The Atholl & Breadalbane Quair by Alistair Barr

ADVENTURES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY AT HIGHLAND SAFARIS

Explore the stunning Perthshire countryside with exhilarating Land Rover Safaris, picturesque boat trips on Loch Tay, a visit to our renowned Red Deer Centre, and engage in friendly competitions with archery or axe throwing. There’s so much more to discover!

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The Perth and District Guide Dogs Fundraising Group

The Perth and District Guide Dogs Fundraising Group is holding a Charity Golf Day at Murrayshall Golf Club, Scone on Saturday, 5 July.

Guide Dogs is a well-known national charity which provides an extraordinary service to thousands of blind and partially sighted people in the UK.

The charity receives no funding from government for its core business. All of its costs are funded by charitable donations and the fundraising activities of volunteer groups such as Perth and District. The owner of a guide dog is provided with the dog and Guide Dogs pays for everything. It takes care of the dog’s food, vet bills and all necessary expenses for its entire working life. A dog may be partnered with its owner for up to 9 years and the total cost of this is approximately £56,000. Fundraising is therefore crucial to pay for our life-changing guide dogs. The Golf Day at Murrayshall will consist of eighteen teams of four playing Texas Scramble format with a shotgun start at 9 am. There will be prizes for the winning team and runners up as well as longest drive and nearest the pin. In addition there will also be a raffle and silent auction as well as an opportunity to meet some guide dogs.

The entry fee per team is £400 which includes bacon roll and tea/coffee available on arrival from 8 am, and a 2 course buffet lunch.

It is also possible for individuals or companies to offer hole sponsorship.

Deirdre McVean, Fundraising coordinator for the Perth and District Group said, ‘This event is already proving to be very popular.’ Please contact deirdre.mcvean@btinternet. com for a team application form or for any further information.

Mid Atholl & Strathtay SWI

The April meeting which will be our AGM to be held in Mid Atholl Hall on Wednesday, 16 April at 1.30 pm. Competitions: Easter themed Victoria Sponge and a Decorated Easter Egg.

The Atholl & Breadalbane Quair

e: atholl@thequair.com w: www.thequair.scot tel/text: 07436 793785 Aberfeldy, Perthshire, PH15 2ZX

Welcome to the April 2025 edition of The Quair! As we step into a new month, we bring you the latest news and key dates to note in your calendar. With plenty of events taking place, planning ahead ensures you won’t miss out as the weeks fly by. While organisers strive to keep everything running smoothly, unexpected changes can happen. To avoid any last-minute surprises, we recommend checking event details in advance. Did April Fool’s Day catch you off guard this year? We heard a rather amusing tale - apparently, a Perthshire locksmith was granted key worker status, unlocking some interesting possibilities for other trades!

On a more serious note, schools will break for the Spring Holiday on Friday, 4 April, with students returning on Wednesday, 23 April.

This year, Easter, which follows the lunar cycle and the spring equinox, falls on the following dates: Friday, 18 April (Good Friday) Saturday, 19 April (Easter Saturday) Sunday, 20 April (Easter Sunday).

Easter Sunday is always the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon, which determines the date each year. (Paschal refers to Easter or Passover.)

Finally, for students preparing for exams, the SQA exam period begins on Friday, 25 April. To stay informed, check the latest timetable on the SQA website. We wish all students the best of luck in their exams - stay focused, study well, and do your best!

Alistair and Linda

The Atholl & Breadalbane Quair is an open-access monthly magazine and is delivered at the beginning of each month, to every one of the 7,350 residential and business addresses in Highland Perthshire - PH8, PH9, PH15, PH16, PH17 and PH18 postcode areas.

Copies for visitors are also made available each month from our dispensers in Pitlochry, Killin, Aberfeldy and Kenmore. The extra print run is dependent on the normal fluctuating seasonal demand from visitors and tourists and, of course, local and regional lockdowns due to worldwide pandemics! As well as being a Community Magazine, The Quair is an excellent source of information for our visitors.

We also produce The Crieff and Comrie Quair. Each month, between the two magazines, we print an average of 15,000 and deliver more than 13,500 copies directly to homes and businesses throughout Highland Perthshire and Strathearn.

Local voluntary groups and organisations may submit articles, free of charge. All contributions are carried subject to space being available. We ask that any article reaches us by email by the specified copy date, is factual, non-political, under 400 words, and not likely to offend.

The copy date for the May 2025 edition is noon on Wednesday, 9 April. The magazines are due to be distributed the week commencing Monday, 28 April. www.lovelocal.scot

Heart of Scotland Herb Society - 25 Years of Herbs : Health : Happiness Members Night - Celebrating Herbs will take place at the Bowling Club Aberfeldy at 7 pm Wednesday, 16 April. Further information contact Cath McGregor 01887 830234 or Susan Craik Tel: 07501 095602.

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Wellness Walks Highland Perthshire: Volunteers Needed! Wellness Walks are expanding through Highland Perthshire, and we need four enthusiastic volunteers to lead the way! This exciting initiative promotes physical and mental wellbeing through community walks in our beautiful local landscapes. Volunteers will receive nationally recognised qualifications, mentoring and ongoing support so that they can deliver Wellness Walks that are totally free for anyone feeling low. If you think you’d like to get involved and support your community then email happy@wellnesswalks.org.uk for more information. Find out more at: wellnesswalks.org.uk. Walk and Talk - Every Tuesday at 10 am Aberfeldy. Join us for a relaxed pace walk around the Aberfeldy area. Find out or book here: www.wellnesswalks.org.uk/region/scotland or email beth@wellnesswalks.org.uk

Listen very carefully - we shall say this only once…‘Allo ‘Allo is coming to Highland Perthshire! Based on the hugely successful and award-winning television series, this uproarious comedy, presented by Birnam Institute Players (BIPs), embraces the adventures of the hapless cafe owner, and features all of your favourite TV characters, including René’s tone-deaf wife Edith, Michelle of the Resistance, Gestapo officer, Herr Flick, his delectable secretary, Helga, Officer Crabtree, LeClerc, Gruber, and, not forgetting, René’s waitresses, Yvette and Mimi!

It also - of course - features the stolen painting of the Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies by Van Klomp, and a number of large sausages, which may or may not be stuffed down trousers. We couldn’t possibly say! René Artois, a reluctant member of the French Resistance, owns a small café in France during World War II. While his café is used as a safe house for British airmen, he tries to keep on the right side of the German Occupying forces, and the Gestapo, flirts with his waitresses, and keeps his, erstwhile oblivious, wife, happy! Communication with London through a wireless, disguised as a cockatoo, and news that the Fuhrer is scheduled to visit the town, means even more comic (if rather stressful) capers are in store for poor, beleaguered René and his café crew.

Please be aware. Allo Allo is not what we would now deem to be politically correct. The TV series is over 40 years old, set in wartime 80+ years ago. Following faithfully in the footsteps of Carry On, it has a great deal of sexual innuendo, as well as farcical and satirical caricatures and stereotypes of, well, pretty much everyone really!

From the hugely successful TV series. Silly. Saucy! Full of fun! With all your favourite characters... Thurs 17, Fri 18, Sat 19 April, 7pm & Sat 19 April, 2pm Tickets from Birnam Arts 01350 727674 - www.birnamarts.com

Pitlochry Litter Action Group (part of Pitlochry in Bloom)

It would be nice for residents and visitors if the town is really clean with no litter disfiguring the streets and green spaces. If you agree that this is important do join our team of litterpickers. All equipment is provided including gloves, black bags and grabbers. We do try to separate recyclable waste from the other litter. Litterpicks take place on the second Tuesday of the month and we meet at 10 am in the Recreation ground carpark.

Dates for litterpicks in 2025 are as follows - April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 14, November 11, December 9.

We would like to thank those residents of Pitlochry who are not members of the litterpicking group and who also pick up litter when they see it. We know you do this and we are very grateful.

For further information contact Roger West (rogerwest7@btinternet.com) 01796 474255 or Catherine Holmes (c.p.holmes47@ btinternet.com) 01796 473400.

Brothers

General language tuition at Primary level offered - to boost confidence and help fill any gaps.

Delivered by Linda Barr – Deputy Managing Editor at The Quair Magazines, and Primary Teacher with experience to teach and plan for the individual needs of your child. For more information email: mrsbarr@thequair.scot

Pitlochry Community Action Trust

Spring is the air and the Easter break is nearly upon us.

And with the warmer weather in mind, we’ve been working on a number of projects that look to make a positive difference to our community.

Work to improve the bus stop area is ongoing and has made a huge difference to the space there.

We were pleased to welcome Richard Pearson from Etape to our last Trustees’ meeting and are keen to support the event team’s efforts to be more involved in the community. We’re also working with the Heartland Festival on volunteer recruitment and support. After the opening hours of the public toilets in the town was raised by local businesses as an area of concern, we investigated the viability of bringing the facilities into community ownership. Discussions with local businesses and local elected members, as well as with bus tour operators and other community-run facilities in the region, have demonstrated that at this point in time, keeping the toilets under PKC’s operation is the preferred option of the community. However, this decision can be revisited at any time should circumstances change.

Following our AGM earlier in the year, our new office-bearers have been elected. We’re delighted to announce that our new chair is Judith Dingwall, with Stew Hall taking on the role of vice-chair. Fran Norris and Leslie Gill were both re-elected as secretary and treasurer respectively.

PCAT is a charitable development trust dedicated to working with the community of Pitlochry and Moulin. Everything we do is informed by the aspirations set out in the community action plan for the area. Find out more about PCAT - including how to become a member and support the work of the Trust - on our website www. pitlochryaction.org.uk or by following ‘Pitlochry Community Action Trust - PCAT’ on Facebook.

Aberfeldy Drama Club - Aberfeldy Drama Club achieved tremendous success in the recent One Act Play Competition taking home six trophies. The Aberfeldy Club entered three plays in the SCDA district round which was held in Blairgowrie Town Hall over three nights.

Our Youth group play, The Crossing by David Roy was awarded the District Cup for the second placed youth play. Undercurrents by Ann Ruddy was placed third in the Open Competition and received the Allan Proctor Trophy. Also The Stirling Stone for the best moment of theatre and The Roy Caterer Quaich for the best stage presentation.

First placed in the Festival was Aberfeldy with Tending by El Blackwood. This team received the Hunter Trophy for best in festival and the Gilbert Price Trophy for the highest production mark. This production now goes forward to the Northern Division Final in Birnam at the end of March. An opportunity will be given locally to see all three plays in Aberfeldy Town Hall on Thursday, 22 and Friday, 23 May. Photo shows the 3 Aberfeldy directors (left to right) David Roy, Anna Price, Ann Ruddy.

Heartland Film Society

This month’s film is on Sunday, 20 April at 6.30 pm at The Birks Cinema Aberfeldy. Samsara - Spanish director Lois Patiño’s remarkable immersive voyage. Samsara (the title refers to the Buddhist cycle of deaths and rebirths): part film, part guided meditation, it’s unlike anything else you can experience in the cinema.

Neighbourhood Watch, Pitlochry

This month we have a couple of instances of attempted fraud to be aware of. In the first, people have received cold calls that appear to be AI-generated and ask about the insulation in their property. The ‘caller’ asks to make an appointment for an inspector to visit the property and check if the insulation is sufficient, saying that the inspection will be funded by the government. It is likely that the aim is to generate leads for companies who may go on to visit properties and provide misleading information about the existing insulation. To avoid being caught, don’t provide any information to a cold caller and avoid arranging to make an appointment for a salesperson to visit your home.

Callers who offer a ‘free’ loft inspection may try to sell you energy saving or home improvement measures that you don’t actually need and which won’t provide any benefit. Another scam prevalent at this time of year involves online holiday bookings. One website listed several holiday properties across Arran and Ayrshire; however, some of them had not given their permission to be featured on the site, meaning that any bookings made would not be honoured.

Other websites have also recently been found to have used images taken from the brochure of a legitimate holiday park in Yorkshire. Customers who booked short breaks after seeing social media adverts linked to the website turned up at the address listed, only to find that the holiday park did not exist and that no accommodation was available to them.

Scammers may also post fake accommodation listings to sites such as Airbnb and often ask for payment via bank transfer or outside the site’s payment system. Be wary if a listing asks you to contact the host outside the website’s mail system. And don’t click on links in unsolicited emails or social media adverts.

HIGHLAND PERTHSHIRE HOLIDAY HOMES

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HIGHLAND PERTHSHIRE HOLIDAY HOMES

A handpicked portfolio of beautiful 4 and 5 star self‐catering properties in and around the Aberfeldy and Kenmore areas www.highlandperthshire‐holidayhomes.com

Self‐Catering Luxury Holiday Homes Located in the Perthshire Highlands icked portfolio of beautiful 4 and 5 star self‐catering properties in and around the Aberfeldy and Kenmore areas. www.highlandperthshire‐holidayhomes.com

Penfold Property & Lifestyle Management

 Full management service for owners

 Optional advice and/or set‐up service to achieve maximum potential

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 Aberfeldy based, established 11 years

 Full services include: marketing, booking administration, guest liaison, changeovers and day to day caretaking.

 Aberfeldy based, established 11 years

 Full

include:

 Full services include: marketing, booking administration, guest liaison, changeovers and day to day caretaking.

booking administration, guest liaison, changeovers and day to day caretaking.

 We assist second home owners in the area, from pre‐purchase advice to ongoing property management.

Penfold Property & Lifestyle Management

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 We assist second home owners in the area, from pre‐purchase advice to ongoing property management.

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 Services include: caretaking visits, on‐site management of emergencies and key‐holder services



 Our service can be tailored to

 Our service can be tailored to suit your needs and to ensure your insurance requirements are met.

 Our service can be tailored to suit your needs and to ensure your insurance requirements are met. If you would like to find out more about our services or how we may be able to help you, please call Angela Penfold on 07887 926347 or by email at angela@penfoldproperty.com

If you would like to find out more about our services or how we may be able to help you,

If you would like to find out more about our services or how we may be able to help you, please call Angela Penfold on 07887 926347 or by email at angela@penfoldproperty.com

Humanos Aid International - Our charity has a complete range of stationery, supplied by Sklep Papierniczy based in Poland. With over 60 items, including super glue, bubble wrap, all types of envelopes, printing paper and more, the range will be extended, once new supplies arrive. The post office in Ballinluig sells the full range of stationery and other items for our charity. The post office in Ballinluig has the following opening hours; Monday/ Thursday/ Friday 9 am - 12 pm & 1 pm - 5.30 pm closed for lunch 12 pm -1 pm. Humanos Aid International Registered Scottish charity SC042807

The Aberfeldy Highland Ball Committee - The Aberfeldy Highland Ball Committee is delighted that the money raised at the 2024 Aberfeldy Highland Ball will go towards helping young people in our community and wish to thank all who attended and all who donated prizes for the raffle, and all those who generously donated directly. Your support and generosity is very much appreciated and will literally transform young people’s lives.

Together we raised £5,028.41 which is a record amount for any charity over the Ball’s history. This money will specifically go towards providing accommodation and additional support to young people aged 16-25 who are at risk of or are already homeless.

Young people accessing YMCA accommodation in Perth, will receive a person-centred support package that will give them the opportunity to gain qualifications, learn life skills and prepare them for employment or further education. The young people will also benefit from 1 to 1 support from a dedicated youth worker who will journey with them as they engage with the YMCA or other appropriate provision. This support will help ensure that the young people we work with will be ready to move on to their own tenancy and sustain employment.

YMCA Tayside exists to support young people to build a positive future through their engagement of opportunities that develop the Mind, Body and Spirit. Our support is open to all young people aged 8-25 and nurtures their wellbeing by building positive, trustful relationships with the purpose of having ‘somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to’.

Our Youth Work services have a particular focus on young people who face multiple and complex barriers to economic, social and education inclusion, including young people who identify as LGBT+, and those with additional support needs. In 2024 we meaningfully engaged with over 650 young people.

The Charity for the 2025 Aberfeldy Highland Ball is the Scottish Air Ambulance Service and the date is Saturday, 6 December.

Aberfeldy Quilters - Our group is more than just a quilting group, we are a family, and to this extent we regret to say that one of our very talented quilters Isabel Sunderland has recently passed away. Isabel was an amazing quilter who was generous in sharing her skills and knowledge with the group, she was also keen to join in anything and even took part in the photo shoot for the Aberfeldy calendar, to raise money for shoe box appeal. We will all miss Isabel terribly; here she is showing her great sense of humour and love of life. Godspeed Isabel may you rest in peace.

Fortingall Village Hall - £5 Drop in Lunch

Join us for lunch on Thursday, 17 April at Fortingall Village Hall. Choice of main course, tea/coffee and a cake for just £5. 12noon to 2pm (last orders 1.45pm).

No need to book, but if you wish, email fortingallhallevents@gmail.com or 01887 830322

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dows

d o w s

13 Dunkeld Street Aberfeldy PH15 2DA 01887 829616 freshly prepared quality cuisine catering to your individual needs • BESPOKE

Orders now being taken for Christmas Turkey & trimmings, Meat Joints and much much more from Dunkeld Butchers

Cairngorm Gifts

A warm welcome to our new advertiser, Cairngorm Gifts

Cairngorm Gifts is owned and run by Mark & Sally McCallum who work together as an artist and crafter in their riverside studio in Kirkmichael, Perthshire, offering a range of handmade bespoke tweed gifts, original artwork, upcycled whisky cask ends with original artwork, all carefully crafted with love and attention to detail.

At Cairngorm Gifts, quality is the top priority, from Scottish sourced materials and unique products, to excellent customer service.

Mark & Sally strive to deliver a personalised and reliable service to ensure you go home happy with a handmade Scottish gift.

Visit us at our working studio, Old Mill House, Kirkmichael, PH10 7NB.

DUNDEE'S HIDDENGEM

For more information see the following websites - www.cairngormgifts.com & www. mark-mccallum.com

You can also telephone Mark & Sally on 07812 349733.

For

Thankfully

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Every

Community Council Update

Our next meetings will be held on Monday, 14 April and Monday, 12 May at 7.30 pm in the Atholl Centre, Pitlochry. Everyone from our community is welcome to attend. For the agenda, please visit our website.

Resilience - Your Community Councillors are busy working on an updated Resilience Plan. We are looking at the impacts of climate change on our community and within the wider Highland Perthshire area. Watch for updates on our website or come along to our meetings.

Local

Planning

Updates

- Stay informed with the latest updates on local planning, regularly posted on our website homepage. If you have any comments or concerns that you would like the Community Council to consider, please feel free to email us. For more information or to get in touch, visit our website: www.mypmcc.org, email us at info@mypmcc.org, or join us on Facebook.

You can see all of our advertising details at www.thequair.scot

Climate Café Pitlochry & District

The next Climate Café is on Thursday, 10 April, at 7 pm in the Atholl Centre. There was a change of plans with the events, and the screening of Riverwoods is actually this month, followed by a chat afterwards. Hope to see you there. www.scotlandbigpicture. com/riverwoods

For more information, contact Carol Aitken at pitlochrydistrictcc@gmail.com.

Did you know that where you bank matters for the climate? Many banks and pension providers invest in fossil fuel companies. Do you know if the money in your account or pension pot is being used to fund the climate emergency?

Switching to an ethical bank is one of the easiest and most effective ways you can act for the climate.

Money talks. Indeed, it is one of the most powerful tools for change that we have. Fossil fuel companies are happy for us to recycle our baked bean tins, but if we cut off their

money supply, that worries them. You can check out which banks are ethical at Bank.Green: www.bank.green. It is easy to switch banks with The UK Current Account Switching Service. Your new bank will switch your payments and transfer your balance, and your old bank will take care of closing your old account.

The Make My Money Matter campaign is a good place to start to find out more: www. makemymoneymatter.co.uk

Richard Curtis, the film director who also worked on campaigns like the Make Poverty History campaign, is a co-founder. The campaign raises awareness about the trillions of dollars in pension money currently invested in fossil fuel companies and encourages sustainable investment instead.

The campaign claims that making your pension green is 21 times more powerful at cutting your carbon footprint than giving up flying, going veggie or switching energy provider. You can click on ‘Switch Bank’ or ‘Green My Pension’ on their website to be led through the process of greening your money. In some cases, pension providers offer choices about how they manage their members’ money. Check to see if you can opt for an ethical fund with your current provider. You can ask if your pension provider has a Climate Action Plan or if they are signed up to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing. This shows whether they are genuinely ethical or just greenwashing. Let your bank or pension provider know why you have switched. Send an email to their customer service explaining that you prefer to invest in a sustainable energy supply. They do take notice when something becomes unfashionable.

If you want to know more, Good with Money www.good-with-money.com gives lots of ideas and useful information. Alternatively, ask the Pitlochry and District Climate Café to email you their information sheet on Ethical Finance and become part of the solution, not the problem. Pitlochry & Moulin

Highland Perthshire branch of the Scottish Wildlife Trust - AGM Notice

It’s the last talk of the season for the Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire branch of the Scottish Wildlife Trust on Monday, 21 April at The Tryst, 7.30 pm - and if you want to help our hedgehogs, you won’t want to miss it!

The talk will be preceded by our local Annual General Meeting at 6 pm - everyone is welcome to review the previous season’s talks and share ideas for future programmes. Seeing us out on a high will be Morag Boyd, Rural Hedgehog Officer from the People’s Trust for Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.

Once a common sight in British gardens and the countryside, West European Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) have been declining in numbers - particularly in rural areas - with the International Union for Conservation of Nature recently adding them to the list of near threatened species on its Red List. Morag will explore the biology and ecology of these fascinating, nocturnal animals, before highlighting the threats that our hedgehogs face and what we can do to help them. This will be followed by an opportunity to put your hedgehog-related questions to her, so don’t miss it!

Date: Monday, 21 April Time: AGM from 6 pm, talk starts at 7.30 pm Place: The Tryst, Church of Scotland, Church Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5EB.

Suggested donation: £3 for non-members, £2 for members (you can donate in person on the day).

Contact markandrosie@btinternet.com for more information. Sign up to hear about events and find out more about activities on the numerous reserves in our area and beyond. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/ sign-up-to-our-mailing-list/.

Image - Hedgehog by Christopher Morgan.

The Big Shed

Spring is coming to the Big Shed Friday, 9 to Sunday, 11 May with a family friendly retreat from ‘Root to Rise’.

You’ll find more information here: www. edinburghdoula.com

You can contact the retreat leader Hayley Reid on 07745 948534, email Naples2003@ hotmail.co.uk.

There are more workshops and retreats planned - but details aren’t yet available. The Big Shed is at Tombreck on the north side of Loch Tay, about 2 miles beyond the Ben Lawers Hotel. Access is signposted from the main road and there is parking.

If you want to find out more about the Big Shed, have a look at the website, the Facebook page or email us at websitecontact@ bigshed.org.uk www.bigshed.org.uk www. facebook.com/theBigShedTombreck, txt or phone 07508 645453

Councillor John Duff

Highland Ward

Conservative

In Scotland, certain energy infrastructure planning applications are made directly to Scottish Ministers via the Energy Consents Unit (ECU), e.g. electricity generating stations exceeding 50 megawatts. Currently, there are at least two ECU applications ongoing in the Aberfeldy area. At Meall Dearg (Ref: ECU00006049), south of Griffin Windfarm, there are plans to install 22 turbines and a battery storage facility. Seventeen turbines would be 200m high to the tip of the blade and 5 would be 250m. The other windfarm is the North Logiealmond Windfarm (ECU00006004) further south on the A826 near Amulree where 20 turbines of 200m height have been applied for and also a 50MW battery storage site. In contrast, the existing turbines at Griffin are 100m to the tip of the blade. More details can be found at www.energyconsents.scot/ApplicationSearch.aspx.

Representations can be submitted to Representations_Mailbox@ gov.scot.

This year marks the 300th Anniversary of the formation of the Black Watch Regiment. The first four Independent Companies of ‘Am Freiceadan Dubh’, the Black Watch, were enlisted in 1725 for the purpose of preserving order in the Highlands, their dark tartan distinguishing them from the red tunics of the other soldiers of the time. I am honoured to have been invited to attend the Scottish Parliament on March 27 to hear this remarkable achievement debated and recognition given to their brave and fearless reputation won in many conflicts across the world.

The Aberfeldy, Dull and Weem Community Action Plan for 20252030 will have been launched by the time you read this. This document (hard copies and online version available - see www.aberfeldydt. org/community-action-plan) will be an important driver for change in the area and highlights the key actions which local residents, businesses and other stakeholders want to see progressed. If you would like to get involved in any of the actions listed, please let me know. Last month, I was delighted to make a visit to the Destiny Bridge and New Kingsway which link the A9 near Luncarty with the A93 and A94 and to see around, including inside the Destiny Bridge which was fascinating. The official opening ceremony for this structure, the largest capital project ever in Perth and Kinross, will take place on March 31.

If I can be of any assistance to constituents, groups or local businesses on any matter, please contact me on jcduff@pkc.gov.uk, Mobile: 07826 908542 or Office Tel: 01738 475095.

Weightlifting - Pitlochry Weightlifting club member Alex Phillips won his 45th Scottish title at the Scottish Masters Championships in Broxburn in March. Competing in the 73 kg (60 to 64 years) weight class, Alex snatched 46 kg and clean & jerked 59 kg for a 105 kg total. Pitlochry Weightlifting Club has been in existence for 50 years this year.

Housing Plan for Blair Atholl Station

- As readers will know, the Friends of Blair Atholl Station have spent the last 18 months or so talking with others about our empty station building - we believed that ‘sharing our past’ would help us to ‘build our future’. And that future has just got a little bit closer, thanks to backing from ScotRail, Network Rail, the Railway Heritage Trust, Perth & Kinross Council, our community council and the Highland Mainline Community Rail Partnership. Money has been secured for a feasibility study to investigate how the building might be converted into flats for renting - and we are delighted.

Blair Atholl’s Community Action Plan carried out in 2023 identified that housing was a main priority for residents, as was doing something about the empty buildings in the village - and now we have a chance to do two things at once! Of course, the next stage will require a lot of money - but that’s a worry for tomorrow - let’s just celebrate for now. Do check out our website - www.blairathollstation.co.uk - and social media to find out how things are going. And thank you for your support!

Come

and

have a go! Loch Tay Skiff Club

- Sunday, 13 April 12 pm - 3 pm. You may not ever have rowed (or even been in a boat). But perhaps you dream of getting out on Loch Tay in a boat with others? The ‘Red Haired Lass’ is a St Ayle’s Skiff built by a group of people locally and taken out regularly by four rowers and a cox. Most of us picked up basic rowing very quickly and take great joy in being out on the water once or twice a week and sometimes travelling further afield for events and races with other clubs. It’s an extremely friendly network of clubs, involving a great deal of cake. For anyone interested in having a trial row and as a get together for members at the beginning of the new season, come to the small beach at Kenmore Club’s Diamond Resort 12 pm - 3 pm and bring a picnic (please park off site). For members, we will meet afterwards (4 pm - 6 pm) with tea and cake at the Kenmore Pavilion for the AGM and presentation of the annual ‘Margaret Jarvis Award’ to a member. Linda Cracknell - lochtayskiffclub@gmail.com

Afternoon

Afternoon Tea is the traditional way to while away the day. Here at Moness you can enjoy a selection of sandwiches, scones and cakes all washed down with your choice of tea or coffee. This combined with an hour of full access to our leisure facilities, creating the perfect afternoon of relaxation and rejuvenation.

Please book your afternoon tea at least one day in advance.

• ExTERiOR ANd iNTERiOR pAiNTiNG

• TApiNG ANd fiLLiNG • pLAsTERiNG

• wALLpApER HANGiNG ANd REMOVAL

• pAiNT sTRippiNG • REsidENTiAL JOBs

• OUTdOOR pOwER wAsHiNG

All are welcome to join in some family-friendly fun at Moness this Easter with our daily entertainment programme.

Keep a lookout for more details on our website and social media channels.

Pitlochry Baptist Church

Atholl Road, PH16 5BX Pastor: Rev David Barrie (pastor@pbcweb.net) www.pbcweb.net

Sundays - This month, except for Easter Sunday, our Worship Gathering takes place every Sunday from 10.30 am at our building on Atholl Roadacross the road from Heartland FM. If you’re exploring faith or looking for a place to call home, come as you are and join us. For the children, we have a full programme for babies through to teenagers. We look forward to welcoming you.

Church of scotland fortingall, Glenlyon, Kenmore and Lawers

Interim Moderator Lorimer Gray 01887 827316. Email lorimer.gray@gmail.com

We are very happy to welcome you to worship, whether you live in the area or just visiting. Services are normally held on alternate Sundays between Fortingall and Kenmore church at 10 am.

Services for April - Sunday, 6 April in Kenmore church, Sunday, 13 April in Fortingall Church, Sunday, 18 April Good Friday in Fortingall church at 11 am. sunday, 20 April Easter sunday and Communion will be held at 10 am in Kenmore church. Our final service for the month will be in Fortingall on Sunday, 27 April at 10 am. We invite you to stay for light refreshment after the Fortingall service.

Dunkeld Parish Church

Services in Dunkeld Cathedral, Little Dunkeld Kirk and Amulree Church

Easter events - *Good Friday service on Friday, 18 April at 1 pm, following the WA soup lunch, in the Atholl Centre (behind the church). *Sunrise Communion at Ladies Dell from 7.30 am on Sunday, 20 April, Easter Sunday morning. *Baptisms at Ladies Dell from 10.30 am on Easter Sunday morning. Join us on the shores of Loch Faskally as we witness some people speak of their faith in Jesus and be baptised there in the water. *Community Easter Egg Hunt from 3 pm at Ambi Park / Delta Park (the one next to the vets) on Easter Sunday. In addition to lots of eggs to be found, there will be all kinds of fun games. Do come and join in the fun. It is open to everyone. Other highlighted events - *The Welcome All (WA) Soup Lunch is every Friday in the Atholl Centre (behind Pitlochry Baptist church) at 12 noon; there’s no charge, though donations are welcome. This is part of the warm space operating from 11 am - 2 pm each Friday until the end of April. Come join us and meet up with old friends or make new ones. * ‘The Bereavement Journey’ course, for anyone bereaved at any time, from Monday, 12 May for 7 weeks. For further information and bookings email us at admin@pbcweb.net.

For easy access to information on our website and social media pages, scan the QR code above. Alternatively, if that gives you a headache, see website for up to date information.

You can see all of our advertising details and read The Quair Magazines online at www.thequair.scot

Sunday Worship - 11 am in Little Dunkeld Kirk until Easter Sunday when we move to the Cathedral. Thereafter, Sunday services will take place in Dunkeld Cathedral. Amulree Church - Services at 2.15 pm on the third Sunday of the month. (Sunday, 20 April).

Visitors and children are always warmly welcomed at any of our services, and all are invited to stay for tea and coffee after the service.

Holy Week Dates - Thursday, 17 April - Maundy Thursday Communion in the Cathedral at 7 pm Friday, 18 April - Good Friday Service in St Mary’s Birnam at 7 pm Sunday, 20 April - Easter Day Communion in the Cathedral at 9 am Easter Day Service at 11 am in the Cathedral

An Easter Egg Hunt takes place in the Cathedral grounds at 10.30 am prior to the morning service at 11 am.

Prayers for Help and Healing - The next service of Prayers for Help and Healing will take place on Sunday, 6 April in St Mary’s Church, Birnam at 6.30 pm.

Messy Music - Meets every Tuesday afternoon in Little Dunkeld Kirk from 3.30 pm - 4.30 pm. A mix of music, craft and fun for children from nursery to P3 and their parents.

Rev. R. Fraser Penny, The Manse, Cathedral Street, Dunkeld PH8 0AW. Tel: 01350 727249. Email: minister@dunkeldcathedral.org.uk

Please check our website for further information: www.dunkeldcathedral.org

Dear Friends,

I recently discovered (thanks to Bridget of the Gatehouse Nursery) that there are over 20 species of Snowdrop. Seriously! I thought they were all the same. There is clearly a lot more variety going on in the Snowdrop world than I had ever imagined. In fact, all our spring flowers are shot through with variety - in the wild there are 36 species of daffodil and almost a hundred of crocus. There is so much going on out there. The closer you look, the more you see.

The Christian writer Eugene Peterson once wrote that spirituality means recognising that God is always up to something; becoming aware and accepting the invitation to join in. For me, that means that always, God is up to something in all sorts of places - in encouraging the snowdrop to diversify (we can have a discussion about the relationship between God and genetic mutation), in sustaining the daffodil and giving colour to the crocus. And as Jesus once suggested, if he gives that much attention to the flowers, how much more attention does he give to you?

So, what whatever God might be up to around you, may you have the eyes to see it, and all the faith, hope, love and courage you need to join in. Rev. Neil Glover, Aberfeldy.

Tenandry Kirk - Killiecrankie

Interim Moderator: Rev Neil Glover

Session Clerks: Marion Faulds - 07719 784136

Edward Elworthy - 07770 842502

Normal Sunday service at 10.30 am. 1st Sunday of the month. Coffee/ Tea following the service. All Welcome

Jehovah’s Witnesses - On the night before he died, Jesus established an anniversary for Christians. This anniversary is on the 14th Abib, lunar calendar, which is Saturday, 12 April - after sunset this year. Please join us to show appreciation for what Jesus achieved.

3rd 7 pm Talk & Discussion

6th 10.30 am Talk & Discussion

10th 7 pm Talk & Discussion

12th 8 pm Talk & Discussion

20th 10.30 am Talk & Discussion

24th 7 pm Talk & Discussion

27th 10.30 am Talk & Discussion

Jehovah is the name of Jesus’s father; to witness is to share the truth. Enjoy a free study of the Bible at your convenience - ring or text 07802 753193. See jw.org for more information.

St Mary’s Scottish Episcopal Church Perth Road, Birnam, Dunkeld, PH8 0BJ Serving Birnam, Dunkeld and surrounding areas

Our main service of worship takes place at 10.00 every Sunday morning. It is a service of Holy Communion with prayers, readings, music and a sermon. We are a family and child-friendly church. This service normally lasts for an hour and we hope you will join us. Check up to date information at www.stmarysbirnam.org.uk

Church Services for Church of Scotland - Aberfeldy & District Aberfeldy (SC007899), Dull and Weem (SC001465) and Grantully, Logierait & Strathtay (SC004275) Parish Churches Minister - Rev. Neil Glover - nglover@churchofscotland.org.uk 07779 280074 PA - Judy Ewer - judy.ewer@adwgls.org.uk 07836 565528

Regular sunday Morning worship

Dull and Weem Parish Church - 9.45 am. Please consult the website for the current information on our services www.dullandweemparish.org

Strathtay, Grantully and Logierait Parish Churches - 10.30 am. Please consult the website for the current information on our services www.glschurchofscotland.org

Aberfeldy Parish Church - 10.45 am. Please consult the website for the current information on our services www.aberfeldyparishchurch.org. We also offer a YouTube Service from Aberfeldy Parish Church - details can be found on the Church Website. This is a great way to stay connected if you are unable to be there in person!

1st Sunday of the month is a joint service with Aberfeldy, Dull and Weem, and Grantully, Logierait & Strathtay (GLS) - 10.30 am See Church Websites for details.

Holy Week Services

Tuesday, 15 April - Logierait Parish Church, 6.30 pm Wednesday, 16 April - Strathtay Parish Church, 6.30 pm Maundy Thursday (Communion Service) Thursday, 17 April - Dull & Weem Parish Church, 6.30 pm Good Friday - Friday, 18 April - Aberfeldy Parish Church, 6.30 pm Easter sundaySunday, 20 April Dull and Weem Parish Church - 9.45 am Strathtay Parish Church10.30 am Aberfeldy Parish Church - 10.45 am Church Based Activities

‘Warm Welcome Cafe’ and Stay and PlayAberfeldy Parish Church on Tuesday mornings - teas, coffee, biscuits and baking - all free thanks to grant funding from Perth and Kinross Council - Warm Welcome Fund and the Church of Scotland - Small Grants Stay and Play 9.30 am - 11.30 am Warm Welcome Café - 10 am - 12 pm. If you would like to be involved in any way, please contact Judy judy.ewer@adwgls.co.uk

Aberfeldy Quilting Group - Aberfeldy Parish Church, Farragon Room - Thursdays - 11 am - 3 pm. Contact www.aberfeldyparishchurch.org

Aberfeldy Prayer Meeting - Aberfeldy Parish Church - 4.45 pm - 6 pm every Wednesday evening in Farragon - all are welcome to come along

Aberfeldy Alcoholics Anonymous - Aberfeldy Parish Church, Kitchen - 7.30 pm - 9 pm every Tuesday Contact - 01887 820936 Dull and Weem Chit Chat Café - 1 st Monday of the month in the Macdonald

Room, Dull and Weem Kirk. For further information please contact Liz Bruce - DullandWeemChurch@gmail.com

Strathtay Coffee Break - The group meets every Wednesday in the John Kyd Hall, beside Strathtay Church at 10.30 am

Strathtay Quilting Group - John Kyd Hall 7 pm - 9 pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month Contact Marie Macleod - gls. churchofscotland@gmail.com

Please look at the websites for the latest information Aberfeldy Parish Church www. aberfeldyparishchurch.org Dull and Weem Parish Church www.dullandweemparish.org Grantully, Logierait and Strathtay Parish Church www.glschurchofscotland.org

RC parish of st Bride encompassing St Bride’s, Rie-Achan Road, Pitlochry PH16 5AL, Our Lady of Mercy, Home Street, Aberfeldy PH15 2AJ and St Columba’s, St Mary’s Road, Birnam, PH8 OBJ parish p riest: fr. Emmanuel Adindu MA MSP. T: 01796 472174 e: stbridespitlochry@dunkelddiocese.org.uk

Sunday Mass Times

St Columba’s Saturday Vigil 6.00pm, Our Lady of Mercy 9.30am, St Bride’s 11.30am Weekday Mass Times

Our Lady of Mercy Tuesday 9.30am, St Bride’s Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 9.30am

Holy Days of Obligation

St Columba’s 9.30am, Our Lady of Mercy 12.30pm, St Bride’s 7.00pm

Holy Week Activities

Palm Sunday, 13 April - Birnam 6.00pm Vigil Mass, Aberfeldy 9.30am, Pitlochry 11.30am. N.B. Return of Easter Offering Cards. Chrism Mass:- St Andrew’s Cathedral, Dundee

Maundy Thursday, 17 April - Mass of the Lord’s Supper - Birnam 4.00pm, Pitlochry 7.00pm

Good Friday, 18 April - Passion of the Lord Aberfeldy 10.30am (Stations of the Cross) Pitlochry 3.00pm (with Stations of the Cross)

Holy Saturday, 19 April - Vigil Mass Pitlochry 8.00pm

Easter sunday Mass, 20 April - Aberfeldy 9.30am, Birnam 10.00am, Pitlochry 11.30am

N.B. Return of Easter Offering Cards

The scottish Episcopal Church

Rector: Reverend Canon Liz Baker

Website: www.hplc.scot

Holy Trinity Church, Perth Road, Pitlochry

Contact - Robin Baker - 01796 472005

Sunday services 9.30am Holy Communion/ Communion by Extension/Café Communion. 5th Sundays Joint Service with Kilmaveonaig & All Saints (see Website for details) 2 April - Lent Lunch 12.30pm

Holy week & Easter - Maundy Thursday 8.00pm Eucharist of the Lord’s Supper, with Washing and Stripping of the Altar. Good Friday 12.00 - 2.00pm Silent Prayer and Meditation, 2.00 to 3.00pm The Final Hour Holy Saturday 8.00pm The Easter Vigil. Easter Day 9.30am Sung Eucharist of Easter Day

Kilmaveonaig (St Adamnan’s Church), opposite former Tilt Hotel, Blair Atholl. Contact - Mrs. Lavinia Gordon 01796 481230

Sundays at 11.15am Holy Communion/ Matins/Communion by Extension 5th Sundays Joint Service with Holy Trinity & All Saints (see Website for location)

Holy week & Easter - Good Friday 7.00pm Service of Prayer & Meditation. Easter Day 11.15am Easter Eucharist

St Andrew’s, Church, Strathtay, opposite the local shop. Contact - Ms. Lesley Whitwood 01887 840416. Sundays at 11.15am Holy Communion/Matins/Service of the Word/Communion by Extension; 5th Sundays with Church of Scotland (see website) Holy week & Easter

Monday 14 April - Evening Service 7.00pm, Good Friday 2.00pm The Final Hour, Easter day Early Morning The Easter Fire, Easter Day 11.15am Easter Communion

All Saints, Kinloch Rannoch Square Contact - Reverend Canon Liz Baker 01796 472005: First Sunday of the Month 9.30am Holy Communion. 6 April 9.30am Holy Communion - Passion Sunday. Wednesday 16 April 3.00pm Stations of the Cross. 5th Sundays Joint Service with Holy Trinity & Kilmaveonaig (see Website for location)

Zoom Services - Sundays - 6.00pm Evening Services (see Website) - Thursdays - 10.30am Morning Prayer - Holy Week - The Journey to the Cross 10.30am Morning Prayer Monday to Friday

Pitlochry linked with Blair Atholl & Struan Churches of Scotland

Minister: Rev Mark Foster (MFoster@ churchofscotland.org.uk)

Pitlochry Church - Session Clerk: Ginnie Wilkie 01796 472791 Website : www. pitlochrychurchofscotland.org.uk

Sunday Services - Sunday worship is at 10 am in Pitlochry Church. We invite you to join us, whether you live locally or are just visiting the area. Worship begins with a warm welcome, followed by a mix of music and words, ancient and modern. Tea/coffee and biscuits are served in The Tryst Lounge following the service.

Meetings for Lent - These began on March 6 at 7.30 pm in The Tryst, Church Road, Pitlochry. Entitled ‘Hope in Hard Places’. Journey with us as we look at stories of steadfast faith, hope and trust found in the Bible and reflect on what God’s transformational love can mean for our world today. Find encouragement and strength in stories of hope that span over 3,000 years of history - showing us that God remains with us at all times. Further details available on the Pitlochry Church of Scotland Facebook page.

Easter services - Good Friday (Friday, 18 April), Walk with the Cross, leaving the church at 12 noon, followed by refreshments in The Tryst and a Tenebrae service in the church at 6.30 pm. Easter sunday (Sunday, 20 April), Communion at the Ladies’ Dell at 7.30 am and the ‘Flowering of the Cross’ at 10 am service. Please bring a daffodil or similar flower.

Day Care - This continues in The Tryst Lounge on Tuesdays from 10 am - 2 pm and on Thursdays from 10 am - 3 pm. The community bus is available. If you, or anyone you know, would benefit from these activities, please contact the Day Care Team at The Tryst for details. If you wish to volunteer to help at these sessions, please contact Lynne Cunningham (LCunningham@pkc.gov.uk).

Scottish Dance Group - Meet for the end of season party on Tuesday, 1 April in The Tryst Hall at 7.30 pm. All welcome. Wednesday Coffee & Chat - Tea, coffee and biscuits from 10.30 am till 12 noon in The Tryst Lounge. Everyone is very welcome to catch up with friends, neighbours and to

meet new people.

Church Choir - Choir practices for Easter services will be on Wednesdays from 4 pm - 5 pm in the Tryst Hall.

Pitlochry & District Choral Society - The Spring Concert will be in the Church on Saturday, 5 April at 7.30 pm to which all are invited.

Table Tennis - Meet weekly on Thursdays 2 pm until 4 pm in The Tryst Hall.

Church Office - The Tryst, all enquiries (including hire of the facilities) and deliveries contact by email thetryst@btconnect.com or telephone 01796 474010. The office is open from 9.30 am - 11.30 am Tuesday to Thursday.

Blair Atholl & Struan Church - Session Clerk: Harold Ingram 01796 481275 Sunday Services - Sunday worship is at 11.30 am in Blair Atholl Church. Easter Services - Maundy Thursday, 17 April. Easter sunday, 20 April service at 11.30 am. Coffee Corner - We invite you to our Coffee Corner, in the church hall on Thursdays from 10.30 am - 12 noon.

Rannoch Church of scotland

Interim Moderator: Mr Lorimer Gray. Tel: 01887 827316 or 07740 378910. Email: lorimer.gray@gmail.com

Sunday, 6 April - Sunday worship at Braes Church at the west end of Loch Rannoch. The service will start at 12.30 pm, with a time for coffee, tea and fellowship at 12 noon before the service starts. (No morning service on Sunday, 6 April in The Old Church of Rannoch.) Sunday, 13 April (Palm Sunday) - Sunday worship at 12 noon in The Old Church of Rannoch with a time for coffee, tea and fellowship at 11.30 am before the service starts. Friday, 18 April (Good Friday) - Good Friday Vigil between 12 noon and 3 pm in The Old Church of Rannoch. Sunday, 20 April (Easter sunday) - Sunday worship at 12 noon in The Old Church of Rannoch with a time for coffee, tea and fellowship at 11.30 am before the service starts.

Sunday, 27 April - Sunday worship at 12 noon in The Old Church of Rannoch with a time for coffee, tea and fellowship at 11.30 am before the service starts.

Pitlochry Town & Country Club

The April meeting of the above Club will take place on Thursday, 17 April in the Atholl Centre when Jenny Walker will talk on the subject of Crystal Health Therapy. The meetings are at 2 pm to 4 pm with time for tea, home bakes & a chat. Cost £3 per member. Should you require the Community Bus, please contact me at least the day before.

Kathleen Scott, Pitlochry 01796 472765

All types of Electrical & TV works

Installation, rewires, new builds, TV aerials, FREEVIEW, satellite dishes and FREESAT Free estimates and advice, ABERFELDY BASED

Tel Mike MacDougall 07718 122037 email: mmelec@hotmail.co.uk

Green Carpet Care

pitlochry Community first Responders - Pitlochry Community First Responders (PCFR) is a local charity. We assist the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) who have First Responder groups across Scotland.

All volunteers are trained by the SAS, and live or work in the community. Responders can attend certain medical situations until an ambulance arrives.

The ambulance control centre (ACC) deploys the on-duty Responders when a local 999 call is received which they will not be able to reach rapidly. So using their own vehicles, day or night, Pitlochry First Responders selflessly operate in the local area. We cover from Blair Atholl to Ballinluig and meet with Dunkeld and Aberfeldy groups to ensure a good coverage.

This is an important, life-saving local charity and we need everyone’s support in many ways!

Most importantly at present, we are recruiting more volunteer First Responders. Responders are vital to the community and your own lives could depend on them. No previous first aid experience is necessary as full training is given by the ambulance service. Responders do need to be over the age of 18 and have access to a reliable car. We are also asking for Friends, supportive volunteers willing to give up an hour or two at fundraising events, information kiosks at shops, festivals, the Highland Games or any other local site.

Friends could also initiate their own creative endeavours to raise funds for PCFR. At events, bring a chair, a feast, a friend and a flask!

Carpet Cleaning

Cleaning

Upholstery Cleaning

07477 013710

info@greencarpetcare.co.uk

www.greencarpetcare.co.uk

info@greencarpetcare.co.uk

www.greencarpetcare.co.uk

Please visit our website for all the information you need and find application forms for Responders and Friends. Please share this information with others.

Secure Donations can be made on our website, with our grateful thanks. No personal data is retained and proceeds go to the ongoing supply of expensive medical equipment for First Responders to use.

Visit www.pitlochryresponders.org or email info@pitlochryresponders.org. We need you, because you might need us! PCFR, saving local lives. Call 999 in an emergency.

The Baha’i Faith and the Scottish Inter Faith Council - The Scottish Parliament, at its very outset in 1999, launched the Scottish Inter Faith Council, in recognition that Scottish society is now multi-religious in nature and that an understanding of and respect for this diversity is fundamental for harmony in society. Members are committed to developing inter faith structures at local and national level. Represented on the Council are at least nine faiths: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, The Baha’i Faith, Brahma Kumaris and Paganism. In Glasgow there is the St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art with its Zen Garden, right next to Glasgow Cathedral. More simply a flat was long ago donated for get-togethers and became very popular for its great range of cookery shared there! In Dundee there is an active group known as FaB Dundee (Faith and Belief) who sent invitations to Aberfeldy for their AGM on February 18 which included a speaker who had gone through the horrors of Partition and become a leading light amongst Muslim women in Edinburgh by helping them overcome their isolation.

Baha’is share wholeheartedly in the ideals of the Council. Baha’u’llah exhorts us: ‘O People! Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship.’

In the spirit of these beliefs we welcome all searching for or sharing information to join us in our meetings or in youth groups or children’s classes: the youngest group, of primary age, now meets in Pitlochry every 2 weeks. You can contact Mark at markcrenshaw9@hotmail.com or Rachel at rachelhelenab@hotmail.com or Hilarie at The Highland Chocolatier’s café.

Andie Millar’s Trust - Scottish Charity Number: SC037334 www.andiemillar.org

Applications are invited by Saturday, 31 May for donations to either individuals or organisations to be spent in Pitlochry and District (generally assessed as being within a five mile radius of the centre of Pitlochry) for any one or more of the following Trust purposes: *the advancement of education *the advancement of citizenship or community development *the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science *the advancement of public participation in sport *the provision of recreational facilities with the object of improving the conditions of life for the persons for whom the facilities are primarily intended *the advancement of environmental protection or improvement *the relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.

Generally, the Trustees will be able to provide donations of up to £2,500 but in certain circumstances may be able to consider applications for a larger amount.

Application Forms are available from www. andiemillar.org and, to be considered by the Trustees, each Application must be sent by email to info@jandhmitchell.com by Saturday, 31 May.

Please note that the Trustees’ decision in respect of any Application is final.

Aberfeldy Farmers Market and Arts and Craft Fair

We are kicking off markets this year on Sunday, 6 April. Come along to the square between 10 am - 2 pm and see what is for sale this year! We have some new interesting offerings as well as the usual tasty delights. The Arts and Craft Fair will be inside on the mezzanine floor of the Birks Cinema.

We hope that you will be able to have coffee, brunch or lunch at one of the many super cafés and visit some of our lovely independent shops open on Sunday. For further details of the Farmers Market email aberfeldymarket@gmail.com or for the Art Fair email lynn@breaghaglass.com

Explorers Garden - The Explorers Garden at Pitlochry Festival Theatre is open as of Tuesday, 1 April! The months of April and May are a special time in the garden with our National collection of Meconopsis in bloom. Also, our species rhododendrons are in splendid colour and looking fantastic throughout our Himalayan section. Being a woodland shade garden, spring lends itself to all sorts of wonderful blooms and a variety of interest to delight any garden enthusiast. For hours, ticket prices and more info: www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/explorersgarden

Breadalbane Heritage Society - After a popular series of illustrated talks during the autumn and winter months The Breadalbane Heritage Society has no activities planned for the month of April. Following on the talk in March on Springtime at Cluny by John Mattingley, who with his wife Wendy is the owner of Cluny Gardens on the Strathtay Road near Aberfeldy, in May the BHS plans a visit to Cluny. Spring is a glorious season at Cluny, with carpets of N. American bulbs and tubers coming into flower in April, and May brings Candelabra primulas and the brilliant blue Himalayan poppies. The visit will be on Wednesday, 21 May, when John will show us around. For further information please contact Ian Stewart at bhsaberfeldy@gmail.com.

The BHS’s website www.breadalbane-heritage.org.uk features a video of local scenes of interest, and provides up-to-date information about talks and activities, events and publications. Ongoing Society projects include the maintenance of the Killiehassie private burial ground in Strathtay, and the recent publication, in association with the Aberfeldy Museum Group, of an illustrated leaflet, The Aberfeldy and Weem Heritage Trail, with a trail map and information on the many places of interest in the area. QR codes with information at each of these sites are currently being installed. The BHS also provides a free service of assistance with family history research. Recordings of all the recent talks are available on the website. Pitlochry Garden Share - Spring is here! We are busy in the gardens and the greenhouse planting seeds and caring for seedlings.

As you read this, we should have finished building the new raised beds at the Moulin Community Garden. We would like to thank all involved volunteers for their hard work, and special thanks to the Pitlochry Scout troop for their help! We will be holding our first stall of the year outside the Pitlochry Market on Saturday, 19 April. We will have some seedlings and other items for sale, as well as information about the Garden Share.

On Sunday, 20 April (Easter Sunday) we will be having a ‘Spring Day’ fundraising event at the Moulin Village Hall. There will be an Easter Egg Hunt from 10 am - 11 am. Pre-booking required (via email below) with donations for entry gratefully received! Then the Hall will be open 11 am till 4 pm for crafts, activities, raffle, café, guided garden tours and much more. You can find more information about this event, and about the Pitlochry Garden Share in general, on our Facebook page, or on our new website pitlochrygardenshare.org. Email pitlochrygardenshare@gmail.com

Just Singin’ Community Choir - We have just completed a fantastic eight week term with tutor Emma Neck, who led us through songs from a wide range of musical genres ranging from traditional to jazz, current and folk. Our next term runs from Wednesday, 23 April until Wednesday, 11 June, meeting at 7.30 pm on Wednesday evenings at Birnam Arts. We anticipate covering material from traditional Scottish songs to polyphonic Georgian folk and everything in between with tutors Amy Lord, Cecille Irwin and Irene Railley. If would like to experience the joy of learning a few new songs by ear and some simple harmonies with a room full of friendly local folk and leaving each week with a smile and feeling uplifted, do please come along and join us! Further details are available on our website justsingin.co.uk.

Aberfeldy Community Choir - We are always delighted to welcome new members to this very friendly choir! No audition needed, or ability to read music, and the repertoire is a mixture of popular songs and old favourites in 3 or 4 parts, (depending on how many tenors come along!) We meet every Monday in school term time, from 7 pm - 9 pm in the Aberfeldy Church of Scotland, Taybridge road, Aberfeldy. We are led by Anna Glover, and Liz Douglas is our accompanist. If you love to sing, do join us, and bring a friend!

For more details text/call Malize McBride (Secretary) on 07754 859484.

Pitlochry Station Bookshop - According to Geoffrey Chaucer (‘The Canterbury Tales’), April is the time when “longen folk to goon on pilgrimages”: presumably they had ScotRail in mind. T. S. Eliot declared (‘The Waste Land’), “April is the cruellest month,” but he, poor man, had no Pitlochry Station Bookshop to console him.

The good news for everyone else is that, from March 31, the shop resumes its summer opening hours, adding 30 minutes at each end of the day.

In addition, the Station Bookshop will be holding our Easter Book Fair in Fisher’s Hotel from mid-day until 4 pm on Saturday, 19 April. So you can treat yourself to a drink and browse among our usual eclectic mix of genres and titles, including some put aside specially to tempt book-lovers of all tastes. In February, while remaining open on Platform 1, we ran a stall throughout Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Winter Words event. The hundreds who turned up, for breakfast and Q & A with new Artistic Director Alan Cumming, yoga sessions, theatre performances and interviews with authors were able to pick up bargains typical of those to be found at the Bookshop. Over the three days, we raised almost £550 for our six charities, numbering among our visitors celebrated crime-writer Val McDermid and First Minister John Swinney.

Clearly, spring-cleaning has, for many, extended to their bookshelves and we have been gratefully receiving a huge number of donations throughout March. There is always space for more though so, as long as they are in clean condition, from first editions to new publications, we’ll be delighted to help you to free up space on your own bookshelves - and then start to re-fill those spaces from Pitlochry Station Bookshop.

Opening hours are now 9 am to 4.30 pm, Monday to Saturday: our staff, all enthusiastic volunteers, will give you a smiling, helpful welcome whenever you decide to call in.

Our whisky shop has been synonymous with fine whisky, wines and spirits for over 60 years. We have customers from all around the globe who visit our shop and website to grab themselves a nice bottle of Scotland’s famous spirit.

As well as whisky, we stock a huge host of world wines, spirits and beers as well as a comprehensive range of craft gins.

Robertsons of Pitlochry, 44-46 Atholl Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5BX

www.robertsonsofpitlochry.co.uk

Tel. 01796 472011

Reid Tree & Garden Services

• Tree felling, shaping & trimming

• All other landscaping services available

• Mono blocking, Patios & Paths laid

• Pathways & drives gravelled

• Slabbing and walls repaired or replaced

• Fencing & Turfing

• All types and sizes of trees supplied and planted - from 1m to 10m

Pitlochry & District U3a - The next meeting of Pitlochry & District u3a will be on Wednesday, 16 April. We will be joined Fred Cochrane (Assistant Project Officer) who will be speaking about History of Dùn Coillich and Next Steps. The meeting will be followed by our AGM. We meet in the Atholl Centre and our meetings start at 2 pm and refreshments are provided after the talk. The u3a primarily brings together people, who have finished working full time or raising their family, to develop interests and to continue learning in informal and supportive environments. The focus is on sharing and learning from each other. In addition to our whole group talks we also offer interest groups which are led by one of our members - the emphasis is on learning from each other and having fun while doing so. In between whole-group meetings, members take part in specialist interest groups.

For further information please visit our website (www.pitlochry. u3asite.uk/) or contact our secretary on smcairnx@hotmail.com with any queries.

Inner Wheel Club of Pitlochry - Thank you to everyone who came along to our quiz on March 1 - you helped us raise £1,000 for Smalls for All and the Disasters Emergency Committee.

We are looking forward to welcoming Lynsey Martin from Heather Gems, as our speaker to our next meeting on Thursday, 24 April and finding out more about how their products are made.

Inner Wheel is an international women’s organisation with an emphasis on service with friendship and international understanding. We use our skills to raise money and support communities locally, nationally and internationally. We achieve this through monthly supper meetings with informative and entertaining speakers, social gatherings and community service.

If you would like to know about Inner Wheel then please email innerwheelpitlochry@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook Page(www. facebook.com/InnerWheelPitlochry)

The dunkeld and district strathspey and Reel society

The Dunkeld and District Strathspey and Reel Society meet every Monday, during term time, in The Royal School of Dunkeld, between 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm, where we enjoy playing traditional, and contemporary Scottish music together, under the guidance of our musical director and conductor Pete Clark.

We are a friendly group, and welcome players of all instruments that work within an orchestra setting.

There is the option to either join as full member, or just come along when you can and pay on the night. For information, or to learn more about our group, our website is www.dunkeldstrathspeyandreel.org

• New Builds

• Extensions • Renovations

• Kitchens

• Bathrooms

• Internal doors

• Laminate & Solid

Wood Floors

• Timber & UPVC

Windows

• Conversions

• Timber and UPVC fascia’s

• Soffits and Guttering

• Cladding & Decking

• General Maintenance

• All Trade Packages and free estimates

Mobile: Fraser 07912 863557 Aaron 07724 345317

Email: info@dawson-deacon.co.uk

Dawson & Deacon Joiners & Contractors Ltd, Crieff

Charissa Foster set up Heartland Hearing to stay ahead on new technology and various aspects of hearing and hearing loss to support the local community’s hearing health. Improving the lives of patients and their families is at the heart of everything we do.

Sam Decorating Services

I offer all aspects of interior and exterior decorating - including wallpaper hanging. Self-employed with over 40 years of experience.

Mobile: 07737 792402 Email: sammcrobbie53@gmail.com

pitlochry Repair Café - Pitlochry Repair Café’s next sessions are at Moulin Hall on Sunday, 27 April, then Sunday, 1 June.

We look forward to welcoming you to our friendly sessions where our skilled repair volunteers can fix your broken and damaged items. Enjoy hot drinks, homemade baking and soup while you wait!

We can’t fix phones or zips but bring along any other items including bikes, ceramics, textiles, household objects, furniture, electrical items and electronics. Kids are welcome and dogs too!

Want to volunteer? Email repaircafe@sprout-community-eco-hub.com or contact us on Facebook or Instagram @PitlochryRepairCafe.

Healthiest Town, Aberfeldy - Spring should be well on the way by the time you read this, and Healthiest Town Aberfeldy would like to encourage everyone to join in with some of our ideas and projects which aim to get people growing. If you don’t have a garden then you could always join community gardening groups, help a neighbour or grow a few things in pots on your patio or windowsill. It’s amazing what a few seeds and a small amount of compost can produce! As part of our Let’s Get Growing campaign, we will be hosting monthly Gardeners Coffee Time sessions on the 2nd Wednesday morning of every month at 11 am. Venues may vary, but our initial ‘base’ will be at Glen Lyon Coffee Roastery, so please come along (no need to book) on Wednesday, 9 April to meet other gardeners, share plants, produce and plans and to help each other master the art of growing your own food! This spring we are launching GrowAlongs to help and support people who would like to grow vegetables but don’t quite know where to start. Each GrowAlong group will have an experienced leader: you’ll be guided and supported through the mysterious world of patio potatoes, purple peas, courtyard courgettes, and colourful chard. You can provide your own seeds/materials or be provided with anything you need. Come along to our next Gardeners Coffee Time or find us at the Farmers Market on Sunday, 6 April to sign up to any or all of these. There are a number of community gardening projects around Aberfeldy which would all welcome volunteers: so if you like gardening in company, we can put you in contact with any of these: Camserney Community Garden, Biodynamic garden, Star gardening group at Dalweem, Tombreck market garden. Some local primary schools are also doing fantastic work and may welcome volunteers.

If you would like to join our new WhatsApp group ‘Growing in Aberfeldy’ then please email info@healthiesttown.org with your contact details.

Looking ahead, still on the ‘growing’ theme, our highly successful Open Gate festival will be returning from 29 August to 7 September and we would love to see more productive gardens open this year. Please contact us if you would be interested, or if you have any suggestions/ ideas to make this an even bigger success in 2025.

Did you know the average person throws away 140 meals worth of food every year? You may have noticed a campaign we are running jointly with Aberfeldy’s Climate Café to reduce food waste across our community. Too Good to Waste is working with local businesses to reduce the amount of food that is thrown away both in cafés and restaurants but also in our own homes. Look out for posters and fliers to find out more. Getting out and about with a keen eye for our surroundings can also help us to slow down, become more appreciative of our environment and improve our well-being. Join Nigel Lumsden for a Saunter with your Camera session/s around Aberfeldy, on Thursday, 27 March, and Thursdays, 3, 10 and 17 April, 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. Meeting place is the Birks Cinema. These sessions are free, and you can go to one session or all four. No special equipment or experience is required but do bring a camera or phone if you have one. Booking is essential by emailing nigel@limages. co.uk or call Nigel on 07770 978831.

4 Enterprising Actions for April - As we head into spring, it’s a great time to get energised and ready to take on some new business projects, or refresh your current ideas. GrowBiz’s free support for rural enterprises and the self-employed can give you a boost along the way. Here are four actions you can take this month to ensure you’re on the right track:

CHANGING AND LONG-LASTING SAME DAY TEETH AND SMILE.

With over 17+ years’ experience in Dental Implants, we can help you get rid of your denture or replace your teeth all in a Day! Using the new revolutionary implants system CHROME GuidedSMILE, we can provide you with Teeth-In-A-Day in a predictable, precise, and comfortable way.

• Digital Planning. Using 3D imaging & digital scanning, we capture highly detailed images of your mouth to customise the treatment to precisely ﬁt your new teeth. You get to see a simulation of what your new smile will look like once the treatment is complete.

• Get your new smile. Using the Chrome surgical guide, we ﬁt temporary ﬁxed natural looking and functioning teeth on the day, so you have your new smile on the day!

Attend a learning session - Our free online learning sessions are based around topics that can help you run your business more effectively. In April the focus is on marketing, with sessions around how to plan your promotional content, and how to use the messaging your customers want to hear. Speak to an advisor - Meet with one of our friendly advisors and receive support to identify what you need to get started or to achieve your business goals. Talk through your ideas, develop a business strategy or identify areas where you require training and development. Download a resource - The GrowBiz website has a number of free editable resources to help you run your business efficiently. Download a business plan template, bookkeeping spreadsheet, marketing content planner and more.

Sign up for our newsletter - The GrowBiz newsletter is sent out fortnightly and contains a list of our upcoming events, opportunities for Scotland’s rural enterprises and communities, and positive client stories, so you can stay up to date with what’s happening in the local business community. You can book our events, request a 1-1 support session, download free resources and sign up to our newsletter at www.growbiz. co.uk

Highland Perthshire’s Go to Landscaping Company

Let

important News about Electric Meters for some Householders from Warm Connections

On Monday, 30 June this year the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) will be switched off. Over 6,000 houses in Perth and Kinross have meters which are linked to the RTS, but if you don’t know about it you may be in for a shock!

What does this mean? The RTS uses a radio signal to tell some older electricity meters when to switch between peak and off-peak rates, so when it is switched off for good on Monday, 30 June it may lead to: *Electric storage heaters charging at the wrong time, possibly leading to higher bills, or *Loss of heating and/or hot water control, or left continually *Inaccurate or sustained on-peak pricing. How do you know? Basically, if you get cheaper electricity at different times of day you may well have an RTS linked meter, and your tariff may be one of these….*Total Heating Total Control, ie THTC (most common in our area) *Economy 7 *Economy 10 *Storage Heating Control.

What might your meter look like? *There may be a separate switch box near your meter with a Radio Teleswitch label on it

*Your property is heated using storage heaters or other electric heating *On your electricity bill/statement, the top line of the MPAN (the Meter Point Administration Number, a unique identifier for your electricity supply) will start with ‘02’.

Your energy company should have contacted all customers with RTS meters to book an upgrade, but if you have not heard (or know someone else who may need it), get in touch with them asap. If you’re not sure, please contact us and we can come and have a look. Remember, our advice is completely free and there is no catch. 07759 404980, advice@warmconnections.net

What has West Stormont Woodland Group

been Doing?

Our ongoing priority has been working through the steps involved in submitting our revised funding application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), including another very useful Teams meeting on February 28 with Lauren Arthur, our NLHF Engagement Officer. We have been using our Vision Refresh Report from Nikki Souter Associates to inform the shape and scope of this new application where we are approaching NLHF as the main funder in bringing Taymount Wood into community ownership. As this involves material changes since our initial Expression of Interest was approved by NLHF in 2024 when we approached them as a lesser funder, we will shortly be resubmitting our revised Expression of Interest to them. If accepted, we will proceed to submitting what we see as a very exciting Phase 1 funding application as soon as possible. *On February 27, we attended an extremely interesting Benefact Group free webinar for charities entitled ‘How to ensure you are set up for fundraising success in 2025’. Such a lot of great advice and recommendations. *As we have not had time to deliver WSWG events so far this year, we have instead been promoting a number of projects being offered to the Stanley Biodiversity Village initiative under the Tayside Biodiversity Partnership’s Biodiversity Villages, Towns and Neighbourhoods banner including: - Toads on Roads Training Workshops aiming to set up ‘Toad Patrols’ in the Stanley, Murthly and Bankfoot areas to reduce the number of amphibians killed at migration crossing points and in drains on local roads. - Hedgehog Workshop in Stanley aiming to distribute ‘Hogilo’ hedgehog houses in and establish Hedgehog Highways between suitable gardens and other habitat areas in the Stanley Biodiversity Village area. - Mag & Bee Posts www. madebylandmark.com/product/bee-post; www.caledoniaplay.com/ product/magpost-large-2/ - Bee Beds, a project run by the charity RePollinate. - Biological Recording Company webinars: hedgehogs; bee intelligence; beetles; red squirrels; and more. - Swift nest boxes for the Stanley Swift Project and droppings boards for swallow and house-martin nest sites. - Coming soon: fruit tree planting; bat walks and surveys; snowdrop bulbs from Cambo. *Talking of toads …. following reports of large numbers of toads and frogs killed by vehicles on forest tracks at night in Taymount Wood during their breeding migration period in 2024, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) have informed deer contractors to avoid Taymount Wood for the time being. A big thank you to FLS for doing this. *On March 4, we had a lovely site visit to Taymount Wood and interesting follow-on discussion about the WSWG project with Phil Lidstone and Les Dalziel of Phil Lidstone Productions. They have been commissioned to carry out a pre-production ‘story-finding’ phase of a video project commissioned by Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust with funding from Climate Connect Perth & Kinross which will aim to raise the profile of Perthshire-based community projects focussing on nature recovery. *On March 14, WSWG participated in the Perthshire Nature Connections Partnership Gathering in Birnam. Email us: contact@weststormontwoodlandgroup.scot

Supporting Our Community

We are fortunate to live and work in such a caring community. Earlier this month, the team at Anderson Dentistry were honoured to support the 2025 Aberfeldy Film Festival. The theme was Childhood Journeys and, as well as showing four fantastic films, the Heartland Film Society was raising awareness and funds for Children First, Scotland’s national children’s charity. www.childrenfirst.org.uk Choosing to live rurally means that quick access to emergency medical care is compromised. We are grateful for the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance which plays a crucial role in responding to many life-threatening

medical emergencies. It is a vital service entirely funded by the public. We are delighted to be sponsoring the SCAA 2026 Desk Diary. Buying from their online shop is an easy way to support this vital service. www. shop.scaa.org.uk

On Saturday, 14 June, two of our vibrant team, Charlotte Bateman (pictured top middle) and Emily Reed (pictured bottom middle), will be taking part in Glasgow’s Pretty Muddy event, raising funds for Cancer Research. www.raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org.

Morag will be raising funds for SCAA by running 42km over two Munros on Torridon’s Beinn Eighe range as she supports local legend Sam Weir on her Celtman Extreme Triathlon. Feel free to pop in and leave a donation at reception.

On the day, they will be climbing, crawling, and sliding their way around a very muddy obstacle course. As dental nurses who are meticulous when it comes to cleanliness, I’m not sure they know what they’ve let themselves in for!

Birnam Library

Bookbug sessions - Every Thursday from 10.30 am - 11 am. Come and join us for a session of songs, stories, and rhymes for under 5s. Prebooking for each session is essential. Please get in touch with the library to book a spot.

Books on Wheels - For individuals who cannot get out and about to visit the library, this includes books in large print and audio formats. For further information, please get in touch with the library.

Recycling - All libraries accept used stamps and batteries for recycling.

Birnam Library Opening hours - Monday:

Closed Tuesday : Closed Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 5 pm - 7 pm Friday: 12 pm - 5 pm

Saturday: 9.30 am - 12 pm Sunday: Closed Birnam Library, Station Road, Birnam, Dunkeld PH8 0DS 01738 459709/ birnamlibrary@culturepk.org.uk

Tel 01796 482646

Chimney Sweeping

• Stoves • Open Fires • AGAS, Rayburns etc

• Certificate of Chimney Sweeping issued

• Supply - Install • Anti Bird, Guard Cowls

• Chimney Pots • Fire Grates etc. • Fully Insured

Mobile: 07547 281694 chrisfergus84@gmail.com

Dave Doogan MP

Angus & Perthshire Glens SNP Social capital. Easy to say, slightly harder to describe and harder still to organise, to deploy and to sustain. Nevertheless, social capital represents one of the single most impressive elements of all our communities right across Angus and Perthshire Glens and nowhere more so than here in Highland Perthshire. Having the idea isn’t even the beginning of the battle let alone half of it. Any one of us can look around at that which could be better, or extol a provision which doesn’t yet exist but which promises much for the wellbeing and opportunities within our communities. Saying what is lacking is the easy bit, proposing a solution, mobilising others, forming an organisation and raising funds well, these are the preserve of those visionaries who are talented, committed and determined and I take my hat off to them. Here in Highland Perthshire, these people and the society benefiting organisations they have created are in abundance; transforming Pitlochry Station with their wonderful Bookshop, in The Workshop in Aberfeldy giving young people alternative routes to skills development and training, or the Logierait Bridge Company whose vision ensures shorter more efficient access for communities south of the Tay in that locality such as Balnaguard.

As your local Member of Parliament, it is a highlight of my job that I regularly get to meet with and support many such local organisations. What I find especially impressive is those organisations who have already achieved much but who are determined to deliver even more, such as the team at the Birks Cinema and the Friends of Blair Atholl Railway Station. This energy and vision represent a hugely important ingredient of community transformation and renewal. Vital also are the wider organisations who have a very local footprint such as Citizens Advice who always have a listening ear and a roadmap to help find a resolution. Or Tayside Mountain Rescue who are always ready to get out into the mountains to rescue those in difficulty. The grant funding which organisations like these receive would amount to very little effect, were it not for the selfless dedication of local volunteers.

So, as I look forward to my next meeting with the Pitlochry Community Action Trust, whose ambition knows no limits, I find myself grateful to represent an area so over endowed with positive people working to make life better for us all. And that, for me sums up social capital.

If you are having any issues, with something you think I can help with, then please get in touch by emailing dave.doogan.mp@parliament.uk or calling 01307 804 185.

alan@bespokestairscrieff.com www.bespokestairscrieff.com 07544 634 964

Walks and beginner workshops held regularly at venues throughout Highland Perthshire

For more information, please get in touch.

Call/Text: 07828 086062

Email: nwhighlandperthshire@gmail.com

Or visit: www.nordicwalkinghighlandperthshire.com

Instagram: nw_highland_perthshire

Facebook: nordicwalkinghighlandperthshire

Paul Phillips

& 4x4’s

Paul Phillips

Home and Garden Services

Paul Phillips

T: 01796 470505, M: 07568354376

Home and Garden Services

T: 01796 470505, M: 07568354376

Email: a.phillips153@btinternet.com

T: 01796 470505, M: 07568354376

Email: a.phillips153@btinternet.com

Gardening (lawn cutting, strimming, weeding) Painting – Internal & External Oven Cleaning

Gardening (lawn cutting, strimming, weeding) Painting - Internal & External

Gardening (lawn cutting, strimming, weeding) Painting – Internal & External Oven Cleaning

Cleaning – General Housework, Dusting, Vacuuming, Spring Cleaning, Oven Cleaning

D.I.Y. – Shelf Fitting, Picture Hanging, Power Washing Patios, etc

Dog Walking, Car washing & Valeting

D.I.Y. – Shelf Fitting. Power Washing Patios, etc Dog Walking, Car washing & Valeting

Dog Walking, Car washing & Valeting

If there is anything you can’t see on the list please just ask No job too small

If there is anything you can’t see on the list please just ask No too small

References can be supplied

Killiecrankie fincastle & Tummel Community Council

Killiecrankie Fincastle & Tummel Community Council wish to thank everyone who helped at the annual litter pick in Killiecrankie on March 23. It was fully supported by all local businesses, National Trust for Scotland and Keep Scotland Beautiful, launching their national Spring Clean Scotland 2025 campaign.

A representative from Forest & Land Scotland (FLS) spoke about the Stay the Night scheme to be operated around Loch Rannoch and near Loch Tummel at the March meeting of the Community Council.

Details of these two events together with the latest Minutes are on the website https://www.killiecrankievillagehall.co.uk/communitycouncil/ Our next meeting will be held at Kynachan Hall, Tummel Bridge on Monday, 19 May at 7 pm. If you wish to receive Minutes and news of local events by email, please join our mailing list. Just contact info@kftcommunitycouncil.co.uk to have your name added.

Killiecrankie Village Hall - Killiecrankie Village Hall committee on behalf of the Killiecrankie Memorial Hall Trust will hold its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, 22 April at 7 pm. This is a public event, open to all. As always, the hall committee welcomes enquiries for any event - large or small. See the website www.killiecrankievillagehall.co.uk for details.

Aberfeldy Probus Club - At the March meeting of the Probus Club, we were treated to a very informative talk, beautifully illustrated, about the New Crannog Centre at Dalerb just outside Kenmore by one of their volunteers, Maureen Kerr.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday, 2 April. Our speaker that day will be Lyndsay Barr from Neighbourhood Watch, Scotland.

We always welcome visitors and new members. Please contact the secretary Elaine Melrose on 07500 904872 for more details or if you would like to come along to any of our meetings. We meet for lunch at Moness Hotel on the first Wednesday of the month apart from January, July and August. Lunch is served before the talk, and the menu is available the week before the meeting and is chosen then to ensure prompt service.

Vale of Atholl Pipe Band - Our Grade 2 Pipe Major, Kyle Howie, has unfortunately stepped down from this position due to solo piping and work commitments. His work is teaching piping and playing pipes!! The good news is that he is staying to play in the pipe corps and Pipe Sergeant Jamie Falconer has stepped up to Pipe Major. This is going to be quite a challenging year for the Grade 2 band, having just been upgraded from Grade 3, but they’re up for a challenge and they’re practising hard!!

The Grade 4 band is also practising away with a few new members in it and the tuition on side drum and chanter is going very well with some players hopefully ready to play at the Highland Nights. The Highland Nights are a great starting point for the learners, plenty of marching, trying to keep in step!! Just to remind you all, the Highland Nights start on Monday, 26 May. Gillie McNab 07733 152223 gmcnab00@aol.com

Mid scotland & fife Regional Member

Conservative

We are now in spring and many of us will be looking forward to having some time off during the Easter holidays to spend with family and friends.

I have been busy at the Scottish Parliament, dealing with many issues and serving on the Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee. As a member of the Committee, I enjoyed a recent trip to Lothian Buses in Edinburgh, where we spoke to apprentices.

Locally, we had the opening ceremony of the £150 million Cross Tay Link Road (CLTR) and Destiny Bridge on March 31. It is the biggest infrastructure project ever completed in Perth and Kinross. One of its aims is to reduce air pollution in Perth city centre, as well as providing a new transport infrastructure that offers an alternative to driving through the city itself.

Whilst the project is primarily centred in and around Perth, the CLTR will also see a six-kilometre stretch of new carriageway linking the A9 to the A93 and A94.

I dropped in on Dunkeld and Birnam Railway Station recently to see the work being done to raise the platform height. There has been a long-running issue with the high step-up trains from the platform causing issues for the disabled and those with mobility restrictions. It is good to see this finally being addressed, with the works due to be completed shortly.

Meanwhile, many residents will be aware of the plans to build wind turbines in the Aberfeldy area of Highland Perthshire. If passed by Perth and Kinross Council, this would see 22 x 250m high wind turbines installed and 20 x 200m wind turbines installed. In contrast, the wind turbines for the existing wind farms are 100 metres to the tip of the blade height.

Developers have said that the wind farm would provide up to 145.2MW of generating capacity. I’m sure many residents will have concerns over the height of these turbines. I know campaign group Scotland Against Spin raised similar concerns about a 252foot height wind turbine in the grounds of Aviva in Perth, so I will keep a close eye on how this application progresses.

Murdo Fraser always welcomes feedback from constituents. He can be contacted at The Control Tower, Perth Airport, Scone, PH2 6PL, by email on murdo.fraser.msp@parliament.scot or by telephone on 01738 553676.

Table Tennis Tryst Pitlochry - Looking to do something different? Whether you can play or not come and join us and have a go. Every Thursday 2 pm - 4 pm, your first time is free. Equipment is provided.

Further details contact Irene 07546 479249

You can see all of our advertising details and read The Quair Magazines at www.thequair.scot

Stationery,

Bulk

Gerrie Mobile: 07836 343967 Telephone: 01350 727364 Email: wkgerrie.inver@gmail.com

Rowan Brae, Faskally, Pitlochry, Perthshire, PH16 5LA

Tel: 01796 472494

Fax: 01796 473685

Mobile: 07800 577259

Local opticians scores big with football team

SPECSAVERS in Perth is helping a youth football team hit the back of the net by providing them with new kits to allow them to focus on their game.

The store, which is located at 176 High Street, has sponsored Crieff Juniors by providing funding for the team to buy full kits and training tops.

The team was established in 2000 and has been running teams for both boys and girls for the last 24 years. The current under 7’s currently play in the Perthshire league on Sundays.

Robin Mitchell, manager of Crieff Juniors, says: ‘The sponsorship from Specsavers Perth has helped us to ensure

each of the kids on the team now have matching kits. In addition to this, we’ve been able to buy spare kits for any newcomers, or kids who might forget theirs. ‘I just want to extend my thanks to Sharon and Sandra at Specsavers Perthwithout their sponsorship, we wouldn’t have been able to buy the new kits for the team.’

Sharon Philip, optometrist director at Specsavers Perth, says: ‘When Crieff Juniors approached us to sponsor their kits, we knew it was something we wanted to do.

‘Supporting the community is at the heart of everything we do at Specsavers, and it’s been great to contribute to the team’s success both off and on the field. We know this is the start of a great partnership, and look forward to cheering them on, and off, the field!’

Did you know that all children under 16, as well as those under 19 in full-time education, are entitled to a free NHS funded eye test. It can be difficult to tell whether your child has sight problems,

which is why regular eye tests are so important. Getting your child an eye test before they start school means any potential problems can be identified early, setting them up for a happy and fulfilling school life.

Specsavers Perth is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm, Saturday 8.30 to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm and covers all your optical and audiology needs. Specsavers in Perth also offer prescription sports goggles for youngsters who need eyewear while playing sport, which are much more durable and practical than wearing glasses.

It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, what kind of prescription you have, or what kind of lifestyle you lead - almost anyone can wear contact lenses, Specsavers Perth offers lots of different types and brands of contact lenses and picking one will depend on your lifestyle and prescription. Pop into a Specsavers store to find the right type of lens for you.

To book an appointment please visit, www.specsavers.co.uk/book/perth/ or call 01738 643796.

spring Lawn Care: Essential Tips for a Healthy Garden

As winter fades and temperatures rise, spring is the ideal time to give your lawn the care it needs to flourish. A well-maintained lawn not only enhances your garden’s appearance but also provides a welcoming space for relaxation, play, and socialising. Here are some essential steps to ensure your lawn thrives this season.

spring Lawn Care Essentials

Clear Away Debris - Over winter, leaves, twigs, and other organic matter can accumulate, preventing sunlight, air, and nutrients from reaching the grass. Raking and clearing debris will encourage healthy growth and reduce the risk of disease.

Mowing Matters - As grass starts growing more actively, regular mowing helps maintain a healthy lawn. Keep your grass between 25mm (1”) and 40mm (1.6”) in length, adjusting the height depending on weather conditions. In dry spells, raising the mower to 50mm (2”) can help grass retain moisture and stay resilient.

Aeration & scarification - These essential treatments improve lawn health by enhancing air circulation and reducing thatch buildup. • Aeration involves making small holes in the soil to improve drainage and allow water, oxygen, and nutrients to reach the roots. • Scarification removes moss and thatch, preventing it from suffocating the grass and encouraging stronger growth.

Addressing Bare Patches - Cold weather and heavy foot traffic can leave some areas of your lawn looking sparse. To restore these patches, rake the affected areas, apply grass seed with a light covering of topsoil, and keep the soil moist. Germination is most successful when soil temperatures are above 5°C.

Weed Control - Spring is the time when weeds start to flourish, competing with grass for nutrients and moisture. Regular mowing helps keep some weeds at bay, but persistent growth may require targeted treatments to maintain a healthy, even lawn.

Encouraging wildlife - For those looking to support biodiversity, allowing some areas of the lawn to grow longer can attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. This

approach creates a more natural and wildlifefriendly garden.

By following these essential steps, your lawn will have the best chance of staying lush and healthy throughout spring and into summer. Consistent care, alongside seasonal treatments, will keep your grass strong, resilient, and looking its best all year round.

Brought to you by Green Thumb - Dundee, Perth & Fife branch - Call 01382 562417

Email dundee@greenthumb.co.uk. You can see the Green Thumb advert on page 63.

The Breadalbane & Strathtay Youth Football Club Awards

The Breadalbane & Strathtay Youth Football Club Awards Evening for all our small-sided teams, took place at Breadalbane Community Campus in February when around 150 kids, parents, coaches & supporters enjoyed music, games and party food bags from Bruce Entertainment. Thanks to the local Co-op for their donation.

The Player of the Year (PoY) awards were: 2016s (U8s) *Most Improved PoY- Joachim M *Coaches’ PoY - Makundi G *Players’ PoY - Callum J & Finlay B

2015s (U9s) *Most Improved PoY - James P *Coaches’ PoY - Arran M *Players’ PoY

- Arthur B

2014s (U10s) *Most Improved PoY - Lachlann M *Coaches ‘ PoY - Jacob T *Players’

PoY - Max S & Jamie S

2013s (U11s) *Most Improved PoY - Nestor D *Coaches’ PoY - Matthew C *Players’ PoY - Matthew C & Nestor D

U10 Girls *Most Improved PoY - Eilish Coaches’ PoY - Maria F *Players’ PoYVanessa R

U14 Girls *Most Improved PoY - Melanie M *Coaches’ PoY - Holly C *Players’ PoY - Alba M

Adam Weir Memorial Cup - Goalkeeper of the Season - Oliver G (2013s)

Marlene Robertson Memorial Award for outstanding contribution - Mairi McAdam. Mairi recently stepped down as Chair. She has fulfilled various roles over the past decade and her fantastic legacy was reflected in such a great turnout for the evening. Her achievements include growing the Girls Pathway, helping the Club achieve the SFA Platinum Quality Mark (first Club in PKY-

FA), creating the Pitlochry Football Festival where over 60 teams from all over Scotland now attend, providing the U15s with a once in a lifetime trip to Holland, developing the award winning Football Nurture project, receiving the Best Volunteer in Youth Football at the Scottish FA Grassroots Awards in 2022.

Special thanks were given to Kerry Davies for pulling off a record breaking Xmas Raffle Fundraiser with her fantastic team of helpers and to Andrew ‘Simmy’ Simpson for all his work in developing the Afterschool football programme in Pitlochry where we work closely with Gregor Ross from Active Schools Highland Perthshire.

A big thanks to all our Team Sponsors and the long suffering Parents & Supporters for all the miles they travelled, cold evenings they endured at training, the roller coaster of emotions they have been put through at matches and continued support they have shown.

Our new look Committee has done a fantastic job faced with the impossible task of replacing Mairi. Funding has been secured for our Development Officer Scott to continue in post for another year thanks to SSE Windfarm, Scottish FA & Gannochy Trust. His main remit will be to continue growing participation levels and support our volunteer Coaches.

The Club now has over 250 members and we need more Volunteers to come forward so that we can have an even bigger & better 2025 season. Please contact us at bsyfc2014@gmail.com to find out more.

Advertising Information

Please note that all advertisements carried by The Atholl & Breadalbane Quair are done so with the understanding that any claims, statements or information given are the sole responsibility of the advertiser in question.

We cannot be held liable for any commercial or consumer disputes, problems or difficulties arising from their workmanship or services.

Editorial and Event information

All of our listed events are published in good faith. However, for a variety of reasons, things can sometimes change. This edition of The Atholl & Breadalbane Quair was sent for print on Saturday,15 March 2025. Please therefore always check times and venues of events listed in The Atholl & Breadalbane Quair independently before going. We cannot be held liable for any mistakes, typographical or otherwise, by ourselves or changes made by Event Organisers.

Front Cover Picture

This month’s front cover image was taken at Loch of The Lowes. We love how the colours of the water, sky and vegetation combine.

The Atholl & Breadalbane Quair

is published by Scot Active, Aberfeldy, PH15 2ZX

tel/text: 07436 793785

web: www.thequair.scot

email: advertising@thequair.com

Living life at Pitlochry Care Home means care and kindness, safety and warmth, and lots of activities - home and away. As well as company, when you want it. We know choosing your new home can be daunting. That’s why we’d love to take the time to show you around, and chat over any questions.

Needing extra care needn’t mean peace and quiet. But we can arrange that too, of course. It can mean living some of your best life. Want to take a look?

John Swinney MSP, First Minister

Perthshire North - SNP

Since it was confirmed that the Bank of Scotland branch will be closing in Pitlochry, I have received a significant volume of communication from local constituents who are concerned about the impact of this decision. I have been clear that ensuring convenient access to banking services locally is not simply a matter of convenience. Rather, it is essential for supporting financial independence, economic development and social inclusion within our community. Accordingly, along with my colleague, Dave Doogan MP, I am currently engaging with LINK, the UK’s leading cash machine network, to advocate strongly for the establishment of a dedicated banking hub in Pitlochry. The impending closure of the branch in Pitlochry will have a significant impact on the town, especially given its status as a bustling tourist destination. The lack of physical banking facilities poses significant challenges-not just to our visitors and local businesses but particularly to the elderly and vulnerable members of our community who often rely heavily on in-person banking services. It is also unacceptable that, currently, the nearest bank branch will be in Blairgowrie. This is an arduous and inconvenient round trip for constituents in Highland Perthshire who require the use of in-person banking facilities.

I will continue to press for a solution that will allow in-person banking to continue in Pitlochry, and I am grateful to those in the local community who have shared their views on this important topic with me.

Whilst the role of First Minister is a hugely demanding position, I am adamant that I will continue to be an accessible and visible local MSP. If you are a constituent and wish to make an appointment to discuss an issue or concern, please contact my office via 01250 876576 or john.swinney.msp@parliament.scot.

Social Supermarket - Most items 4 for £1, available Saturday mornings 11 am -12.30 pm at Offizone, Kenmore Street, Aberfeldy. Emergency deliveries of food parcelsPlease call 0345 30 111 00 Monday to Friday 9 am - 4 pm.

FoodShare - Available 24/7 from the shelter in the rear carpark of Aberfeldy Parish Church. As I write this, the sun is shining and we’ve just enjoyed an unseasonably warm weekend.

We can rejoice that spring is finally here (or is it?) and we can enjoy some lovely sunshine to lift our spirits. The buds are on the trees and flowering bulbs bring colour back into the garden. March came in like a lamb but will it go out like a lion?

As always, we thank the whole community of Aberfeldy and surrounding area for their most generous help and faithful giving and we hope that you will be happy to continue to support this local community initiative. We could not serve those who need our support without you.

We would also like to thank all the volunteers who give of their time to keep the Social Supermarket and FoodShare running smoothly as well as those who deliver emergency support to households in crisis. Your support is invaluable.

If you are able to donate to the trolley in Aberfeldy Co-op (near exit) please consider purchasing some of the following items which are always in demand - long-life milk, tea bags, coffee, tinned fruit, tinned meat, tinned fish, pasta sauces, jam/ marmalade, puddings particularly rice pudding and custard, for example, and regular size chocolate bars are all most welcome. Shower gel, shampoo and conditioner are very helpful too.

We have been able to stock up the shelves in the Social Supermarket with the combined resources of people’s generosity and purchasing stock. Your continued support is therefore still very much appreciated. If you would like to make a financial donation to the Community Larder, please email breadalbanecommunitylarder@btinternet. com for details.

The Scottish Parliament Párlamaid na h-Alba

Murdo Fraser MSP

Mid Scotland & Fife Regional Member

Murdo Fraser MSP can be contacted at the Control Tower, Perth Airport, Scone, PH2 6PL Tel 01738 553 990 or email at Murdo.Fraser.msp@parliament.scot

Faskally Forest parkrun - There are parkrun events every weekend around the UK. Our local parkrun, Faskally Forest parkrun, meets at Loch Dunmore every Saturday at 9.20 am and starts at 9.30 am. It’s free, open to all ages, from babies being pushed in prams to folk 80 years young. We just ask that children under 11 years keep within arm’s reach of their responsible adult. You can decide to walk, jog or run the beautiful 5km forest route. You can even bring your dog but only one dog per person on a short, handheld lead please. We’d encourage you to register (free) with parkrun at www.parkrun.org. uk/register. Then bring along your barcode, which will enable you to receive an email with your completion time. You may prefer to volunteer to enjoy the camaraderie, it’s a great way to meet people and make friendships. There are a variety of volunteer roles, all are easy, and we will give you any training on the day if required. Afterwards, we go to the Red Deer Restaurant for a coffee and blether. To find out, more look at our web page www.parkrun.org.uk/faskallyforest or Facebook page Faskally Forest parkrun: www.facebook.com/faskallyforestparkrun

Tensions Rising @the field, dunkeld - As I write this in mid-March the days are lengthening and the pace of work at the field is increasing. Excitement tempered with anxiety is evident in the mood of the workforce....

Will the Dung Beetles succeed in spreading their largess on the plots before Fergie arrives to turn the sod???

Will the Living Composters manage to cover the no dig plots to the satisfaction of the Mycelium meister??

Will the Sowing Bees drill and nurture enough seed to meet the needs of the Furious Planters?? And when will the Tattie bogle arrive in time with seed tatties for the Dreelers??

To chit or not to chit that will be the question...

The leisurely pace of winter work, lengthy coffee breaks and idle chatter are behind us now. The relentless pace of the seasons is upon us and we need to set too on Thursday and Saturday mornings and any other spare time in the week in order to get stuff in the ground which will feed us for the next twelve months. (Currently we still have plenty brassica, leeks and onions for volunteers and to fill the stall at the gate).

The moral of this tale is that we need willing hands and feet to fill the plots with produce which will feed us all for the next year. If this sounds like something you would like to be involved in come along to the Field at the top of Brae Street any Thursday or Saturday morning and we will show you what needs doing and how to do it. Your reward will be a warm welcome, free produce according to your weekly needs and the dubious attraction of good coffee and idle chatter.

Easter family fun in Kenmore - In conjunction with the Scottish Crannog Centre we will be holding a Family Fun Day on Sunday, 20 April from 10.30 am to 1 pm.

Please join us for what we are sure, will be a great event, with a Treasure Trail featuring ‘Fairy Doors’, a bonnet making competition, egg and biscuit decoration and many other great activities.

The Treasure trail will commence at the Breadalbane Reading Room in Kenmore and can be completed in the village, with the option to continue at the Crannog Centre, where other fantastic events will be taking place.

The costs of this advert have been met from parliamentary resources

Dull and District Scottish Women’s Institute

We meet on the first Tuesday of every month at 7.30 pm in the Camserney Hall. You will always get a fabulous tea with home baked goodies and delicious sandwiches. Best not to eat too much before you come!

Next Meeting - Tuesday, 1 April at 7.30 pm.

Guest Speaker - Julie Brady - Napkin folding for Easter Membership - £30 Guests - £5

In May we have our AGM and the Dull and District WI ladies will meet after our Summer ‘holidays’ on the first Tuesday in September. If you would like further information please feel free to contact us via the Dull and District SWI Facebook page.

Rooﬁng & Damp Proofing Services

Rooﬁng and Damp Proofing for Perthshire. Omeworks is your one-stop for all your rooﬁng and building repairs, maintenance and improvements, both modern and traditional. Work we carry out.

We also carry out general roof checks to spot potential issues and ﬁx them before they become a costly repair.

We've got it a Hettie's

To find out more, check out our website

95 Atholl Rd, Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5AB, 01796 473991 www.hettiesteas.co.uk

Omeworks are a Perthshire based rooﬁng and building company run by Eddie McCole. We believe we oﬀer every customer a very high standard of work with great customer relations. Please have a look at our fantastic reviews on Google.

Top2Toe

Atholl Centre Pitlochry

Office hours - Atholl Centre Office open hours are Monday, Tuesday, ThursdayFriday 10 am - 4 pm. Wednesdays 10 am - 1 pm

Luxury Manicures and Pedicures

Lash Lift and Curl - for eyelashes that look longer & fuller

Annette Macdonald, IIR MAR

Tel: 07736 384035

www.top2toeaberfeldy.org.uk top2toeaberfeldy@gmail.com

LOU RADFORD BA (Hons), MBAcC

Member of the British Acupuncture Council

Acharn Clinic, Altchoaran, Acharn, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, PH15 2HU

Appointments & enquiries to 01887 830242

Winter Coat rail 2025 - The Coat rail will go at the end of March. Please call in before then to see if there’s a coat for you. We still have a lot of donations to choose from. Good Quality, stylish coats for all sizes, absolutely free. See office open hours above. food Bank perth & Kinross Referrals only - Please ask if you need some help to cope with the increased cost of living, or applying for your referral. NB: Emergency contact number: 07747 755194.

The Community Larder - Quite separate from the Food Bank; it is Open 24/7 for anyone to ‘give’ or ‘take’ food items along with other household items, avoiding food waste and supporting many with the rising prices at this time. New Fridge & Freezer

Community Larder located by the back door of the Atholl Centre.

Baby Bank - New to the Atholl Centre. We have a small amount of baby clothing and nappies available to support young families. Please contact the office for more information.

Volunteers Welcome - Please come and introduce yourself to us, if you would be interested in becoming a Volunteer worker in the Food Bank or doing the work of the Atholl Centre. We host holiday retreats, Church retreats, disabled holidays, and Community meetings throughout the year. Call in to the office, or call 01796 473044.

Changing Places Toilet - Fully equipped Rest room facility for the disabled. Please note office open hours, or call to book in advance - 07747 755194.

Helen Kirkwood, Atholl Baptist Centre SCIO15113, Atholl Centre, Atholl Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5BX. Further information from 01796 473044.

Dunkeld & Birnam Art and Crafts Fair - Dunkeld & Birnam Art and Crafts Fair takes place on Easter Weekend - Friday, 18 to Sunday, 20 April in The Drill Hall, The Cross, Dunkeld from 10 am to 5 pm each day. Lots of unusual crafts, old friends and new faces demonstrations. Free entry.

admin@pbcweb.net

THE PLANT NURSERY KINDALLACHAN

West Countlich Farm, Kindallachan, Near Ballinliug, PH9 0NW

www.alexbutter.co.uk | 07554 008058 nursery@alexbutter.co.uk

Herbaceous Perennials | Shrubs

Bedding Plants | Scottish Heathers

Alpines | Specimen Trees

Fruit Trees | Fruit bushes | Climbers

Conifers | Vegetable Plants

Compost | Pots | Gift Vouchers

Summer & Autumn Hanging Baskets (New & Reﬁlls)

April - October

Monday – Saturday 9am – 4:30pm

November – March

Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm

Breadalbane Cricket Club - The Summer is Almost Upon Us!

If you’d like to join your local, friendly, and community-based cricket club, it’s the perfect time. Breadalbane Cricket Club has been based in Aberfeldy for over 150 years and offers competitive and friendly cricket, with the opportunity to play, socialise, train, keep fit, and improve your skills - or even just volunteer and help out.

Training sessions are held on Thursday nights from 6 pm - 8 pm throughout the summer at Victoria Park in Aberfeldy. Everyone is welcome, regardless of age and ability. Just turn up! Equipment can be provided.

League matches take place on Saturdays, with a series of midweek 20/20 games too.

Junior Sessions, offering coaching for budding cricketers takes place on Monday evenings during the summer from 6.30 pm - 7.45 pm. P1 - S4 age groups. Everyone is welcome. For further details, including league fixtures, updates, and information on how you can help with fundraising please follow us on Facebook @BreadalbaneCricketAberfeldy, email the club - breadalbanecricket@gmail.com, or check out our website - breadalbanecricket.co.uk

Beef, Veal, Lamb, Pork, Poultry & Sausages

Botanical Spirits, Mead and Beer

Bread and Cheese

Cakes and Chocolate

Eggs and Honey

Fresh and Smoked Fish

Fruit and Vegetable

Homemade Burgers hot or to take home

Jam, Jellies and Sauces

the very best of local produce... Shortbread and Oatcakes

10.00am to 2.00pm

Aberfeldy Town Square

1st Sunday of the Month

April - November 2024

Venison, Rabbit, Pheasant, Pigeon, Partridge… Pies and Pasties

Plants and Herbs

Ready Meals

Vegetarian and Vegan Food Next Markets 6th April & 4th May 2025

Preserves and Pickles

Salad and Olives

Scones and Tray Bakes

10.00am to 2.00pm 1st Sunday of the Month - From April

Contact Fiona MacEwan M: 0799 0834 092 aberfeldymarket@gmail.com

Aberfeldy and Alyth Community Care Seek Care Assistant

Aberfeldy and Alyth Community Care are looking for a Care Assistant in the Aberfeldy area to join our friendly growing team

We are dedicated to providing safe, reliable, compassionate care and support in the home to meet the individual needs and wishes of our clients.

You will be required to support our clients with physical, emotional and social aspects of their day to day living, so they can enjoy the best possible quality of life.

Providing care and support offers many rewards but can also be challenging. Compassion, good communication skills and a calm and caring manner are essential for this important role in our company.

Experience in Care or a similar role would be an advantage but not essential.

In return we offer a competitive rate of pay, training, career progression. enquiries@aberfeldycommunitycare.co.uk 07881 736 939

Hayley Carruthers

KCR Practitioner

T: 07775668302

co uk

Birnam Arts: Concerts & Events

• Café • shop • Gallery • Beatrix potter Station Road, Birnam PH8 0DS - 01350 727674. Tickets and full details online at www.birnamarts.com

Exhibition: Stepping Into The Mythic - Claire Hewitt - Continues until Sunday, 20 April - Gallery - Claire shares with us the stories that have guided her through grief and hope, through drawing, sculpture and storytelling.

Exhibition: The Land Remembers w hat The waters Tell Us - Eve Mcgovern Miller - Saturday, 26 April - Sunday, 8 June - Gallery. Eve’s exhibition will include a series of cyanotype photography made from swimming within the River Tay and in Loch Faskally, through a collaboration with the Pitlochry-based outdoor swimming group The Dell Dippers.

King Lear - Odd Bodies - Friday, 4 April, 7.30 pm / £10 / £13 / £16* A tourde-force performance that tells the story of King Lear’s tragic downfall from the perspective of his loyal fool, using only a chair, guitar, knife and drum!

Beth Porter - Support With Tathajam - Friday, 11 April, 7 pm / £13* Beth is a master collaborator, songwriter, cellist and artist who blends folk, pop and classical to create a unique sound, quintessentially understated and original.

Allo Allo - Birnam Institute Players - Thursday, 17 April - Saturday, 19 April, 7 pm + Saturday Matinee, 2 pm / £10 / £7* Farce abounds in Rene’s small French café/safe house for WWII British airmen with covert operations, flirting with the waitresses, while keeping his oblivious wife happy!

Warm Spaces: Free Wednesday Film - Sister Act - Wednesday, 23 April, 2 pm / Lunch: 1 pm (Free for the first 15 to arrive)

Art Club For Adults - Michael Fullerton - Tuesday, 29 April, 1.30 pm - 3.30 pm / £25* Sessions aimed at artists who would like to benefit from expert tuition, exchange ideas and connect with others.

Bodies Of Water - Saffy Setohy And Laura Bradshaw - Friday, 25 April, 8 pm - 9 pm / £10* A playful, multi-sensory performance experience weaving together movement, choreography, water, objects and sound.

Rosco Mcclelland - Comedy: sudden death Tour - Saturday, 26 April, 8 pm / £16* Sudden Death - a comedic whirlwind set in Scotland, Glaswegian Rosco McClelland is a regular on BBC’s Breaking the News - the topical comedy panel show which takes a satirical view of the week’s headlines.

Volunteering At Birnam Arts - Interested in the cultural heartbeat of the area? If you’d like to volunteer at Birnam Arts, we’d love to meet you! Contact Elspeth at: Volunteer@birnamarts.com, or ask at Reception!

See website for workshops and more: Birnamarts.com / 01350 727674

*Denotes Booking Fee

Aberfeldy Marie Curie Group - This group was set up over 20 years ago running 2 events every year (except when covid would not allow), these being the Great Daffodil Appeal in March which is part of a national event, and the Aberfeldy Marie Curie All Day Café held in late August. These events over the years have raised in the region of £70,000. However, old age has crept up on many of us, and as they say, age does not come alone but with aches and pains and other aggravating issues, and so it has been decided that the time has come to call a halt for this particular group.

A huge thank you to the dozens of helpers who have given of their time and energy over the years, rattling cans for the daffodil collection, or for the café - baking, making soup and sandwiches, washing up, waiting on tables, donating plants and raffle prizes, tending stalls, counting money. It has been a tremendous team effort. Thank you and well done every one of you.

Blair Castle & Gardens

We’re reopening on 1st April and can’t wait to welcome you back.

Take a self-guided tour of Blair Castle & Gardens and wander through 30 beautifully preserved rooms, before strolling through the stunning 9-acre walled garden.

New for 2025

Step into our interactive ‘Life Below Stairs’ exhibition and discover the hidden world of those who kept the castle running in the 19th century.

Enjoy exclusive discounts and unlimited visits with a Friends of Blair Membership. Friends of Blair

Please check the website for opening times and prices.

What’s on

Easter Ranger Events 8th - 18th April

Ranger Julia has an action-packed Easter break with outdoor activities, crafts, and walks.

Easter Sunday Fun Day 20th April

Easter activities for children plus prizes for egg painting, egg rolling and egg hunting.

Spring Foraging 10th - 11th May

Learn the art of foraging at Blair Castle.

The Scottish Crannog Centre

Our 2nd season at Dalerb is well underway. Crannog Build Continues - We have two teams working on the build of our reconstruction of the Oakbank Crannog; one team are building the walkway leading from the shore to the crannog, the other team are working on water securing the large crannog supports beams into the loch bed like gigantic screws. This is hard work done by hand. The tree trunks are going into the water upside down - this is because of their tapering shape and, more importantly, because it helps to preserve the wood longer in water. We are using such traditional knowledge and methods in the build of the reconstruction crannog and the Iron Age Village.

Upcoming Events! - We have 3 very exciting events and themed days coming up in April and May so come along and celebrate with us.

Saturday, 19 - Sunday, 20 April - Crannog Eggstravaganza in collaboration with Breadalbane Reading Room, a whole day of family events spread between Kenmore and the Scottish Crannog Centre! Come join the Spring Bonnet Competition and have some eggcelent fun on a treasure hunt. Stop into our café for some sweet treats.

Saturday, 26 April - Beltane come and join us for a beautiful Beltane! Jump the broom, make a flower crown, and sign up for an extra special handfasting package complete with your own bouquet.

Saturday, 3 - Monday, 5 May - Wild May Days fun days of foraging, flower crowns and fairy doors. Get stuck into lots of handson activities across the site and celebrate the sunshine…Iron Age style! Stop into our café for a seasonal special.

Volunteers Needed - We are always looking for volunteers to help in different activities. If you are interested in joining our growing volunteer team, please email volunteers@ crannog.co.uk. Come help with the Crannog build, gardening, events, general fun, etc.

Breadalbane Community Library

Code Club - Every Thursday 3.45 pm to 4.45 pm. This is a weekly term-time coding club for children aged 8-12.

Bookbug session - Every friday 11.15am to 11.45am. This is an under 5s activity session with songs, rhymes and stories.

Breadalbane Heritage Society Family History Group - If you are looking for help to research your family history and create your family tree, then the family history group may be able to help. Please get in touch with Helen Stewart at helenstewart.bhs@gmail.com or contact the library. Support sessions are held in the library and are by prior arrangement only.

Books on Wheels - For individuals who cannot get out and about to visit the library, this includes books in large print and audio formats. For further information please get in touch with the library. digital services and Resources

Maker_Space - Free access to a fantastic selection of creative technology, including a 3D printer and the Adobe Creative Cloud. Digital services - The library has free public access to computers, Wi-fi, printing, wireless printing with Princh, photocopying, and scanning facilities.

Breadalbane Community Library Opening Hours - Monday:

Closed Tuesday:10 am - 7 pm Wednesday: 10 am - 6 pm Thursday: 10 am - 7 pm Friday: 10 am - 6 pm Saturday: 10 am - 1 pm Sunday: Closed

Breadalbane Community Library, Crieff Road, Aberfeldy PH15 2FJ 01887 822405/ breadalbanelibrary@culturepk.org.uk

The Birks ǀ More Than a Cinema! We strive to create memorable experiences that bring the community together. Our Cinema and Café are open five days a week, and our Café welcomes you six days a week. Pop in for a cuppa!

Every week, we have regular classes and groups, which are free (donations welcome). On Monday mornings, we host a relaxed Chair-Based Exercise session followed by Knit & Knatter and Yoga for Children with Additional Support Needs in the early afternoon, and Chess Club in the evening.

Join our Book Club! Meet every second Monday of the month at 7.30 pm, choose books and chat about great reads in a relaxed setting with fellow book lovers.

Our Environmental film of the Month will be Balancing the Scales on Monday, 28 April , 7.30 pm. Join us for a powerful, visually stunning documentary exploring the complex relationship between beavers and migratory fish. With salmon and trout under threat, can these natural engineers help or hinder their survival? Stay after the screening for a Q&A with local ecologist Duncan Pepper.

On Tuesdays from 2 pm - 3.30 pm, Highland Perthshire Plus takes over our Café for Star Café, a warm and welcoming space to relax, connect, and enjoy time spent together. Drop in for board games, Lego, knitting, and more, all while savouring a cuppa and a homemade treat. This community initiative provides a friendly setting where everyone is welcome - supporting people with additional support needs and/ or disabilities and their families to Play, Learn, Unite and Shine.

On Thursday afternoons, people are invited to gather upstairs with their own craft and art projects for Craic N’ Craft - crafting and chatting! Our Lego Coding Club , for children with additional support needs, meets after school. In the evening, we host our much-loved Acoustic Music Night, where musicians of all levels come together to play a mix of traditional and favourite tunes. You are also welcome to sing along, tap your foot to the beat, or just sit back and enjoy the music!

Board Games Night is held every Friday night, with a variety of games to choose from. All welcome.

Get ready to put your knowledge to the test because Quiz Nights are now a regular event at The Birks Cinema! The first Friday of every month, 4 April at 7.30 pm, gather your friends, family, and even your furry friends for a fun-filled evening and a chance to win. And make sure to add a bowl of nachos to share!

Heartland Film Society - On Sunday, 20 April, at 6.30 pm, we will be screening Samsara. Every morning, a Buddhist teenager visits an elderly woman’s home to read her The Bardo Thödol, a guide for the journey between death and the next rebirth. On her last day, the young man whispers the book’s final passages in her ear, closes his eyes, and meditates alongside her as she embarks on a transformative journey into what lies beyond.

special Events

*Royal Opera House: Turandot Tuesday, 1 April, 7.15 pm *Guys & Dolls, Wednesday, 2 April, 2.30 pm *Billy Elliot - The Musical Wednesday, 2 April, 7 pm *Six The Musical Sunday, 6 April, 1.15 pm & 6.30 pm *André Rieu’s 75th Birthday Celebration: The Dream Continues Sunday, 13 April, 2.30 pm. André Rieu’s brand-new cinema special, The Dream Continues , is a tribute to his childhood dream of forming his own orchestra and travelling the world, plus a celebration of his 75 th birthday. Featuring André’s favourite performances from around the world-previously unseen on the big screen. You’re invited to join the party on the Birks Big Screen! *Jesus Christ Superstar Sunday, 20 April, 3.30 pm *Macbeth: David Tennant & Cush

Jumbo Wednesday, 23 April, 7 pm *Kendal Mountain Tour Friday, 25 April, 7.30 pm *The Metropolitan Opera: Le Nozze di Figaro Saturday, 26 April, 6 pm

Volunteering Opportunities - Volunteers play a vital and valued part in the everyday life of your community hub. If you would like to know more, email volunteers@birkscinema.co.uk.

Pitlochry Library

Bookbug session - Every Thursday 9.15 am - 9.45 am. Come and join us for a session of songs, stories, and rhymes for under 5s. Prebooking for each session is essential. Please get in touch with the library to book a spot.

Community Knitting Group - Every Thursday 11 am to 12.45 pm. Do you like to knit or want to learn? Come along to our community knitting group that meets weekly in the library. We can provide everything you need to get started!

Opening Hours - Monday: Closed Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 10am - 1pm/ 2pm - 7pm Friday: Closed Saturday: 9.30am - 12.30pm Sunday: Closed Pitlochry Library, 46 Atholl Road Pitlochry PH16 2BX 01796 474635/ pitlochrylibrary@culturepk.org.uk

Dunkeld & Birnam Traditional Youth Music Group

Our guitar and whistle classes have had a strong start and we’re delighted with our new members. We do have some spaces left for anyone who would like to learn whistle, fiddle, accordion or guitar and is aged P5 - S6. All classes are in small groups lasting half an hour each week. They are completely free and we provide instruments, without cost, for our members to take home and use as their own. We are based in Dunkeld and Birnam but include surrounding areas from as far as Aberfeldy and Pitlochry, Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus, Stanley and Luncarty and everywhere in between.

Our junior and senior bands are suitable for most instrument players, so long as you can play them at least a little. We have plenty of spaces and encourage anyone who’d like to play in a group to come along to join in our musical adventures. All classes and bands run on Mondays during term time and are based at Birnam Arts we’ll be taking a break for Easter holiday break.

As always, huge thanks for making it possible to run our group go to SSE Renewables, National Lottery, Crescendo, Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust, Basil Death Trust, Scops Arts Trust, The Lang Foundation, Hugh Fraser Foundation and Enchanted Forest for their funding, and our local residents who have generously donated money and instruments.

If you have any small guitars, fiddles or piano-accordions hanging around your house, we happily take them and put them to good use. For more info: dbtradgroup@ gmail.com 07958 324766

The Birks of Aberfeldy Community Group

We are always looking for volunteers to help on our monthly workdays, which involve routine maintenance and specific projects in The Birks. Our next workday is on Sunday, 27 April, meeting in the upper car park at 10 am. Everyone welcome, gloves and tools supplied! We are on Facebook or BirksWoodland@outlook.com.

Beaver Talk at Dùn Coillich AGM

Save the date! It’s the Highland Perthshire Communities Land Trust (HPCLT) Annual General Meeting at 2 pm on Saturday, 26 April and this year the guest speaker will be talking about beavers, a topic which always generates healthy debate.

HPCLT manages Dùn Coillich Community Land by Schiehallion and the Wee Birks Field in Aberfeldy with three core aims: to restore biodiversity, support rural skills development, and encourage people of all ages to embrace the outdoors.

It’s been a really busy year for the Trust, with the creation of a new website, the launch of a Modern Apprenticeship in Rural Skills, new paths and perch seats and the planting of thousands more trees to name just a few achievements!

Come along to The Tryst, Church Road, Pitlochry to hear about what we’ve been up to, find out about membership and volunteering opportunities and enjoy a talk from Jean Oudney, Trustee of the Scottish Wild Beaver Group, on ‘Beavers: Nature’s Engineer’.

Jean will take us through beaver ecology, history and reintroductions, shine a spotlight on the benefits of beavers and offer management tools for living with beavers when their land management strategies clash with human land management aims!

Visit www.duncoillich.

org or join our Facebook Group to discover more about us and the training, volunteering and walking options on offer. Image - Beaver by Steve Raubenstein

Hearing Aid Drop-in Clinic at Pitlochry Community Hospital

Do you or someone you know use NHS hearing aids? Do you need new batteries supplied and/or fitted? Do you need the tubing replaced on either your mould or open fit NHS hearing aids? If yes, then NHS Tayside volunteers will be here to help you on Tuesday, 4 March between 10 am - 12 noon at the Pitlochry Community Hospital.

Hearing Aid Drop-in Clinic at Aberfeldy & Kinloch Rannoch Medical Practice, Aberfeldy

Do you or someone you know use NHS hearing aids? Do you need new batteries supplied and/or fitted? Do you need the tubing replaced on either your mould or open fit NHS hearing aids? If yes, then NHS Tayside volunteers will be here to help you on Wednesday, 5 March between 10 am - 12 noon at the Aberfeldy & Kinloch Rannoch Medical Practice, (Wellbeing Room), Aberfeldy.

Pitlochry and Moulin History Society

The April Talk will be by Bruce Keith on ‘Scotland beneath the surface’. Bruce is well known to us from his previous entertaining talks and is returning to tell us about what goes on beneath the surface of Scotland and its underground heritage. The talk covers the diversity beneath the surface, from tunnels to caves to mines to pipes. Also the rich variety of geology, coal, oil-shales, gas, the rocks that built our cities and much more. Bruce will also have copies of his book on the subject for sale. The talk will be in the Pitlochry Tryst at 7.30 pm on Monday, 28 April. All welcome and admittance £3 There will be a short annual general meeting at the start.

pitlochry Rotary - Few people in our communities are aware that Rotaract Clubs, for people aged 18-30+, exist. Rotaract affords young people the opportunity to exchange ideas with leaders in the community, develop leadership and professional skills and have fun through enterprising activities. In communities around the world, Rotary and Rotaract members work side by side to take action.

tary club as well, giving even more opportunities to make a difference.

If there are any young people in our community who are interested to get a Rotaract Club off the ground, make contact with our Pitlochry Rotary Club for guidance and assistance! Contact: secretary@pitlochry.rotary1010.org

Save Money This Spring - Living on a tight budget can be a struggle but there are ways to be creative with very little. Lots of people are now rejecting the extreme consumer culture and finding ways to reduce spending so there’s plenty of useful information available. Here are some ideas to help you save and even make money this April. Cancel what you don’t need - We all think we’re on top of our money but when was the last time you checked your Direct Debits or standing orders? It’s worthwhile taking the time to go through. According to Money Saving Expert, we could be losing out on several hundred pounds from regular payments we’ve forgotten about. See moneysavingexpert.com/banking/direct-debit for some great tips.

Check your statement and receipts - It’s also worthwhile taking the time to check your bank and credit card statements to make sure you’re paying the amounts you expect to be paying. If you spot an error, get in touch with the company to get it sorted as soon as possible.

inspiration. If upcycling isn’t your thing, you can still save money by making the most of charity/thrift shops, having a look on eBay or organising a clothes swap with friends. Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a UK charity delivering debt counselling and budgeting courses locally. Visit capuk.org to find out more or call 0800 328 0006 if you’d like a Debt Coach to visit you.

Breadalbane & district Riding for the Disabled (SCO47991)

Riding will begin for this year at the end of April with the start of the school summer term. We are expecting the majority of last autumn’s riders to be returning and any new riders joining the group will have been assessed as to their suitability. For safety’s sake we cannot accept potential riders who have totally unpredictable behaviour. Our ponies are almost completely ‘bomb proof’ but they are animals and this has to be taken into account. It is very important to match riders to ponies as much as possible. Broad sturdy ponies are not good for a rider with short legs but on the other hand they are very suitable for the taller, heavier rider who would be too much for smaller pony. Welfare of our ponies is a very big part of RDA and we have a duty of care for them alongside helping our riders enjoy the thrilling experience of being mounted.

Rotaract has grown and spread right across the world, with over 200,000 Rotaract members in 180 countries. Just like Rotary, Rotaract is a great way to expand your social circles and meet new people. By working together, you can build new skills, enhance your personal development and undertake leadership roles all of which can be great for your CV and employability. As a member of Rotaract, you also have the opportunity to take up dual-membership and join a Ro-

Plan your meals for the week - Planning what you’re going to eat for the coming week can boost savings, contribute towards eating more healthily and prevent food waste. It can also be fun being creative with what you already have in the cupboards. Plus, you can use any leftovers as packed lunches for work and school - according to research from vouchercloud.com, taking your own lunches instead of buying sandwiches every working day could save you around £1,500 per year! Upcycle your wardrobe - Splurging on new clothes can feel like a luxury when you’re on a tight budget, but these days everybody seems to be buying less in an effort to halt the damage being made to the environment by fast fashion. Why not try upcycling some of your old clothes? Check out pinterest. co.uk/jenuinemom/diy-upcycle-clothing for

One of the most obvious signs that volunteers notice with our riders is their huge increase in confidence as the weekly visits go by. And it is so encouraging to get the ‘feedback’ from the schools where this increased confidence is carried back into the classroom. They have achieved something that probably no-one else in the classroom has. This can be life changing.

As this goes to press we have an encouraging lead on the possibility of a new pony. However our search still continues for the loan of a quiet 13hh - 14hh pony who is reasonably forward going and who lives within reasonable distance of Pitlochry.

We operate weekly on Monday mornings during the school summer and early autumn terms. Please do contact us through our email address breadalbanerda@gmail.com or ring Vicky on 07786 262329. Also new volunteers are always welcome.

From Local Lad to Lawn Legend:

Michael’s GreenThumb Success Story

From Technician to Trusted Leader: Michael Murrie’s GreenThumb Journey

Remember that friendly face from GreenThumb? Just a few years ago, Michael Murrie was out in the field, diligently caring for Dundee’s lawns as a technician. Today, he’s the driving force behind the award-winning GreenThumb Dundee & Perth franchise—a true testament to his passion and dedication.

Since taking the reins five years ago, Michael has transformed countless lawns across Angus, Dundee, Perth, Kinross, and Fife. With a team of eight dedicated locals, he’s built a thriving business that now serves nearly 3,000 happy customers

Your Garden, Our Passion – A Lawn You Can Be Proud Of

At GreenThumb, we provide a professional and affordable solution to transform your lawn from tired and weed-ridden to lush and vibrant. Our team isn’t just made up of qualified experts – we’re your neighbours.

Friendly, approachable, and always ready to offer advice, we tailor our services to meet your lawn’s unique needs. Plus, as a BASIS Lawn Assured business, you can have complete confidence in our expertise.

We believe every lawn is different. That’s why we create bespoke treatment plans, using premium products applied by our specialists.

From aeration and scarification to weed control and fertilisation, we ensure your lawn stays healthy and beautiful all year round.

When you choose GreenThumb Dundee & Perth, you’re not just getting expert lawn care – you’re supporting a local business that truly cares.

Ready for a greener, healthier lawn?

Contact Michael and his team today on 01382 562417 for a free, no-obligation lawn analysis.

Experience the difference a personal touch makes!

Dundee, Perth & Fife branch

Call 01382 562417

Email dundee@greenthumb.co.uk

Aberfeldy Gaelic Choir - The choir is now in full swing with weekly practices under direction of the new conductor, Kerrie Kennedy. The next performance will be at the Oban Provincial Mod on Saturday, 7 June, followed by the Aberfeldy Mod on Saturday, 14 June. Both Mods will be attended by choirs from a variety of locations in Scotland and the standard is expected to be quite high, with choirs giving a first airing of the pieces which they will perform at the Royal National Mod in October. This year, the National Mod is to be held in Fort William, with choirs from all over Scotland taking part. Aberfeldy Choir perform persistently well and are rightly proud of their successes.

The choir now meets weekly on Wednesdays in the Town Hall, 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm. New members are always welcome and should note that the reading of music and a knowledge of Gaelic are not a necessity as tuition is given in both. For further information, contact John Duff: 01887 820217

Tryst Walking Group, Pitlochry

Thursday, 10 April - Glen Banvie (£2). Starting at the Glen Tilt car park, the route will take us along the north side of the Banvie Burn, onto the open moorland and up to the cairn at OS 852691. From there, we head south-east and then, after another short climb, we reach a knoll (OS 867681) with an excellent viewpoint (weather permitting), before returning via woodland and the south side of the Banvie Burn to Old Blair and the car park. Height climbed: approximately 300 m. Distance: approximately 8 miles. OS Map 43.

Saturday, 19 April - Kinloch Rannoch & Craig Varr (£3). Starting near Kinloch Rannoch, this circular route follows paths and open hillside onto the ridge ending at Craig Varr, giving very fine views (Grid ref: 671592). We return down the tourist path. Height climbed: 400 m. Distance: 4.5 miles. OS Map 42.

Please contact Maureen Holmes on 01796 473153 for further information.

Please note: The walk organiser/contact cannot be held responsible for any accident. Everyone walking does so at their own risk and should take due care.

Neighbourhood Watch, Pitlochry

BT Digital Voice

By January 2027, all landlines in the UK will be digital, meaning that calls will be made over a broadband connection and the current analogue system shut down.

members to demonstrate and guide ‘tasters’ in taking down part of an old, damaged farm wall and then rebuilding it.

The cost for the day is £40, payable on the day - cash or credit transfer to the branch account. The hosts will provide refreshments, and the branch will provide tools for the day. Participants must be 18 or over, and wear robust footwear such as work or walking boots, and bring work gloves.

Numbers will be limited, so please send your contact details to contact@csdswa.org.uk. Or VEG@LittleTrochry.co.uk.

The following information was provided by Neighbourhood Watch Scotland on behalf of BT at Pitlochry Town Hall March 4. Other providers are expected to be similar. What’s to happen? BT will send customers a postcard 28 days before their switchover date, followed by further communications up to the point of switchover. They will also provide any equipment necessary for the switchover. Customers will have the option of doing the installation themselves or, if they identify as vulnerable, can have an Engineer visit to do it for them. ‘Vulnerable’ covers a wide variety of circumstances and situations, including not being comfortable with new technology. What difference will it make? The new system promises clearer calls, built-in protection against spam and scam calls and the facility for 3 way calls. However, you will need to dial the area code when making outgoing calls e.g. 01796 for Pitlochry numbers. If you use a personal alarm or have a house alarm, you will need to speak to your alarm supplier before the switchover date about any necessary upgrades to ensure compatibility. Don’t have broadband? BT will offer a dedicated landline service.

Power Cuts - The fallback is to have a mobile phone. A battery pack can be provided free to vulnerable customers (£84.99 to others). A hybrid phone is free to vulnerable customers who do not have a mobile (£79.99 to others).

For more information visit www.bt.com/ digitalvoice

Drystone Walling Taster Day

On Easter Saturday, 19 April, the Central Scotland Branch of the Drystone walling association is running a taster day for those who might like to try the craft at Little Trochry Farm, PH8 0DX. There will be a professional Waller and experienced amateur

Perhaps this will lead to greater things like a full weekend training course, or a week at the DSWA training site in Cumbria leading to a qualification…..

Trish Waite. Chair

CSDSWA

Moulin Hall Trust

A Note from the Committee

Another busy start to the year, with some fantastic local groups using the Moulin Hall. We’d like to thank everyone for their ongoing support and remind you that we can offer a space to rent by the hour for lots of activities. Currently we have regular Repair Café bookings along with Bridge, Scottish Country Dancing and Yoga. In the past we have had everything from singing groups to Art Exhibitions, children’s parties and coffee mornings.

We are so delighted to be able to provide affordable facilities for such a broad range of events that bring so many people together. The Hall is community owned and we are working hard behind the scenes to maintain the hall - over the past year we are delighted to say that it has had a lick of paint outside and in, stonework fixed and beautiful new curtains installed. For all bookings, contact Libis 07930 288761; www.facebook.com/ MoulinHallUsersGroup Moulin Hall Trust; Notice of AGM 2025; Friday, 16 May; 7 pm in Moulin Hall

WATER COLOUR

Byre Theatre in partnership with Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland and Pitlochry Festival Theatre present

Written by Milly Sweeney Winner of the St Andrews Playwriting Award

The St Andrews Playwriting Award is generously supported by Mike and Elisa Levy and the late Elizabeth Mussen and has been developed in collaboration with the University of St Andrews MLitt in Playwriting and Screenwriting.

Directed by Sally Reid

Dalguise Meditation Group - Meditation has all sorts of benefits - increased focus and calmness, the opportunity to see things from a different perspective, a greater feeling of freedom and harmony, among many others. Whether you have never tried meditation before, or whether you have an established practice, why not come to one of our meetings and find out what we do? Live meetings take place every other Tuesday in Dalguise Village Hall from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. In April these meetings will be on Tuesday, 8 and Tuesday, 22 April. We enjoy sitting and walking meditations, discussions and refreshments. There are no charges, no formalities, and we have no religious affiliations - what we do is decided among our members.

We also have virtual meetings on zoom on the first Tuesday evening of every month, from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm. (Thus they sometimes coincide with the days of live meetings and sometimes not.) In April the zoom meeting is on Tuesday, 1 April (really!) These meetings usually include a guided meditation at the beginning and a silent meditation at the end, with a discussion on the latest topic (mailed to all members, see below) in between. People attending can join in or remain incognito as they wish. If you would like to take part in a zoom meeting, please contact Maragaret margaret.q.lear@ gmail.com who will send you the link. If you aren’t able to attend in person, and are not wanting to join a Zoom session, you might nevertheless be interested in going on our mailing list. Members receive thoughtprovoking and helpful compilations about meditation and mindful living, on the Tuesdays between live meetings. If you would like to know more about our meetings or about meditation in general, please do contact faithanstey@gmail.com

Fearnan Village Association invites you to an Easter Afternoon Tea on Saturday, 12 April from 3 pm - 5 pm in the McLean Hall, Fearnan. £6 for adults; £3 for children

The Arts Society Tayside - After a fascinating look at the world of consumerism in art with Bill Powell: Much More Than Soup, the Life and Works of Andy Warhol, on Monday, 10 March, we heard Caroline Holmes on the life and works of Painter and Plantsman Cedric Morris. Members were joined by young artist pupils from Cargilfield School in Edinburgh, who were keen to learn about the subject.

We are looking forward to our April lecture on George Villiers, the Handsomest Man in 17th Century Europe by Lucy Hughes Hallett. After April, we have two more absorbing lectures in our 2024/5 season to go before we break for the summer, ranging from the Golden Age of Spain to the Carry On Films.

Our spring and summer programme of activities this year features Aberdeen Art Gallery on Wednesday, 21 May (transport by coach provided). Three further visits to houses and gardens are in the process of being finalised and details will follow shortly. Following our donation to Grandtully Primary School for art materials for their aspiring young artists, members of the Arts Society Tayside committee visited the school on Tuesday, 11 March to see the young artists in action!

The Arts Society Tayside is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run society dedicated to providing its members with enjoyable and approachable experiences in the arts. Each year we offer ten absorbing and accessible daytime lectures at Birnam Arts on a wide variety of topics, as well as a range of house, garden and gallery visits and interesting add-on activities.

Please visit our website to see the full programme: theartssocietytayside.org.uk. Reduced price membership for the remainder of our 2024/5 season is £40. We are not culture snobs! Come and join us. Please contact us for a complimentary lecture or to become a member: tastmembership@gmail. com or 01350 724232.

Pitlochry Bowling Club News

Happy Easter, Everyone!

As we reach the end of the winter season for short mat bowls, we can look back on a

fantastic few months of both internal and external competitions. A huge congratulations to Dunkeld for winning the Tay Tummel Cup, with Pitlochry finishing as runners-up. A special thank you to Val Wilson for all her hard work in organising these matches - well done, Dunkeld!

We also recently held the final of the Killiecrankie Cup, our internal pairs competition. A big congratulations to Alex Anderson and Brian McClure for their well-earned victory! With the change in season, we have now wrapped up our warm hub days. A heartfelt thank you goes to Carol and John Anderson, along with Fay and Willum McNicoll, for their incredible dedication each week. Their homemade soup, bacon rolls, and delicious home baking were served with a warm welcome - we hope everyone who came along enjoyed the experience.

Now, we turn our attention to the great outdoors! We’re eagerly looking forward to Saturday, 19 April - the big day when our green officially opens for the start of the outdoor season.

For those who love a bit of fun, our April Bingo nights will be on Monday, 7 April and Monday, 21 April, starting at 7 pm for 7.30 pm. These are always popular social evenings, and everyone is welcome to join in! Last month, thanks to generous donations and collections from our CHAS can, we were delighted to send a £200 gift to CHAS (Children’s Hospice Across Scotland). A huge thank you to everyone who contributed! As always, we welcome new members, whether you’re looking to play or just join us socially. If you’d like to give bowling a try, come along and have a go! We can provide bowls and tuition - you’ll just need flat-soled shoes.

For more information, feel free to contact John on 07833 664121 or Agnes on 07981 22415. You can also stay up to date by following our Facebook page (Pitlochry Bowling Club). We look forward to seeing you soon!

Looking for an adventure for all the family?

Come and check out the Scottish Adventure School, based in Crieff.

We run a variety of outdoor activities and are open every weekend and throughout the school holidays. Lasertag, High Ropes, Gorge Walking, Rock Climbing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Hillwalks, Bushcraft. Canoeing, Archery and Air Rifles all available. Check out www.scottishadventureschool.co.uk/familyactivities

Based on the grounds of Ardvreck School in Crieff, the Scottish Adventure School runs residential outdoor education trips for school children from all over Scotland. They have now opened their doors for families, children and adults looking to try their hand at a range of different adventurous activities, all under the watchful eyes of their highly trained and experienced instructors.

The most recent addition to the activities comes in the form of an exciting, tree to tree high ropes course. This contains a series of obstacles and challenges to overcome on the way to the final zipline. Multiple laps can be completed over the course of a two hour session and training, supervision, full body harness and helmet are all included. Other popular activities include canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding at Loch Earn, rock climbing and abseiling at Bennybeg, gorge walking in the nearby River Turret and some of the on-site activities such as air rifle shooting, archery, bushcraft or a mass game of laser tag! For more details, please visit www.scottishadventureschool.co.uk/familyactivities, scan the QR code, and see advert top left.

Perthshire Pet Cremation

PERTHSHIRE’S HIDDEN GEM, THYME DELI IS LOVED BY LOCALS & DELIGHTS VISITORS.

Thyme Deli is a speciality grocer offering a wide range of Scottish and local farm produce, as well as international favourites. We also provide unique foodie gifts, hampers, a huge selection of cheese and charcuterie, and ideas for simple suppers - we’ve got you covered!

FARM TOURS at

COME AND MEET OUR RARE-BREED SHEEP, SHETLAND CATTLE, HIGHLAND PONIES, AN ASSORTMENT OF CHICKENS, GEESE & DUCKS!

Farm Tours & Feed Round takes place at 10 am on Fridays and Saturdays and lasts about an hour. Book your tickets by 4 pm the day before your required tour.

There is a maximum of eight spaces available per farm tour. To avoid disappointment, book your space ONLINE

We are situated just outside Aberfeldy on the Crieff Road, in an elevated position that provides amazing views over the Tay Valley.

From North or South: From the A9 take the Ballinluig junction. Follow the A827 to Aberfeldy. Drive into Aberfeldy, continue through the Town Square and on to a junction with traffic lights, turn left on to the Crieff Road A826. Keep going 2.5 miles, we are on the right.

Crieff Road, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, PH15 2EL