The Heartland Buzz - Issue 4

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TURNING UP THE HEAT WITH

August 2015 | Issue No.4

YOUR

FREE

DK LOGS

MONT MAGAZHLY INE

LOCH OF THE LOWES

PERTHSHIRE OPEN STUDIOS

240 ARTISTS IN 143 VENUES THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE AT

STRATHEARN DISTILLERY WIN

TAY WIN

OVERS A GINRLIENCE EXPE WO FOR T

A CRANN OG EXPERIE FOR TWONCE

39 PAGE

JANICE KENNEDY CONSULTANCY

THE INN ON THE

PAGE 5 1

ARDEONAIG HOTEL & RESTAURANT

ALL NEW HEALTH & FITNESS PAGES

20 MARGARET EVANS 46 ALL THINGS ARTISAN 56 PHOTOGRAPHER JAMIE GRANT

FROM THE EDITOR

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

Welcome to The Heartland Buzz e cannot believe four issues have past already!

We hear often about musicians facing their difficult second album, for us it was the difficult fourth issue, with failed computers, corrupt files and lots of data loss. That being said we have pushed on through with lots of late nights and strong coffee to make sure we finished our magazine on time and it all worked out nicely!

This month we say hello to a few more regular contributors to the magazine.

We have expanded our Health & Fitness section with regular articles from a variety of people including The Natural Clinic in Crieff, Chiropractor Patricia Waite and Samantha Weir from Perthshire Kettlebells. A huge thank you to them and we have a few more local businesses who will be contributing regularly and could be jumping on board as early as next month!

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There is a real feel of community with the magazine which is growing on a monthly basis and it is great to see so many individuals and businesses looking to be part of the Heartland Buzz. Whether you are a professional, a hobbyist or just love a good natter we would love to hear your ideas, we welcome any input and we invite everyone in the community to join the Buzz.

The magazine is filling up fast and we are now booking out slots up to six months in advance. The amount of interest is overwhelming and we would say if you would like to be featured in anyway, do let us know soon!

Although it may already feel like Autumn and some days, Winter, we are already thinking ahead and preparing our Christmas issue. We are not quite at the stage of wrapping the tree with tinsel, however if you have something festive

OUR NEW NUMBER 07850 991254

and a little bit special for our December magazine then give us a call as we would like to hear about it.

Alongside our data loss was an email communication from a particular young female photographer who was interested in working at The Heartland Buzz. We would like to hear from you again as we are unable to make contact. You updated your website for us and we would like to chat.

If you read this, you know who you are, so please, get in touch!

Finally, we have been experiencing a few issues with our phones so if you have tried to contact us and have not had any success we do apologise however we now have a new mobile number which, fingers crossed, will be an answer to our problems!

As always, enjoy the magazine!

Colin

Magazine Deadlines Sep/Oct | Issue No.5

Oct/Nov | Issue No.6

December | Issue No.7

31st AUGUST

8th OCTOBER

16th NOVEMBER

Distribution dates start approx.

16 days after the deadline date.

Want to talk?

If you are looking for further information, or need any assistance, you can contact us during office hours Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm. Alternatively you can email us anytime or visit our website.

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01887 840 736

FB The Heartland Buzz

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07850 991 254

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www.heartlandbuzz.co.uk

hello@heartlandbuzz.co.uk

WIN A SCOTTISH CRANNOG CENTRE EXPERIENCE FOR TWO TURN TO PAGE 51

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CONTENTS

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

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12

16

PERTHSHIRE OPEN STUDIOS 2015

DK LOGS

ARDEONAIG HOTEL & RESTAURANT

240 ARTISTS IN 143 VENUES

TURNING UP THE HEAT WITH DK LOGS

THE NEW TEAM AT THE ARDEONAIG

Perthshire and Kinross-shire artists open their doors from 5-13th September to welcome visitors to their studios.

Looking into the most recent initiative from DK Logs, putting them firmly on the map of premier sustainable fuel suppliers.

A warm welcome from the small, devoted team of individuals on the southern side of Loch Tay.

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20

JK CONSULTING

ART & CREATIVITY

JANICE KENNEDY CONSULTING

ART IN THE HIGHLANDS

We recently met up with Janice Kennedy as she creates her business consultancy support, JK Consulting.

The work of Artist Margaret Evans based at Shinafoot Studios in Auchterarder.

32 WILDLIFE & NATURE

LUNAN VALLEY AND LOCH OF THE LOWES One of the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s oldest nature reserves and certainly its most famous.

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RECIPE OF THE MONTH

LOCAL FARMING

FROM GLEN LYON

FOOD & DRINK

WE VISIT THE INN ON THE TAY

ALWAYS AT THE MERCY OF THE WEATHER

MEL’S HILLTOP DIARY

THYME TO TASTE

All the latest goings on from Glen Lyon by Melanie Bonn.

Blueberry Season is on it’s way and we celebrate with the Blueberry Mojito!

This month our recipe is Seared Scallops followed by Char-grilled Venison Fillet.

A look at the past few months farming with Martin Kennedy.

CONTENTS

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

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READ THE BUZZ ONLINE

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You can now read all our previous issues online! issuu.com/theheartlandbuzz

HEALTH & FITNESS

THE HEALTH & FITNESS PAGES STRATHEARN DISTILLERY

THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE AT STRATHEARN DISTILLERY Probably Scotland’s smallest whisky and gin distillery!

Our all new Health & Fitness section is full of information including regular columns from The Natural Clinic in Crieff, Samantha Weir & Patricia Waite.

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PICK UP POINTS Aberfeldy Audrey Slorance Gallery, Delight Deli & Habitat Cafe. Pitlochry Honest Thistle, Tourist Information Centre, Cafe Calluna and Melt Gallery & Cafe. Strathtay Strathtay stores. Kinloch Rannoch The Country Store.

Ballinluig The Post Office & Rivers Meet Cafe.

Kenmore Karelia House, The Courtyard Shop.

TISING Dunkeld Going ADVERTES Pottie. Blair RA Atholl Heart of Atholl.

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46 THE COVER This month’s cover image is by John McGarry from Lochview Photography.

John will be contributing to the Heartland Buzz on a monthly basis. Turn to page 31 to see more!

ART & CREATIVITY

HELLO SOUTH GEORGIA ART & CREATIVITY

ALL THINGS ARTISAN A little look into Artisanand, one of Aberfeldy’s creative hubs.

Perthshire photographer, Jamie Grant gets set for an adventure of a lifetime.

IN THE GARDEN

THE SCOTTISH CRANNOG CENTRE The latest news and events from The Scottish Crannog Centre.

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50 THINGS TO SEE

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Great Spotted Woodpecker encouraged into my back garden by a bird feeder filled with nuts.”

GROWING WITH ROSIE All things green in the garden from Rosie Nixon. This month we are growing Sea Hollies.

GOING GREEN

STAY SOCIAL!

Our paper is sourced from well-managed forests. When you are finished with our magazine, help us keep our planet green and please recycle.

Find us on Facebook and keep up to date with latest buzz, our magazine pick up points and all our latest adventures!

WIN A GIN LOVERS EXPERIENCE FOR TWO AT STRATHEARN DISTILLERY TURN TO PAGE 39

t. 01887 840760 info@theinnonthetay.co.uk www.theinnonthetay.co.uk The Inn on the Tay, Grandtully Perthshire, PH9 0PL

Taste of Asia

Saturday 19th September, 2015

Come and join us at the Inn to sample a true taste of Asia at its finest. Our Head Chef Simon Miners has travelled extensively throughout Asia, working and living in Indonesia and Australia where he worked for Hilton serving their predominantly Asian clientele.

A little closer to home, he has run Asian Fusion restaurants in Cornwall.

Sous Chef Gabor Toth has rejoined us after four months trekking through South East Asia enthused by new flavours and dishes.

We do hope you’ll join us at The Inn as we bring a little taste of Asia to Highland Perthshire.

On the Plate

Duck Spring Rolls

Thai Fish Cakes Bakso - Indonesian Style Fish Soup Rendang Beef Curry Lamb Rogan Josh Pork, Ginger & Shitake Stirfry Banana & Tamarind Spring Roll & Mango Sorbet

Call us to reserve your table

01887 840760 www.theinnonthetay.co.uk

Chilli Chocolate Fondant & Coconut Ice-cream

BAR | RESTAURANT | ROOMS

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PERTHSHIRE OPEN STUDIOS 2015

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

HELPING CREATIVES STAY CREATIVE!

PERTHSHIRE OPEN

STUDIOS 2015 Circles Left to Right: Andrew Hunter, Shiela Roberts, Angus Clyne, Audrey Slorance.

PERTHSHIRE OPEN STUDIOS 2015

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

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perthshireopenstudios.com

5-13

SEPTEMBER

“

The Event began 8 years ago with a small group of committed people keen to work together.”

240 ARTISTS IN 143 VENUES

Large Left: Maryann Ryves, Large Right: Kate West.

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erthshire Open Studios 2015 includes around 240 artists in 143 venues across Perthshire and Kinross-shire, who will be opening their doors from 5-13 September to welcome visitors to their studios, work spaces and galleries, in many cases giving demonstrations and taster sessions. The event includes a wide range of artistic mediums including Painting, Photographic Art, Sculptures, Ceramics, Wood and Textiles.

Perthshire with it’s outstanding natural beauty is the perfect location offering visitors spectacular scenery

and many sporting and cultural activities, of which Perthshire Open Studios is a major event.

The Event began eight years ago with a small group of committed people keen to work together to promote the talent and skills of a growing number of artists in the Perthshire area.

They looked at other models in North East Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway and decided they could match

Ceramics: Jenny Charles Ceramics.

any of the talent in these areas. And so, Perthshire Open Studios was born.

Eight years on, the event this year includes more than double the number of artists of that first year and now attracts the support of no fewer than nine prestigious local businesses as sponsors and many others as advertisers in the event’s brochure and on its website.

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PERTHSHIRE OPEN STUDIOS 2015

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

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New this year is a second Showcase Exhibition at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre.”

MORE THAN 15,000 VISITORS Year on year it has attracted an increasing number of visitors, with more than 15,000 last year calling in at the 138 studios which had opened their doors to the public.

For the artists this is an opportunity to show their work to the public and to gain affirmation that people really do appreciate their skills and talent. It also means that for nine days of the year they are not working in isolation, as many artists do, but are part of a big, local and

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national event. They can also connect with other artists through the year through the event’s Facebook page and other networking activities. For visitors it is a unique opportunity to see unique art work being created and to meet the real artists who are producing it. Whereas most visitors are from Scotland, increasingly they come from the rest of the UK, from Europe and some from far flung destinations such as Canada, the USA and Australia.

New this year is a second Showcase Exhibition at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre (1 September to 31 October.) This will complement the annual Showcase Exhibition

A couple from South Yorkshire who only meant to come for a few days stayed the week and got carried away filling their car up to the brim with artworks!”

at The Bield at Blackruthven (30 August to 13 September). Entry to both exhibitions is free, and full colour brochures will be available to help visitors plan their trips to see participating local artists in their working environment. Also new, Kinross has a Pop Up Gallery, showing examples of work by local artists in the Kinross Property Shop at 94 High Street.

The brochure, a guide to the venues, lists open studios arranged in coloured routes and recommends eating places along the way to help visitors plan a day out, taking in a variety of venues or choosing them by a particular discipline.

The guide is now available as a download from the website and hard copies are available from locations listed on the site. Visit the website for more information at www.perthshireopenstudios.com

Circles Left to Right: Dina Campbell, Angus Ross, Jenny Charles in her studio by ©Dave Hunt, Eilidh Robertson. Top Right: Jonathan Sainsbury.

PERTHSHIRE OPEN STUDIOS 2015

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

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MARGARET MITCHELL ANDREW HUNTER KIRKMICHAEL SESSION HOUSE PINETREE LODGE TREVOR TAYLOR MICHELLE HEWITT SCOTTISH WOODLAND SKILLS CENTRE SPECIAL BRANCH BASKETS ALYTH ART STUDIO & ISLA POTTERS MOMENTUM POTTERY PIGGLELIGGLE CERAMIC STUDIO & ROSECOTTON REATIONS LESLEY GARSIDE & BILL GEORGE BONARTS CLOTH-PAPER-STONE RATTRAY ART FESTIVAL SARAH CAVE SILVERSMITH TARTANTED ANDL-BEE CRAFTERS JINGS/SHIL MARTIN HAND KNITTING CANVAS, GLASS AND CLOTH TREES AND TREASURES ROSALEEN WHYTE PIGGERY STUDIO EASTER LOGIE AND DELVINE STUDIOS CLUNIE SCHOOLHOUSE

IT’S ONLY NATURAL EGGSHELL & CHALK @ THE BOTHY THE QUARTO PRESS CORNELIA WEINMANN DESIGN LONGLEYS STUDIO MANUS MCGINTY LIZ DULLEY KATHLEEN GREENE

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ANNE RUSSELL DAWN WOOD KATHERINE HERIOT MAITLAND LINDA GILLIES KINNAIRD CERAMICS FREYA CUMMING CLOOTS! WINSOME HARDIE HELEN IMOGEN FIELD

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CARON IRONSIDE DESIGN CATRIONA STUDIO TIANES STUDIO CERI WHITE STUDIOS SHONA MACAULAY SCOTTISH ARTIST LUISA RAMAZZOTTI LUCY POETT ASKIVAL OF STRATHEARN

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THE ARTGAILLERY MICHELLE MORTON THORA CLYNE MARTIN PETTINGER PHOTOGRAPHY THE TWO PIXELS KINROSS AND DISTRICT ART CLUB BRESLIN & MCKEEN @ KINROSS PROPERTY DEE’S FABRIGAMI THE WEST WING STUDIO DINA CAMPBELL GILLIAN SKENE JEWELLERY MORNA GOLDIE JEWELLERY NICHOL WHEATLEY BUNTY ANNE BABS PEASE

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IAN DUNSIRE ALISON PRICE THE HEART OF GALSON ART GEMS STUDIO JUST DRIFTING ANNETTE PORTEOUS D SMITH GLASSCRAFT DIANA KING JEWELLERY YVONNE HAIR WILDSCOTPHOTOS @ THE BIELD JENNIFER PITTS@THE BIELD MCBEAD FAIRFIELD STUDIO BROOKLANDS HOUSE STANLEY ARTISTS DESIGNS BY INEZ

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SCHROW TIME CREATIVE IN CALLANDER WOOLSHED31 STUDIO NO.12 ANN SHAW LYS HANSEN CULDEES TREASURES SUNART STUDIO JAMMYTHINGS DEBORAH GRAY AND THREE BEARS PRINTS CHRISTINE’S STUDIO

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ARIE VARDI THE COTTAGE STUDIO @FRANWORDS ST COLUMBA MAKERS AND PAINTERS IAIN MCINTYRE-YOUNGER JENNA MCDONALD 97 & FUN MAKES GOOD THE BOTHY IN THE GARDEN REMAKE SCOTLAND FLAT RABBIT STUDIO STRATHEARN WOOL STUDIO GLENTURRET GALLERY THE GARDEN GALLERY

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MOKA POTTERY JONATHAN SAINSBURY SHEILA ROBERTS JO COUND LOUISE MCLAREN LILAC COTTAGE STUDIO TIGH NA COILLE STUDIOS MARTIN RIDLEY MID TULLYBANNOCHER STUDIO THE OLD COACH HOUSE ARDELL MORTON WILDGRASS STUDIO COUNTRY MUMKINS @THE ARTISAN CAFE

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KEITH BROCKIE CHARLOTTE FLOWER CHOCOLATES KELTNEYBURN SMITHY GALLERY BREAGHA GLASS THE POTTING SHED MARYANN RYVES TAYBANK STUDIO ANN LITTLE JEWELLERY ARTISANAND AUDREY SLORANCE ANGUS ROSS EVERGREEN STUDIO ZANNA WILSON LAGG STUDIO COMELYBANK STUDIO SHONA MACKENZIE, CORINNA MCLEOD IAIN BURNETT HIGHLAND CHOCOLATIER QUIRKS OF ART & FAERIE MOUNTAIN GRANDTULLY, LOGIERAIT & STRATHTAY GROUP EILIDH ROBERTSON PHOTOGRAPHY STATION CAT POTTERY ANGUS CLYNE TIGH FHADA MELT GALLERY JENNY CHARLES RIVERBANK CAFE THE SHED GALLERY RANNOCH STUDIO

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DK LOGS

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

“ Turning up the heat with

Kiln dried fuel is a renewable and low transport resource for those who care about their green credentials.”

DK LOGS

FIND DK LOGS ON FACEBOOK

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

DK LOGS

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“

Quality for us is paramount.”

Perthshire Kiln Dried Firewood Merchants

he last twelve months will probably go down as a year to remember for Karen and David Wilson. Not only have they started on their dream build at Brae of Murthly with its stunning, panoramic, second to none views of Highland Perthshire, they are also continuing to build up a successful business started in 2007.

DK Logs will be known to many, however their most recent initiative is one which they hope will put them firmly on the map of premier sustainable fuel suppliers in Perthshire and beyond.

This is largely due to the pioneering installation of a kiln drying plant above Aberfeldy to supply quality mixed hardwood logs.

Still an innovative development, kiln drying is quickly catching on as the benefits of burning kiln dried wood are tried and tested. To coin a phrase, the proof of the wood is in the heating!

Putting it simply, the moisture content of kiln dried wood is reduced to around 15% after approximately 3 days in the drying kiln and the calorific output greatly increases compared to normal seasoned

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logs resulting in a ‘less is more’ burn.

Due to this innovative kiln dried moisture extraction - what would normally take two or more years to season can be done in a matter of days. Low moisture content in turn means a cleaner burn and as well as greater heat output, leaves much less flue and chimney residue compared with more conventional seasoning methods.

So successful has this new development been, that David and Karen have invested in a second drying system to fulfil orders and keep up with increased demand.

With much of the 100% British wood used by DK Logs resourced locally from sustainable woodland, kiln dried fuel is a renewable and low transport resource for those who care about their green credentials and CO2 emission offset.

The 196kw biomass boilers themselves are fuelled by softwood and wood waste creating a virtuous circle.

Different wood lengths and kindling can be suppled to suit both domestic and commercial needs as the kiln dried logs are suitable for all wood burning stoves and appliances - even for those who still like the cosy atmosphere created by an open fire.

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DK LOGS

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

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In future it is hoped that pallets can be sent nationwide.”

VISIT DK LOGS WEBSITE TODAY DKLOGS.COM

DK Logs serves much of the local community where wood fuel is a key and important source of heat and hot water for both homes and businesses.

As a registered Biomass List Supplier, they offer a competitive choice to those signed up to RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) who are required to buy from a BSL source.

At present DK delivers by the load, covering Perthshire, Angus and Fife, but in future it is hoped that pallets can be sent nationwide.

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“This is one of the aspects of the job I most enjoy,” explains Karen ”meeting new people, going to different places or making a return visit to those satisfied customers who have tried our logs and want a repeat order. “ After a very successful first year, the couple are gearing up for increased orders and encourage customers to think ahead when it comes to their seasonal fuel supplies.

DK Logs serves much of the local community where wood fuel is a key and important source of heat.”

“Quality for us is paramount” says David “and we are now assured that we can produce enough low-moisture firewood to meet rapidly growing demand.”

There’s definitely quite a buzz about this thriving new business in Highland Perthshire and it has a lot to do with an enterprising, hardworking young couple like David and Karen who are providing a quality product - and service - with DK Logs.

If you are looking to get ready for winter or would like more information then contact Karen on 07984 512 999, David on 07894 512 998 or the office 01887 822702.

You can also email sales@dklogs.com.

DK Logs are a registered Biomass List Supplier

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ARDEONAIG HOTEL & RESTAURANT

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

“

HOTEL, BAR, RESTAURANT AND OUTDOOR SEATING AREAS OPEN 7 DAYS.

We aim to incorporate not only seasonal produce, but the ingredients that grow in and around the hotel grounds itself.”

The new team at the

ARDEONAIG HOTEL & RESTAURANT T

he Ardeonaig Hotel and just popping in for a quick coffee, we want Restaurant sits on the to make sure that everyone who visits us southern side of Loch Tay, feels welcome, gets to know us a little, and approximately halfway takes something special away with them.” between Kenmore and Killin. The modest In terms of rooms, the hotel boasts facade obscures what is a 10 in-house surprisingly large estate, bedrooms, running to the water’s edge, 2 cottage with scenic views across to suites, and the Ben Lawers Peaks.

5 “Shieling” Following a successful lodges on the summer, including hosting grounds out competitors in the Great back, whose Artemis Kindrochit challenge, spacious the new management interiors team intend to keep the provide momentum going for the forthcoming something a little more secluded for those autumn and winter months. “Since looking for a real retreat. However, with the our arrival in 2014, we have spent time great larder of Perthshire at its doorstep, putting together a small, devoted team of Ardeonaig’s restaurant is also a highly individuals, allowing us to be fully important part of anyone’s stay. operational once more. Every Seven days a week, it offers a member works hard to ensure a variety of dining options, from standard of service and food is light meals on the bar menu in LUNCHES always available for those both the afternoon and evenings, to STARTING passing through, and living in fine dining from the evening’s FROM £4.95 the immediate area. Each of “À la carte” and “Chef’s us cares very deeply about the Recommended” menus. business and we realise that part “We aim to incorporate not of our ongoing success now lies in getting only seasonal produce, but the ingredients to know our neighbours.” Says the hotel’s that grow in and around the hotel grounds General Manager, Nigel Liston. “No matter itself” says Head Chef, Christopher Brant. whether you’re coming to stay overnight, or “Just this week, we have been using

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We realise that part of our ongoing success now lies in getting to know our neighbours.”

a variety of produce from the estate, including a number of lettuces, fresh herbs, elderflower, radishes and wood mushrooms.

“In the same vein, we are also making efforts to bring local suppliers on board. We now work with Charlotte Flower of Acharn, who supplies her award-winning chocolate thins for our rooms.”

It isn’t just food suppliers that the hotel is interested in working with, either. The new team have also paired up with Creative Stirling to begin transforming the hotel’s old red phone box into the area’s smallest commercial gallery, with room for local artists to showcase their work.

There are plans for the hotel interior too. “We are also very open to any artists who would like to display their works in the hotel itself. There is a wealth of creative talent in Stirlingshire and Perthshire, and any opportunity to help promote this to visitors to the area is something we want to be involved with,” says Assistant Manager, Daniel Nunan.

With this new team in place eager to make its mark, the hotel is finally receiving a breath of fresh air, all the while retaining its unique, old-fashioned charm.

E: info@ardeonaighotel.co.uk T: 01567 820 351

www.ardeonaighotel.co.uk

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JK CONSULTING

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

e recently met up with Janice Kennedy as she creates her business consultancy support, JK Consulting, to find out what she has to offer to small businesses in the local community.

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JK CONSULTING W

hat is your background?

I was born in the far north of Scotland, a native of Wick, Caithness until my late teens when I left to study in Edinburgh. I spent the next 25 years in Edinburgh and it was there I discovered my love for live theatre and music – and football becoming a season ticket holder for almost all of those years.

Some 12 years ago my husband Derek took over the role of Head of Finance at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, a move which saw us relocate to Grandtully. I

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love the area for its scenery and sense of community – as well as the never ending walks with our King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, wee Jimmy.

What is your career experience and how has that influenced you?

I consider myself to be passionate, driven and highly experienced having spent over 30 years in business.

The majority of my working career was in the car industry where latterly I was Head of Car Sales for Honda’s UK operation.

A pressured role in a results-driven industry, it was a job I thrived in, managing and

I think that whatever you do it is important to make a difference.”

motivating a team of over 60 and achieving on target results.

Although a wealth of experience is needed to be considered for this role, it is nothing to the immense experience and people skills gained. Responsible for the volume and bottom line profit for the company and its dealer network through strategic planning and preparation of three year business plans, incorporating marketing in terms of product/pricing and promotion, a thorough understanding of company financial results and business performance management was paramount.

Achievement of the business plan was enabled by strong people management – communication, team building, role planning, motivation, mentoring and appraising. Working in an international corporate company has the advantage of having on-tap help and guidance such as HR, legals, procurement, financials - including

JK CONSULTING

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

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It can be a lonely place in the early stages and another view point, sounding board or pair of hands is a lifeline!”

funding - and you can very quickly amass expertise that is otherwise very costly.

Why did you move on and where to?

The weekly commute from Grandtully to Windsor called for long hours and five/ six days away from home every week understandably took its toll, so I chose to return home to family and a social life!

Not someone to be idle, I very quickly took on the position of MD at Highland Chocolatier – a young business which was literally on my doorstep. It looked like an exciting challenge and a small business was quite a new experience to me. Over 3 years of rapid growth have shaped and developed the business to over a million pounds of turnover.

In this period, the business won numerous awards including Perthshire Star

Awards Retailer of the Year, gained the British Airways First class supply worldwide, set up a new e-commerce site, created the retail branding for owned outlets and launched a new product range!

To do this meant establishing a solid team to take on structured roles to create an organisation capable of growth whilst at the same time managing and sustaining business. It was really satisfying to paint that vision and at the same time work across all levels of business, roll up my sleeves and work along side a developing team.

The business has reached a significant point, it was the right time to hand over the reins to the team for them to take on the challenge. I felt it was time for me to make a move.

So, what next?

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business performance through bespoke key performance indicators and identifying improvement opportunities with required employment or people development planning. Or simply manage change and support business growth, improving future planning and recruitment/employment support.

A final word and how can our readers reach you for advice?

Genuinely passionate, I really love to work with like-minded individuals with hands on help and support - to mentor and support and enable development of the self same skills. The best advice I can offer is never give up, there is always a way and I would love to help find it.

If you would like to discuss your business I think that whatever you do it is important or potential business idea please contact to make a difference and I would love to Janice on share all of the amassed experience with potential business start ups. To be involved T. 01887 840 793 with entrepreneurs to help them at set up M. 07921 740 180 identify markets, sectors and sales channel E. janicem.kennedy@yahoo.co.uk opportunities and to create a business plan.

This would provide the platform to measure You can also find Janice via LinkedIn. and develop performance by identifying and planning roles, processes, tasks and responsibilities Thyme at Errichel is a and of course at the same time creating stunning, fully licensed solid business Restaurant with Rooms, relationships in banking, supplier & Luxury Holiday Cottages and customer as well with spectacular views as expert support specialists. near Aberfeldy.

It can be a lonely place in the early stages and another view point, sounding EST OUR B board or pair of hands is a lifeline!

What about existing business, what can you offer?

I can also provide business assistance through identifying, fulfilling and developing opportunities from marketing to trade fairs to online web sales. Or helping businesses to review

Stay Dine Celebrate Create Shop Tel: 01887 820850 enquiries@errichel.co.uk www.errichel.co.uk Errichel, Crieff Road, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland. PH15 2EL

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ART & CREATIVITY

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

GET YOUR WORK FEATURED NEXT MONTH

FREE

MARGARET

EVANS ART IN THE HIGHLANDS

t often takes a bit of travel and exploration elsewhere to make you realise what a beautiful area you live in, and from an artist’s point of view, appreciate the endless supply of inspiration without wandering too far from home.

Scottish artist Margaret Evans has travelled extensively over the last 25+ years with her business, based at Shinafoot Studios in Auchterarder.

Building an art centre from an old farm

I

steading took years to establish, but grew to attract artists from all over the world, as well as opening up international invitations to teach overseas.

Through Margaret’s DVDs, books and painting skills, people still travel to Perthshire to attend her workshops, covering every medium, from complete beginners taking

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their first artistic leap, to professional artists needing mentoring. International art groups come with their own tutors to experience ‘Paintaway’ packages, so Margaret and husband Malcolm are kept fully occupied, even fitting in picture-framing services to complete their set up!

Through Margaret’s teaching and

My advice is probably old-fashioned but I would say it is most important to get an art school training.”

ART & CREATIVITY

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

info@shinafoot.co.uk

“

I had always been keen on art, drawing and scribbling from an early age.”

Nightfall, Schiehallion 36 x 36”

Cuillin Golds, Skye 40 x 20”

Winter Feeding, Cattle at Schiehallion 9 x 9”

writing (to date she has had over 5 books published on her art, and written for numerous art magazines internationally) travel has been a large part of her life, and each time she returns from a trip, the excitement of seeing her own country again with fresh eyes inspires her paintings, whether in the lush green Perthshire surroundings, the rugged Glencoe mountain ranges, west coast Highlands & Islands or Kintail.

The unspoilt wilderness of Glencoe attracts many, who proudly conquer Munros, tackle the West Highland Way,

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or endure challenges on foot, cycle or skis.

Margaret keeps her feet firmly on the lower levels, with no time to scramble on high peaks, but simply taking short routes to great vantage points, carrying her pastels, easel & boards and getting on with the painting, capturing the momentary clouds, impending storms and dramatic peaks.

I don’t think a style ever came naturally to me, as I love experimenting and allowing my style of work to ‘evolve’.”

The mountains are the easy bit, she insists – they don’t move, but it’s the ever-changing weather that creates her challenges, and for every one painting

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ART & CREATIVITY

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

HELPING CREATIVES STAY CREATIVE!

White Sands, Iona 18 x 18”

produced plein-air, there are plenty of back up photos to work from back at the studio.

Most paintings are considered ‘rough’ on site, and finished in the studio, where the artist’s eye can develop the elements that attracted her to the scene, and eliminate the detail, without losing the spontaneity of the plein-air rendition. Sketchbooks are also packed with outdoor sketches, simply capturing changing colours in the landscape or scribbling compositional studies to use over & over again. One good sketch can inspire numerous great paintings, to keep her busy on studio work, when the weather is bad, and the winters set

in – indeed, Margaret relishes those cold wintry days when the snows restrict outdoor work, and claims if she never went outside the door again, she’d have more than a lifetime’s worth of painting ideas to keep her productive!

Margaret’s work is exhibited in many of the top galleries in Scotland, from Aberdeen, Broughty Ferry, Aberfeldy, to Helensburgh, Edinburgh and her home city of Glasgow where she is well represented by ScotlandArt, by Distinction Gallery and MacGregor Fine Art in the city.

Though travels continue, with twice yearly workshops in USA and Paintaways in Europe, most of her time is now spent

at the studio, or outdoors, painting the Scottish landscapes and appreciating the simple joys of Home Sweet Home!

What were you doing before you found art or has it always been in your life?

Before graduating from Glasgow School of Art in the 1970s, I had always been keen on art, drawing and scribbling from an early age, even considering myself as a possible fashion designer until I realised I’d have to learn to sew as well!

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

ART & CREATIVITY

Track to Buchaille, Glencoe 26 x 9”

What advice would you give to someone trying to make it in the creative industry today?

Did you work at finding your own style over the years or did this come naturally?

My advice is probably old-fashioned but I don’t think a style ever came naturally to I would say it is most important to get an me, as I love experimenting and allowing art school training. I know it is extremely my style of work to ‘evolve’. To me, an competitive, and not perceived as necessary to sell artwork, but a good professional grounding of art is so important. Also Clouds at Sunset, Kintail learning such skills as 20 x 20” plein-air painting is so much more important than just sitting in a studio, copying photographs.

Who inspires you and can you share some of your own favourite artists?

My early influences ranged from Rembrandt to Whistler and, once I started travelling, I became hugely inspired by John Singer Sargent, Monet and Toulouse Lautrec… all had an underlying connection with figurative and portrait work which I specialised in for many years, but even as I developed into a landscape painter, the same artists still inspired. I am also inspired by many of my contemporaries now, including Jack Morocco, Pam Carter, Tony Allain and many more lesser known pastel artists.

medium in their own right. I always stress pastel is the nearest thing to pure pigment.

What are your favourite Perthshire spots?

My favourite Scottish locations are Isle of Skye and Glencoe, Angus Glens and Fife Coastline, but living in Perthshire has provided me with many wonderful locations to paint, near Loch Tay, Dunkeld & Pitlochry, Aberfeldy & Killin.

I love the Gleneagles area and enjoy producing Golf Art occasionally. The sculpted forms of the Gleneagles courses have long inspired me, as I nurtured my son’s career in becoming a professional golfer.

What exciting projects are on the horizon?

artist should never stop learning and experimenting, especially in today’s world where new materials and techniques are being created every day. I have also enjoyed being an ‘ambassador’ for pastel techniques, trying to change the public’s uneducated view of pastels and prove how versatile and fascinating they are – a real

I am now about to move to Comrie, Perthshire. I am excited to be even closer to many of my favourite painting locations and, no doubt, discover many new ones! Our painting holidays also continue to spread to many new countries such as Croatia and Montenegro, discovering new areas in Italy and France, both of which I adore, and new States within the USA, where my son now lives as a professional golfer.

You can find out more and view Margaret’s work by visiting her website margaretevansart.com

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RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

Inn the

Tay

on the

Intereste the Recipd in the Monthe of ?

GE

T IN TOUC H! Char-Grilled Venison Fillet with Horseradish and Chive Mash, Braised Cabbage and Redcurrant Reduction.

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

This month we visit The Inn on the Tay, nestled into the banks of the roaring River Tay in the village of Grandtully.

T

he Inn on the Tay was born out of necessity. It’s more than just a successful family run business. Geoff Wilson visualised an oasis of relaxation in Highland Perthshire, serving great food paired with well sourced wines, and where guests of all ages are equally embraced; something he felt was lacking in this spectacular pocket of Scotland. Geoff and his wife Josie created and nurture a treasured heart within the community, a place full of familiar faces and warm Scottish smiles.

In an era of boutique hotels and restaurants with rooms, the traditional country Inn stands out, as it has been a constant for hundreds of years. A welcome lodging for travellers and their families on the open road, a place to rest their heads for the night after enjoying a hearty meal and the priceless craic with the locals over a few fine ales. There may be many inns offering

all of these facilities, but what makes The Inn on the Tay different is a relentless persistence to exceed expectations with an added promise of surprise.

It may be easy to pass by on your way to Pitlochry, Aberfeldy or Kenmore but for those in the know, just off the road side lies the hidden gem that is The Inn on the Tay, home to one of the most spectacular views from any restaurant in Highland Perthshire. The view from the restaurant is often referred to as being better than any TV show. The Grandtully rapids set the stage for constant entertainment with their diverse wildlife, white water rafters, challenging kayaking slalom course, or simply the rapids and their endless beauty, a sight close to a hypnotic trance.

At The Inn, Geoff and Josie have created a relaxed and tranquil retreat where ‘wetsuits’ and ‘tweeds’ laugh alongside each other enjoying a joke (or malt) or two around the cosy wood burning stove. The

homely watering hole houses over 40 malts, a fine selection of wines, craft beers and local real ales, so while the locals sup on their favourite tipple, the guests of The Inn sample best of local fayre.

Nights at The Inn move at a different pace. Guests can retire to their room to enjoy a pre-dinner glass while watching the rapids from the comfort of their armchair or sofa. Chef Simon Miners presents a wealth of ingredients from Scotland’s culinary larder. The emphasis on exceptional quality, true provenance and seasonal freshness from land and sea is found on every plate.

As dusk falls the restaurant transforms while the rapids dance and twinkle in the moonlight, the evening draws in and dinner is served. Traditional music can often be heard drifting from the bar as the night whiles away.

Geoff and Josie’s philosophy is simple. Every guest is welcomed warmly and treated like family, every request is thoughtfully fulfilled with every farewell ending in a “haste ye back”.

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26

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE HEARTLAND BUZZ

SEARED SCALLOPS

SERVES 4

with Stornoway Black Pudding & Parsnip Purée PRESENTATION

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

12 dry king scallop meat

PARSNIP PURÉE

250g parsnips (washed)

Peel, top and tail the parsnips. If they are older and larger, quarter lengthways and remove the hard central core at an angle. Then dice.

For that restaurant look, take a tablespoon of the parsnip purée, drop onto the warmed plate and with your spoon “smear” it round in a semi-circular motion.

Put in a pan with vegetable stock and seasoning, bring to the boil then simmer until soft. Drain, then put into the food blender and blend with the cream.

Place two semi-circles of Black Pudding on the ridge of purée and the scallops on top.

Pass through a fine sieve to remove any lumps and season with salt and white pepper. Consistency should be somewhere between a thick soup and mash.

Garnish with a lemon wedge, some cracked black pepper and a sprig of chervil or dill.

BLACK PUDDING

Or present the dish as you see fitit’ll taste the same!

4 rounds of Stornoway black pudding Vegetable stock 2tbsp double cream Lemon Sea salt Fine cracked black pepper White pepper Chervil or Dill

Simply cut each round in half and pop under the grill or in the oven, cook until the pudding turns from a reddish colour to black but remains soft and moist.

SCALLOPS

Why not try...

Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc (Regional Collection) New Zealand at its best, with flavours of citrus, grapefruit and passionfruit associated with the classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. One of the true classics to enjoy with shellfish.

Remove the hard muscle from the scallop meat, either remove the orange roe or leave attached, your preference.

Heat a non-stick pan to nearly smoking, add a little butter (clarified is best as it less likely to burn) or some olive oil.

This will help give a better “sear”.

Add scallops to the pan, don’t move them around but allow them to get that golden brown colour. Depending on their size, around a minute should be enough on each side.

CHEF’S TIPS

I

f you remove the roe, why not cook with some shallots, white wine, fish stock and cream. Blitz, strain and use as a “Coral” sauce to serve with a fish dish.

Why not cook more parsnips, add some curry paste or vanilla and cream for a soup.

Parsnips peelings can be fried, salted and used as a soup garnish.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

Why not try...

Ebeia De Bodegas Portia This deep, rich Tempranillo from the heart of Ribera Del Duero in Spain is the perfect complement to venison. Aged for four months in oak it is a fresh, easy drinking wine with flavours of chocolate and fruit with a hint of balsamic.

CHAR-GRILLED VENISON FILLET

with Horseradish and Chive Mash, Braised Cabbage and Redcurrant Reduction

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

PRESENTATION

20 oz. of larder-trimmed venison loin-eye

BRAISED RED CABBAGE

We quenelle the mash onto the plate using a kitchen spoon wrapped in cling film.

½ kilo of good mashing potatoes (Roosters) 1 medium sized red cabbage 1 bottle of good red wine 3 tbsp. redcurrant jelly 4 bay leaves 1 cinnamon stick 2 star anise 1 vanilla pod (split lengthways) 2 tbsp. soft dark brown sugar

Remove outer leaves of cabbage, quarter, take out stem and thinly slice. Add to pan with 1/3 bottle of red wine, the balsamic vinegar, 2 bay leaves, spices and sugar.

Bring to the boil, cover and simmer until cabbage is soft and the liquid is absorbed. Should take roughly about two hours but remember to check regularly. Strain any excess liquid and remove spices and bay leaves.

REDCURRANT REDUCTION Put the demi-glace in a pan with 1/3 bottle of red wine, 2 bay leaves, 4 juniper berries, 6 black peppercorns, 2 tbsp. of redcurrant jelly and reduce by 1/3 on a steady simmer.

Put the remaining 1/3 of the red wine into a glass and enjoy!

¼ litre balsamic vinegar

HORSERADISH AND CHIVE MASH

Sea salt

Peel and quarter potatoes, put in a pan with water and salt.

Bring to the boil, then simmer until cooked. Drain and let any excess water evaporate, mash then pass through a ricer.

Cracked black pepper 4 juniper berries Black peppercorns 1ltr decent demi-glace

Add cream, butter, salt, horseradish cream and white pepper to taste. Add chives just before serving to retain colour and flavour.

Butter

VENISON

Double cream

Remove from fridge, cut into 4 equal pieces and allow to come to room temperature.

Fresh chives 2 tbsp. horseradish cream Redcurrants Raspberry coulis (optional) Flat-leaf parsley

Heat a char-grilled pan or sauté pan to just smoking hot.

Drizzle venison portions with a little oil and season with sea salt and cracked black pepper.

Sear in pan on both sides for a few minutes until medium rare, or less if you prefer your meat rarer. I wouldn’t cook this lean meat over medium as it goes from “velvety” to like leather if it is cooked well done. Remove and rest meat while you assemble the rest of the dish.

Push the cabbage into a small cup and turn onto the plate.

Thinly slice and fan the venison over the mash. Spoon your reduction over the meat and garnish with flat-leaf parsley and redcurrants.

We also drop a few spots of raspberry coulis from a squeeze bottle onto the sauce and then run through with a wooden skewer to create hearts. Aww.

CHEF’S TIPS

W

hy not cook off more mash and more black pudding from your starter. Then when still warm, combine together to make a black pudding mash to go with a steak and some hot mustard the next day. “Work smarter not harder”.

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WINE OF THE MONTH

WINE OF THE MONTH

This month, our wine is from Gladstone, Wairarapa in the South of New Zealand’s North Island.

URLAR SAUVIGNON BLANC

U

rlar Estate is based in the cool climate area of Gladstone, Wairarapa in the South of New Zealand’s North Island not far from Wellington. The name of the family owned Organic and Biodynamic winery originates from the owners Scottish Roots- a Gaelic word that means “The Earth” and with a strong link to Highland Perthshire.

The Urlar Sauvignon Blanc delivers lifted notes of red pepper, papaya and passionfruit. Its palate is full and rich with a beautiful thread of acidity giving the wine a lovely minerality and intensity.

It is a more restrained, textured style of Sauvignon Blanc distinctly unlike its counterparts from the Southern Island and more like a fuller styled Sauvignon from the Loire Valley. It is a wonderful accompaniment to seafood and would be delicious with this month’s Scallop recipe.

AVAILABLE ONLINE AT £13.99 The House of Menzies was USE THE CODE established in 1999 and has built a strong reputation for stocking and FOR A 10% selling an eclectic range of New DISCOUNT World Wines not readily available on the High Street. In 2013 we expanded our range to include a small selection of traditional Old World Wines so we truly have something for everyone - our ethos has always been if you enjoy it drink it!

Wines start at £5.99 and are available online, by phone or email. Delivery in the Heartland Buzz area is free and complimentary glasses are available for parties and functions.

“BUZZ”

The House of Menzies, Castle Menzies Farm, Aberfeldy.

PH152JD. e: info@houseofmenzies.com t: 01887 829 666 www.houseofmenzies.com

Bespoke Highland Car Tours Pitlochry.

Need a Personal Driver? “Why not let me take the strain whilst you relax and enjoy what Highland Perthshire has to offer.

Fully Insured Driver Guide retired Police Officer.

Scenic tours, Castles, Distilleries, Airports etc.

Ronnie Owens Personal Driver Guide Killiecrankie Pitlochry PH16 5LR Tel: 01796 473934 or 07979 412831 e.mail rowens 55@rocketmail.com

30

LOCAL FARMING

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

ALWAYS AT THE MERCY OF THE WEATHER hen I last wrote in the Heartland Buzz it was the beginning of March when all farmers were hoping for a good spell of weather to come round the corner to make life slightly easier when trying to establish crops in the ground, calve cows or lamb ewes. The difference a good spring makes to life on the farm is truly amazing.

When fields are ploughed and cultivated in cold and damp conditions the soil structure

W

dry weather seedlings have a much better environment to establish themselves in, so germinate and grow much faster.

Livestock farming probably relies on a good spring to a greater extent, especially when either calving or lambing outside. If a crop reaches only half to three quarters of its potential there will still be either some crop to sell or some available for feeding, but if a calf or lamb dies due to weather-related problems, such as hypothermia, then you go from a position of great potential to a complete disaster. You have fed and looked after the mother for a whole year at great cost for absolutely nothing.

This past spring was a bit mixed, March was still quite snowy and cold but as we headed into April we had a couple of weeks of unusually warm and dry weather - in fact hot would be a better description. For quite a few days the mercury was reading in the low twenties, which seems a world away from where we are now, in the fourth week of July and it’s only just reading double figures.

Once we are through April and heading into May, generally we look forward to being able to stop feeding ewes and lambs and hope to get cows out to grass, but this must have been one of the latest springs for grass growth on record. Many farmers had to feed ewes for most of May and there was still quite a number of cows inside until the first days of June, which means, in many

cases, they had been housed for over eight months.

Although grass was in short supply and many were worried about how they would secure enough fodder for the coming winter, by the time we reached the end of June and into July, Mother Nature redressed the balance. There seemed to be an explosion of grass and all of a sudden there was grass everywhere!

Grass is by far the cheapest way to feed any livestock, whether by grazing

“

As I write this the rain gauge outside is reading 5.75 inches for July so far, equalling the highest July rainfall I have recorded in the last fifteen years.”

takes a battering which is severely detrimental to the establishment of young seedlings, with the result that the crop struggles to reach its potential which in turn, results in poorer financial return. It’s not only the crop that struggles, tractors and machinery also struggle to do the job efficiently as most machines are designed to work in ideal conditions. When the ground is ploughed and cultivated in warm

through the summer months or by feeding conserved grass through the winter, but great attention must be payed to get the best results. Livestock don’t like grazing shot grass (grass which has seeded) and conserved grass whether it’s hay or silage should not be too wet or too mature as the quality reduces dramatically the more mature it becomes and this then necessitates the feeding of more expensive concentrate feeding. Shot grass isn’t too much of a problem as it can be overcome mechanically by topping the seeded stems,

encouraging the grass to grow again from the bottom, which is of higher value to the animal. Not letting hay or silage become too mature shouldn’t be a problem either, but this year there are many fields still to be cut for the first time. The rain this July doesn’t seem to want to stop. So inevitably although there may be plenty of winter fodder available the quality in many instances will be very poor. So let’s hope the weather turns round soon and enables farmers to get back on the ground and secure these stocks as quick as possible.

As I write this the rain gauge outside is reading 5.75 inches for July so far, equalling the highest July rainfall I have recorded in the last fifteen years which was in 2011 and there is still four days to go.

The wet weather certainly lowers morale for most, but one thing that’s sure to cheer everyone up is the Aberfeldy Show and Games taking place in Wade’s Park on the 7th and 8th of August. All thoughts of doom and gloom are replaced by stories of joyous occasions and remarkable achievements, and often these stories become more remarkable as the afternoon wares on into the evening!

So let’s hope the weather changes as we head into August and we can look forward to a glorious autumn.

by Martin Kennedy

32

WILDLIFE AND NATURE

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

OPEN DAILY FROM 10 - 5PM, MARCH TO OCTOBER

LOCH OF THE LOWES s. certainly its most famou d an es rv se re re tu na life Trust’s oldest One of the Scottish Wild Ospreys were driven to extinction in the early 20th century as a result of egg estled in the Lunan Valley, collecting and persecution but through within a stone’s throw of the concerted efforts of organisations like historic Dunkeld, Loch of the Scottish Wildlife Trust there are now the Lowes is a fantastic over 250 breeding pairs across Scotland place for budding nature and other parts of the UK. They have been enthusiasts to visit at any time of the nesting at Loch of the Lowes since 1969. year. The reserve is home to a constantly The current osprey pair are relative changing cast of wildlife which shifts with newcomers to Loch of the Lowes. The the seasons. male is an unringed bird who first bred here Late Spring and summer are in 2012 with the famous veteran female, particularly exciting times to visit, with known affectionately as “Lady”. Between the ospreys (one of Scotland’s most 1991 and 2014 “Lady” successfully raised charismatic birds of prey) having returned 50 chicks with four different males, reaching an estimated age of at least 28 – two to three times the average life expectancy for an osprey! However she has not Ospreys have been returned this year, so the male has paired up with a new unringed nesting at Loch of the Lowes female who laid three eggs on since 1969, the current osprey 14th, 17th and 20th April. There pair are relative newcomers followed a five week incubation period before the chicks hatched to Loch of the Lowes.” on 21st, 23rd and 25th May. It will then be another two months before they are ready to take to the air for the first time. from their wintering grounds in West Visitors to the reserve can view Africa to breed on their tree-top nest the ospreys on their nest, in flight or beside the loch. Ospreys have a highly fishing, from two lochside hides fitted specialised diet, feeding exclusively on with telescopes. At the same time, fish. They have a razor sharp beak and waterfowl including great crested grebes, talons, perfect for gripping and tearing grey herons and several duck species up their prey, as well as superb vision are regularly seen on the loch. A large which allows them to spot a fish beneath screen in the visitor centre shows live the waters of a loch, river or the sea from images from the osprey nest via a high around 300 feet in the air. definition camera (available online at

N

“

scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/ospreycam), bringing you even closer to the action from the comfort of indoors.

Another popular feature of the visitor centre is the woodland viewing window, which looks out onto a bird feeding station. A wide range of familiar garden bird species, including blackbirds, robins, chaffinches and blue tits, as well a number of woodland specialists such as great spotted woodpeckers, coal tits, siskins and treecreepers, can be observed at close quarters.

The reserve is also home to one of Scotland’s most endangered mammals, the red squirrel. Red squirrel numbers in the UK have plummeted since the introduction of the non-native grey squirrel in Victorian times and there are now only around 120,000 red squirrels remaining in Scotland. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is helping the red squirrels at Loch of the Lowes by providing feeding boxes containing various types of nuts, including their favourites – hazelnuts. The feeders are within sight of the viewing window so visitors can enjoy watching these shy, diminutive creatures.

Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre is open daily from 10am-5pm, March to October with access to the observation hide and woodland trail 24/7. For full details including centre admission prices go to scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/lowes

by Jonathan Pinnick Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre, Dunkeld

WILDLIFE AND NATURE

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

ALL IMAGES

BY LOCHVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY

FIND LOCHVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY ON FACEBOOK

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MEL’S HILLTOP DIARY

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

MEL’S HILLTOP DIARY My husband and I have a B&B in Glenlyon with just enough land round it to indulge in a bit of the Good Life.

As you can imagine, living up a remote Highland glen has its moments – we get frozen water, power cuts and sometimes unexpected guests.

T

here’s a post going round on Facebook, it says: “I love summer in Scotland.

This year it was a Wednesday.”

It feels pretty apt. So many great outdoor events this month, from markets to Highland Games, have been damp and dismal affairs where you pity the poor people doing their best to keep smiling.

We were lucky with the weather when a circus troupe offered to perform at our croft in Glenlyon.

Travellers of Elsewhere walked with pack horses from Tombreck on Loch Tay, over the Ben Lawers pass and pitched their tents in a field outside our house.

On the day of the circus about 25 people sat out on rugs and deck chairs under an ancient beech tree and the weak sun shone for the duration of their magical show. In the dreich days that followed, the performers stayed on tending to their camp fire, embellishing their costumes and perfecting their musical routines under dripping canvas.

by Melanie Bonn Welcome to my occasional diary. I’m a mother of two and a reporter with the Perthshire Advertiser.

Despite July feeling like autumn, the garden slowly added food to our table. It’s times like these that I really value my poly tunnel. Courgettes, beans and garlic would not have made it otherwise.

Low temperatures and damp air caught our potatoes yellow patches on the foliage, a sure sign of potato blight, but fingers crossed, by swiftly removing the diseased bits I’ve stopped the whole crop going down.

We no longer hunt the hedgerows for elderflower blossom as I have grown my own right in the centre of the patch. Everyone looks forward to the punchy cordial – as well as a great drink, the neat syrup is delicious over vanilla ice cream.

We added sunshine to our surroundings in the form of Claudia, a WOOFER from Barcelona, who volunteered to join us as an unpaid worker on our croft.

Claudia had been staying with a family in Mull and got the ferry to Oban. We met her on the pier and brought her to Glenlyon. Like I say, a ray of sunshine!

Never having taken on a helper before, we felt like very novice hosts. But Claudia was upbeat and while there were few jobs for her to do in the sodden garden, she got involved in caring for children and the

animals.

Sheep shearing was fun, our three refused point blank to be rounded up. One ended up on a precipice and was only recovered with a lasso.

Everyone got hot, bothered and midged, but the ewes eventually got their clip and a full maintenance session before heading back out to the clover.

Last month we put some guinea fowl eggs under a broody hen. Four hatched out and of those, three chicks survived. But the surrogate mother was pretty hopeless: She gobbled their food, knocked over their water and regularly walked off, leaving the helpless babies behind.

When chicks are just fluff they easily get cold and die, and one day after a heavy downpour I found a little corpse in the grass.

Sadly I lifted it up in my hand, but I felt a twitch and realised it wasn’t completely dead. I dried the chick, wrapped it up and stuck it inside my shirt.

Next to my skin it got my body warmth and began to revive. And after a stint in a cardboard box with hot water bottle, it was perky enough to take its chances again outside. Had the children had their way it would be growing up in our kitchen.

FOOD AND DRINK

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

THYME TO TASTE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THYME AT ERRICHEL - TASTE. EAT. CELEBRATE.

Thyme for Blueberries

Blueberry Mojito Blueberry Season is on it’s way, why not try a twist on a traditional Mojito with this Blueberry Mojito or Virgin Blueberry Mojito.

Equally yummy with or without the White Rum.

FOR THE SYRUP To make the syrup put the sugar, blueberries & water into a small saucepan over a low heat,

FOR THE BLUEBERRY SYRUP

allow to come to the boil then gently simmer

•

25g caster sugar

until all the blueberries have burst – about 7 to 10

•

25ml water

minutes. Cool and keep in the fridge. (The syrup

•

50g fresh blueberries

will keep for up to a week in the fridge).

FOR THE MOJITO

FOR THE MOJITO

•

40ml blueberry syrup (each)

To make your drinks, place plenty of ice and

•

25ml White Rum (We use Bacardi)

about two sprigs of mint in each glass. Squeeze a

•

Fresh mint

lime over the top and muddle (mix around) with

•

1 lime for each glass

the bottom of a spoon, this is to crush the mint &

•

60ml soda water

release the oils. Then, add 40ml blueberry syrup,

For the Virgin Mojito: Follow the above instructions but miss out the Rum.

25ml rum, and finish each glass with club soda.

Decorate with a lime wedge & mint leaf.

We get our blueberries from Mains of Murthly Errichel House & Cottages, Thyme at Errichel Restaurant, Errichel, Crieff Road, Aberfeldy, PH15 2EL t: 01887 820 850 m: 07483 352 123 www.errichel.co.uk

Farm, based in Aberfeldy. You can find their delicious soft fruit in many local outlets.

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STRATHEARN DISTILLERY

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

STRATHEARN DISTILLERY Probably Scotland’s smallest whisky and gin distillery.

Strathearn Distillery, Bachilton Farm Steading, Methven Perth PH1 3QX T: 01738 840100

www.strathearndistillery.com

S

trathearn distillery, near village of Methven in Perthshire, produces hand-crafted, artisan single cask, single malt whisky by using traditional methods and ideas.

Our beautiful small copper stills are used to create individual batches of spirit matured in small casks. In addition to whisky, the distillery also produces a range the

of premium gins which are now widely marketed across Scotland and beyond.

We offer many different experiences at Strathearn Distillery, anything from a day spent distilling whisky, an afternoon making and drinking gin, right up to the ultimate experience of becoming a member of the new Strathearn 2015 Club.

Our Whisky: The spirit is matured in small octave size (50 litre) casks to give the whisky a traditional and distinctive flavour.

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

STRATHEARN DISTILLERY

FIND STRATHEARN DISTILLERY ON FACEBOOK

WIN

TWO PLACES ON OUR GIN LOVERS EXPERIENCE

Less than 450 days until our first cask has matured into Scotch Whisky.

"Strath" means valley - Strathearn is the valley of the River Earn. The River rises in the Scottish Highlands, flows into Loch Earn, down through the Strathearn towns of Comrie and Crieff and into the Tay Estuary just beyond Bridge of Earn, a total distance of about 80km.

By using either peated or non-peated malt and varying the type of cask, for example sherry, rum or bourbon, each batch of whisky will be totally unique. As whisky can only be called Scotch once it has spent a minimum of three years in a cask in Scotland, we still have a wee while to go, but in the meantime we will be bottling our new-make spirit for those who cannot wait. Some of this will be triple distilled.

Our Gin: Our hand-crafted, small

batch gins are unique in flavour and perfect for the gin revival.

Heather Rose Gin with its combination of rose and heather has a prosecco character. The colour of the gin changes to a delicate pink when tonic is added.

Fragrant, floral and light, sweet yet spicy, it is best served in a chilled Champagne flute with no slice.

Classic Gin is a new-style gin with added elements of zest, herbs and spices

combining a hint of Italian lemons and Spanish grapefruit with a suggestion of kaffir lime leaves and star anise. Great in cocktails or on the rocks with a slice of pink grapefruit.

Oaked Highland Gin is where whisky meets gin – a smooth oaky gin with juniper notes, hints of citrus accented by vanilla and subtle smokiness. A golden colour helps to provide the disguise. Sip at room temperature from a whisky glass.

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STRATHEARN DISTILLERY

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE The Gin Lover Experience. £65 p/p Our 4 hour gin lover day will cover all things gin. Whether you’re a gin aficionado or new to the gin craze, we will offer you a fantastic insight into this magical spirit. We start the experience with a gin and tonic and a full tour of the distillery and bond, giving you an insight into distilling at Scotland’s smallest distillery.

Tasting starts with six tonics, each one offering different flavour and mixing profiles. We then move on to tasting six gins from craft distillers. You then experiment and attempt to combine these two magical ingredients into the perfect gin and tonic for your palate.

We then take you through the history of gin and of tonic before moving onto our own handcrafted gins. Once you’ve tasted all our gins and have an idea of which style you prefer, we give you a bottle of Strathearn base gin and allow you to infuse your own “signature gin” with whichever botanicals take your fancy. Finally we move onto cocktails, you will be taken through an interactive cocktail experience, learning how to make some classic cocktails with a Strathearn twist.

Throughout the experience you will be fully supervised and tutored by one of the team and we will also offer a selection of “tapas style” nibbles to ward off any hunger pangs. After four hours we escort you to whatever taxi or mode of transport you wish to leave in, driving after a gin lover day is NOT an option.

The Connoisseur Experience. £150 p/p Following the same format as the Gin

Lover Experience, the Connoisseur goes into yet more detail. Hosted by both the distillery manager and distiller, this is a behind the scenes look at how we design and produce our spirits. Once we have covered all aspects of gin and you have created your own “signature gin”, we move onto the world of whisky.

We will start with our new-make spirit straight from the still at around 70% to get an understanding of the malts we are trying to create. We then move onto a triple distilled variant to show the refining effect of a second spirit distillation on the flavour profile of the spirit.

Uisge Beatha is next; how whisky used to be. Our new make spirit is aged in casks similar to those that may have been available hundreds of years ago. There is a cherry, mulberry and chestnut finish for you to try.

Having tried a few Strathearn offerings, the special single malts are next - malts that you probably won’t have had the joy of sampling before. These six or seven hand selected, limited release malts will take you on an educational and flavour filled journey. We finish with our own still-strength peated malt spirit, with a full mouth feel that will certainly remain with you long after the experience ends.

Like our Gin Lover Experience,

light “tapas style” nibbles will be served throughout the afternoon to ensure you don’t go hungry. MAX. 8 PEOPLE.

One Day Whisky Making Experience. £145 p/p Spend a day with us in Strathearn Distillery operating the stills. We’ll generally be producing a batch of low-wines from the wash still and running the spirit still for newmake spirit. If you are feeling energetic, you can help with the mash tun! MAX. 3 PEOPLE.

Three Day Whisky Making Experience. £390 p/p The three day experience can be the most physical of the experiences, if you really want to get involved. You will spend three consecutive days in Strathearn Distillery and experience the whole whisky making experience: from bags of malt to newmake spirit. You will experience everything that occurs in the one day experience but everything will be in much more detail as you have a day on each phase of whisky making. MAX. 3 PEOPLE.

Five Day Whisky Making School £840 p/p This is an intense whisky making experience and that is why we call it our Whisky Making School. Over a period of 5 full days you will experience every aspect of the distilling process from mashing-in, to distilling by yourself to produce your own newmake spirit, including all the surrounding processes such a cask filling and instrumentation.

You’ll leave with your own 2 litre cask, an exclusive bottle of Uisge Beatha, a Certificate of Distilling and a toast to your successful whisky making. When you are on the Whisky Making School Experience, the distillery is yours for a week as you become part of the Strathearn team, spending time with the distiller and learning about the whole process. MAX. 2 PEOPLE.

How to enter...

It is really simple! Make sure you have liked The Heartland Buzz on Facebook and comment on our page ‘I LOVE GIN!’.

WIN

TWO PLACES ON OUR GIN LOVERS EXPERIENCE

Terms & Conditions: If you have already liked our Facebook page, all you need to do is comment ‘I LOVE GIN!’ Prize to be booked wiithin 6 month of winning.

Dates to be arranged and confirmed with the distillery upon winning.

Winner will be drawn at random and listed in our next issue of The Heartland Buzz. Entrants must be 18 years or older.

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WHAT’S BUZZIN’

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

Fundraising Raft Event SUNDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 2015

BREADALBANE CRICKET CLUB After four postponements, many phone calls and lots of huffing and puffing, Breadalbane eventually managed to play their long awaited Cup Semi-final against Dundee High School Former Pupils CC, on July 16th.

The opposition however, who play two divisions above Breadalbane, proved too strong for the Highland Perthshire outfit. On a dark and blustery evening at Doocot Park in Perth, Breadalbane could only post 71 in their allotted 20 overs. Despite a steady start from Andrew Duncan Millar and Jamie Burrows, the Breadalbane batters never managed to come to terms with the bowling attack or the conditions. The opposition easily passed the Breadalbane total.

A lack of match practice clearly showed, with the semi-final coming in the midst of a season filled with blank Sundays, cancellations and postponements. The League’s organisation committee will clearly need to look at options to allow increased flexibility in the arrangement of fixtures.

On an interesting note, the recent opening of the Aberfeldy Museum, contained within the Community Campus Library, has brought about a renewed interest in local history. The Museum has an excellent Facebook page, which has unearthed a treasure trove of interesting photographs. The Cricket Club would also like to participate in this venture. If anyone has any old photographs, memorabilia, stories or articles relating to the history of the cricket club, we would love to add them to the

club’s archives. The eventual aim is to house a permanent display at the museum. Please contact Mark Bridgeman by email ( mark. bridgeman@talk21.com) or via Facebook.

Thank you.

Outdoor practice sessions continue on Tuesday and Thursday evening in Victoria Park.

Everyone is welcome regardless of age and ability. So please come along and you will be assured of a warm welcome. Junior sessions run from 5pm to 6pm on Thursdays. Older Juniors are invited and encouraged to stay on and try their hand at “hard ball” with the seniors.

Remaining Fixtures for the 2015 season are listed here : Sun Aug 2 Sun Aug 9 Sun Aug 16 Sat Aug 22 Sun Aug 30

v Alloa XI v Falkland XI v Callander v North Berwick v Glenrothes

A H H H H

Div 2 Div 2 Div 2 Friendly Div 2

Please come along and support the team.

Matches in Victoria Park commence at 1pm. Look out for reports from the remaining games of the season on the club’s Facebook page “Breadalbane Cricket Club Supporters”.

On Tuesday 14th July one of the most respected and loved raft guides was seriously injured in a traffic accident.

As someone who has dedicated his life to providing endless hours of entertainment for thousands of people on the River Tay as well as emergency medical care on our ski slopes, we feel it is now our duty to show our appreciation. The Highland Perthshire economy benefits massively from white water rafting and we are reaching out to local businesses for your help.

On Sunday 20th September at 4pm the rafting community across Scotland will descend on Freespirits in Grandtully to offer their time and equipment free of charge. We are asking for minimum donations of £20 per person to raft the Tay and finish with a BBQ at The Inn on the Tay. Unfortunately we anticipate it will be some considerable time before one of life’s truly great characters will be back doing what he does best and we all want to support him as best we can in his recuperation.

Please contact Freespirits on 01887 840 400 to take part in what we hope will be a fantastic event.

Echoes From Gallipoli Gallipoli - Dunkeld 1915 - 2015 A WW1 Commemoration Friday September 18th, 8pm. Birnam Arts ‘Echoes from Gallipoli’ will be a community commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign. This event is presented jointly by The Dunkeld Archive and Birnam Arts with readings by members of local amateur theatre group BIPS. Bob Davidson has adapted first-hand accounts and documentation from both local

and National press archives. These accounts reflect the history and experiences of soldiers who served with The Scottish Horse Yeomanry which was based in and around Dunkeld.

The Scottish Horse was originally raised in South Africa in 1900, and in 1901 a regiment of four squadrons was raised under the command of The Marquis of Tullibardine, afterwards The Duke of Atholl. Later a second

regiment was formed consisting of Scots from home and Australians of Scottish decent. The two regiments served with distinction in the South African campaign and in 1902, The Scottish Horse was disbanded, the Boer War having ended. Then in 1903, The Scottish Horse Yeomanry was reformed as a cavalry unit. The 1st Regiment was raised in Perthshire, the 2nd in Aberdeenshire, Elgin, Nairn and Argyllshire and recruitment was

aimed at keepers and stalkers with special emphasis on scouting and the use of the rifle.

‘Echoes from Gallipoli’ will be a community event to be held at Birnam Arts on Friday September 18th at 8pm. Tickets are free but please call Birnam Arts to reserve seats. There will also be a Foyer Archive exhibition of documents and images to accompany this event.

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WHAT’S BUZZIN’

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

Rannoch and Tummel Inspiring Community Dreams The local community of Rannoch and Tummel is looking to inspire residents and businesses in the area to think big about their dreams for their local community to develop facilities and services that will shape the future development of the whole community.

A newly formed Community Fund Group, made up from local residents with a shared passion to make Rannoch and Tummel an area to be proud to live in, are working with independent consultants Community Enterprise, to draw up a Community Action Plan, focusing on the next ten years. The Plan will document the aspirations of local residents, voluntary groups and businesses to take on projects that will benefit the whole community and from this Plan, the group will seek funding from a number of different sources.

Two public meetings were held at the end of June at which everyone had a chance to have their say on what they think will make Rannoch and Tummel a better place to live, involving local kids, families and the older population. A comprehensive community survey has also been undertaken as part of the exercise.

The Community Fund Group

will also be at The Rannoch Gathering on 15th August when they are keen to speak to people from these communities, and everyone is invited to visit their tent to answer a few questions about their hopes for the area, and to take part in a Postcard Competition to provide a quote, poem or doodle about “what the community means to them”.

Richard Barclay, Chair of the Community Fund Group, and local business owner, said “This is a unique and timely moment for the people of Rannoch and Tummel to mould a community with vibrancy, honesty and vision fit for the future and ensuring the physical splendour of the area is met by the aspirations of those that live here. I would urge everyone to get involved in whatever way they can and ensure that their voice is heard.”

To ensure the community is kept up to date with progress of the consultation and to share the results of the research, a Facebook page will be created shortly. In the meantime if anyone has any questions please contact Rannoch and Tummel Community Fund Group through rannochnews@ gmail.com or Bob Benson through bob@benson.org.

ABERFELDY SCARECROW FESTIVAL SUCCESS 2015 The pupils at Breadalbane Academy were delighted with the response to this Community Activity. There has been lots of encouraging feedback from businesses, residents and visitors. With some 90 scarecrows on show we received 300 responses and the voting returns awarded Lucy Birkett the Overall Winner and Artisan Store the award for the Best Business Entry.

A cheque for approximately £700 was raised for The Horizon Lunch Club. The positive response suggests that this could become an annual event and if you wish to be part of the organising group please leave your details with the reception at the Community Campus. We have learned a lot from our efforts and have had a few suggestions from locals as how the event could be further improved.

Aberfeldy Club Pairs Winners The 2015 Club Pairs competition at Aberfeldy Bowling Club has been won by Jimmy Hermiston and Peter Jack. In a well fought final, they beat Neil Baillie and Christine MacLennan after the week-long competition sponsored by local businessman Steven Dow of Dow’s of Aberfeldy.

On receiving the trophy and first prize from Mr Dow, team skip Jimmy Hermiston said “We have had a great week of bowling and are delighted to have won this event.

On behalf of the club, I would like to thank Steven Dow and Dow’s of Aberfeldy for his continued and very generous sponsorship of our club competition.”

L to R: Neil Baillie and Christine MacLennan (runners up), Aberfeldy BC President Anne Woolley, Steven Dow, Peter Jack and Jimmy Hermiston (winners).

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

OUT OF TIME: MEMORIES OF THE NEOLITHIC. New exhibition at John Muir Trust’s Wild Space visitor centre celebrates Scotland’s standing stones and natural monoliths.

A dramatic photo exhibition depicting Neolithic standing stones and primal columns of rock rising out of spectacular Scottish landscapes is now on display at Pitlochry’s popular Wild Space visitor centre, run by the John Muir Trust.

The exhibition showcases a powerful piece of work by Perth-born David Paterson, who worked as commercial photographer for some of the of the world’s top companies before returning to Scotland to pursue his passion for nature and landscape.

“Landscape – especially the Scottish landscape, mountains and nature in the broadest sense – has always been my main photographic subject, my leading interest and my inspiration” says the Killin-based photo artist.

“The Neolithic monuments make for an enhanced landscape with an extra layer of

The Courtyard Shop Birthday Bash On the 19th of July we celebrated our 10th birthday at The Courtyard Shop. We officially opened on the 18th of July 2005 and that seems like a long time ago in many respects and yet in that period of time we have done a lot to grow the business in Kenmore.

Summer in general is just good fun, loads of people, lots of sales and weather that usually makes you smile (although this year has been testing) so for half the year life is good. November to March is slightly more testing.

There is a saying in retail that you have to be “light on your feet” to do well, which basically means you make it up as you go along, when your back is against the wall. In the financial crash of 2008 we created The Credit Crunch Cookie which we exported to Europe as well as selling all over Britain.

We did this at a time of year when the shop

WHAT’S BUZZIN’

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was quieter so that greatly helped. Since then we have done Rannoch Smokerys’ mail order business which peaks in the run up to Christmas. Once again this helps at a time when the shop is quieter.

We now also have our oils and vinegars bar in the deli which has got its own www. oilsandvinegars.co.uk web site and once again this is an ever growing revenue income for us.

We have more than 20 Perthshire food suppliers and producers in the Deli and this is clearly something our customers really like. These suppliers were very generous in providing us with tasters which allowed us to give everyone who came to our birthday something to try.

A huge thank you to Kenmore Bakery who created a beautiful cake to help us celebrate the occasion and it was enjoyed not only by us but by lots of our customers as well.

Another highlight of the day was the visit of the North Perthshire NFU on their annual Tractor Run in aid of Marie Curie. 42 tractors in the car park, on the pavements and where ever they could find a space all added to the fun had by all.

Everyone enjoyed an ice cream and all the money from this we donated to Marie Curie.

Big thanks to all our loyal customers and friends who have supported us over the years and we look forward to being here for you in the years to come.

A night of entertainment at the Kinloch Rannoch Village Hall with Heels Over Head Dance Theatre and special guests!

Friday 11th and Saturday 12th September, Kinloch Rannoch Village Hall.

meaning, and a sense of mystery not often present in the Scottish countryside.

“But at heart these are simply landscape images, allowing me to make great use of the wonderful skies which our maritime climate provides.

“In a small way, it is also my intention to remind people that, in spite of everything – Syria, Iraq, terrorism, Ebola, earthquakes, war, famine, venal politicians and greedy corporations – the world is still a beautiful thing and worth preserving.”

The exhibition is on show in the Alan Reece Gallery, part of the John Muir Trust’s Wild Space visitor centre, until Wednesday 2nd September.

Heels Over Head Dance Theatre presents Jacques Brel: in Song and Dance. The show toured the Western Isles, Cumbernauld and Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh in 2013.

About the show: Four multi-talented girls come together to deliver a fresh, modern, exciting and unique interpretation of the Belgian chansonnier’s world through multimedia, music and dance. An engaging and entertaining show!

“The twinkly fingered musicianship of Lizy Stirrat on accordion conjured up nostalgic hints of a smoky boulevardier enclave.”

Herald Scotland.

Bar and nibbles from 6.30pm until late (Friday) and Light French Supper (£6) and bar from 6pm until late (Saturday).

The entertainment will start at 7.30pm, finishing at approx. 9.30pm. Tickets: £8 in advance/£10 at the door/£4 for under 12. To book tickets, email agathe@heelsoverhead. co.uk or phone 07 969 228 389. Limited number of tickets so book early to avoid disappointment! More information on www. heelsoverhead.co.uk

WHAT’S BUZZIN’

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

Pitlochry Bowling Club

45

RING OF BREADALBANE EXPLORER - 2015 SEASON The ‘hop-on, hop-off’ Ring of Breadalbane Explorer minibus service commenced its fourth season on 12th May and runs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday until 18th October 2015.

Winners of the Jubilee Vase club competition played on Sunday 12th July, John Anderson, Doug Beedie and Stewart Rutherford.

On Saturday 18th July we were hosts to members of the Scottish Bowlers Fellowship.

New! Stretch & Strengthen and Zumba Agathe Girard now offers Stretch & Strengthen and Zumba classes in both Aberfeldy and Kinloch Rannoch.

Free tasters for all new classes on Monday 31 August. Regular classes start on Monday 7 September. Email agathe@ heelsoverhead.co.uk for times and more details.

Aberfeldy and District JAC What we’ve been up to...

Our annual old vs young rounders match saw the young ones redeem themselves for last years loss, beating the oldies 41-18. We held a 5-a-side football tournament

The Explorer service takes passengers through the stunning Highland scenery of Breadalbane, passing through beautiful towns and villages and stopping at key visitor attractions along the route. The service is also highly popular with local residents having a day out or as a public transport service.

The Breadalbane area is promoted actively by the Breadalbane Tourism Co-operative who developed the Ring of Breadalbane Explorer service and has won a Visit Scotland Scottish Thistle Award for its innovative approach to opening up the area to visitors. The service connects Crieff, Comrie, St Fillans, Lochearnhead, Killin, Kenmore, Acharn and Aberfeldy on a circular route, providing easy access to the area’s top tourist attractions including Crieff Hydro, The Birks Cinema, Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre, Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery, the Scottish Crannog Centre and Highland Safaris.

Running both clockwise and anticlockwise four times daily to a scheduled timetable, the minibuses offer visitors and residents the means to have a perfect day out in Breadalbane, accommodating children’s buggies and well behaved dogs at no extra cost. With free bicycle carriage on their 8-bike

with club members and old farmers mixed together which proved a great afternoon. The boys tug o’ war team competed at Fife Show, West Fife Show and Kenmore Games and members competed at Perthshire District Young Farmers Field Day. The club held its annual Sheep Dog Trials and Shearing Competition in July. 68 dogs ran

trailers and passing by many popular walk locations, the Explorers open up the area to linear walks and cycle routes which otherwise can only be undertaken using two cars.

The service is highly popular with users.

Passenger feedback for 2015 to date shows 85% of responding users rating the service as “Excellent” while the remaining 15% rated it as “Good”.

A hop-on, hop-off adult day pass costs £10. Children aged 5 and under travel free with half-price travel for children aged 6 to 15. Single tickets, return tickets and 10-journey tickets are available and Scottish concession passes are valid – over 60s travel free.

The 2015 Explorer service is funded by: Transport Scotland Bus Investment Fund, Central Scotland Transport Partnership (Tactran) and the Breadalbane Tourism Cooperative. The Public Transport Unit of Perth & Kinross Council provides invaluable technical and administrative support.

For more information about the Explorer, including the 2015 timetable, visit: www.breadalbane.org/ring-of-breadalbaneexplorer.

the course at Croftmoraig Farm, Aberfeldy, courtesy of Mr A Price.

What’s next? Members are competing in arts and crafts and tug o’war at Perth show and we still have some summer syllabus meetings to come including smallbore rifle shooting, valuations and stock judgings.

For any information about the

club or enquires into joining or just coming along to see what young farmers is about, please contact Chairman Derek on 07745134730, or joint secretary Jillian on 07833459714.

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ART & CREATIVITY

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

ALL THINGS

ARTISAN

A little look into one of Aberfeldy’s creative hubs

Celebrating it’s first anniversary following a year of hard work!

FIND ARTISANAND ON FACEBOOK

ART & CREATIVITY

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

“

The reception from the locals of Aberfeldy and the surrounding area has been absolutely wonderful!”

www.artisanand.co.uk

A

rtisan& is a contemporary gallery, showcasing local Scots’ arts and crafts. It was opened in Aberfeldy in August 2014 by Angela Thomson, with the aim of providing a constantly changing mix of affordable, quirky and conceptual pieces. The gallery now displays the work of over thirty artists and there is a waiting list of new artists.

Why Aberfeldy?

What type of arts and crafts?

My own work includes reupholstering and recycling furniture using chalk paint, as well as Harris Tweed and other fabrics, to produce functional and decorative furniture and soft furnishings. I try to pick more unusual furniture pieces that fit in with the quirky feel of the gallery. The nature of that means occasionally I can source another similar item but more likely

range of Scottish hardwoods such as Yew, Elm, Applewood and Oak. We also have a small number of original pieces of furniture created in the same hardwoods. Our ceramics include a wide range of stylish practical plates, dishes, three legged mugs, jugs, bowls and vases. We also offer a range of leather and suede journals with refillable acid free paper suitable for artists.

We currently have three silversmiths, each of whose work is unique and enables us to offer a superb variety of styles

I’d been coming here for years and always enjoyed the art vibe of the town, visiting the other venues as a customer myself.

The final persuader to open here was Perthshire Open Studios. Each year I am astounded at the number of artists who produce such quality work; I really wanted to provide an outlet to expand the window for the public to see the work of local artists. It is intensely satisfying that, from the ten artist friends who joined me at the start last year, we’ve managed to attract artists and makers who create such unique pieces of exceptional quality, style and function.

How has the first year gone?

Trying to open for last year’s summer season was a stretch, memories of sanding the original wooden floor, discovered when we lifted the carpet, can still cause a shudder!

The reception from the locals of Aberfeldy and the surrounding area has been absolutely wonderful. For the locals and out of town visitors alike, the local provenance of artists makes Artisanand a unique venue. Tourists express pleasure in the locally made items, which Angela says has brought a positive reaction, “like buying a memory of their trip. And for me, it’s lovely to feel the gallery has become another reason to make Aberfeldy an art and craft destination for visitors and locals alike.

A stimulating addition to Bank St.

it’s truly a unique piece which means once it’s gone it’s gone. My gift range includes overstitched animal cushions, handbags, silver plated cufflinks, cafetiere and tea cosies, iPhone and iPad covers, etc.

The range of wall art includes oils, acrylic, watercolour, spray paint and felt.

As well as originals, many of the artists also have prints of their work available. We have sculptures in willow and waxed paper, basket weaving, forged steel, copper, stained glass and pottery.

Our range of functional arts include coat racks, key boards, sandwich platters and candle holders made using a wide

making sure we are able to suit most tastes. In jewellery we also offer fishing fly earrings and ceramic jewellery.

Finally catering to the olfactory sense we offer a wide range of soy candles, in glass and tin containers, and SLS free soaps using an eclectic mix of essential oils in both bar and guest soap sizes.

In addition to the artists displaying in the gallery we have an exciting waiting list of new artists and returning artists with new styles of work.

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ART & CREATIVITY

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

“

Diane and Michael P Young’s paintings are hugely popular, they both exhibit regularly at the open RSW shows in Edinburgh.”

Angela Thomson’s quality Scottish soft furnishings in Harris Tweed.

Opening Hours Open 10:00 to 17:00 Sunday 12:00 to 17:00 Tuesday Closed

HELPING CREATIVES STAY CREATIVE!

www.artisanand.co.uk

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

ART & CREATIVITY

49

“stepTheis next to launch an online shop as part of the website.”

The gallery offers a wide range of pieces to suit every pocket.

Georgia Crook’s complex willow and waxed paper sculptures, basket weavings and paper hangings create a huge draw in through the gallery windows.

Custom Service The gallery provides workshop space for me and as a result I am able to offer a custom service using the fabric books and stock I have on hand. So if you’re looking for a different colour or texture I can usually find something that will suit.

The requests can be as simple as another colour but I’ve also been asked to make cushions with a penguin, moose and a Norsk Elghund.

Most of the artists are prepared to offer a commission service enabling a truly personal piece.

We also offer a shipping service so even if you make up your mind once you get home we can still accommodate you.

We’ve arranged for prints to be framed and delivered

What’s Next?

We’re still developing our online presence.

Facebook currently provides our up to the minute news, including latest stock. The next step is to launch an online shop as part of the website. It should be up and running in the next couple of months.

Completing the circle, this year the gallery will be taking part in Perthshire Open Studios, many of our artists will be in the gallery during the week giving demonstrations and meeting our visitors.

Check the website for details.

A light and relaxing space that welcomes you in to browse

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THINGS TO SEE

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

SUMMER AT THE SCOTTISH CRANNOG CENTRE

ollowing our fabulous and very busy Iron Age Gourmet Day in July, we are now looking forward to our next event on the 12th August when we celebrate Lughnasa, the Celtic Summer Harvest. For those of you who have experienced this year’s Scottish weather, you might be skeptical about whether we have had a summer.

However, rain is considered to be a blessing from Lugh for the crops and the community for the following year so, while we are hoping for reasonable weather, it seems that all

will be well, even if it’s not the sweltering August day we would like to see!

‘Lughnasa’ has many possible origins but it is most often associated with the sun god Lugh, and the date of 1st August is linked to the ancient Celtic calendar tablet found at Coligny in France. It marks the end of summer when the fruits have been collected and when the grains are ripening but not yet harvested. Throughout the Celtic world, the ripening of the grain was the cause for great celebration.

The reaping, threshing and preparation of breads formed great ritual and ceremony to ensure bounty for the following year. Today modern celebrations include fetes and country fairs, singing, dancing and feasting in community gatherings.

The event is inspired by the discovery of a 2,500 year old early form of foot plough, during the underwater investigations of Oakbank Crannog in Loch Tay,

along with grains of barley, spelt and emmer wheat. Visitors to the Scottish Crannog Centre will be able to bake their own ceremonial wheat rolls, and try out a special honey wheat cake and enjoy tastes of home-made beer while sitting around the fire in the Crannog. Activities will also include making flower garlands and crowns, threshing and grinding grain, and trying out ancient-style ploughing. Local musicians Doug and Hilary Law will also be playing Scottish folk music to complement the activities.

Our second event of the month is a festival entitled ‘Unearth: The Mystery of Prehistory’ in Perth on Saturday 22nd August, coordinated by the Tay Landscape Partnership, Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust and Perth & Kinross Council.

THINGS TO SEE

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

he fun-packed day features a pop-up Crannog, Iron Age dig in a Minecraft world, Stone Age crafts, ancient metalworking, food stalls, music with a replica Iron Age war trumpet called a Carnyx as well as storytelling and facepainting. There is even a free Caveman 5k race! Further details can be found at www.taylp.org/unearth-the-mystery-ofprehistory.

Meanwhile our Crannog garden is presently bountiful and lush, thanks to the

sun/rain weather conditions this year. Our mini-crop plot is currently showcasing Opium Poppies, Spelt Wheat and Great Mullein (Verbascum), while our borders feature a wide range of medicinal, culinary and dye plants including Yarrow, Mugwort, Wound Wort and Fat Hen, all of which are linked to our finds at Oakbank Crannog.

We are also participating in a research project with The Species Recovery Trust who have asked us to plant seeds from a species related to Fat Hen for them. Fat Hen is an edible plant better known today as a weed. The leaves and young shoots

may be cooked like spinach but should be eaten in moderation due to high levels of oxalic acid, similar to those found in sorrel, parsley and rhubarb.

Further details of all Crannog events may be found at www.crannog.co.uk and on our Facebook pages. For enquiries, please telephone 01887 830583 or email us at info@crannog.co.uk

WIN A CRANNOG EXPERIENCE Send us your favourite Crannog photos and you could win one of two prizes: 1. An Iron Age cooking experience or 2. Take out a dug-out canoe for an hour and paddle into prehistory! The winner and all short-listed entries will be published in the Heartland Buzz.

SEND YOUR IMAGES TO INFO@CRANNOG.CO.UK (MAX. FILE SIZE 3Mb) We will be showcasing the winner and some of the best images in the issue of The Heartland Buzz AFTER the closing date.

Open to over 16s | Colour images only | Open to professional and amateur | Digital images only | Images taken should feature no people unless the image is accompanied by letters of consent allowing reproduction of the images | We have right to reproduce photographs in The Heartland Buzz and Crannog social media/web pages. Images Š Scottish Crannog Centre.

CLOSIN DATE 3 G AUGUS1ST T

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HEALTH & FITNESS

LADIES, LUNCH & LUNGES by Samantha Weir

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

confidence to help them make the correct choices for their body and lifestyle.

Our Blog is updated on a weekly basis and usually contains a little bit of “infotainment”, a slice of food for thought and some honest moral support! We have had such a great response so far and are always looking for ways to get more readers on board.

PACKING A PUNCH with

BANANA & WALNUT

PROTEIN COOKIES

A taster from the blog

SUNDAY, 12 JULY 2015 The school summer holidays are now in full swing. I love the holidays because firstly, the kids get the freedom to play in the elcome to our new monthly great outdoors and secondly, for my own column in the Heartland selfish reasons, I get to cut back on my runBuzz. It was just over seven ning around to various activities months ago as well as the daily drop offs/ that Aileen and I got chatting pickups. over a cup of coffee in Tiso, We welcome However, there is someas the kids zoomed around your requests thing that seems to get more in the play area, discussing of topics & look prolific! “MUM, I’m hungry!”... forward to hearing the future of our respecfrom you. followed by the fridge door betive fitness businesses. We ing opened them slammed shut thought that by teaming (because the food has not leapt together we could compleout onto their hand). ment each other’s area

W

of expertise and offer something a bit different; knowledge about health, fitness and nutrition that is not

always easily accessible. So Ladies, Lunch and Lunges was born!

We both believe in the old saying that you “only have one body, so look after it”. We hope to give our ladies a balanced approach to improving their health and fitness by encouraging them to make small changes that add up to big results.

Ultimately we want to give them the best (realistic and practical) advice and information that will give them the

So what can we do about this?

Mums, I suggest the following - let’s nourish our kids to the max and reduce these hollers of hunger!

A little experiment for you: Make a small selection of meats and veg and place on the table. Now ask your children to choose what they would like to eat.

Stand back and watch what they are drawn to.

This will give you a good idea of what they need!

But how do you get all the goodness of these foods in every meal? Especially breakfast?

I opt for blending a multitude of fruit, veg and seeds in with some organic yoghurt! Another very good thing to add would be some fish oil - I recommend Eskimo Brain Shark for kids - incredibly good for their brain power and a good start to the day.

For more of our blogs please visit ladieslunchandlunges.blogspot.co.uk

PREP TIME 10MINS

COOK TIME 14MINS

SERVINGS 10

Simple and simply irresistible, these cookies are quick, easy and cost effective. Preheat the oven to 1800C, mix all the ingredients into a bowl, roll mixture into 10 servings, flatten out onto baking paper & bake. Easy!

2 medium overripe bananas, mashed ½ cup vanilla protein powder (optional) ½ cup of rolled oats ½ tsp cinnamon ¼ cup of mixed seeds ¼ cup chocolate chips ¼ cup walnuts, chopped A little honey

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A MONTHLY COLUMN? The Heartland Buzz is expanding every month and we are looking for the community to contribute.

Whether you are a professional, a hobbyist or just love a good natter we would love to hear your ideas.

HEALTH & FITNESS

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

THE NATURAL CLINIC

by Deirdre Barron MFHT, GSSR

I

am delighted to have been asked to contribute, to the Heartland Buzz!

My name is Deirdre Barron, and I am a complimentary therapist, based in Crieff, Perthshire.

Almost 20 years ago, I was living in Edinburgh, working in a very busy solicitors practice. I used to see a massage therapist who

“

smells of the essential oils, which my therapist used, and wanted to learn more about aromatherapy, and massage, so I decided to enrol in some evening courses at Edinburgh University and went on from there to become a qualified therapist.

I opened ‘the natural clinic’, a Health and Wellnesss Centre in Comrie Street, Crieff almost ten years ago. My vision was to have a centre which would offer a wide range of treatments, including those which were only available in Glasgow or Edinburgh. I was very fortunate and never had to advertise for others to join me. It seemed to happen organically, as there is a wealth of excellent practitioners in Perthshire.

Our friendly team use their expertise to work to try to help people who may be in pain, or under stress or suffering from chronic conditions, achieve better health within the safe environment of the clinic.

I am passionate about helping people to improve their health and wellbeing. It is nice to be able to make people feel better!

Many of our patients live in Crieff or the surrounding area. We do also treat those who travel from further afield.

Most of our business is from recommendations, which is really good.

My approach is to use a combination of therapies, along with lifestyle advice, to keep my clients feeling healthier and happier.

Often simple changes to your lifestyle can make you more active, improve your fitness and life expectancy.

Theraputic Massage, Cranio Sacral Therapy, Aromatherapy, Visceral Techniques, and Reflexology are some of the treatments I practice at the clinic.

I also have an interest in Flower Essence

I am passionate about helping people to improve their health and wellbeing.”

was brilliant at easing neck and shoulder tension, which we all get from time to time, if we sit at a computer. I loved the wonderful

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Therapy such as Orchid Essences, made on the Isle of Gigha. I spent a fantastic 10 days on Gigha a few years ago with a group of therapists learning more about this amazing form of treatment. Essences are made from orchids, and taken as a tincture. Flower essences work in a very gentle way and are great to get us through life’s emotional ups and downs!

Not only do we offer various types of Massage treatments such as Swedish, Aromatherapy, and Pregnancy Massage, other therapies such as Life Coaching, Hypnotherapy, Person Centred Counselling, Nutrition, Homoeopathy and Osteopathy are available.

I look forward to introducing you to some of our therapists at the clinic and their therapies. Giving you some lifestyle advice and answering any questions you would like ask us.

Send us your questions!

4 Comrie Street, Crieff, PH7 4AX t: 07774 546 384 e: deirdre@scottishnaturalclinic.com f: facebook.com/scottishnaturalclinic

www.scottishnaturalclinic.com

HIGH FIVE FOR FOOD!

1

Clove of garlic daily reduces cholesterol and makes the blood less sticky, preventing blood clots.

105 50 Million tonnes

Times richer

20% 6 Fibre content

Grams of protein

of bananas are thought to be produced each year with almost 1000 varieties of bananas in the world.

Spirulina is said to be 25-50 time richer than raw spinach and twice as rich as the highest iron-rich food.

Raspberries are one of the plant foods with the highest ranking fibre contents comprising around 20% of the berry’s total weight.

Eggs contain around 6 grams of high quality protein, so high that it is used as the standard by which other foods are measured.

The Courtyard Deli and Gift Shop Kenmore

Open every day 9am-5pm

Supporting Logierait Farmers Market every 3rd Saturday of the month through the Summer.

Local tastings throughout the season

01887 830 756

Hampers available all year round

info@taymouthcourtyard.com

www.taymouthcourtyard.com

HEALTH & FITNESS

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

CHIRO CORNER

by Patricia Waite DC, MCSP

Food sensitivity - fact, fad or fantasy?

I

was annoyed recently by a quote from a book on hysterical illness: “in the 1990s people who felt run down and bloated tended to blame this on candida” (the yeast infection that causes thrush externally). It continued “today the same symptoms are attributed to gluten sensitivity”.

While I don’t doubt the expertise of the writer in her own area of neurology, I object to the implication that such symptoms are ‘mass hysteria’. In the 1600s the Salem witches were persecuted, and many killed for being possessed.

It appears they might have been sent mad by ergotamine poisoning from food using mouldy wheat.

General fatigue and lack of wellbeing, obesity, diabetes (type 2), hyperactivity in children, heart disease and some cancers can be attributed to modern manufactured goods and their additives and intolerances to some food groups.

“

Lactose is a common culprit, and not unreasonable since all other mammals stop drinking milk once weaned. It is designed for baby development, and many of us lose the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose - and this decreases in everyone as they age.

If you have a sugar, such as lactose, not properly digested and broken down to glucose, it can become a culture medium for yeasts like candida. Too much in the gut can cause bloating and discomfort.

It is quite common to see childhood eczema being cleared up by avoidance of dairy products or it could be avoidance of cow/beef derived products. In this case, sheep or goat derived dairy products are alright.

How do you work this out? Cutting out certain foods absolutely for three weeks and seeing if there is improvement can work, but it is hard to distinguish which part of the food is implicated.

Applied Kinesiology - or muscle testing - can help you to find out what is stressing the body.

I use this technique in my practice when looking at symptoms such as digestive complaints, skin problems, joint pains, recurrent headaches and so on.

Food preservatives, used to increase shelf life, make food more difficult for us to break down too. Fresh is best, where possible. Lack of variety may cause

Lactose is a common culprit, and not unreasonable since all other mammals stop drinking milk once weaned.”

A LITTLE THANK YOU TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS

simple malnourishment, not helped by rushed or irregular eating. Worry, fear, overwork - in other words psychological stress - affects our ability to digest well. Occasionally the underlying problem may be an infection - bacterial, fungal or parasitic.

At times supplements can help, and again muscle testing is used to determine what may be needed. In Scotland it is more difficult to absorb enough vitamin D through our skin. The sun is only strong enough between May and September, if it appears, and if it is strong enough to expose the skin. Lack of vitamin D can be a contributor to chronic pain, osteoporosis and other inflammatory conditions.

Taking supplements can be advisable for those who spend most of their time indoors, who cover themselves in sunscreen cream or clothing, and if you have a darker skin.

Sources of vitamin D in food are highest in fish and butter.

Remember the heat in the sun turns you pink at the time, but it is the ultraviolet that turns you pink 4 - 6 hours later. If it is slightly pink, a first degree erythema (1 MED = minimal erythema dose) then you generate a good dose of vitamin D. Hours of exposure resulting in severe sunburn does not help you absorb more, and can cause harm in the future.

Love your body, love your food and love the sun - and be moderate. Even water can be unhealthy in excess!

Offizone, Kenmore Street, Aberfeldy. Tue, Wed & Fri, by appointment only. t: 01887 820 050 (home) m: 07808 223 960 (office)

We would just like to say thank you to all our advertisers and monthly contributors.

The Heartland Buzz is really starting to take shape and the community magazine we set out to create is coming together nicely. As we have said from the start, it would not be possible without you. If there is anyway we can help you, your community or your business then feel free to get in touch.

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ART & CREATIVITY

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

“

Jamie Grant will be the first photographer that we have commissioned as an artist in residence on South Georgia.

HELLO SOUTH GEORGIA

PERTHSHIRE PHOTOGRAPHER SET FOR THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME AS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE. Seals & Glacier images ©George Lemann, Penguin and Albatross images ©Tony Martin.

ART & CREATIVITY

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

“

I’ve long been fascinated by South Georgia’s landscapes, wildlife and history and this will be an adventure of a lifetime for me.”

P

erthshire photographer South Georgia’s location between Jamie Grant, who has southern, cold Antarctic waters and exhibited work in Edinburgh’s warmer currents to the north make it a National Gallery and Perth haven for wildlife. There are abundant Museum, will later this year, bird populations, including albatrosses be embarking on a 15,000 mile round and king penguins while huge breeding trip to the remote sub-Antarctic island populations of seals occupy the beaches in of South Georgia to spend 50 days on the southern the island capturing its unique landscape months and and architecture as chosen Artist in whales are Residence for the South Georgia Heritage increasingly Trust (SGHT). He will take up the post in spotted off October 2015 and plans to publish a book the headlands. of photographs from the island with the The island’s Watermill Bookshop in 2016. natural history Grant will be the first photographer to is matched by be chosen as Artist in Residence by SGHT. a fascinating While on location, he hopes to capture a human rich selection of wildlife, landscape and heritage. architecture imagery to compile into a Not only is it the site of many historical coffee table-style book to be distributed Antarctic expeditions, but it is also the throughout the UK. burial ground of world famous During his time on explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. In the island Jamie the 19th century South Georgia will also volunteer became a popular hunting base for STUNNING in island life, sealers, and became the centre of PHOTOS FROM SOUTH GEORGIA playing a role in the whaling activities in the surrounding AVAILABLE ON administration of seas. While whaling on South REQUEST. the South Georgia Georgia ended in the 1960s, the Museum which will whaling station and much of the also sell copies of his architecture at Leith Harbour remain book once published. relatively intact.

Grant says, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be SGHT has been working tirelessly given this opportunity to photograph one for the past five years on the world’s of the wildest corners of the world. I’ve largest rat eradication project in a bid to long been fascinated by South Georgia’s prevent South Georgia’s bird populations landscapes, wildlife and history and this will falling prey to invasive brown rats. Having be an adventure of a lifetime for me.”

“

completed the final phase of baiting the island, the Habitat Restoration Project should enable native species such as the South Georgia Pintail Duck and South Georgia Pipit to recover where their numbers have previously been decimated by rats eating eggs and chicks and Jamie could be one of the first visitors to witness and capture on camera, the species’ come-back.

Alison Neil, Chief Executive of SGHT says, “Jamie Grant will be the first photographer we have commissioned as an artist in residence on South Georgia. We are confident that he will be able to capture not only the beauty of the island, but its rich heritage as a flagship for intrepid exploration and its industrial past.

South Georgia is not easily accessible to the public, so Jamie’s book will help to bridge the gap between this tiny island steeped in history and the rest of the world.”

Kevin Ramage, owner of The Watermill Bookshop, said: “We are delighted to be publishing this book which will fill a gap in the market about this unique and beguiling place. Jamie Grant’s previous book ‘Winter in Glen Lyon’ showed what an outstanding photographer he is. His technical approach and his feeling for remote and wild places make him the ideal person for this project.”

I’m absolutely thrilled to be given this opportunity to photograph one of the wildest corners of the world.

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IN THE GARDEN

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

EASY TO GROW! POLLINATOR FRIENDLY PLANT

Eryngium or

SEA HOLLIES

IN THE GARDEN

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

Growing in Rosie’s garden this month is the Eryngium more commonly known as Sea Hollies.

S

ome flowers in the garden are just so irresistible to bees… especially the blue ones. I grow various Eryngium {pronounced ear-WREN-geeum} commonly known as ‘Sea Hollies’ in my Perthshire garden. They are rich in nectar and have metallic blue flowers that attract the bumblebees into the garden.

This is one plant you’ll notice from a distance; it has such a striking foliage colour, bold texture and architectural appearance, hence its popularity with garden designers.

If you’ve got a sunny, well drained spot in poor or moderately fertile soil why not try and grow some Sea Holly?

The plant thrives on neglect and doesn’t mind poor soil as long as it’s not too dry.

Warm sunny days intensify the blue colour in the plant and it flowers from mid-summer until September.

It belongs to the carrot family and the UK native species Eryngium maritimum is a coastal plant which grows in sand dunes.

It’s now rare to find this native growing in Scotland and it’s practically extinct along the east coast. It was once renowned for its healing and aphrodisiac properties. Its

leaves were harvested as a vegetable; while the roots were made into sweets known as Candied Eringo.

Nowadays we have so many of its non-edible ornamental hybrids and named cultivars to choose from. The tall flowering steel blue stems rise from a rosette of silvery green prickly leaves.

While each thistle-like flower has a blue central thimble with a ruffled collar of steel blue bracts around the base.

You might find that you’ll need to stake the stiff stems especially if you live in a more exposed location. I grow Eryngium × zabelii which has steel blue stems around 18-24 inches high which sometimes need to be staked.

If that plant is too big for your garden then why not try the dwarf Eryngium planum ‘Blue Hobbit’ which only grows to 8 – 12” in height. I grow this one at the front of the border but it does equally well in a planted container.

Deer and rabbits seem to dislike the plants. I use the words ‘seem to dislike’ as we all know that here in Perthshire the deer can be somewhat unfussy about their diet. Protect new plants in

the garden with wire mesh until they are established. Rabbits and deer are always inquisitive when it comes to any new plant that they’re unfamiliar with. They might have a nibble first …or dig it up before they decide that they don’t like it!

Sea Hollies resent being moved around the garden as they have such long tap roots … so buy young plants and make sure you pick the right planting spot from the outset.

Don’t cut back the stems after they’ve finished flowering as the seed heads look great covered in frost during the wintertime.

Finally, give the plants lots of space to show off their metallic stems and flowers.

They grow well with Helenium, Monarda, Perovskia, Verbena bonariensis along with grasses such as Stipa tennusiama and Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’.

by Rosie Nixon who can be found writing about her own Perthshire garden at leavesnbloom.com

Attracts bees, butterflies and hoverflies

Prefers poor soil

Good architectural border plant

Makes an excellent cut flower

Rabbit and deer resistant

Height approx. 24”

Fully hardy

Spacing between plants 18”

Flowers July, August, September

Enjoys full sun but still needs some moisture around the roots

Deciduous and fresh rosettes of leaves appear each spring

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THE BOOK CLUB

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

THE BOOK CLUB

by Aberfeldy Watermill Mill Street, Aberfeldy, PH15 2BG t. 01887 822896

SIXTY DEGREES NORTH Malachy Tallack Out Now

Published by Polygon

AN ILLUSTRATED TREASURY OF SCOTTISH MYTHICAL CREATURES

THE ADVENTURE GAME: A CAMERAMAN’S TALES FROM FILMS AT THE EDGE

Theresa Breslin (author) Kate Leiper (illustrator)

Keith Partridge

Out 20th August

Published by Floris Books

M

ysterious selkies, badtempered giants, devious fairies and even Loch Ness’s most famous resident - these are the mythical beasts of Scottish folklore. In the highly anticipated companion volume to the muchloved An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales, awardwinning children’s author Theresa Breslin brings together a stunning collection of tales from across

“

Theresa Breslin brings an array of creatures to life with her assured and captivating storytelling, and she places a child at the heart of each tale.”

Julia Donaldson.

Scotland. Alternately humorous, poignant and thrilling, each story is brought to life with exquisite illustrations by Scottish fine artist Kate Leiper, whose exquisite illustrations brim with otherworldly beauty. A wonderful gift, this is a truly stunning book to be treasured for a lifetime and will be enjoyed by parents and grandparents as well as children.

£14.99

Out Now

Published by Sandstone Press

K

eith Partridge is probably the world’s most experienced and famous practitioner of a rare trade. His filming has recorded expeditions all over the world in some of its most beautiful and hostile environments. Told through expeditions ranging from the deep

“

Nothing ventured, nothing gained as they say and Keith has ventured it all.”

Joe Simpson, author of Touching the Void.

caves of Papua New Guinea to the summit of Mount Everest, including the filming of Joe Simpson’s Touching the Void. With stunning

“

Whether you are filming sunrise on the summit of Everest, Gallician fishermen dancing with death in the Atlantic surf or historical reconstructions on the Matterhorn, Keith is your man.”

Stephen Venables.

photographs, travel writing and a real sense of the great difficulties and frequent danger of his profession, The Adventure Game is much more than a biography.

T

he sixtieth parallel marks a borderland between the northern and southern worlds. Wrapping itself around the lower reaches of Finland, Sweden and Norway, it crosses the tip of Greenland and the southern coast of Alaska, and slices the great expanses of Russia and Canada in half. The parallel also passes through Shetland, where Malachy Tallack has spent most of his life. In Sixty Degrees North, Tallack travels westward, exploring the landscapes of the parallel and the ways that people have interacted with those landscapes, highlighting themes of wildness and community, isolation and engagement, exile and memory.

“

‘This is the essence of good travel writing, listening to voices that evoke images of foreign lands and cultures and cause us to question our own values and priorities” Gavin Bell, The Herald.

Sixty Degrees North is an intimate book, one that begins with the author’s loss of his father and his own troubled relationship with Shetland, and concludes with an acceptance of loss and an embrace - ultimately a love - of the place he calls home.

£12.99 HARDBACK

HARDBACK

£24.99 HARDBACK

These and the best of new books are available from the Aberfeldy Watermill.

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Cancellation: Cancellation fees apply for all advertising. Prices subject to change without further notice. Payment Terms: All our prices are +VAT. We invoice on booking of adverts and payment is due before our magazine goes to print or you risk losing your adverting spot. Payment can be made by BACS, cheque or PayPal. All our prices are + VAT. Prices are subject to change without notice. Website, graphic design & adverts by www.z3ro.co.uk. We reserve the right to refuse any material that we may find offensive or unsuitable for publication.

Please NOTE: After sign off, if the items contain errors of text, spelling, numerical errors to telephone numbers or contain any error relating to the content, this is the SOLE RESPONSIBILITY of the client and not The Heartland Buzz. In the event of an error, the TOTAL COSTS INCURRED will be the RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CLIENT and not The Heartland Buzz. Even if the errors are from The Heartland Buzz it is still the responsibility of the client to identify these upon preview presentation. Spelling and Grammatical errors are part of the sign off process and if an item is printed/published with these kind of errors after sign off from you the client, it is not the responsibility of The Heartland Buzz. *Plus VAT **We select small businesses that we believe are beneficial to the community. If we feel your business is for the greater good of the community then we want to promote your business and help you get going.

This offer is not open for ALL small businesses, however if you feel your business is something special or quirky then we would love to hear from you! This offer is only available once per business. We are a creative magazine at heart, calling all creative individuals... we want to help you too!

Malcolm Appleby

Designer, Engraver, Silversmith, Goldsmith

Celebrating half a century of fine metalwork In September:

Glenmorangie Annual Lecture (National Museum of Scotland) The Silversmiths’ Art - Made in Britain Today (Goldsmiths’ Collection at NMS) Modern Masters (The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh) Malcolm Appleby Workshop at Grandtully Open by Appointment Please telephone 01887 840 484 for further information Aultbeag, Grandtully by Aberfeldy PH15 2QU swapp@dircon.co.uk