to be concentrated on the first single carriageway section of the A9 users encounter as they head north for the spring and summer of 2023 For the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years, the scope of works will be expanded to the remainder of the route between Perth and Inverness that has not already been treated As these works, particularly road markings, are weather dependent, precise timescales cannot be confirmed at this time

In addition, variable message signs will also be deployed along the Perth to Inverness part of the route to provide drivers with key road safety messages To complement the engineering works, media campaigns focussing on fatigue awareness and “drive on the left” are also being progressed

In regards to your suggestions for speed limit reductions and lighting, I can confirm that these will be taken into consideration as part of potential further enhancements to the A9 in advance of dualling The presence of excess speed and darkness was not a factor in recent accidents on the A9, however, if there is merit in localised speed limit reductions or provision of street lighting then these options will be considered

BEAR Scotland has been asked to consider a layout for a temporary roundabout and assess how this may perform in terms of safety and traffic capacity when compared to the existing A9/A822/A923 staggered junction

We welcome these but it is useful to remember that we have asked for 6 key improvements, which are:

Action Group

Improved signing at the end the dual carriageway heading north before Pass Of Birnam

• Upgrade road markings and hatching, consideration of double white line areas (no overtaking) on the single carriageway section especially between the end of the dual carriageway going north and the Birnam junction and up to the Jubilee Bridge

• Improved lighting at junctions

• Speed restrictions between the end of the carriageway going north and south to the Jubilee Bridge

Cameras to assess the junction activity, ahead of dualling

• Serious consideration of a roundabout as an interim and potential long-term option at the Dunkeld Junction

Recently there was an announcement on Wednesday 8th February by Jenny Gilruth Transport Minister who told MSPs that meeting the 2025 target for dualling the A9 was now "unachievable" - although the commitment to finishing the project was "absolute"

The two local groups involved in A9 issues, the Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group and the Birnam and Dunkeld Junctions Action Group issued the following joint press release:

"No-one in the Dunkeld and Birnam area will be surprised by this announcement, but it makes even more urgent the meeting with Cabinet Secretary Michael Matheson to discuss the dualling programme, which we requested recently, given the already intolerable delay in deciding on a preferred route for Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing

Our community now believes that the A9 will not be dualled past Dunkeld and Birnam in the foreseeable future The priority for our community is to be able join and cross the busy A9 without putting ourselves and other travellers at risk This requires safe and effective junctions to be built and we no longer accept that the creation of these junctions should be linked to the dualling project

The recent safety improvement measures announced by the Transport Secretary are welcome but much more is needed to make this A9 section as safe as possible as soon as possible"

We all wait with interest and some concern to see what happens next

Thank you for all your support

Pam Green, Birnam and Dunkeld Junctions Action Group

Birnam and Dunkeld Junctions

Arts News 3

BIRNAM ARTS AGM

7PM MONDAY 13TH MARCH

ALL WELCOME

WHAT’S ON AT BIRNAM ARTS

Red Kites, Beavers & Rewilding

With Tom Bowser

Wednesday 8th March 7pm

By determination and a passion for wildlife, nature writer and journalist Tom Bowser is successfully rewilding his family farm in Stirlingshire Hear how a working livestock farm can be a haven for native wildlife including recently introduced beavers

Tickets and more information from Birnam Arts, or lochofthelowes@scottishwildlifetrust org uk

Lizabett Russo and Graeme Stephen

Friday 10th March 7.30pm

Lizabett Russo launches her 5th album 'While I sit and watch this tree' volume 2 with a tour around Scotland The new album will be available on vinyl, CD and even cassettes for the melancholic collectors

Scotland-based singer-songwriter Lizabett Russo merges her native traditions with elements of contemporary jazz, avant garde folk and world music, a range of influence effortlessly spanned by her powerfully versatile voice The BBC have championed her work - featuring on both BBC Radio 3 and Radio 6 as well as the BBC stage at Latitude Festival She has also toured extensively around Europe and Asia

Lizabett will be accompanied by the award-winning jazz guitarist Graeme Stephen Today he leads and contributes to a multitude of musical projects in Scotland and overseas, playing a wide array of styles from free improvised jazz to Scottish folk Niel Gow Festival

Friday 17th – Sunday 19th March

Please check birnamarts com for full programme of events, workshops and concerts

Touching the Void’s Simon Yates –

My Mountain Life

Friday 31st March 7 30pm

One of the most accomplished exploratory mountaineers of all time Simon Yates is best known for his role in the harrowing expedition to the Andes documented in Joe Simpson’s bestseller ‘Touching the Void’ Following that experience in Peru, Simon has been increasingly drawn to places where few others have trod This talk features spectacular images and film from some of the most remote and rarely visited mountain ranges of the world From the Arctic to the Antarctic and Alaska to Central Asia - there is hardly a significant range that Simon has not visited “Simon is a totally engaging speaker, who both entertains and inspires ”

HIGHLAND PERTHSHIRE PLUS

A new organisation will be launching on Sunday 5th March in Highland Perthshire Highland Perthshire Plus will be supporting children and adults with additional support needs and disabilities in a range of ways This includes providing social and sporting opportunities, working with Perth and Kinross Council and other providers to enable more supported housing in the area, working with other providers to offer day services and supported work opportunities and providing information to families and organisations locally See our advert on page 7

Building on the success of Aberfeldy Plus, a project operating as part of Breadalbane Parent Council, Highland Perthshire Plus is setting up as a constituted group, to enable people from a wider area and a wider age range to participate

We welcome anyone interested to join us at the launch on Sunday 5th March from 3 - 5pm Aberfeldy Town Hall to find out more Tea, coffee and cake provided along with activities for anyone to take part in We are looking for volunteers to help too For information email us on info@hpplus net

IN THE GALLERY

Jennifer MacLean

55 years of Watercolour and Weaving

Exhibition runs until

Monday 20th March

We are delighted to be exhibiting the work of local artist Jennifer MacLean this spring This body of work spans Jennifer ’s artistic career of 55 years and ranges from her distinctive watercolour paintings to her unique ‘organic wall designs’ - woven with her own hand spun and naturally dyed wool Her work derives its inspiration from nature and nature’s textures - her subject matter tends to be ‘things enduring’, (stones, old buildings, vegetation, landscape ), and her colour is strong and vital Above all the feeling one gets from MacLean’s work is of her genuine and absorbing love of what she is doing

Playwrights Studio Scotland

Friday 31st March 10am – 5pm

Coorie In is a nationwide project originated by Playwrights' Studio, Scotland to help playwrights find warmth, community, and a place to work at their local arts centres Playwrights’ Studio are proud to partner with Birnam Arts Centre to deliver Coorie In in Perthshire

Beginners Guitar

Tutor Malcolm Devenny

Tuesday Evenings 5pm – 6.15pm – 7.30pm

We still have spaces left in our 5pm kids guitar class and 7 30pm adult class

Malcolm Devenny – with more than 10 years teaching experience – will give you the guidance to learn basic skills, essential open chords, strumming patterns, and loads of great songs This will be a fun and friendly group for beginners with a max of 5 participants

Kids Musical Theatre

Tutor Colleen Nicoll

Thursday P1 – P4 4 30pm – 5 15pm

Thursday P5 – P7 5 30pm – 6 30pm

A combination of essential theatre skills for all children who love to perform! This class is packed full of challenging exercises especially designed to boost selfesteem, confidence, and creativity within your child They’ll learn new Singing, Acting and Dancing techniques as well as working on a variety of show extracts

Spanish Conversation for Beginners

Saturday 10 45 – 12 15pm 6-week block £60

Tutor: Amanda MacFarlane

Start date TBC

Throughout the course we will focus on developing skills and vocabulary to role play scenarios such as eating in restaurants; asking directions, shopping; going to the pharmacy; asking for information and talking about the weather Classes will be dynamic and interactive while encouraging participants to use the language with confidence in a variety of contexts

Please check the website for updates on all that’s going on at your local arts centre

Arts News continued

Dunkeld & Birnam Traditional Youth Music Group Taster Day

We would like to invite you to our taster day on Saturday 25th Feb 2023, between 10am and 12pm at Birnam Arts Centre

If you are aged between P4 – S2, you can come and try out fiddle or accordion with our tutors on hand to guide you

We hope you will enjoy playing one of these instruments and feel inspired to join us Our trad group will be starting in April, offering free weekly tuition and instrument provision, with opportunity to play in our trad band and perform live music

Although this is free to attend, please email us to book into a session dbtradgroup@gmail com www facebook com/dbtradgroup Just Singin`!

This pic is another blast from the past in this our 20th year - see if you can identify yourself, or anyone else! Then come along and join our friendly, mixed community choir which meets in the upstairs studio in Birnam Arts on Wednesdays 7 30pm9 30pm

We are delighted to welcome back Adelaide Carlow as our inspiring leader for the month of March There are no auditions to join our a capella choir, just come along and sing with us Please visit www justsingin co uk for fees and full details or email to enquiries@justsingin co uk or phone Katie on 07765 405203

Please note that our final session of the term is 23rd March, resuming 12th April

Save the date: 17th June - 20th Anniversary Concert in the BA All Welcome! Scottish Charity No 36400

Dunkeld Cathedral Art Exhibition

We are holding the AGM in The Chanonry at 2pm on 14th March All welcome It is hoped artists will be able to register online in May and we will have an Exhibition in the Lower Hall at the Duchess Anne starting with a Preview on Saturday 29th July and running until Thursday 31st August

We will be open every day but desperately need some new stewards It is not an onerous task, we always have 2 stewards on duty and each day is broken into 2 shifts from 10-1 and 1-4 If you would like to join in and help, please email Dunkeldart@aol com Even 2-3 shifts would be greatly appreciated, training will be given

Niel Gow Festival tuning up for 18th year

Preparations are well underway for the 18th Niel Gow Festival with an exciting programme of local talent and world class musicians gathering to celebrate the life and works of our very own fiddle playing legend, Niel Gow This music festival is between 17th and 19th March 2023 and will showcase some superb fiddle and trad music with concerts, sessions, workshops and more Niel Gow, born in 1727, lived in Inver and played across Scotland throughout the 18th century, including entertaining Robert Burns His final composition was ‘Dunkeld Bridge’ His compositions aplenty have influenced all those who have come since in Scotland and beyond, with his music celebrated and played by trad musicians across the world

Back for its 18th year, the festival has unveiled an exciting programme for 2023 which features some well known names like Charlie McKerron (Capercaillie, Session A9), Patsy Reid (Breabach, Lyre Lyre); Rua MacMillan (Blazin’ Fiddles) as well as up and coming players from across Scotland and musicians from further afield

CONCERTS – The weekend will be jam packed with six exciting concerts held in Birnam Arts, tickets available from Birnam Arts Website

WORKSHOPS – tuition blocks for fiddle, mixed instrument and cello Participants will be able to sign up to weekend blocks of workshops, Feis-style

STALLS – a pop up craft fair and exhibition will be held upstairs in Birnam Arts on Saturday

SESSIONS – join in or listen to the sessions in pubs across Dunkeld, some say it’s the best part of the festival!

MORE – throughout the weekend there will also be guided walks, stalls and activities for children The Dunkeld Community Archive will also be open on Friday and Saturday exhibiting items relating to our local musical legend

Special for 2023 we will also have the album release performance of music by Iain Fraser The lunchtime concert will feature musicians involved in the recording of the album ‘Kōterana’, including Iain, Pete Clark, Wendy Weatherby, Freya Rae, Sarah Wilson & others

To keep up to date with the latest festival news and view the full weekend programme, visit the festival’s brand new website: www nielgowfestival co uk, follow on Facebook https://www facebook com/nielgowfestival or Instagram at @nielgowfestival

Tickets for concerts and workshops are available from Birnam Arts: www birnamarts com

Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries

Bookbug sessions have restarted at Birnam Library! Come and join us on Thursday morning from 10 30am-11 00am for a session of songs, stories, and rhymes for under 5s Prebooking for each session is essential Please contact Birnam Library to book a spot

Bag a bargain at the AK Bell Library Book Sale 9 30am – 3 30pm on Saturday, 11 March Every penny we make from selling these books is directly reinvested in the services and helps distribute thousands of affordable books back into the community Princh Printing Print from any mobile device, tablet, or laptop from home or in one of our participating libraries Print, pay online and pick up your items https://www culturepk org uk/libraries/internet-and-computers/princh-printing/

Birnam Library

Birnam Library opening hours are: Thursday 5pm-7pm / Friday 12pm-5pm / Saturday 9 30am-12pm

Birnam Library, Station Road, Birnam, DUNKELD PH8 0DS 01738 459709 / birnamlibrary@culturepk org uk

Culture Perth and Kinross Museums & Galleries

The galleries at Perth Art Gallery are currently closed while they receive a refresh, but the doors to the building are open and looking forward to welcoming you

The Messy Museum in the Marshall Gallery is open, as well as our shop, coffee bar and toilets, from 10am to 4pm, Friday to Monday

Lunchtime lectures:

3 Mar - Modern Scots

10 Mar - The East India Company and Perth Museum

17 Mar - Power to the People!

24 Mar - Tales from the Natural History Collections

31 Mar - Care of large water vessels

Full details can be found on the Culture Perth and Kinross website: https://bit ly/PAGlunchtime

Birnam Arts is recruiting! Interim General Manager

Birnam Arts are looking for a pro-active and results-driven individual to join us as Interim General Manager over the spring and summer of 2023 This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future structure of Dunkeld & Birnam’s busy and vibrant community arts hub

Working with the board of trustees and the staff team you will manage the day to day running and support the development of Birnam Arts

Ideally you will have a wide range of management skills and experience, gained in working in a catering, hospitality, or retail setting

In the job description, we have listed some of the things we’re looking for It may be that you’re unable to tick every box – if you feel you’re able to bring something to this role, then please don’t hesitate to apply

Ideally full time, (but some flexibility possible) starting in March until the end of July 2023

Salary £33,000 - £35,000 per year dependent upon experience

For more information and the full job description, please visit https://birnamarts com/About-Birnam-Arts#vacancies or contact chair@birnamarts com

Closing date for applications: 7 March 2023, 12noon

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

Dalguise Meditation Group

Why not start the new year by coming to a meeting this month and finding out what we do? Meetings take place every other Tuesday in Dalguise Village Hall from 10 30 to 12 30 In March the meetings are on 14th and 28th We enjoy sitting and walking meditations, discussions and refreshments There is no charge and we have no religious affiliations

If you aren't able to attend in person, you might be interested in joining the mailing list, to receive interesting and helpful articles about meditation on the intervening Tuesdays If you would like to know more about how meditation helps us to become more aware, more focussed, calm and compassionate, contact faithanstey@gmail com

Community News

Museum & Heritage Centre

Dunkeld Community Archive

12 The Cross, Dunkeld, PH8 0AN. www.historicdunkeld.org.uk archives@historicdunkeld.org.uk 01350 727786

Apprenticeship

We all welcomed Imogen, who started working with us at the beginning of the year We are now pleased to announce that she will be doing a Museum Galleries Technician Modern Apprenticeship while working here

Online Exhibitions

Please visit our web site (www historicdunkeld org uk) to view our online exhibition There was a slight delay with the first due to a technical hitch, but they will appear each month now March’s exhibition will tie in with the Niel Gow Festival

Dates For Your Diary

March 18th, 19th and 20th – We will be helping celebrate the Niel Gow Festival with an exhibition in the Community Archive, including our online exhibition, where you will be able to view our 3D images of Niel’s snuff mills and his fiddle (thanks to Blair Castle allowing us to photograph this rare instrument)

July 29th and 30th – DUNKELD LIVING HISTORY WEEKEND – Join us in Staney Hill Park to hear the stories through many re-enactment groups An exhibition about Victorian Photography will be in the Archive, displaying our very own James MacIntosh and A F MacKenzie’s work, along with Dr Gutch’s album which contains the very earliest photograph of Dunkeld There will also be a demonstration of Victorian photography in the Chanonry, plus concerts in Birnam Arts and the Cathedral

If anyone would like to be involved in any way please let us know

LUNCH CLUB

One of our volunteers will be there with old photograph albums and old cine film footage We need your help to identify people, but it’s also lovely when these photographs trigger memories

DONATIONS

If anyone has any photographs, documents and memorabilia relating to Dunkeld and the surrounding areas we would love to hear from you We are a safe depository of local history for future generations VOLUNTEERS

If you have an interest in the local history and have a spare bit of time, please get in touch and ask about volunteering No experience necessary A great way

continued

to meet like-minded people and learn about Dunkeld’s past

Current projects requiring volunteers: Front of House – If you love to chat to folk, please come and see us with a view to volunteering Transcription – Our regimental collection is digitised but requires transcribing into the database to make is searchable Training will be given

We have a new collection heading our way which will require sorting into a chronological order Mainly photographs and dating back to the 40’s

The Development Trust has emerged as a product of the extensive and highly successful community effort during COVID, followed by the generation of our Community Action Plan (CAP), completed in March 2022, in which many of you expressed your priorities for the future of our community These are translated into the Purpose of the Trust, to “advance citizenship and community development in the Dunkeld and Birnam area” by:

encouraging safe and active travel, addressing issues around the lack of affordable housing, delivering improvements to physical and electronic connectivity, coordinating local volunteer activity, protecting the natural, built and cultural environment, including our archaeological heritage, promoting activities, including care, and the provision of facilities, that underpin a strong community spirit and cultural development across all ages, supporting projects that contribute to a thriving local economy

The Development Trust, which is a Charitable Organisation, was formally approved by OSCR, the Scottish Charity Regulator) as a SCIO 052156 in November 2022, and already we are engaged in a variety of exciting projects We are closely associated with both the Housing Group and the Craft Collective to ensure that we are able to support them in their ambitions Beth Beazley, who works for the Trust as our Community Connector, has been meeting up with quite a number of existing groups and clubs in the area to see whether they might need assistance from the Trust, for example, to help raise funds or find more volunteers And for a start, we have been able to give direct support to the Lunch Club

There are 6 interim Trustees and the number of members has quickly grown to over 40 Membership is free of charge, and open to all residents of PH8, and those in the PH9 postcodes that lie within the Dunkeld and Birnam Community Council area, who have the interests of our community at heart Those living

outside this area may become Associate members

The interim Trustees are Norman Grieve, Jan Silburn, Kathy Burns, Craig Ross, Lachlan MacEwan and Adrian Blundell If you would like to become a member, would like to become involved in activities, or have ideas for projects we might be able to help you achieve, then please do email us at ph8communitymatters@gmail com

"Dunkeld, Birnam and District Community Development Trust" is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) regulated by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), Scottish Charity number: SC052156

Stanley Hill Park –Help make it a poo-free park!

A new sign and a waterproof dog poo bag holder, with a full roll of bags, hand sanitiser and a small sign saying; ” Please help yourself to a free bag Remember – Bag it and Bin it” has been welcomed by dog walkers at Stanley Park As anyone with a dog will know, you can change your jacket and get ‘caught out’ on a dog walk by not having a dog poo bag in your pocket when you need it

Having the support of the community with this dog fouling issue is the only way we will all succeed in having a poo- free park! Thank you to everyone who is helping us

Karen Clark Visitor Services ManagerNorth Perthshire Dunkeld, The Hermitage and Killiecrankie email: kclark@nts org uk

Community News continued 6

Scottish Wildlife Trust

Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire Branch

The next meeting will be on Monday 13th March at 19 30, at the Pitlochry Church of Scotland Tryst, Church Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5EB

The speaker will be Sara Rasmussen (Raz), SWT ranger at the Loch of the Lowes She will share with us the magnificent ecology of one of the world’s most iconoic raptors; the Osprey! Learn about their incredible migration, hunting adaptations, and the history of their breeding at Loch of the Lowes

Everyone is welcome Suggested donation £2 members, £3 non-members

For further information, contact Mark Aquilina, markandrosie@btinternet com

Cross Roads for Human Development

One of the many things I enjoy about living in Little Dunkeld is seeing the children arrive at the Royal Dunkeld Primary School; on foot, on bicycles, by car or by one of the many school buses However, they

don’t have a beautiful new yellow bus as in the photo! All our children here are treated in the same way, no discrimination, they all have the right to receive an excellent education, but that is not always the case in India

What you can’t see from the photo is that these children are from a social caste called Dalits outcastes They are discriminated against and in rural schools they have to sit at the back of classes and are not allowed to mix and play with the caste children

Joseph, himself a Dalit, grew up in the village of Turukanadoni, and although he now works in Birmingham His dream was that one day there would be a school in his native village for the Dalit children, but open to any child if parents agreed for the children to mix together in work and play and for food I worked with Joseph in Bristol 20 years ago and travelled with him to India when our first preschool class of 20 opened, ‘Kids Paradise School’ Finance was raised and over the years we purchased land and eventually a two-storey school was built A perimeter wall, bore well, toilet block and most recently, a Dining/Assembly/ extra classroom were added

We now have around 186 children Our pupils are happy, and results are excellent Our old minibus lasted 20 years on rutted country roads bringing our teachers from the city 15 miles away and collecting children from nearby villages Special fundraising was needed to purchase our yellow bus Sadly, we have no government funding, and need to raise £35 000 yearly to cover the cost of staff, books, a midday-meal, and uniforms

Cross Roads for Human Development is a registered Charity On our website crhd org uk and you can find out all about us, sign up for a newsletter and of course there is a donate button

Together with friends here, we have started a support group and hopefully Joseph, who is Chair of CRHD will visit later this year when we can hold a special meeting In the meantime, do get in touch if you are interested in joining us

Gill Evans (President of CRHD) email: revevgm@gmail com

Clunie Hall Paves The Way For Refurbishment Plans

Clunie Hall serves a wide-spread rural community providing an indispensable meeting place for all generations to blether, eat, dance, play, support, learn and share Development plans are now underway for the refurbishment of the hall so that it can better serve the needs of its rural community for the future Funding these plans is a key focus for the hall committee with a number of events planned throughout the year

Our Spring Market 18th March is the next big event which will include independent sellers alongside our talented committee and supporters who make, bake, and grow towards our hall funds Thanks to our amazing volunteers, our vintage style teas are back with an array of home baking served on fancy plates and hot drinks in fine crockery We also introduced breakfast rolls and hot soup last year and due to the success, they will be a permanent fixture Our local resident artist Colin Greig will be back with a taster art activity for kids to try His print making workshop was very popular last year

We are open from 10:00 for those delicious breakfast rolls and hot drinks Come along and meet people from the area, young and old, new, and established Our development plans will be on display with an opportunity to give feedback and suggestions to help with fund raising ideas or funding applications as well as letting us know what sort of events, workshops, gatherings etc you would like the committee to organise

See our advert on page 14

It’s Mother ’s Day weekend so why not join us for a lovely family day out?

For information on What’s On at Clunie Hall please visit -www facebook com/Clunie Community Hall Contact Clunie hall@gmail co uk

Rivendell provides high quality care and support for you and your elderly relative Based in Birnam and Dunkeld, our homely environment provides a safe and fun community spirit Our trained staff provide care and support for all your needs 24 hours a day, we are always there

So, if you are looking for social contact, a safe and supportive environment, support with health or medical needs then contact us

Our mission is to provide a home for life, so come and live life with us

Please phone 01350 727413 and speak to Gina or email: rivendellcare@btconnect.com for more information

Community Noticeboard 9

Dance in Amulree Hall with Callum Wallace

17th March

8pm-12

Licenced bar, raffle, tea

Admission: £8, students £5

Craft Fairs Dates

29th and 30th April

25th to 27th August 4th and 5th November

Mary’s Meals –Syria Earthquake Appeal

Following reports of two devastating earthquakes affecting Turkey and Syria, the prayers of the Mary’s Meals family are with the many families caught up in this disaster and those mourning loved ones We invite you to join us in prayer for those affected, and for the success of emergency response efforts Mary’s Meals has provided school meals in Syria since 2017 with our local partner Dorcas, and we have now launched an emergency appeal to provide urgent support for children and families in and around Aleppo who are in desperate need

To find out more or donate, please visit: marysmeals org uk/campaigns/syria-earthquakeappeal or call 0800 6981212

Gardening and Growing Club (formerly the ‘Horty’ or Horticultural Society)

Wednesday 8 March, 7 30pm, Birnam Arts

Talk from Margaret Lear, a volunteer at the Perthshire Seed Library at the Seed Bank

Also Seed Swap – bring along any spare seeds in envelopes marked with contents and ‘best before’ date

The Perthshire Seed Library is a partnership between the Perthshire Organic Gardeners and Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries The library aims to enable gardeners (experienced and novice!) to share a resource of openpollinated seeds that suit local growing conditions, a library of knowledge and information plus the experience from local seed library volunteers

The Perthshire Seed Library will support vegetable and food plants, flowers and companion plants or native plants The library costs £5 00 for an annual membership which covers training sessions, author events, talks from experts and a minimum of 6 packets of seeds

Like and Follow us on Facebook: ‘Gardening and Growing Dunkeld and Birnam’ and on Instagram: ‘gardening and growing’ Historical Society

Monday 20th March 7:30pm Birnam Arts

“Little Houses of Dunkeld” - Bryan Dickson Head of Buildings Conservation Policy National Trust for Scotland

This talk will focus on what has been called the “The Post War battle for Dunkeld” The historic centre of Dunkeld as we know it today would not be as it , if a number of public and voluntary bodies had not worked together There was a long drawn out battle to save the old houses at the core of Dunkeld and this talk will cover this fascinating part of the history of Dunkeld If you are interested in joining the Committee or have some suggestions for future meetings or visits, you can raise this at the AGM

We look forward to seeing you at our spring meetings Dave Roberts on behalf of the Historical Society Committee

The Meeting Place

We are open every Friday morning from 10 - 12 in the Duchess Anne for tea, coffee and tasty home baking

On Friday 24th March our Coffee Morning will be in aid of the Brain Tumour Society There will be a cake stall Donations welcome

For Sale

Wheelchair Ramp - £95

Wheelchair ramp extends between 4 feet and 7 feet

Two pieces plus carry bag which fits in car boot Pristine condition, used only once sheilamannion@btinternet com

Domestic Assistant/ Cleaner office premises (Job Share)

Due to retirement, Land Rover Experience Scotland are looking for two housekeeping/domestic assistants/cleaners for our busy offices in Butterstone and Dunkeld

Working hours are 8 30am to 2 30pm each day

We are open 7 days a week which is why we consider this would be an ideal job share

Working hours will be approximately 24 hours per week and will involve working alternate weekends

There could also be additional hours available for holiday/sickness cover

This is a customer-facing role which will include the serving and clearing of lunches and refreshments to our guests, and daily cleaning duties A high level of customer service is therefore essential, and we are looking for people who are self-motivated and who can work well as part of a team

Due to our location a driving licence and your own transport will be essential

We offer an excellent hourly rate of pay and 28 days holiday per year (pro-rata)

A uniform will be supplied, and there is a company pension scheme

Please apply with a full CV and covering email Applications will not be considered unless a CV is submitted by email

Email: hr@landroverexperiencescotland co uk

GrahamCaswellArchitect

Graham Caswell B A (Hons) Dipl Arch (Oxford) RIBA

Offering Architectural Planning Design and Building Warrant Applications

Specialising in small and medium, domestic projects with a particular interest in Individual, Period and Listed Buildings

Auld of Clunie Farm, Clunie, Blairgowrie, Perthshire PH10 6RH

Telephone: 07702 806590

Email: gc@grahamcaswellarchitect.com

Cleaner Wanted

For bungalow in Dunkeld

£12 per hour

6/8 hours per month

Hours to suit

Contact: 07768 654944

Opening hours: Thursday: 5pm – 7pm Friday: 12pm – 5pm Saturday: 9 30am – 12pm

Birnam Library is situated in the Birnam Arts Centre, Station Road, Birnam, PH8 0DS Tel : 01738 459709

Birnam Library is run by Culture Perth and Kinrossa charitable trust bringing art, culture, books, learning, creative communities and local history and heritage to people across the whole of Perth and Kinross https://www culturepk org uk/

RBS mobile bank visits Dunkeld and Birnam. Thursdays: Dunkeld,

The Cross 14.50 pm to 15.20 pm and Birnam, Post Office 15.05 pm to 15.25 pm

Three Churches in the Community

Thought for the Month

It is almost unbearable to watch the news coming out of Turkey and Syria at the moment We soon run of superlatives to describe the horror and devastation Goodness knows what it must it be like to be living there?

A Turkish man interviewed on the news one night rationalised it this way: ‘My faith teaches this life is a test and we’ll come out of this better ’ I admire his strong faith, though it raises some issues for me! Firstly, what does that mean for the thousands who don’t survive? And secondly, I don’t believe God/Allah/fate or anything else deliberately deals us a hand which causes such harm to such folk so that we can learn lessons For me, Jesus shows God is on our side, and, as St Paul put it, ‘In everything God cooperates for good with those who love him ’ That does not mean, as many take it, that everything that happens is somehow for our good and therefore we have to like it or lump it Rather it means in everything that happens, good or bad, God is working for good with those who love him

Where I can agree with the sentiment, though, is that life sure is a test and few things are more testing than such a huge disaster which causes so much suffering Hopefully lessons are learned – about building practices, preparation, relief efforts and so on These are big questions which are beyond us and for other people to deal with

For us at a distance to all this, a couple of lessons have come home to me personally

Compassion is an instinctive human response and the only one we can make, regardless of where people are, who they are or what they believe Prayer is one response, as is the generous giving of people here in this country because we just feel we want to do something Sadly, once the cameras and reporters are gone such places go off the radar Haiti, for example, is still suffering as a result of that earthquake 13 years ago, but soon forgotten once it is away from the headlines

Don’t complain! There is a lot of negativity about in life, some understandable About the cost of living, fuel prices, the health service, strikes etc Does this sort of disaster not bring home how fortunate we are? We are so blessed to live in peace and security within a good community in beautiful surroundings Yes, there are issues to deal with and things can always improve, but always in the context of what we do have As someone said to me in the street the day after the news of the earthquake broke ‘we should NEVER complain about our lot!’

There has been a lot of publicity in how to give which we can continue to do, through groups like Christian Aid and the Disaster Emergency Committee We can, too, continue to pray for the people there (see below) as they try to rebuild their lives Moving towards Easter we think of the story of Jesus whose life was broken and shattered on the cross It tells of God who goes through suffering with us, but who, from the debris, bursts out with new hope on Easter Day

Fraser Penny

Church of Scotland Services

March 5th 11 00am – Communion Service in Little Dunkeld

March 12th 11 00am – Morning Service in Little Dunkeld

Conducted by the Rev Annie Hogg

March 19th 11 00am – Morning Service in Little Dunkeld

2 15pm – Service at Amulree

March 26th 11 00am – Morning Service in Little Dunkeld

April 2nd

Palm Sunday (and therefore the last Sunday in Little Dunkeld until November ) 11 00am – Morning Service in Little Dunkeld

At this service a presentation will be made to Christine McNicoll in recognition of her 10 years as Session Clerk

Every Sunday there is chance to meet together over tea and coffee after the service

A Prayer from Christian Aid

God of time and space, we cry to you for your children – our neighbours –in Southern Turkey and Northern Syria, following the earthquake that has devastated thousands of lives

Only they and you know what it is like to experience such trauma in the middle of the night

We give thanks for the aid that is already given and for the promises of help made by many nations Comfort, we pray, those who have lost loved ones, those who have been injured, those who live with not knowing what happened to people and those who have given selflessly to help Grant the gift of hope so that those caught between life and death know you are with them and that others are ready to support them as they seek a future that overshadows the experiences of today Amen

Holy Week

On the Thursday of Holy Week (13th April) there is a Communion Service in the Cathedral at 7pm to remember the events of the night Jesus was betrayed and handed over to be crucified

The Good Friday service this year will be a united service in St Mary’s Episcopal Church, also at 7pm

Kirk Session

The next meeting of the Kirk Session is on Tuesday March 7th at 7 30pm in the Duchess Anne Fellowship Group – ‘Exploring faith and life together ’ Two groups meet fortnightly, on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings Over this session we are going to using talks on the Old Testament by American Biblical scholar, Amy-Jill Levine who teaches at Vanderbilt University

The meetings over the next few weeks will be: Tuesdays – 7th & 21st March at 7pm in the Chanonry

Wednesdays – 1st , 15th & 29th March at 10 30am in the Chanonry

For this session both groups will be looking at the same subjects and it is possible to move between the two groups All are welcome and it would be good to see the groups grow and perhaps then be able to form more smaller groups in this way More information available from John Ferguson (727585), William Hogg (727053) or Fraser Penny (727249)

The Scottish Bible Society

The Scottish Bible Society exists to provide Bibles for countries all round the world and in their own language To send English print is not so good because, of course, then a translator would be needed I have been collecting stamps, albums, jewellery and musical instruments which can all be sold to provide this service, since about 1982 Who knows how many items this has amounted to, but the need is still great

Many of you do donate these into the little boxes in the Cathedral, in Duchess Anne and Little Dunkeld From there one lady snips the envelope edges (not too near),

two take boxed and bagged items down to the society offices in Edinburgh about twice a year and from there a gentleman from a church in the West collects them to be auctioned or sold to dealers The money goes straight to the Society, to its printing department Thank you all so much for taking part in this long-term scheme Please remember that what we discard is like gold dust to feed the minds and souls of others If you can’t find the boxes, please pass things on to an elder or direct to me

Brenda Simpson - brenda baines@yahoo com

Men's Breakfast

Every second Wednesday a group of men meets in the Chanonry to start the day with a cooked breakfast together, discuss events, both local and international, and enjoy each other's company In March the dates are the 1st , 15th & 28th There is no need to book; just turn up and enjoy and all are welcome If you would like more details please contact Peter Mackie at Petermackie46@gmail com

Youth Group

A group for all P 7s and 1st years meets during term time in the Duchess Anne on Thursday evenings Each night we start at 7pm and finish at 8 30pm More information from Fraser Penny or William Hogg

Messy Events

Messy Music has been a great success over the winter and is having a well deserved break for a couple of weeks in February Details of when it starts again will be sent out in due course

A few Messy Church events are being organised as well On the last Sunday of each month, (starting on February 26th ) we are going to have a ‘Messy Walk’ starting at the Duchess Anne at 2 30, After a walk and some activities outside we will go back to the Duchess Anne to finish off with refreshments and a story All families welcome to come along

New Session Clerk

At the Kirk Session meeting on January 17th Alison Gillies formally took over as Session Clerk after the retirement of Christine McNicoll Christine has given great service over her 10 years in post and the Congregation has collected for a presentation to her That will be presented at the morning service on April 2nd

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 Meeting Place

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

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: Alison Gillies

The Chanonry, Cathedral Street, Dunkeld PH8 0AW Tel: 07736 423198

e-mail: sessionclerk@dunkeldcathedral org

Treasurer: Mrs Louise Luke

The Chanonry, Cathedral Street, Dunkeld Tel: 07773 604372

e-mail: to be confirmed

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 (Anglican) Church, Birnam

For Holy Week and Easter services see page 12

Sunday Service 10 am - Holy Communion with hymns, music and sermon, followed by refreshments

The church is open daily for visitors, and prayers are said at 5 30pm on Fridays and 9 30am on Saturday

The Servite service is now held monthly on the last Saturday of each month at 2pm and is led ecumenically by members of the three churches in Dunkeld and Birnam It is not a communion service

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)

St Columba’s

Roman Catholic Church

Catholic Church Priest:

Fr Emmanuel Adindu MSP

Tel: 01796 472174

e-mail: stbridespitlochry@dunkelddiocese org uk

St Bride’s Catholic Church

Rie-Achan Road, Pitlochry PH16 5AL

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

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, Aberfeldy, Sunday at 9 30

St Bride’s, Pitlochry at 11 30 pm

Holy Days of Obligation: Mass Times

St Columba’s Birnam, at 9 30 am

Our Lady of Mercy, Aberfeldy at 12 30 pm

St Bride’s, Pitlochry at 6 00 pm

Weekday Masses:

Our Lady of Mercy, Aberfeldy, Tuesdays at 9 30 pm

St Bride’s, Pitlochry, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 9 30 am

Lent and Easter

During Lent Stations of the Cross will be observed as follows:

Our Lady of Mercy, Aberfeldy, after the Tuesday Mass St Bride’s, Pitlochry after the Friday Mass

St Columba’s Birnam, before the 6 00 Saturday Vigil Mass

CAP -

Christians Against Poverty

How to preserve your relationship through money worries

Money is commonly identified as one of the main reasons for conflict within relationships, and rising costs are making things even more difficult We spend our money on what we value, but what we value is often different to the person next to us – including our nearest and dearest If you’ve ever experienced financial challenges and have had to change your spending habits or budgeting approach, you will most likely have experienced friction in your relationships

Legal firm Slater & Gordon say that family finances are cited as the main reason for relationships falling apart With the cost of living crisis soaring into its second year, more relationships are at risk of suffering under the pressure of money worries We’re offering some small actions you can take today to help prevent friction and foster healthier and stronger relationships to weather those storms

Learn your differences

What do you do when you want to save but your partner likes to spend? A gentle way to open up a conversation could be through suggesting you take an online money personality quiz These quick quizzes won’t offer expert financial advice, but can help you identify your different attitudes toward money, describe the strengths and challenges of each, and offer tips on how to best manage your money traits

Talk about solutions

Couples often argue over money worries because there’s been a lack of communication over household finances By having regular conversations about where you’re at financially as a couple, you can begin to consider different solutions to the problem Try to focus less on the problem itself and laying the blame, but instead focus on practical solutions to your situation and work together to create an effective budget and maximise your income Seek free, expert help if you’ve fallen into unmanageable debt

Share responsibility

In many relationships, one partner may hold more responsibility or control over the household finances Perhaps one partner earns more money, one person is more financially assertive or one person just loves creating budget spreadsheets! Whilst this isn’t a bad thing, it can create problems if the power over your shared finances leans too far towards one person A balance of power is essential to any healthy relationship For relationships where one partner is always making financial decisions, can you come up with a system where each person has an equal say? Involve your children

Lots of parents and carers will naturally want to protect their children from being exposed to the anxiety and worry that debt and money problems can create, and therefore keep every detail of their financial challenges a secret Whilst we’re not suggesting you place every fact and issue you’re facing on the table, involving your children into some of the decision-making process, like deciding what to spend your budget on, can actually draw you together as a family through working together In fact, parents who’ve involved their children in creating budgets have said it’s been a great way of teaching their children money management skills

Get support

Debt help charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) reports that nearly half (43%) of their clients said they put off getting free debt help because they didn’t think anyone could help It’s important to know that support is available and in the UK, there are several free debt help organisations Have you shared your money worries with your partner? Having someone to talk to or check in with can really put things into perspective CAP offers a number of free help services, like money management, developing life skills, or free expert debt help, along with personal and holistic support Find out what free CAP services are available near you by visiting capscotland org or calling 0800 328 0006 Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a UK charity with over 580 services across the country delivering debt counselling, money management education, job clubs, life skills groups and more Visit capuk org to find out more

Three Churches in the Community

3 Churches Charity Shop 10th Anniversary

To our Donors…..

A Huge Thank you for your quality donations and for trusting us to get the best price for your items, whether in the shop, through auction or obtaining advice and valuations, and best prices for gold or silver

To our Customers

Thank you for your kind words:

(‘We love your shop’ ‘We just love your shop’ ‘We really love your shop’)

You always compliment our changes of displays too and you tell us that we are unique because we pay no salaries and you like that our gifts to the churches are of equal amounts

To our Volunteers…What a team!!!

The shop would not be here without you!

What we do!

We sell antiques, books, bric-a-brac, china, crystal, porcelain, jewellery, objets d’art, cameras, binoculars, pottery, paintings, prints, wool, craft items, kitchen utensils and cookery items, clothes formal and daywear, hats, sports items, shoes, handbags new and vintage, roller blinds, cushions, curtains, blankets and much more

Some stories!

2 men aged about 25 came into the shop They explained that they would be attending a wedding that

Who’s who in the Parish Church?

Following on from the article about Alison Gillies last month, this time Louise Luke has been asked to say a bit about herself

Louise recently took over from John Gray as treasurer of the Church of Scotland congregation

Where did you grow up?

I was born and grew up in Edinburgh

Where have you lived?

Apart from Edinburgh, I spent 2 years in Columbus, Ohio then moved to London where I met my husband We lived in SE London, then moved to Great Chesterford, about 15 miles south of Cambridge, where we lived for over 20 years We moved to Perthshire in 2021

What is your favourite film/book?

I enjoy biographies and history I’ve chosen “Taken on Trust” by Terry Waite; the inner strength of Terry (& the other hostages, John McCarthy and Brain Keenan) always challenges me

What is your favourite piece of music?

I find the human voice, particularly choral music, infinitely expressive, and a form of music of which I never tire Whilst it is hard to narrow down to a single choice, I would choose a choral piece by the modern composer, Morten Laurisden, probably “Les Chanson des Roses” Like most of his music, it is refreshingly beautiful with its wonderful chordal structures that hint of more ancient musical forms

What is your favourite place?

Where I live now! Although Bamburgh in Northumberland holds a special place in my heart too How long have you been involved in the church –here and elsewhere?

I’ve been involved with the church from my teens, in the congregational church, Church of Scotland, and

afternoon in the Cathedral One had formal wedding attire but the other had none Can you help’? he said ‘Just wait a minute’, I said

I remembered a new Jaeger suit upstairs had just come in – about 40 reg He tried it on Perfect! A pair of black Loake shoes size 9 Perfect! A new white winged collar shirt and bow tie Perfect! Whilst not a complete ‘black tie’ outfit, he went away very happy for £50

The shop had about 10 people browsing that morning

A workman was attending to something near the electricity cupboard He popped out to his van, leaving his large torch near the cupboard When he returned his torch had gone and it was later realised that it had been sold

A woman from Montana, USA bought an inexpensive small dish of a strange shape and design She was ecstatic It was in the shape of the map of Montana and of early 20th century

A man came into the shop, bought 2 pairs of trousers for golf in the same make and design he usually wore He went home to show his wife what a good deal he had made, only to be told that those were his trousers that she had donated to the shop earlier that day

Whilst putting a very nice ladies jacket on a mannequin, 2 rings were discovered in the still sewn

United Reformed Church before we returned to Scotland joining Dunkeld almost 2 years ago I’ve enjoyed singing in choirs and being involved with youth work, and as treasurer and elder

What changes have you seen in that time?

I can't avoid recognising that there have been some negative changes in the Church since I first joined as a teenager Congregations in the established churches have aged, and without the renewal of younger members, there are large gaps in age groups

The message of the Church is very similar to what I experienced growing up Perhaps this is where some of the challenges lie; is the established Church relevant to the modern person? On the positive, we have increasing equality of men and women in the Church; not perfect and with much work left to do The inequality of sexuality remains at odds with my personal belief of God's love for everyone

What are your hopes for the future of the Kirk?

My hopes for the Church are to see it continue to grow its footprint within our community Church should not be seen as limited by the walls of a building or only to activities on a Sunday, instead it should be an active and living part of our community, that we can all experience in some form, and makes a positive impact on all our lives

Lent, Holy Week, and Easter services at St Mary’s

As there will not be an Ash Wednesday service this year, the imposition of Ashes will happen on the following Sunday 26th February during the communion distribution 22nd February Lent begins

This year those who chose to do so can join in reading the gospel of John in 90 days I know that is longer than lent! But add in the Easter season and it makes 90 days You will find a reading plan in the entrance hall I thoroughly recommend it, and if anyone would enjoy discussing what they read we can get together over a coffee at the rectory; contact me

pocket We advertised in the Bridge but no reply so we registered them with the Police After 6 months they were unclaimed, we tried again locally to find an owner but to no avail, so we had them valued and sold them in the shop

A lady came back from holiday and brought several items of clothing and a handbag into the shop Just as we were putting the items ready for sorting later, £250 fell from the handbag Our volunteer ran from the shop just in time to catch the lady getting into her car and was able to return the money to her

On several occasions ladies will check out our shoes as they proceed toward the Cathedral to a wedding, only to see a pair that they fancied far more than those they were wearing, purchase them and leave the others behind as a donation

American visitors sometimes underestimate our temperatures, especially in the autumn, and they buy whatever they can to keep warm Women will buy men’s coats and men will buy women’s coats and finally

A man was on holiday with his wife, looking for size 36" waist trousers He found a really lovely tweed 3 piece suit which the label said Waist 32" Plus Fours He was delighted but he didn't buy them as his wife corrected him after much laughter

2nd of April

Holy Week begins with the Palm Sunday Service 10am

4th April 2pm

Concert for all: pergolesi stabat mater - The Stabat Mater is one of Pergolesi's most celebrated sacred works please come along to enjoy it

Contact Organist Mr John Walker (01350 727755) for further information

6th April

We hope to have a Maundy Thursday Passover supper (nothing grand) with foot washing for those brave enough to offer a foot to wash!!!!! 6pm for a 6:30pm meal There will be a sign up for supper list passed around during Sunday coffee times

Or contact Lesley-ann 07903020509 if you wish to join us

7th April Good Friday

12 noon walk of witness Last year I carried the cross alone around Birnam and Dunkled, it would be a delight if anyone would like to join me this year for all or part of the walk

7pm there will be an joint reflective service at St Marys

8th April Holy Saturday

The day to hand out sweets and invitations to the Easter service Last year those of us who went out into the streets had such a lovely morning

Please consider joining me 10:30am – 11:30am

9th April EASTER DAY = HALLELUJA!!!!!

The usual service time of 10am, bring your best bonnet J and celebrate the good news with us all

Elaine Bur ns Podiatr y HCPC Registered CHIROPODY

Fully vaccinated & full PPE compliant.

For home visits, contact me on: 07986 092581 01796 474291

Churches Charity Shop

High Street Dunkeld

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10-4

Donations welcome during opening hours Find us on Facebook at 3 Churches Charity Shop

The Kiln Creative

Locally made pottery and pottery classes

Upcoming workshops at Birnam Arts:

Thursday morning 6 week block 10:30am-1pm Weekend workshopApril 1st and 2nd

Spring pottery taster class22nd April

For more information and bookings: www.thekilncreativepottery.co.uk

@dunbraantaylaundry

Opening times: Tuesday - Friday 9am to 1pm Perth Road, Birnam PH8 0BH (behind the post office)

A World Community 15

Next Repair Cafe is Monday 6th March, 3 00pm to 6 00pm in the Art Studio Birnam Arts

Last month we got 9 secateurs, 4 pairs of shears and 2 flower snips back in working order Are yours ready for Srring? If not bring them along, along with anything else we can help with

Are there any other people out there who would like to help mend things? Do come along and see what we do

Contact dbrepaircafe@gmail com for any more details

Climate Café

It was a buzzing Climate Café to chat nature and paths in February, and we’re looking forward to another gathering about local growing in March and whatever other topics emerge!

All expertise on gardening and local growing welcome, to share insights and skills for those who are less confident or keen to get involved in community growing projects, that can perhaps add to a local harvest to share on Foodshare later in the year!

Looking ahead, there will be a fashion theme for the Climate Café in April and a chat about what a circular economy looks like locally in May Do get in touch or just come along if you are interested and would like to hear more or contribute - all welcome!

Email info@climate cafe or call Jess on 07980 852562

March at Loch of the Lowes

March is a very important month at Loch of the Lowes It marks the start of summer season, full-time opening for the Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve From March 1st 10 30am – 5pm, we are looking forward to welcoming you every day of the week Unfortunately, issues with vandalism, especially in the hides, necessitated the installation of CCTV and closure of the car park We really want to return to allowing access outside of Visitor Centre opening times and will be trialling 24/7 access (car park and Double Decker Hide) and hope visitors will respect the nature reserve

The Equinox on March 20th signals the start of Spring and increasing hours of daylight required for the growing, breeding season ahead It’s the month when our summer-visiting birds will start to appear, and our winter-visiting birds will fly off to the breeding grounds most suitable for their species

onto the nest on 13th March last year, but that was the earliest date ever recorded for our osprey to return Our female (NC0) came 10 days later (23rd March) With migrations of potentially over 3,000 miles and the weather playing a significant factor in their flight, it is always a guessing game: we just hope they arrive safely!

While enjoying the signs of Spring bird song and snowdrops, please keep your eyes open for any dead birds Avian flu is still around, mainly affecting seabirds, but also geese, peregrines and gulls Sadly, avian flu has now been found amongst other wildlife, like otters Please do not touch the dead birds and if there are 3 or more, contact the DEFRA helpline 03459 33 55 77

We are thrilled to join Birnam Arts to present a fascinating talk of local interest at Birnam Arts, Birnam On Wednesday March 8th 7 00pm A Talk from Tom Bowser: Red Kites, Beavers and Rewilding By determination and a passion for wildlife, nature writer and journalist Tom Bowser is successfully rewilding his family farm in Stirlingshire Hear how a working livestock farm can be a haven for native wildlife including recently introduced beavers

Tickets and more information from Birnam Arts (Whats on at Birnam Arts Dunkeld by Pitlochry Scotland)

Growing forward in 2023

Although it may appear quiet at the field, we are still working on Thursday and Saturday mornings getting ready for the spring Weather permitting we are still harvesting some crops and will have them ready on a Thursday and Saturday morning at the field stall at the gate to the field We have leeks, onions, carrots (sometimes), and parsnips

It is the start of our new membership year and we have sent out an information leaflet and membership form As agreed at the AGM the membership fees for 2023 have remained the same as previous years If you have not joined in the past and would like to, please contact Dave Amos and he will send you an application form If you want to come along and help we would love to see you We have regular working parties in the field on Thursday and Saturday mornings with the added bonus of the reinstated tea and coffee breaks This is when we can discuss what we have being doing and what needs to be done We also have three polytunnels where there is always work to be done in the relative warmth, so do come along, everyone has a skill we can make use of!

Dave Amos 01350 727763

Dave Roberts 01350 728926

E-mail: dblandtrust@btinternet com

Facebook: https://www facebook com/pages/-TheField-Dunkeld-Birnam Website: www dunkeldfield co uk

Spring Into Support from GrowBiz

It’s time to look ahead to the brighter and milder days of spring, and to make sure we have definable goals and intentions for the new season Here’s a few ways GrowBiz can help:

One-to-one advice: The GrowBiz team all run their own businesses, so understand the highs and lows of being self-employed They are able to provide support to help you with challenges, as well as the reassurance that comes from having an experienced person by your side Downloadable resources: GrowBiz is here to support you to achieve your goals We have free resources available to help you create a business plan, marketing plan, cash-flow template and more, and we can talk you through how to use them

your skills and resilience, and make meaningful connections in a flexible and open environment, the GrowBiz mentoring programme is for you

Specialised support: In addition to our core range of support, designed for small rural enterprises in all sectors, we have other services that offer more specialised support in Perth and Kinross:

Creatives can apply to be part of Perthshire Artisans, care and wellbeing practitioners can become members of the Care and Wellbeing Collective, young entrepreneurs between 18-25 can benefit form the SEED programme, social enterprises can join the Perth and Kinross Social Enterprise Support Group, and micro businesses can get listed on the REDS online directory for free

Learn more about support available from GrowBiz at www growbiz co uk

Volunteers at Dunkeld and Birnam Community Orchard

their nest at Loch of the Lowes When will they arrive? Our male (LM12) flew

Regular updates: The GrowBiz newsletter, website and social media pages are regularly updated with the latest events and opportunities for rural enterprise, as well as inspiring client stories Most recently, we added a cost of living support page to our website Mentoring: If you would like to gain confidence, develop

People often pass by and say they’d like to help at the orchard, but human nature being what it is, we hear no more from them

So how can we help you to get more involved?

At our recent Annual Planning Meeting held in the Perth Arms, current members had some ideas

Coordinator Katharine Melville highlighted the importance of legacy at the orchard, as many of the original volunteers are well into their seventies

Last year we had the idea of inviting people to “Adopt a row”

This has worked in part for this year’s pruning, although we would still welcome more able bodied enthusiasts to take over a row for next year And following Katharine’s cry from the heart, there has been some really positive action, particularly from the younger cohort

Another idea suggested at the meeting that there are easier jobs in which people could involve themselves How about a walk through the orchard to be our “eyes and ears”?

You could do a two minute litter pick, or let us know if something serious needs attending to, such as the recent serious rabbit damage which ringed at least four trees

Many of our volunteers live outside the village, so this kind of on-the-spot observation is useful

It was also suggested that a group might like to take over the care of the soft fruit cage, which at this time of year needs quite a lot of attention at a time when the apple pruning becomes paramount

Early in the year there is general tidying to be done, labels to be checked and renewed, and sycamore saplings to lop

Moreover, last year we were seriously short of harvesters, and we are fairly sure that many people would enjoy this in September and October

We are helping ourselves by creating a month-bymonth calendar of activities

We have also created an “official” Saturday morning workday from 10:00 - 12:00 in addition to our normal Friday afternoon 14:00 - 16:00

Do come along and talk to us, or contact us via dunkeldbirnamorchard@gmail com, or phone Katharine on 07803 605612

It’s a great place Come and join us!

Photo: Mark Westgarth Photography

Traditionally, March is the month we see the return of ospreys to Scotland and to

Scottish Landscaping

Friendly reliable service guaranteed

Grass Cutting, Hedge Cutting, Strimming, Gravel laid, Fencing, Turfing, Slabbing, Tree Work and all General Maintenance

Free Quotes Given

Kilr y: 01575 560411

Blairgowrie: 01 250 798403

Mobile: 07834 258491

Notes from a Councillor 17

Is it just me or does anyone else think that the days are getting shorter and the weeks fly by much quicker? Perhaps it is due to Covid, Brexit, and the shrinking space time continuum or maybe I’m just getting older!

This time of year is always busy at the Council offices as the budget is being set for the forthcoming financial year As usual, silk purses are hastily being constructed from pigs ears as we struggle to afford the ever increasing demands on our finances The process has already started to hit home as the tough decision was taken at the recent Full Council Meeting to close Perth harbour As the closure process takes time, our harbour board and the officers are marketing the facility on a long lease basis I wasn’t in favour of this decision but I respect the democratic decision taken

The A9 continues to be one of the most dangerous roads in Scotland It was very disappointing to hear this week that the Scottish Government transport secretary has delayed the dualling of the A9 indefinitely It is imperative that this incredibly important arterial road is duelled and brought up to a safe standard if we are to reduce the number of road traffic accidents and deaths that we are experiencing I’m sure that I am not a lone voice when I say how difficult it is to try to gain access to the A9 from the little Dunkeld junction Hopefully, public pressure and lobbying will bring about a change of mind

By the time that you read this, the new Multiple Use Games Area (MUGA) will be officially opened at the Dunkeld and Birnam recreation ground This has been a long time in its planning and creation and I ‘m sure that it will be an asset for the community I wish it every success and I would encourage everyone to go along and support it

As usual, I don’t run dedicated surgeries but I am happy to react, help and advise at any time

My email remains ijames@pkc gov uk and my phone number is 07557815546

News from our Community Council

Dunkeld & Birnam Community Council

Community Council Matters

Lachlan MacEwan

Dunkeld & Birnam Community Council

If you would like to contact the Community Council you can do so by emailing: dbcc correspondence@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

LADY DRIVER TAXI

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 March 10th April 9th May

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

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

Mon-Fri 8 00am to 5 00pm Sat 10 00am to 11 00am

We have not had any public meeting however with the small team we have had a very productive few weeks even with some of us on the other side of the world and the very difficult time family creates we have been able to help a number of people and situations I thank you for all your support and work you know who you are If any one out there has the community at heart and would like to join the community council team we would welcome you with open arms

We will be having our next meeting on 14th March 2023 by zoom if you would like to join us we will send you the link I would like to thank the bridge for the opportunity to have a column

Regards, Lachlan

Plants for the Garden Rhododendrons, Shrubs, Trees - Herbaceous & Alpines Seasonal Bedding Plants & Vegetable Plants National Garden Gift Vouchers Sold & Exchanged Tel: 01887 820472

Gatehouse Nursery is situated 2 miles South of Aberfeldy on the Crieff Road (A826)

Best regards, Ian James

March ‘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

Phone 01350+

Organsiations - General

Dunkeld & Birnam in Bloom 01350 727288 Linda Speirs

Dunkeld and Birnam Men’s Shed 07777696953 Mr Jackie MacLean

Email: dbmensshed@outlook com

Guide Dogs for the Blind 727346 / 727657

Friends of the Cathedral 01350 728697 John Gray

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) 07474 183042 Margaret Scott

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 723297 Adrian Blundell

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 07751593421 Anne Graham

Alcoholics Anonymous 0141 226 2214

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

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

Swimming and Alexander technique 07778778007 Jan Osband

Woman's Football Team ellenmacfarlane@hotmail co uk Meet 6 30pm-8 30pm every Thursday at the MUGA

Music & Arts

Cathedral Tower Bell Ringers 724218 Iona O’Connor

Film Society 727740

Handbell Ringers 01828 628109 Margaret Davidson

Birnam Arts 727674

Just Singin’ 7 30 Weds BI 07765 405203 Katie Dalgliesh www justsingin co uk 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

Birnam Arts Ballet Mon-Thu age4up 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 07595 651446 Ivan Russell

Working Hours: Mon,Tues,Thurs,Fri: 09:00 – 13:30

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 Arts 727674

Dalguise Village Hall 07746 392268

Amulree Village Hall www amulreehall org uk

Caputh Hall caputhhall@gmail com 01738 710 848

Local Organisations - Continued

Health Community & Services

Infinityblu Dental Care, Pitlochry 01796 470001

Infinityblu Dental Care, Dunkeld 01350 729198

Dentist 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

March

Until 20th March Exhibition in the Gallery Jennifer MacLean 55 years of Watercolour and Weaving

2 Climate Café ‘Food 7-9pm Coworking Space Meeting Room

6 Repair Café : Garden tools, maintenance & sharpening, Birnam Arts studio

7 The Heat Project, Free Energy Advice 5-7pm Community Co-Working Space

7 Church of Scotland Meeting of the Session 7:30pm Duchess Anne

8 Talk from Tom Bowser: Red Kites, Beavers and Rewilding Birnam Arts 7pm

8 Gardening and Growing Club talk from Perth Seed Library 7:30pm 17-19 Niel Gow Festival 2023 https://www niel-gow co uk/ https://www facebook com/nielgowfestival/

10 Gathering for local businesses: Unplugged 7-9 pm, Community Co-Working Space

10 Lizabett Russo and Graeme Stephen 7 30pm £12 + booking fee

13 Birnam Arts AGM 7PM All Welcome

13 SWT talk on Ospreys with Sara Rasmussen (Raz), SWT ranger at the Loch of the Lowes 19 30, at the Pitlochry Church of Scotland Tryst

14 AGM Dunkeld Cathedral Art Exhibition

17-19 Niel Gow Festival see https:// www facebook com/nielgowfestival / www birnamarts com

18-20 Niel Gow Festival at the Archives too!

17 Dance in Amulree Hall with Callum Wallace 8-12, Music, licensed bar, raffle £8 / £5 students

20 Historical Society Little Houses of Dunkeld, Bryan Dickson, Head of Buildings Conservation Policy, National Trust for Scotland

31 Touching the Void’s Simon Yates – My Mountain Life 7 30pm

31 Playwrights Studio Scotland 10am – 5pm

April

2-9 Holy Week and Easter Services see Church pages 10-12

29th & 30th June - Craft Fair, Drill Hall, Dunkeld

17 Just Singin’! 20th Anniversary Concert in the BA

July

29th - 31st August Dunkeld Cathedral Art Exhibition – open daily Dunkeldart@aol com

29th - 30th Dunkeld Living History Weekend, Archives

For dates further ahead see: www dunkeldandbirnamnews co uk

PETS Lost and Found

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

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

GARDENER

Call: Mon-Fri 8am-8pm Text: 7 days 8am-8pm FREE ESTIMATES

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.

Gillian Vaughan

Painter Decorator

Interior / Exterior Feature walls Tel: 07841 116458 Email: thegirlcalledwill@gmail.com www.facebook.com/GillianWVaughan

PAINTING & DECORATING

Glack Dog Kennels

Heated Kennels Day & Long Term Stays

Elizabeth & Keith Lumsden 01350 728849

E-mail: bizzabooks@gmail.com

Perthshire Pet Cremation u Local individual cremation services for your beloved pets

07522 174883

www perthshirepetcremation co uk

07818 254520

email: sandytcarr@yahoo.co.uk

Telephone & Fax: 01796 472494 Mobile: 07800 577259

Struan, Coulterenny, Cairneyhill, Bankfoot, Perth PH1 4AQ

Email: admin@potterplumbing.co.uk

ATHOLL STREET 01350 727556

Proprietor: Alasdair Wylie G & A Paddocks

Dunkeld Horse Grazing & DIY Livery

Call or Email Karen: 07759 701413

gapdunkeld@gmail com

Contact: 01350 727320 Kevin: 07876 744936 www dunkeldbuilders co uk