The Villagers July 2020

Villagers the

LAST

FREE ISSUE

T h e Vo i c e o f B a l q u h i d d e r, L o c h e a r n h e a d , S t r a t h y r e & S t F i l l a n s • J U LY 2 0 2 0

Still Social Distancing...

FREE ONLINE EDITION AVAILABLE at https://villagers.online/

Ed’s Bit I do hope this finds you all well and optimistic that perhaps the battle with the virus can be won.

However, if you read Will Diamond’s very comprehensive monthly Police Report on page 16/17, you might reflect, as I did, that so much will depend on people realising that flouting or ignoring the current rules may well prolong all the associated problems and issues for many months to come. The impending relaxations will undoubtedly pose both challenges and opportunities to our communities and hopefully lessons are being assimilated as to how to move forward, respecting the different viewpoints, aspirations and needs of our villages.

Moving to news about The Villagers... the most important information is that this is the last free edition we are sending out into the virtual world. We do hope you have appreciated this online version of an “old friend” to read or maybe you’ve found it to be a new one!

Even in this time of isolation we have managed to find a new ‘stargazing’ feature, courtesy of the Callander U3A astrology group, so we can all enjoy looking at the sky with a little more knowledge for the next month, clouds permitting!

Hopefully the sun will return to keep our spirits up for the next few critical weeks.

JJ Front cover photograph Thanks to Lisa Lewis at Monachyle Mhor!

Save The Villagers for the future As with many publications and businesses in general, times are hard, and here at The Villagers we are trying to move with the times - and keep going!

Our online presence seems to

be gathering momentum; we’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who signed up to view our last four issues.

However - now we need to move on a little bit further and ask you to commit to a paid subscription. To survive, we cannot, unfortunately, continue to provide The Villagers online for free - and when we are able to print again, cannot continue to distribute and sell the paper version at the current price of £1.

So we have prepared a short online questionnaire about the future of The Villagers and its ability to continue with increasing costs and falling revenue from sales and advertising.

We would urge you all to complete the questionnaire, (which will only take a few minutes) by using the following link. The questionnaire will be live until midday on Friday 17 July 2020.

This notice won’t reach everyone - so please pass this message on to any of your family, friends and neighbours who may not have seen it.

To access the questionnaire, click on this link.

The V illagers...

• ...is the voice of

YOUR AREA!

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...has been going

since 1993

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...is lovingly produced

11 times a year

Help us to keep going - fill in our questionnaire! ou!

Thank y

www.sulafurnishing.co.uk catriona@sulafurnishing.co.uk

enquiries@coopercottages.com

www.kingshousetravel.co.uk 2

Strathyre News The Broch Field: Where do we go from here?

As you know, the BLS Community Trust have been investigating a Community Asset Transfer (purchase) of the Broch Field from Forest and Land Scotland. In 2019 we secured funding for a Feasibility Study. This is now completed. This Study provided an analysis of how to improve the site, and investigated the ideas the community put forward. We now need to decide what to do:

Do we purchase the site or not?

What purchasing the Broch Field means for the community: Buying the Broch Field could be a fantastic opportunity for Stathyre. It would give us full control of the development and use of the Field. It would provide an income that could benefit other community projects. We would be secure in the knowledge that it couldn’t be sold off without our consent.

The Fire You never know what’s round the corner. Your peace might be shattered!

I was returning from a quiet dog walk when I started hearing strange muffled explosions and then saw smoke rising from Gartnafuaran Cottage on the Stronslaney Road.

Nosily I carried on down the track to view the fire and found it wasn’t a bonfire but a real out of control fire in a temporary plastic storage tunnel which was right next to a wooden shed which in turn was right next to a cottage. Vehicles had been moved out of the way and there was an effort in progress to wet the shed with a hose but there was clearly no way we could control the fire. Soon the shed started burning and the blaze was helped by paint tins and timber stored in the shed. Ian and Connor arrived with buckets and we started a bucket chain getting water out of the burn, although the blaze was so fierce by then that it was difficult to get near enough to throw the water onto the fire. Stuart and Calum arrived and Stuart used the feeble hose alternately on himself and the fire. The gable end of the cottage was just starting to catch when the Fire Brigade arrived from Callander and they quickly had the situation under control using water pumped from the burn.

With hindsight I should have gone back home for my phone and put a call out for more volunteers and buckets and this incident was certainly a reminder to always carry a phone.

However, it would be a significant undertaking. We would own the site and be fully responsible for all its maintenance and use. All costs, including developments, insurances, health and safety, up-keep and repairs, would have to be met by the community.

Below is a summary of the annual expenditure to keep the site managed to an acceptable standard, and what we need to have in place to make it financially sustainable. If you want more information, please follow this link to the Feasibility Study Report on the BLS Community Trust website: https://www.blscommunitytrust.org.uk/what-we-do/broch-fieldconsultation, or click on the QR Code below.

The Broch Field is currently protected in the Local Development Plan, which stipulates that all proposed developments must benefit the community. However, this has yet to be tested. We can help reinforce this protection by making sure it’s in the new Place Plan.

Annual Management Costs

Annual Income Generation

Based on local volunteers undertaking most of the maintenance works, and including: · Electricity · Grass cutting · Tree maintenance · Litter picking · Insurance · Warden duties · Maintenance/repairs

To make sure we can pay for the annual running costs of the Broch Field we will have to generate income. We can do this by developing: · A motorhome stopover · Building toilet and chemical waste disposal facilities · Providing drinking water · Renovating the Broch structure · Building a multi-functional shelter

Total Outgoings: £1,638

Total Income: £2,883

What Now? We would like to ask you, as a BLS resident, to Vote on whether you would like the community to buy the Broch Field. You can vote online at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/V8BCM2P Thank you!

The incident sparked (sorry) a debate about (a) how to cover the half hour gap before the fire brigade could arrive... ...and also, (b) - the location of fire hydrants! The following days saw an orgy of strimming around the glen, as lost hydrants were exhumed and repainted for easy access and identification (right).

Let’s hope they aren’t needed - but it was a great community effort and may just save vital minutes in future.

AP 3

BOOK REVIEW

Love is Blind William Boyd

Lochearnhead Latest

www.thegoldenlarches.com info@thegoldenlarches.com

CLACHAN COTTAGE HOTEL ONE OF SCOTLAND’S ICONIC SETTINGS ON THE SHORE OF LOCH EARN The Clachan has been here for a long time, tending to travellers and residents alike and is now the largest hotel in the area, boasting deluxe bedrooms and amazing loch view rooms.

Under normal circumstances, we’d be inviting you to come and stay, or try our restaurant and bar and just soak up the wonderful views! But for now, we wish you well and look forward to happier times.

And for the future, we’d like to remind you that weddings and small functions are hosted by the Clachan.

Our stunning setting provides the perfect backdrop for those all important videos or photos.

Stay safe • stay home Clachan Cottage Hotel • Lochside, Lochearnhead • Perthshire FK19 8PU info@clachancottagehotel.co.uk • 01567 8302477

After lockdown...

Join me on a journey into Hatha Yoga 7-8.30pm Thursday evenings in Lochearnhead Village Hall

www.robroycountry.com

Twitter@robroycountry 4

Level: Beginners to intermediate.

For more information contact: Melanie Lewis Union Sun&Moon 07525 126482 creative@melanie-lewis.com www.westerauchrawcroft.com

William Boyd is great at setting time and place so that the reader can find themselves right there in the picture on that day or night. He knows how to paint a scene and create atmosphere both the visual and the psychological. There are so many layers in this story that wherever the characters are we are drawn into the action. In this book we are transported from Edinburgh to the Borders to Paris, St Petersburg, Nice, Trieste and the Andaman Islands. But it is much more than a terrific travelogue!

The story begins at the end of the nineteenth century. Brodie Moncur is a piano tuner, the eldest son “of the manse”. A household run by a controlling misogynistic father from whom Brodie is intent on escaping.

Luckily his profession allows him the opportunity to do this and his employer in Edinburgh sends him to Paris to boost the company’s profile on the continent. Pianos are everywhere in this book and there are frequently fascinating details of the workings and descriptions of the mechanics of pianos of every size and make. Brodie is the best there is in his profession and he is sought out for his expertise by many famous concert pianists.

When he falls in love with Lika, a beautiful Russian singer who is the mistress of one of these maestros, a wild, hard drinking Irishman, John Kilbarron, Brodie’s life becomes complicated. It seems John cannot function without his brother Malachi who is never far from the action and is a constant threatening presence everywhere they go.

This is a love story and a long running mystery. Our hero has appalling eyesight which is referred to during particular important events in the story and is of course an amusing addition to the title of the book. There comes a pivotal moment when the only option is for the lovers to flee across the continent with a Kilbarron in close pursuit, he with murder on his mind. Find out What further twists ensue in this hard to put down story.

Welcoming Tourists Back Safely Post Lockdown Self catering businesses without shared facilities are preparing to open from 3rd July with other accommodation types from 15th July, subject to final government approval.

Loch Earn Tourism Information (LETi) businesses have been receiving guidance throughout the pandemic, thanks to industry experts working together. Business owners must decide if they want to open and when. Some may start again next year, others may shut for 3 to 7 nights between guests.

Whether we choose to open slowly or go back to normal guest numbers, the industry is ready with expert knowledge and safe practice guidelines to minimise risk.

Research, collaboration and information sharing has been exemplary within the industry.

Tourism bodies have worked tirelessly to share information on finance, funding, cleaning protocols, training, risk assessments and safe start-up guidance. Industry member groups like the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA), The Association of Self Catering Scotland ( ASSC) and Visit Scotland have been collaborating with the government, British industry experts and associations. They were instrumental in the delivery of the Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group’s (STERG) “Respond, Reset, Restart, Recovery “ plan. A new task force - The Scottish Tourism Recovery Taskforce (STRT) - has been set up, Over 30 businesses with experience across the industry will provide strategic advice on recovery from the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).

If you operate a tourism business, are not a member of LETi and are not up to date with the latest guidelines then search official government and tourism association websites or get in touch if I can point you in a helpful direction.

Cleaning documents give very

clear instructions on preventing and eliminating Covid 19. We can follow the soap, bleach (or bleach alternative) and disinfect routines. We will obtain professional products with a log kill rate of 5. Most supermarkets do not sell products that kill bacteria and viruses as per British Standard (BS) EN 1276. We know how to protect employees. We can lock down for 72 hours between guests. There are even additional choices like dry or thermal fogging machines, ozone equipment and services, UV light products and steam cleaning guidance for protection and prevention. They have thought of everything.

We know that this virus is a constant threat, however the R number is shrinking and tourism businesses are well versed in options for safety and guest protection. Communities and guests should feel safe in the knowledge that we are armed and ready with professional guidelines and anti viral disinfectant.

We are lucky to have been living in safe communities looking out for each other, though the time has come to open up for tourists again. Tourists are paramount to our economy.

Imagine what would happen without visitors. There would be no need for accommodation, restaurants, cafes and shops. This would affect cleaners, taxi and coach drivers, maintenance teams, food and drink suppliers. Villagers and small business owners might move away due to the lack of services and this would impact on schools and other services. Imagine a future Highland Games without any tourists or external competitors.

When we open for business again it will be because the government has deemed it to be safer. We are well aware of the virus and will minimise risk in our areas. I hope that our village communities will be as welcoming and

helpful to visitors as they have always been, albeit from a 2m distance. If any visitor chooses to contradict legislation, that is a job for the police as it has always been for infringements.of the law.

Please be reassured that we are thinking this through from guest arrival to check out. We know how to clean showers and keys, disinfect buckets, use vacuums with HEPA filters and avoid cross contamination between properties.

In the event that someone in local accommodation shows early symptoms of Covid 19, we know the procedures.

We must have their address and contact details by law. We can ask them to go straight home then shut down for a time or follow red alert cleaning protocols immediately. We have a duty of care to our guests and our neighbours as they do to us. A legal and moral obligation.

If you decide to take a holiday break elsewhere in Scotland or in the UK, you can do so knowing that there are new British health and safety standards and COVID 19 cleaning guidelines for all accommodation types as there will be for restaurants, attractions and other tourism related businesses.

So, as we continue to practice safe distances, wash our hands and wear masks when instructed to, please join me in welcoming guests back and help to reassure them. Guests will be paying to stay in the area and spending money here - paying towards the livelihoods, welfare and future existence of our businesses, employees and suppliers.

The economy is important but so is the welfare and mental health of people who are surely entitled to a break after many weeks of containment.

Kim Proven Chair of Loch Earn Tourism Information (LETi) briarinfo@btinternet.com 5

The

St Fillans Bit

by Bruce Montgomery

Did the earth move for you?

On June 6, just before 2.30pm, there was a distinct earth tremor in the area.

I was in the house finishing a cup of tea after a late lunch, and thinking about getting back out to continue work in the garden when it struck. There was a thud and roar, then the house shook for a few seconds.

I’m not sure that it made the national press, but the Dundee Courier reported it as having been felt in Crieff to the east. I’m not sure how much further west than St Fillans its effects were felt. Before I started to write this, to get some further information I had a look at the British Geological Survey website where it was reported as 2.2 on the Richter scale. They have a “rolling” table which reports all earthquakes/ tremors across the UK in the preceding 50 days. I accessed this date on 22 June, 16 days after “our” one and in that intervening period there had been only one additional recorded quake. What surprised me is that across the whole UK, there had been 24 in total over the 50 day period and exactly half of these had been in Scotland. None of that total had been stronger than our 2.2.

What the episode also did was remind me that despite knowing of its history for rather a long time, I had never actually visited the “Earthquake House” in Comrie. That I needed to put right, but before I went I got the following background from the Undiscovered Scotland website, so I am happy to acknowledge their copyright material which I have italicised below.

Comrie is the earthquake capital of the UK, being subject to more, and more intense, earthquakes than anywhere else in these islands. Because of this it is sometimes referred to as the “Shaky Toon” or, in Gaelic, “Am Baile Critheanach”. One result of this is The Earthquake House, built on a rocky outcrop in a field on the west side of the village and said to be Europe’s smallest listed building.

Why the geology here should be so active is a matter of debate. The Highland Boundary Fault passes along Strathearn 6

Earthquake House, Comrie on a rather grey and wet day in June

a short distance south of Comrie and is usually said to be the cause. But the epicentre of the quakes tends to lie north of the village. Perhaps there is another fault, as yet unidentified, or perhaps the Highland Boundary Fault slants so that at great depth where the quakes originate it is to the north of Comrie.

Whatever the cause, earthquakes were recorded in Perthshire as far back as 1597, and in Comrie in 1788. It is said that during one decade, the 1830s, over 7,000 earth tremors were recorded in the area, though few of significant size. One that certainly was took place on 23 October 1839. Measuring an estimated 4.8 on the Richter scale, it was felt across Scotland and caused a dam near Stirling to fail.

By the 1870s the study of the causes of earthquakes had advanced, and it was decided to build an “Earthquake House” in Comrie with a sensor designed to support this work. The building was erected in 1874.

You reach the Earthquake House by a minor road that turns south off the A85 on the western edge of Comrie before passing over a hump backed bridge. A few hundred yards on is a large layby on the right hand side, with a sign. The Earthquake House stands on a rocky outcrop (so it directly experiences any tremors) in the field on the same side as

the layby. Access is on foot up a nearby track, and then via a grassy path from a stile.

By 1911 technology had moved on, and the building became redundant.

It was restored in 1988, and modern sensing equipment fitted by the British Geological Survey. You cannot enter the building, but a window in the door provides a clear idea of what is inside. Most obvious is a sensor fitted into the rock that forms the rear of the floor, which is connected to modern equipment on a shelf. Much less obvious, but in many was more interesting, is the wooden cross set into the floor. This was part of the original “Mallet seismometer”.

The pegs in the cross supported wooden cylinders of varying width which tumbled in a particular order when a quake took place, so indicating its strength. It sounds primitive, but it seems to have worked.

It is a lovely little building which is clearly well looked after. I was unable to get usable shots of the equipment described above as there is a metal mesh grate inside the window on the door. If interested, I recommend viewing the webpage: https://www. undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/comrie/ earthquakehouse where you will find some informative pics of the interior

and equipment. This equipment is operational as it is powered up and showing a readout, but given that British Geological Society have a new state of the art broadband station built at Invergeldie (close to Ben Chonzie) just a few miles north and possibly closer to the epicentre described above, I would guess that the Earthquake House kit is more to commemorate historical significance than of current practical application.

We cannot ignore Covid-19 and the continuing village response. Our village shop and the Achray Hotel are still busy providing delicious delivered meals for our locked down population. This month by way of experiment, the shop offered kebabs and the hotel offered a Salmon Wellington, both of which were delicious. Rules governing golf continue to be slowly relaxed allowing the Golf Club caterer to return and start to offer a weekend only carry out menu. Between pizza from the shop on Friday, fish & chips from the Achray on Saturday, and a quiche with salad from the Golf Club on Sunday, cooking in our house was fairly limited this past weekend! All meals were very good, reasonably priced and absolutely to be recommended.

As I am writing this, the UK Government has just announced a further relaxing of the lockdown regulations for England and I can’t help feeling that similar will follow in Scotland shortly. Hopefully before too long and always subject to no serious outbreaks of infection, these will be extended to allow the re-opening of accommodation within our villages.

These businesses are vital to our areas overall economic wellbeing. I noted that the Association of Scotland’s Self Caterers had recently issued guidance called “Cleaning Protocols for the cleaning of Self Catering Properties and Short Term Lets in the context of Covid-19”. I took some minutes to have a look at it and there is no doubt it contains some useful information that isn’t too far away from a common sense approach. Then I came to a table of cleaning actions for different surfaces. Quite sensible given that the virus survival varies according to surface it has landed on. That was then subdivided into three columns, the first being Healthcare Settings, the second being Non Healthcare Settings, and the third being General Settings.

I think, given the target audience we can simply disregard the first column, but there is absolutely no guidance in the document as to what constitutes

a business in Column 2 and what constitutes a business in Column 3. If you can be bothered to keep reading, you come to a Risk Assessment template, the first line of which is “Health questionnaire sent to arriving guests” – really? At that point, I could read no further and gave thanks for the fact that we are no longer involved in self-catering lets. In my opinion, what started off as a potentially good idea became a cut and paste job, with little if any finessing for the audience it is supposed to serve, and is therefore likely to be largely self-defeating.

Pamela McDowall, who runs Buddha Bodies has been kind enough to give me the following update on how her classes have been running since lockdown started: “Since the middle of March and throughout April, May and June I’ve been providing the usual three classes per week via Zoom - absolutely free of charge for all villagers and their friends and family, near & far. That’s 45 classes with 425 individual participants via Zoom.

“It’s been an interesting journey for me - working with the technology, adapting my classes to suit the broader audience, seeking & responding to feedback & reaching out to the community to encourage participation.

I understand that Zoom has not been for everyone, but thank you to those who’ve given it a go in the absence of our usual classes at Sandison Hall. I’m hopeful that some form of physical class will be permitted within Phase 3 of our steps out of lockdown - the hall committee and users are actively preparing for this.

“In the meantime Zoom is here for now - and for those ‘hooked’ on it, at least one Zoom class will continue to be run after physical classes restart.

A nominal charge of £4 per class will be introduced from 1 July, which will include a 40-minute instructed class, an email summary of focus areas, optional one-to-one top up session

Online classes during Covid-19.

Full information at

www.buddhabodies.co.uk

and a complimentary initial class for any new friends/family introductions.

“Over the course of the last 3-4 months some people have offered to pay for classes - however I’ve deferred this until now to make sure that the free classes reached as many people as possible to look after their well-being.

Namaste.”

I asked whether her online classes had extended beyond the Village and she advised that she had participants from half a dozen diverse locations across Scotland, some folk from Plymouth and Southampton and internationally from Germany and Singapore.

With that information, I had a look at the Buddha Bodies website and noted a lot of positive feedback. To quote just a few: “Thank you for your generosity in opening up your sessions to those of us far and wide, it is lovely to have the connection with Scotland.”

“Well done for all your efforts to help everyone - you’ve done a great job in difficult circumstances!“ “It’s great to go at your own skill level and do what you can.”

Clearly her efforts to overcome these exceptional circumstances have been effective. These positive messages can only be good for the profile of our village. Well done Pamela. We hope that these new participants will stay with you when thing get back to “normal”.

Last month I included a poser set by Russell Cunningham as to where the rock feature in this picture could be found.

Nobody responded with a correct answer, so he is left with a coconut without a home! I had to ask him where it was. It is on the Zig Zag path just where we had the Summer Solstice BBQ last year. That was very difficult, particularly as I understood his clue “around the village” meant it was within the village. However, armed with Russell’s disclosure, I asked Kathy to find it on her next walk and she took a photo of it (top of next page).

From this angle and distance, it looks to me like a face carved into the wall and really quite unusual.

It is amazing how often you spot a natural object - and see what you think is an alternative identifiable shape.

Here is one (top right, next page) which comes into sight when you are descending the westerly end of the Zig Zag path.

Continued overleaf

7

Face carved into the wall...

Great ape...?

The St Fillans Bit Continued from previous page I accept that it is just my imagination, but I can see a Great Ape or perhaps ancient man over a cooking fire in the pose. It is actually the remnants of the trunk of a felled tree. Wouldn’t it be interesting to know if the woodman who took the tree down had seen anything of consequence in the shape which he had left?

Should anyone have any more of these interesting shapes, I am happy to include them in a future article if you send them to me by email. (My address is published on the back page.)

There is still disappointment in the Village that this years MacMIllan Walk had to be cancelled, but I got the following message from Gordon McDowall recently, which contains the seeds of good news for next year: “From the team responses I’ve received it looks like everyone is considering taking part next year. This means that everyone will opt into MacMillan’s ”keep your place for 2021” option. Once the date is published, if it doesn’t suit, there will still be an option to donate the registration fee or request a refund and, pardon the pun, ‘walk away’. I suspect we will all do it next year - perhaps with some additional team members from those that missed out or new arrivals in the village. Depending on how COVID pans out and the mood of the village - we may do a fund raising walk on the local part of the route. This would aid our practice and enable St Fillans to give something to MacMillan in 2020. This has still to be decided but I will invite feedback nearer the time on whether there’s an appetite for this or not.”

Lastly, we were all saddened by the loss of Eric Kennelly, a highly respected and much-loved stalwart of village life here in St Fillans, who passed away on 29th May. Born in Durban, South Africa, Eric had a long and highly distinguished police and military career, culminating in his appointment as Lieutenant Colonel. He and his wife, Lorna, moved to St Fillans almost exactly 20 years ago, initially to Lorna’s family home at Auchendoune. From there, they ran a small fishing tackle and African crafts shop, as well as a successful Bed & Breakfast business.

In 2003, they moved to Cairndhu Cottage and Eric and Lorna were enthusiastic participants in all things St Fillans. Eric was a key player in the creation of the St Fillans Community Trust. He also took great pride in being the founder of the Village Garden Group and after each meeting, the Kennelly braais were legendary!

He thoroughly enjoyed his involvement in the Drama Group, whether he was building sets or appearing in productions, he was a long-standing member of The Jolly Boys (the nearest the 8

Eric

village has to a Secret Society!) and he was an active supporter of the Golf Club to which he donated a number of trophies over the years, most recently The Kennelly Egg for the Ladies section.

Eric was a highly skilled fly fisherman and he delighted in passing on these skills to many friends in the village. He is pictured here demonstrating his casting technique.

Trips to his native South Africa were a highlight of his year and a number of friends were privileged to accompany him and Lorna; not only did they thoroughly enjoy his company, they found that he was an absolute fount of knowledge on all things Africa!

Eric leaves behind lots of wonderful memories for all who knew him, he will be very sorely missed.

Keep well, everyone.

Bruce

Poised to Spring!

After months of Covid-enforced closure, Blair Drummond Safari Park will open on 29th June.

But watch out! There are some fearsome new arrivals eager to welcome visitors.

The news that the Scottish Government’s introduction of Phase 2 means that the Park can reopen its gates, causing relief as well as rejoicing. As the clocks rolled forward this spring, at Blair Drummond Safari Park the start of the season felt bittersweet. There had been much excitement and anticipation behind the scenes as the winter projects came to an end; we would soon welcome visitors into the park to see the results of our labours.

Along with the usual maintenance of the park’s infrastructure, we had welcomed the addition of more than 20 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs to our collection. The super-sized beasts have been specially constructed with steel frames and realistic, silicone skin. They are controlled by infrared sensors and have a realistic range of movements including blinking eyes, stomach breathing and moving bodies and heads; fearsome noises will also help bring them to life.

The World of Dinosaurs exhibit includes velociraptors, triceratops, stegosaurus, a flying Pteranodon and an oviraptor, complete with eggs. There is also a dinosaur dig area and photo opportunities. It is all part of a £1m upgrade to the Safari Park, which has also included the installation of new BBQ areas, indoor picnic and venue space, covered viewing platforms and a state-of-theart water filtration system for the sea lion habitat.

These exciting new arrivals, the birth of two adorable lion cubs and a series of planned events had put us in great shape to celebrate the Safari Park’s fiftieth anniversary on 15 May. Then, in common with zoo and safari park colleagues across the globe, our intentions for a fantastic season were disappointingly squashed. Instead of planning birthday celebrations and playing with dinosaur ‘fossils’, we found ourselves organising operations on our own skeletal scale, limiting the functions of the park to

Ruby the giraffe celebrates the Safari Park’s 50th birthday with a helping of browser pellet, carrot and lettuce cake shared with large mammals’ team leader, Lynn Wylie.

essential works only. Like everyone else, we felt very anxious, worried and uncertain of what would unfold.

Other than two small keeper squads and an operational team, most staff have been on furlough. However, our keeping staff demonstrated huge effort and unwavering commitment in providing for our animals and getting through the tentative times.

We have been working hard to ensure that, in reopening, we can provide a safe environment in accordance with government restrictions and guidelines and, as a result, are up and running, well placed to welcome back our staff and visitors.

Despite the challenges posed

by Covid-19, we still wanted to mark our birthday on 15 May and thank those who have supported us across the years. ‘Cake all-round’ was the muted order of the day and, to ensure that the animals were not left out, some of the keepers made tasty treats for our furred friends.

We look forward to our next 50 years and, meanwhile, to opening the dino gates to our visitors.

We hope you remain safe and well and look forward to welcoming you back.

Dave Warren Operations Supervisor, Blair Drummond Safari Park

enquiries@riversidevetsstirling.co.uk www.riversidevetsstirling.co.uk

Riverside COVID-19 Important Information.

Our practices are currently running as normal, but please note our safety measures:

•

Anyone who is currently showing any symptoms, or living in the same household as anyone who is showing symptoms - we kindly ask you not to enter the premises.

•

Please call first to book an appointment at the practice

•

Please phone to order repeat medication so we can have it dispensed and ready for collection

•

Ideally wash/disinfect your hands before entering the building and minimise the number of objects/ surfaces you touch as much as possible whilst you are here.

•

We ask that only one client and their pet be in the premises at any one time, so please make us aware you are here, and wait in the car or car park until called in.

•

Please try to keep the recommended distance of 2 metres from others whilst in the practice.

We ask that any payments are paid by card rather than cash.

9

July Skylights

HHHHHHHHHHHHHH

In this note of Astronomical events I have only included items that can be seen either with the naked eye or with a pair of binoculars.

It is always helpful to have a star chart to follow when navigating and observing the heavens. A free star chart which also contains lots of additional observational notes is published monthly by Skymaps. com. Simply go to skymaps.com and scroll down to Download Now. A new page opens to reveal several types of download. Press Download Northern Hemisphere Edition and save. This is then best printed double sided to an A4 sheet. Should you want to download a Skychart onto your pc, Stellarium is available free of charge.

It is worth noting that planets do not appear on “skymaps”.

Looking South Although part of the constellation remains hidden, this is the best time to see Scorpius, with deep red Antares glowing just above the Southern horizon. At around 01.00 (BST) part of Sagittarius with the distinctive Teapot asterism is just visible in the South. In the east the bright Summer Triangle, consisting of Vega in Lyra, Deneb in Cygnus and Altair in Aquilla, begins to dominate the Southern sky as it will throughout August and September.

Looking North As in June, the light nights and the chance of observing Noctilucent clouds remains for July. Towards the end of the month some of the major constellations begin to be more easily seen. Capella, the brightest star in Auriga (much of which is below the horizon) is skimming the northern horizon. Cassiopeia is clearly visible in the north east and Perseus to its south, is beginning to climb clear of the horizon. The band of the Milky Way, from Perseus through Cassiopeia towards Cygnus, stretches up into the Northeastern sky. In the east the stars of Pegasus are now clear of the horizon with the main line of stars forming Andromeda roughly parallel with the horizon in the north east. Cephus and Ursa Major are on opposite sides of Polaris and Ursa Minor in the east and west, respectively.

Meteors July brings increasing meteor activity,

2 - 14 August Alpha Capricornid shower 4 August Earth reaches aphelion at 12.34 BST, 152,095,223km or 1.0167AU from the Sun 5 August The Full Moon forms a triangle with Jupiter (1.6 degrees, 1 finger) and Saturn, around 3am 6 August Saturn is 2.5 degrees from the Moon 7 August The Moon is to the left of Saturn and Jupiter 12 August The last quarter of the Moon is below left, 3 degrees, of Mars, around 4am.

13 - 24 August Delta Aquariid meteor shower 14 August Jupiter reaches opposition, a time when it appears at its biggest and brightest fromEarth 16 - 23 August Perseid meteor shower 17 August Crescent Moon forms a triangle with Venus, 2.8 degrees distant, and star, Alderbaran during morning twilight.

19 August A thin crescent Moon is above Mercury in the bright morning twilight, 04.15 BST 20 August Saturn reaches opposition. With a small telescope it is possible to see the planets’ rings as they become brighter than expected due to the Seeliger effect or opposition surge 26 August The Moon is directly above star Spica in the evening twilight.

29 August The Moon forms a triangle with stars Antares and Graffias in Scorpius during the evening twilight.

29 August Alpha Capricornid shower maximum.

31 August Delta Aquariid shower maximum.

Nights of Interest

by Vernon Alexander

10

Perseids

mainly because there are several minor radiants in Capricornus and Aquarius. Because of their location they are not so clear in the northern hemisphere; however the first shower of Alpha Capricornids (active from 2 July to 14 August) does peak on July 29 with about five per hour, often with bright fireballs. The parent body is Comet 169P/NEAT. The most prominent shower is that of the Delta Aquarids which are active from around 13 July 13 to 24 August. The rate can be up to 20 meteors per hour.

The parent body is thought to be Comet 96P/Machholz. The Perseids begin on July 16 and peak on 11-12 August.

The Planets The Earth reaches aphelion (the farthest point from the sun) on 4 July at 12.34 BST with 152,095,223km or 1.0167AU. After spending the first half of 2020 in the evening sky, Venus is now a brilliant beacon in the morning sky.

Seen through a telescope, Venus appears as a 20% illuminated crescent. You will need to stay up late or rise very early - 3am - to see Saturn and Jupiter by the side of the moon on 5 -7 August; Mars next to the moon at 4am on 11-12 August and Mercury next to the moon at 4.30am on the 19th. Just look to the east as the moon rises.

As a bonus there is a super-colourful free online book of Mars, available to download at the following address: https://issuu.com/ futurepublishing/docs/asb2860. issuuec?e=1191357/78478211 Nights of interest Some of the objects described right are expressed in degrees from the Moon. This is far less complicated to measure than you might think.

To measure 10 degrees, hold your hand up towards the sky at arm’s length and turn your hand up so that it obscures part of your view. The width of your hand is 10 degrees and holding just one finger is two degrees.

CHURCH SERVICES

Balquhidder, Lochearnhead Strathyre and St. Fillans

Whilst the churches are closed, I’m doing short recorded services on YouTube (Killin Parish Church Service) each Sunday and also one on every night of Holy Week.

Please join me.

Russel

info@darrenrice.co.uk

A Knight in Shining Overalls!

Having not ventured out of Balquhidder glen for over thirteen weeks, an appointment at the vets meant a trip in the car to the big world could not be avoided any longer. About halfway to Callander the dreaded red message flashed up warning about tyre pressures.Cue instant panic - exacerbated by “I‘ve got to be at the vet’s for ten!!”

I continued and decided to try to get to Callander before total disaster struck and once there, turned to PFK, remembering they are one of our advertisers (although I had never met them before). My garbled story and untechnical explanation about the message were met with a very sympathetic response and directions to drive into the actual garage. Ten minutes later all tyres were checked and sorted and an offer of payment refused as “you have had enough trauma for one day, young lady” (that really was the best bit!) and I was safely back on the road. Faith in humankind restored again in these difficult times!

Balquhidder Church News MUSINGS FROM THE MANSE

W I S D O M A N D U N D E R S TA N D I N G

The book of Proverbs in the Old Testament urges the reader to seek “wisdom” and “understanding.” Boy, do we need plenty of that in these mad days we are experiencing. We have been living through divisive and troubled times for several years now and I have written before, especially throughout the debates on Brexit, my disappointment with politicians, media presenters and writers, and various spokespersons for opposing parties who it seems to me, only fuel the fires of discord.

As an ex-policeman I was as horrified as anyone else regarding the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. However, the backlash against the police, not only in the US but also throughout Europe and here in the UK, is quite disturbing. Further the public “crucifixion” of J K Rowling over comments she made recently is a sign of the times, if one was needed, that all is not well in our society. Unfortunately, and this happens again and again, genuine and legitimate issues seem all too easily hijacked by those with other agendas which leads to anger, demonization and polarisation. I have lived long enough to know that life is difficult, complex and messy. Not only is the proverbial “two sides to every story” true, but I would amplify that with the phrase “many sides to every story.” Human affairs in the real world are interwoven with multiple threads often difficult to untangle.

The simple truth is never “simple.” I am also aware than one has to be very careful and guarded about what is said or in this case written (even for the humble online edition of The Villagers) so I will not elaborate on my own thoughts too much. That might be a welcome change for some of you!

Fortunately, there are always “candles that shine in every darkness.” I have been listening recently to an African-American commentator called Coleman Hughes who stands fair and square within the Martin Luther King tradition. Check him out on YouTube. He is a breath of fresh air; a calm voice of reason and wisdom in the midst of the noisy confusion.

His breakdown and analysis of the Civil Rights movement, Black Lives Matter, and Race Relations in the US including the role of the police is simply superb. He is forensic, enlightening and uplifting all at the same time. His presentations and debates are always calm and measured and his discourse gentle but firm. Oh, how we could do with more like him! He is such a valued voice. We need many more like him in all of the various issues of dispute and division in our contemporary societies.

As we emerge from lockdown we will face multiple challenges: economic, political, social, and moral.

We need leaders of vision, wisdom, compassion, integrity and strength.

The last characteristic in particular, will be needed to safeguard that most basic of human freedoms, the freedom of speech. This will, I believe, be an increasing area of concern.

May God grant us wisdom and understanding.

Russel 11

Beekeeping in Strathyre

By Paula Moor Our beekeeping journey continues to be enjoyable and worthwhile as well as being a steep learning curve!

We entered Winter 2019 with two hives, following a successful year in which we took about 38lbs of lovely golden honey from our busiest hive.

This was snapped up eagerly by friends, family and neighbours. We also managed to make use of the used beeswax and produced some candles for Christmas stocking fillers.

The support given by The Dunblane and Stirling Beekepers Association continued to be readily available for advice and an interesting exchange of information. Pete was able to nip down to the Apiary at Stirling University to help with odd jobs such as tidying up and hedge trimming.

We attended some of the monthly meetings in Dunblane Cathedral Halls including a very interesting talk by Magnus Petersen on The Mathematics of Beekeeping. Despite the title, it was hugely entertaining - and had us using cardboard to attempt replication of the hexagonal shapes built by the bees within the hives! And to think the bees perform hexagon tessellation so effortlessly! We entered the Association Annual Honey Show with great enthusiasm and won a First Prize for some of our exhibits. The entries are judged with the same strict and inscrutable approach as seen in our own local Horticultural shows!

The amazing honeycomb 12

Paula filling jars with the golden treasure. Right, a pollen-laden bee

Both hives settled down for what was to be a damp but mild winter. We provided feed in the form of fondant as well as leaving them with a large proportion of their own capped honey stores. Pete made up some insulation crown boards using Kingspan for added protection against the cold.

The mouse guards were positioned over the hive entrances to deter unwelcome visitors and the Queen excluders removed so the bees could all cluster together around the Queen to feed her and keep her warm. Now the bees were left to await the warm rays of early spring sunshine.

As the Snowdrops began to emerge so did the bees! Short, tentative cleansing flights during which they empty their abdomens of waste products – they do not defecate within the hives. This can sometimes be a nuisance if laundry is drying on the washing line as the more fastidious amongst us do not appreciate little brown spots on our clean shirts! We checked and replaced the fondant stores on both hives regularly and were encouraged to see that the bees were alive and feeding well.

As spring warmed up we were able to perform our first deep hive inspections and tidying up. The rule of thumb is that this should be done on the first day it is comfortable to be in the garden with short sleeves! Our largest hive had shown signs of activity with the bees returning laden with bright orange crocus pollen. Closer inspection revealed that the queen was already laying as eggs and larvae were visible in the brood box. There

Some show entries

was no evidence of disease in the form of Varroa mite and we added a Super of previously worked comb to increase their space for honey storage. While pollen is a little scarce at that time of year we continued to provide a light syrup ‘spring feed’ to supplement their own foraging.

Number Two hive presented a different picture. Bees were certainly coming and going and doing a curious “waggle dance” on the landing board in front of the hive entrance. The fondant was being eaten but the wax frames within the hive were found to contain a colony of dead bees and no life at all. The activity we were observing was clever Robber bees coming from Number 1 hive who were adding to their own food stores. After much reading and questioning we think that that Number 2 hive was just not a strong enough colony to survive the long cold months.

We sadly dismantled the hive and its grim contents, giving it a good clean, disinfection and airing- leaving us to now concentrate our efforts on Number 1 hive.

This hive has become our busiest

Pete hard at work on the extraction.

bee colony in our short beekeeping adventure so far. The noise from within the hive is incredible and we are mesmerised to sit on our bench and view the different colours of pollen being brought in. Some bees are covered completely by orange dust and there is almost a queue at the entrance! We make sure that there is always a readily accessible supply of water but it is lovely to watch a bee sipping the dew from a hosta leaf.

We continue to carry out weekly inspections and have added extra storage Supers as the colony rapidly expands. The bees are constantly working these new wax frames into storage for honey and to feed the brood.

Covid-19 has meant that our contact with the Association is reduced to email and text conversations but advice is always available. We were directed to a useful YouTube video demonstrating how to set up a bait hive to attract a swarm of bees. There is a risk of swarming at this time of year, especially during warm weather - this is the natural way a bee colony divides and reproduces but may result in the loss of a hive of bees for the beekeeper! This can be inconvenient as catching and re-hiving a swarm may not be possible in a socially distancing world. Our bees were beginning to look a bit twitchy with a couple of “play swarms” to the most inaccessible top of a tree just outside our garden. They did return to the hive but it was time to act as they were paying no attention or interest in the nice bait hive!

At time of writing we have just

Filtering

www.feedsandstoves.co.uk dawn@feedsandstoves.co.uk

The finished product - yum!

managed to remove a frame from Number 1 hive which contained a sealed queen cell. This is a cell in which the bees have been nurturing a future queen larvae. They feed it Royal Jelly and the cell grows to the size of an acorn. When it is sealed and matured the new virgin queen bee will emerge for her maiden flight to be mated by flying drones and then return to her hive to produce the next generation of bees. She will not leave the hive again and is fed and escorted around the frames by her nurse bees. Sometimes it can be hard to find the queen within a hive so most beekeepers like to catch her and put a blob of special marker on her back to make spotting her easier even although she is considerably larger than the other bees. It is always reassuring when inspecting a hive to actually catch sight of the queen –

e.campbell147@btinternet.com

although evidence of eggs and brood indicates that she is there.

The frame with this important royal cell on it has been placed in a spare hive with some brood, nurse and worker bees and some light feed to allow them to build up strength and stores. We have also ensured there are no other queen cells present on this frame. Hopefully this will now form two bee colonies as Number 1 hive still has the laying queen and all her entourage. Time will tell!

We have also managed to take a full super of capped honey frames from Hive 1 – so some Strathyre honey will soon be available!

13

An exciting day out (by lockdown standards)

A necessary trip to the vets in Callander meant we could also take the old greenhouse to the tip. We delivered the dog at the door and were given a mobile number to ring while we stayed outside. Using this we talked to the vet as she examined the dog.

Pills and dog collected at the front door and off we went for an ice cream. Then to Loch Venachar to let the dogs have a swim, bad move, every passing place was full of parked cars and we met two timber lorries as well. Back to the tip we emptied the trailer of 3 months of recycling and picked up compost, a bonus.

Then the real treat – Fish and Chips from the Tasty Fry, the first meal out for three months! Oh the excitement is too much.

Tara’s on Top! Congratulations to Tara Leishman of Balquhidder, who has gained her Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours History (first class) from Stirling University. She also won the Gordon Donaldson Prize for the best final year performance in History, the Stirling Guildry Prize for the best dissertation in History or Scottish History - and the Alasdair Ross Memorial Prize for the best essay submitted by a student on Scottish Studies. Quite a haul! Well done, Tara!

Scrubbing Up Nicely After their amazing effort of sewing a huge number of laundry bags for care workers on the Covid-19 frontline in our area (and beyond), the ‘Sewing Sisters’ of Balquhidder and Strathyre rose to the occasion again in June and provided home made scrubs for the Killin doctors’ surgery.

With none of us claiming to be experts in garment making, there were several messages of encouragement (and sometimes panic) flying about on the WhatsApp Bags of Thanks group - but we got there in the end!

Dyeing.....

14

Tops and masks to match

Who said scrubs weren’t elegant?

Carolyn models her ‘Vision in Purple’ set

Pressing out the rough bits.....

...a top effort

Midsummer Skies

Tom, Balquhidder

We’ve had some wonderful sunsets in our area these last few weeks! Here are some of our readers’ efforts in capturing the light and colour as the sun went down.

Sally, Strathyre Marc, Balquhidder

Andrew, Balquhidder

Ellen, Lochearnhead

Marina, Balquhidder

Barbara, Strathyre 15

As I predicted in last month’s article, as a result of the Scottish Government’s proposals to begin easing a number of the current restrictions that were in place, we have seen a large number of people visiting our local areas.

Again, at the time of writing, further easing of the restrictions are being announced. With each new phase of the easing of restrictions, the powers open to Police also change.

The tone and style of policing in response to Covid-19 remains the same, and enforcement will always be the last option. Currently the areas in which Police will enforce as a last resort, include where large groups congregate with individuals from more than two households; enforcement of wearing a face covering on public transport and associated infrastructure (bus and train stations, bus stops etc).

In relation to incidents that have occurred since my last article, the following is a breakdown:

• On 22 May, a report was received

in relation to an allegation of illegal tree felling, and subsequent theft of timber from a commercial forest in Balquhidder. Enquiry is still ongoing.

• On 23 May, two males were found

on Loch Voil, near Stronvar and were in the process of setting up fishing equipment. Neither had any permission to be fishing so were required to leave the location. After officers engaged with the males and explained the Government regulations to them, they chose to ignore the request to return home and both were offered Conditional Offers of Fixed Penalty for £60 each.

• On 23 May, a male and female were

fishing illegally on the River Balvaig, off Stronslaney Road, having no permit or permission. He was charged with the offence, had his equipment seized and has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

found to be camping on North Loch Earn, despite the Government restrictions being in place. The Government restrictions were explained to them in addition to no camping being permitted at that location currently.

As a result, they were charged under the Camping Management Byelaws for setting up a tent and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. In addition to the camping offence, the male was found to be fishing illegally, and was charged with contravening the Protection Order on Loch Earn, and had his equipment seized.

• On

• On 26 May, a male was spoken to

• On 15 May, a male was found to be

17 May, two individuals were found at Balquhidder Parish Church, having travelled from the Hamilton area in order to take photographs. After officers engaged with the male and female and explained the Government regulations to them, they chose to ignore the request to return home and both were offered Conditional Offers of Fixed Penalty for £60 each.

• On 17 May, a male and female were

found to be camped on Loch Doine, despite the Government restrictions being in place. The Government restrictions were explained to them in addition to no camping being permitted at that location. As a result, they were charged under the Camping Management Byelaws for setting up a tent and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. In addition to the camping offence, the male driver was also charged with causing unnecessary obstruction, as he had chosen to park his car directly in front of a gateway into the field, preventing the farmer accessing their livestock.

16

initially on North Loch Earn, having travelled extensively from the Borders area to set up camp. The Government restrictions were explained to him, in addition to no camping being permitted at that location currently. The male chose to move on from the location; however, over the course of several hours, kept re-appearing throughout the area trying to find somewhere else to set up camp. As he chose to ignore the requirement to return home, he was offered Conditional Offers of Fixed Penalty for £60 and made to return home. On the same date, another male and female were found on South Loch Earn Road, having travelled from Edinburgh to sightsee in the area. After officers engaged with the male and female and explained the Government regulations to them, they chose to ignore the request to return home and both were offered Conditional Offers of Fixed Penalty for £60 each. They refused the offer of a fixed penalty, so were reported to the Procurator Fiscal and were made to return home.

•

On 30 May, a male and female were found camping on Loch Voil, in an area outside the of permit area. The Government restrictions were explained to them in addition to no camping being permitted at that location. As a result, they were charged under the Camping Management Byelaws for setting up a tent, having a fire that caused damage, and scavenging wood and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. Also, on 30 May, a further group of 5 males and females were found camping on Loch Voil. The Government restrictions were explained to them in addition to no camping being permitted at that location. As a result, they were charged under the Camping Management Byelaws for setting up a tent, having a fire that caused damage, and scavenging wood and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

• Between

1 and 15 June, a theft occurred at a property on South Loch Earn Road. A large marble plaque with the name “Edinample Lodge” etched onto it, was stolen from outside the property, just prior to the bridge at Edinample Castle. Any information surrounding the theft, please contact PC Diamond.

• On

3 June, an incident of sheep worrying occurred within one of the fields within Lochearnhead. A dog was witnessed to be chasing sheep within the field, prior to knocking one of them to the ground. The same dog is reported to have been responsible for attacking another dog whilst walking near the village. Enquiry is ongoing to identify the dog owner, with a positive line of enquiry being followed.

• Between

4 and 5 June, Stronvar House, Balquhidder was broken into.

Persons responsible forced open the wooden panels securing the property and entered, although did not appear to take anything. If anyone say or heard anything around that time, please contact PC Diamond.

• On 5 June, a male was stopped on

South Loch Earn Road, and found to be in possession of cannabis. As a result, he was issued with a Recorded Police Warning. Also, on the 5th June, a male was found to be camping on North Loch Earn, despite the Government restrictions being in place.

The Government restrictions were explained to him, in addition to no camping being permitted at that location. As a result, he was charged under the Camping Management Byelaws for setting up a tent and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

North shore, Loch Earn

• On 6 June, a group of four males were • On 6 June, a group of two males and found to be camping on North Loch Earn, despite the Government restrictions being in place. The Government restrictions were explained to them, in addition to no camping being permitted at that location. As a result, they were charged under the Camping Management Byelaws for setting up a tent and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

On the same date, another group of six males were found to be camping on South Loch Earn Road, despite the Government restrictions being in place. The Government restrictions were explained to them, in addition to no camping being permitted at that location. As a result, they were charged under the Camping Management Byelaws for setting up a tent and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

On the same date, a further group of four males were found to be camping on South Loch Earn Road, despite the Government restrictions being in place. The Government restrictions were explained to them, in addition to no camping being permitted at that location. As a result, they were charged under the Camping Management Byelaws for setting up a tent and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. In addition, on the 6th June, a male was found to be camping on South Loch Earn Road, despite the Government restrictions being in place. The Government restrictions were explained to him, in addition to no camping being permitted at that location. As a result, he was charged under the Camping Management Byelaws for setting up a tent and also gathering wood from the surrounding area, and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

one female were found camping on Loch Voil. The Government restrictions were explained to them in addition to no camping being permitted at that location. As a result, they were charged under the Camping Management Byelaws for setting up a tent, having a fire that caused damage, and scavenging wood and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

•

On 14 June, a male was found to be camping on South Loch Earn Road, despite the Government restrictions being in place. The Government restrictions were explained to him, in addition to no camping being permitted at that location. As a result, he was charged under the Camping Management Byelaws for setting up a tent, and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

•

Between 17 and 18 June, Stronvar House, Balquhidder was again broken into. Persons responsible forced open the wooden panels securing the property and entered, although did not appear to take anything. The CCTV shows a silver coloured Vauxhall Corsa attend the property twice, at 1235 and 1435hrs on the 17th June. The vehicle contained 3 females, and CCTV shows them at the area where the property was entered. The females were late teens, early twenties, dressed in jeans or tracksuits. One was blonde and the other two had dark hair.

If anyone say or heard anything around that time, please contact PC Diamond.

•

On 19 June, a group of three females and one male were found to be camping on North Loch Earn, despite the Government restrictions being in place. The Government restrictions were explained to them, in addition to

no camping being permitted at that location. As a result, they were charged under the Camping Management Byelaws for setting up a tent and scavenging wood from the area, and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

• On 20 June, a group of three males

were found camping on Loch Voil. The Government restrictions were explained to them in addition to no camping being permitted at that location. As a result, they were charged under the Camping Management Byelaws for setting up a tent, and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Local communities will see that in nearby areas, including the A84 at Loch Lubnaig and A82 at the Falls of Falloch, that “Clearway” signage is now in place, in addition to temporary speed limits of 30mph. These measures have been introduced as an emergency owing to the number of issues we have had at these locations in recent weeks with parked cars and the volume of visitors attending. Both are enforceable and officers are now enforcing both the Clearway restriction and the speed limit reduction. Parking is not permitted at either location on either the road or verge for 2.5 miles on the A84 at Loch Lubnaig, and likewise at the Falls of Falloch for 2 miles.

As always, I can always be contacted on 101 or for those who prefer email, I can be contacted directly at william. diamond@scotland.pnn.police.uk.

Regards, PC Will Diamond

Dial 101 any time it isn’t 999

17

Ranger’s Review

By Gareth Kett

What would you say if I was to ask you to guess the world’s most trafficked animal?

Perhaps pangolins, tigers, rhinos, turtles or elephants would spring to mind. Any of these would be a good guess, but I wonder if anyone would consider an animal a little closer to home; would anyone think of the European Eel? In terms of the number of individuals and value no species on earth is trafficked more (1). Yet they spend much of their life-cycle in our lochs, rivers and wetlands without most of us knowing much about them at all.

European eels (Anguilla anguilla) are now critically endangered having declined by 90-95% over the past fifty years (2), but were once so abundant that they were used to pay taxes (‘fish silver’ in medieval times) and mountains of elvers were spread on fields as fertilizer. Until the 1970’s people would sell a pint of elvers for the price of a pint of beer at pubs on eel migration routes (3).

The European eel life-cycle is thought to begin far away in the Sargasso Sea, off south-eastern USA, when adults spawn and shortly afterwards die. The eggs hatch into transparent leaf-shaped larvae called leptocephalae which, over the next one to three years, drift across the Atlantic to Europe on the Gulf Stream.

Less than 1 in 500 are estimated to make it to Europe where, still in huge numbers they change into 6cmlong glass eels in bays and estuaries.

After entering rivers on high-tides they transform into juvenile pencillength fish known as elvers or brown eels before swimming upstream at night, seeking suitable habitat in rivers, lochs, streams, ditches and wetlands and eventually developing into yellow eels. Males can remain as yellow eels growing for up to 12 years while females may do so for up to 20 years. Then one autumn when sexually mature they transform into silver eels and begin their roughly 6,000 mile migration back to the Sargasso Sea (4).

While you may question the sustainability of using eels as fertilizer the main causes of eel decline are thought to be modern. Hundreds of 18

thousands of eels are killed annually by hydro-electric turbines in Europe, rivers are obstructed by sluices and weirs, habitat loss is a major problem and scientists suggest that pollutants and climate change induced shifts in prey species are impacting survival, but the biggest danger is thought to come from Asia where rising demand is driving what has become a 3-billion dollar industry. According to the Sustainable Eel Group 25% of all glass eels arriving in the Bay of Biscay (most of Europe’s population) are illegally trafficked alive to China to be placed in aquaculture farms for later sale for consumption (2); that is around 300-350 million eels or 100 tonnes each year. Pressure on European eels has increased in recent years due to the over-fishing induced virtual extinction of the Chinese native migratory eel Anguilla japonica (3).

Today Britain is considered a world leader in eel conservation. Habitat is being restored, more than 1,000 eel passes have been put in, domestic restocking programmes are underway and elvers are even flown overseas to restock rivers in Europe (3). Locally, during patrols the National Park Ranger Service keeps an eye open for illegally caught eels. Offenders will be charged by Police Scotland.

Generally the spring and early summer of 2020 appears to have been unusually successful for our wildlife, largely due to the fine weather but also due to the lack of disturbance from people and dogs due to the coronavirus related restrictions on travel and site closers. Lochshore vegetation has, until recently gone

relatively untrampled, unburnt and unsoiled, while trees and bushes have teemed with fledgling birds.

Unfortunately the recent slight relaxation of covid restrictions has led to widespread disregard for government travel guidelines resulting in visitors flocking to and in some cases abusing the National Park, with significant issues arising relating to litter, toileting and fires. Inevitably, with wildlife lulled into a false sense of security, disturbance by people and dogs has been an issue, particularly for ground-nesting birds. Sadly we are not alone though – Wildlife Trusts have reported unprecedented levels of anti-social behavior from nature reserves across Britain (5).

Finishing on a far more positive note: a rescue story. Last month Lochearnhead resident Ollie Cameron was walking her dogs at the head of Loch Earn when she came across an oystercatcher suspended from a metal object protruding from the ground, its leg entangled in fishing-line and sheep wool. Obviously distressed the bird was flapping and had done some superficial damage to its wings and breast. Ollie was able to free the fishing-line from the metal object but without anything to cut the line the bird’s leg remained tightly entangled.

Ollie returned to Lochearnhead carrying the oystercatcher. With three dogs and a stricken oystercatcher Ollie was unable to safely walk along the road, so called for help. As luck would have it I heard Ollie and was able to use a multi-tool to cut the fishing-line from the bird’s leg. We checked the oystercatcher over and on finding

Oystercatcher

only superficial injuries Ollie released it. It flew back towards the area it had come from apparently none the worse for wear. Well done Ollie! Thanks to Ollie’s actions this story had a happy ending but the predicament of this oystercatcher highlights the hazard to wildlife posed by disregarded fishing-line. Many birds lose limbs or are killed by fishing-line.

Many thanks for all your wildlife sightings, general interest and wildlife enquiries – even though I can’t answer them all(!) Perhaps being forced to stay at home this year has meant that we have become more aware of the ecology of our gardens and immediate area. An appreciation of our wildlife and wildlife further afield has never been more important.

While our offices all remain closed due to coronavirus it is always good to hear from you through email at gareth.kett@lochlomondtrossachs.org References 1 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ukengland-gloucestershire-48647168 2 https://www.theguardian.com/ environment/world-on-a-plate/2016/ feb/09/illegal-eel-black-market-continuesto-taint-europes-eel-fishery 3 Hoare, B. (2019, May).” Silver Glass.” BBC Wildlife Magazine, Volume 37, Number 06, 38-45.

4 https://www.zsl.org/videos/ conservation/the-amazing-life-cycle-ofthe-european-eel 5 https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/ the-wildlife-trusts-report-devastation-asvisitors-flock-to-reserves/?

Recipe for you!

Gin & Tonic Cheesecake A deliciously zesty and zingy dessert. (Definitely for the adults!)

For the base: 200g digestive and ginger biscuits 100g butter For the Filling 500g cream cheese 100g icing sugar 250ml double cream 50 ml gin Zest and juice of a lemon or lime For the topping 30ml gin 60ml tonic 2 tbsp sugar 1 tbsp lemon juice

Preparation Blitz the biscuits and combine with the melted butter and press into a tin.

Chill in the fridge.

Mix all the filling ingredients until completely combined and then spoon the creamy mixture into the chilled base. Leave to set in the fridge for at least six hours, or overnight.

To make the topping, gently heat the gin, tonic, lemon juice and sugar, stirring gently until the sugar is dissolved. Leave to cool. Drizzle this syrup over just before serving.

(Tastes even better the next day!)

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More ramblings about

Dundurn Parish Tales from Wester Dundurn & Cachladow

The commissary roll for Dunblane from 1663 indicates that there were 5 families on Wester Dundurn – Donald McNeil & Janet Buchanan – Donald Drummond & Catherine McKessock – John McGregor, Patrick McKessock & Dougal McCaus. By 1729 According to the report of the annexed estates there were 12 families now living on Wester Dundurn a farm of 500 acres of hill pasture and 70 acres arable. At a rent of £20 13s 4p. With – 17 horses – 52 black cattle – 108 sheep – 64 goats – 8.5-acre flax seed 51-acre potatoes On the 28th November 1801 – a case was raised at the Scottish Court of Session: Macgregor and Campbell v. Campbell

The case was an action for declaration of marriage and legitimacy. The pursuer Katharine Macgregor had lived with Lieutenant Duncan Campbell, late tackman of Western Dundurn for a number of years prior to his death, and the two had a son. Macgregor initially served as Campbell’s housekeeper, but she alleged that during the year before his death, they travelled to Kinghorn and were married. Macgregor produced depositions from several witnesses who testified that people in the couple’s neighbourhood commonly believed they were married. However, the defendants, who were relatives of Lieutenant Campbell, argued that his statements to that effect were unserious, and that Macgregor had not required others – especially Campbell’s servants – to address her as lady of the house. William Baillie, Lord Polkemmet – found in favour of the defendants. Duncan Campbell was a brother of Patrick Campbell – Edinchip and Katharine Macgregor was a daughter of John Macgregor – tenant in Cachladow.

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Tea-break during the ‘tattie’ picking

In 1823 John Brown described Wester Dundurn as follows: This snug, warm recess would be seen to much greater advantage, were it not for a few clumsy, straggling trees, which, with wretched bad taste, are suffered to grow betwixt the hill and the house, marring the otherwise agreeable prospect. The present possessor of this considerable farm, is Mr. Duncan McIntyre, better known in the Highlands and islands of Scotland, and borders of England, by the title of ‘Benmore’, - with which honorary epithet are associated the ideas of an extensive, skilful, and liberal-minded Highland drover. The hill pasture reaches beyond the bold peak, or pinnacle, soaring in bleak majesty to the height of 2000 feet above the plain immediately south of the dwelling-house. The level or arable ground of this farm, has been so much improved, has undergone a process of such rigid cultivation within these few years, as to vie at length, in the variety and abundance of its produce, with the richest and most fertile land in the west of Strathearn. From 1841 to 1911 the farm was tenanted by three generations of the McAra family first Andrew then Donald followed

by Andrew. In 1902 the farm lost a substantial amount of arable land, when the golf course was laid out. The tenancy was then taken over by Peter Kay and his family who remained there until about 1960 when the McNicols took over. They like the McAra’s lost a portion of arable ground when the village sewage works was built. The last Tenants were the late Jimmy Small and his wife Mary. Jimmy liked to

describe himself as ‘just a poor crofter and not a gentleman farmer like some of his neighbours’! A stalwart of the farmers dance committee, as well as running his farm, he tended to the maintenance of the old graveyard, and could often be seen on his aged tractor, mowing the fairways on the golf course.

The Pendical of Cachladow In 1886 an oval water-worn stone of white quartz was presented to the museum of antiquities in Edinburgh, it had been used as a charm to resist the evil eye and came from over the lintel of a byre door at the croft of Cachladow, a mile east from St. Fillans, on the south side of the river.

The croft was merged into Littleport farm around 1872 and the buildings cleared away. The charm stone had been in the possession of the McGregor family for generations to protect cattle from all kinds of trouble; other appliances, however, had to be resorted to. When the cow was ill, she had to be supplied with water from a stream that was commonly crossed by both the living and the dead, and two or three silver coins were put into a coggie, the water was normally taken from under a bridge. Repeating in Gaelic, “in the name of the Father of the Son and of The Holy Ghost” it was then given to the cow, which sometimes got better and sometime it did not, but faith in the stone was never lost. It was also customary to place a branch of mountain ash or rowan tree over the byre doors to keep the cattle free from disease.

The Old Crock

B A L Q U H I D D E R , L O C H E A R N H E A D & S T R AT H Y R E H O R T I C U LT U R A L S O C I E T Y

Get Growing!

Our Annual Horticultural Show, like so many other events near and far, will more than likely have to be cancelled this year. But COVID-19 need not stop us from growing, making, baking and getting creative.

Over the next few months in The Villagers this section is devoted to the activities that are usually catered for in the Horti Show, to inspire you and to keep you busy, indoors and out. Particular emphasis is on the outdoors and gardening, and as our garden centres are starting to open up again, why not try your hand at making a succulent garden in a pot?

Succulent plants offer something very special and are fun to grow indoors or out. There are lots to choose from: sedums, sempervivums, agaves and aeoniums are easy to grow and very popular. All are grown for their foliage rather than their flowers.

Potted succulents will thrive in a sunny spot in very well-drained soil.

Their fleshy leaves are designed to store water, so they’re able to cope with periods of drought. Most prefer a very slightly acidic soil.

They will struggle to grow in poorly drained, heavy soils. If planted outside, a cold and wet winter will often see them off. It’s for this reason that they’re ideally suited to containers. When grown in pots, they can be moved to a light, frost-free place until spring where watering can be controlled. As houseplants they’re content on a south or south-east facing windowsill.

Go for unglazed terracotta pots with plenty of drainage holes in the bottom and add grit to the compost.

Terracotta warms up quickly in the sun, which suits succulents very well.

Most have fibrous roots so they can be planted in fairly shallow pots.

Don’t overpot plants – they can cope in quite small containers.

Wear gloves when handling spiked plants - the leaves are incredibly sharp - and watch your eyes!

In summer, water them no more than once a week. A good watering less often is more beneficial than a little-and-often technique. In autumn and winter, reduce the watering dramatically and place containergrown, tender plants in a light and frost-free place. If this isn’t possible, move them under the shelter of the eaves of the house and cover with a protective garden fleece.

Repot potted specimens once a year in spring. You won’t necessarily need to pot them into a larger container but fresh compost will be appreciated. Succulents are not

greedy plants but a light scattering of fish, blood and bone when potting on is often beneficial when growing large specimens.

Succulents don’t require pruning. If foliage is damaged or dead, carefully peel it from the plant or cut off with secateurs.

Cacti are great additions to a succulent garden - they come in many different shapes and appear to have their own personalities.

They enjoy the same dry conditions as their less prickly companions and require the same good drainage.

If you’re a beginner, why not try something like a moon cactus (right) - they have very colourful tops, usually red, pink or yellow. These aren’t flowers so the colour is there all year round.

Good luck - and we hope to see you and your succulents at the Horticultural Show in GW 2021!

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T HE VIL L AGER S ’ TR A D E D I R EC TORY

Charles Grant Decorator& Tiler Exterior & Interior Wall & Floor Paints, Wallpaper & Varnishes supplied

Tel 07768333792 charliehgrant@gmail.com

Your contact for advertising in The Villagers is Andrew Poulter

Coire A Chroine • Balquhidder FK19 8PB

01877 384784 apoulter72@gmail.com

comriebutchers@aol.com

neillmarshall1234@icloud.com Cheques for advertising and mail order subscriptions should be made out to: The BLS Newspaper Association

22

SUPPORT YO U R LOC A L S U PPLI ER S !

PFK Callander Ltd

pfkcallander@btconnect.com

In light of recent events and updates of the Coronavirus (Covid-19), we would like to offer all our customers, existing and future, a ‘contactless’ vehicle MOT, service and repair opportunity.

We can collect your vehicle from home or place of work (within a 25 mile radius from our premises) and deliver back once the MOT, service or repairs have been carried out.

Payments and transfer of payment can be carried out by bacs transfer or by card payment over the phone, to make a fully contactless service.

Please contact PFK Callander Ltd to make your booking appointment today.

Do you need an affordable home ?

Rural Stirling Housing Association aims to support local communities by providing quality homes at affordable rents for families, couples and single people in housing need.

We currently have over 595 rented houses and flats. Around 40 of these become available for rent each year. We currently have properties in the following communities:

Aberfoyle • Doune • Killin • Strathyre Balfron • Drymen • Kinlochard Stronachlachar • Buchlyvie • Gargunnock Kippen • Tyndrum • Callander • Gartmore Lochearnhead • Deanston • Killearn Strathblane We may be able to build in other communities in the future – please let us know if you want to live in a village that is not listed above. Information on local housing need and demand helps us plan for the future.

www.kaygaragedoors.co.uk

If you are interested in renting one of our properties when they become available please contact us: Rural Stirling Housing Association Stirling Road, Doune FK16 6AA

01786 841101 enquiries@rsha.org.uk www.rsha.org.uk

Building affordable homes: growing rural communities

www.andrewbairdoptometrist.co.uk

Published by The BLS Newspaper Association 23

The Villagers’ Contacts Jill Johnston Editor Gardeners Cottage Balquhidder FK19 8PB 01877 384227

Gill Waugh Production Manager Stronvar Farm Balquhidder FK19 8PB 07778 702304

David Johnston Production Gardeners Cottage Balquhidder FK19 8PB 01877 384227

Andrew Poulter Advertising Coire A Chroine Balquhidder FK19 8PB 01877 384784

contact@the-villagers.org.uk

gill@mercatdesign.com

contact@the-villagers.org.uk

apoulter72@gmail.com

Copy Deadline Day is the 21st of the month. Send your contributions to:

contact@the -villagers.org.uk

Please help us to get The Villagers to you as soon as possible!

Bin Collections Stirling Council bin collections are now back to normal. So July 4th will be green & brown bins, 11th will be grey & blue bins, 18th will be brown bins & glass boxes, 25th will be grey & blue bins, and so on.

Callander Recycling centre is now open again: Monday-Friday 5pm7.30pm and Saturday 10am-1.30pm.

If you want to start composting there is advice at https://www. gardenorganic.org.uk/compost Start-Up Stirling Food Banks are suffering at this time and are in greater need than ever. If you can’t donate food items you can donate directly at https:// startupstirling.org.uk/donate

Lochearnhead Contact:

Ali Ferguson 01567 830 405 St Fillans Contact:

Bruce Montgomery blmscotland@yahoo.co.uk Strathyre Contact:

Wullie Dalziel 01877 384 384 Mobile 07768 221661 Mail Order Distribution:

Andrea Poulter 01877 384784

THE

M O B I L E L I B R A RY has paused its ser vice... fo r n ow. . .

Councillors

Balquhidder WhatsApp group:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/ LHPPc7oLTclE8QTHAFVn5I

Other Contacts...

* but still keeping 2 metres away from each other for now, mind!

Councillor Martin Earl Stirling Council Old Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET 01786 233114 earlm@stirling.gov.uk Councillor Evelyn Tweed Stirling Council Old Viewforth, Stirling, FK8 2ET 01786 233101 Councillor Jeremy McDonald Stirling Council Old Viewforth, Stirling, FK8 2ET 01786 233117

UNLOCHED at last! ly We’re opening from 15th of Ju Monachyle

MHOR

MHOR Fish

MHOR In Store

Award winning hotel and restaurant.

Chic rooms, open fires, stunning location.

Open all day, walkers welcome.

Fish & chip shop / seafood cafe.

Open Wednesday - Sunday. 12 noon to 9pm Open Tuesday - Sunday in summer.

From Kindling to Cashmere.

Open Thursday - Monday, 10am to 5pm.

Open 7 days in summer.

W www.mhor.net Balquhidder FK19 8PQ T 01877 384 622

75/77 Main Street, Callander FK17 8DX T 01877 330 213 W www.mhor.net

Kingshouse, Balquhidder, FK19 8NY T 01877 384 691 W www.mhor.net

MHOR 84

MHOR Bread

MHOR

Stylish motel with 11 rooms and 1 self catering cottage. Roaring fires, games room, great food 8am - 9pm. Live acoustic roots music every Thursday.

Kingshouse, Balquhidder, FK19 8NY T 01877 384 646 W www.mhor.net

Artisan bakery and tearoom - Open 7 days.

Tearoom 9am - 5pm.

Bakery / shop 8am - 6pm.

75/77 Main Street, Callander FK17 8BB T 01877 339 518 W www.mhor.net

to your door Anytime. Anyplace. Anywhere. From fish & chips to fine dining,from private to corporate events. W www.mhor.net E events@mhor.net T 01877 384 622