The Villagers April 2016

APRIL 2016

Price 50p

The

The Voice of Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Strathyre & St Fillans

Announcing The BLiSS Trail 2016

If you see a life sized multi-coloured bull standing outside the Lochearnhead Hotel at the end of the month, don’t panic! It’s just Bill. He was designed by metal artist Kevin Paxton - who put the metal thistles into Edinburgh Airport.

Bill the Bull is one of 13 art installations that LETi has linked together for the BLiSS trail to celebrate Visit Scotland tourism Year of Innovation Architecture and Design 2016 (#IAD2016).

LETi aims to encourage visitors to stop, smile and enjoy time out in Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Strathyre and St Fillans.

The name BLiSS was suggested by Kenny Higgins of Strathyre Outdoors. Derived from the capital letters of our villages, the ‘i’ then represents the international tourist information symbol and innovation from #IAD2016.

The collection includes works by artists Rob Mulholland, Kevin Paxton, Heather Gray, June McEwan, Iain Chalmers, Lynne

Shroder and Jeremy Cunningham as well as architects Ruairidh Moir, Daniel Tyler and Angus Ritchie. In addition LETi is working with a third year art student from Perth College UHI, on a contemporary art team project for a new degree course.

In addition to The Lochearnhead Hotel, artworks will be promoted beside Loch Lubnaig, The Broch Café and recreation area, Airlie House B&B, Balquhidder Village Hall, Monachyle Mhor, The Golden Larches, Mansewood Country House, Lochside Lodges garden on Loch Earn, The Four Seasons Hotel and The Achray Hotel. A number of ornamental features will also be mapped along the route including an elephant, lions, stag, signposts, cow and red phone box.

Our communities are exemplary in welcoming visitors. Please help to promote the BLiSS trail. We would love to see your photos on Twitter @robroycountry. Tell your friends and family on Facebook and

other social media pages. Use hashtag #BLiSStrail. Offer to take photos of visitors standing beside the artworks, using their cameras. We aim to encourage more visitors to eat, drink, stay, shop and play here. We want them to ask about the artworks and recommend the BLiSS trail and our friendly hospitality to others.

The official launch date is 27th April 2016 at The Broch Café, Strathyre. We will announce the trail to invited journalists and guests from the public and private sector of tourism during the morning.

Highland Glen Travel will drive journalists around the trail following a presentation and slide show. Villagers will be most welcome to drop in during the afternoon from 1pm and chat to LETi members about the trail. The Broch Café will be open for business; though we suggest that you pre book if you wish to eat, to ensure that they can cater for you comfortably.

Editor’s Bit

Let’s start with the good news this month as we were awarded the Best Article award at the recent Stirling Community Newspaper Awards.

The accompanying ‘mugshot’ shows David and me with the trophy - but the real congratulations go to Jan Renshaw for her article about life at Balquhidder school. The judges’ comments were: “A beautifully written and evocative piece with wonderful detail, which immediately transports you back in time to capture the joy of childhood.”

And we thank Jan again for taking the time to write for us.

I hope you all love the front page picture of Bill! Congratulations to Kim for all her hard work and we hope to feature more of the exhibits over the next few months.

We say goodbye this month to Jonathan MacDonald - and issue a plea again for someone to take over the Gardening section in whatever manner they wish. Rusty’s maternity leave is fast approaching, so here’s another opportunity to get involved, please!

Time to get your diaries out there are lots of notices about events coming up in the next few weeks which we hope you will support and enjoy.

Hope to meet you at some of them.

JJ

The Lochearnhead Village Hall

AGM

will take place on Monday 11th April 2016 in the village hall at 7.30pm All are welcome to attend.

Please come along and get involved!

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The St Fillans Bit By the time you read this, the clocks will have gone forward, Easter will be over and in case you overindulged in one too many Buckfast Easter eggs (yes, they really exist) you might be thinking about an exercise plan. In which case, take a wander up the hill behind the power station and you’ll see new signposts that have appeared, marking the paths up to Glen Tarken, St Fillans, via the ‘zig zag’ path and a smaller marker post with yellow arrows, pointing out the ‘Goat’s Path’ walk; the latter is one of several posts being installed by a village working group which will accompany a local walking guide (currently being written).

The tall signs are courtesy of Perth and Kinross Council.

Whilst on a recent stroll, I was noticing how many interesting natural and manmade relics we have dotted around the place, when I bumped into local resident, Russell Cunningham – himself a bit of an interesting artefact. He was telling me about an unusual ‘object’ he’d acquired when he moved into the village some twelve years ago. If you’ve ever been down the lane to the Sandison Hall you might have seen two very large stones in a frame sitting outside Achray Cottage and wondered what on earth they are.

(There’s a Buckfast Easter egg in it for anybody who can identify it from the picture – no cheating).

The ‘object’, when Russell discovered it, was a three foot slab of stone, which stood on its end with a series of channels carved into it, and two square holes, two feet apart. With it was a square chunk of dressed stone, which seemed to weigh several hundred kilos, with a channel down each side and an iron ring on top.

“I had no idea what it was,” says Russell, “but a guest staying at the Achray Hotel, who’d worked in the cheese business, informed me that it was, in fact, a cheese press.” Well, I’ll be edamned!

Russell did some research on t’internet and discovered a range of old stone cheese presses around the country, but one in particular caught his attention. He says: “Mary’s Churchyard in Cresswell village, Staffordshire, had a very similar base on display, without the weight. They didn’t know what it was for a while. There was speculation that it was part of a local martyr’s commemorative stone, or that it was a church altar stone. What did they think the grooved channels were for – sacrifice? Eventually they also discovered that it was, less interestingly, a cheese press. The curds were gradually pressed

by Isobel Howell

Sign posts by Four Seasons Hotel and at the gate up the hill towards Glen Tarken

by the weight, and the whey ran out of the grooves - simple!”

Inspired by what he’d seen, Russell built a frame and persuaded a local haulier, for “a handful of silver”, to lift the stone onto the re-installed slab. Although unable to source an authentic threaded screw for raising and lowering the weight, he found a similar, smaller device for a meat press – this would never have the leverage to raise such a stone but it does demonstrate the principle.

Russell hopes that local folk and visitors find it an interesting object, though, disappointingly, he says that he’s not going into the cheese business. “Whey not?” we ask.

Russell’s cheese press Continued overleaf

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The St Fillans Bit

Continued from page 3

As you’re going in search of ye olde cheese press, keep your eyes and ears open for a rare visitor. I’m told that only one has been spotted so far, they are agile climbers, often found hanging upside down on branches and walking on tree trunks with their heads down (sound like a few folks I know, after a night out at The Achray).

Andrea Hudspeth, our resident wildlife ecologist, has recently spotted one and is very pleased to share her news. What am I talking about? Read on and all will be revealed (no prizes this time, though); Andrea was recently approached by a the bridge by the golf course and the bridge villager who asked her to identify a new opposite the Loch Earn Brewery. Sightings in feathered visitor to their garden and duly an area during autumn and winter can signal provided her with a photo. Being the expert that the birds will breed in the subsequent that Andrea is, she instantly recognised the summer – so, fingers crossed. bird to be a nuthatch. She told me: “Down What to look out for? Well, the nuthatch in old Englandshire, where I hail from, this is a colourful little bird, a bit smaller than is nothing to get too excited about, but this a robin, which is mostly blue-grey on the is great news for St Fillans.” Apparently, she back and cap with a distinctive black stripe advises, until 1989, the nuthatch had never through the eye. They have dagger like bills, been recorded as a breeding bird in Scotland. white cheeks and chin and buff-orangey “They were found breeding in the Borders flanks and belly. Look for them in deciduous and have been spreading northerly ever since, trees like oaks, beech and hazel. at a rate which has surprised many experts, as In case you’re lucky enough so spot one, this is mainly a sedentary bird which doesn’t you can let Andrea know through her move too far away from its home territory.” Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ This definitely sounds like somebody I know! aquilaecology/ or via the St Fillans Facebook “In the five years I have been living in St page https://www.facebook.com/St.Fillans/ Fillans I had yet to see one in our village. So, Happy birding! it was with much optimism that I started to listen out for nuthatches on my daily dog I’ve had a quick update from The Four walks around the village and sure enough, I Seasons Hotel. They’re fully open, and heard one”.

So far, pleased to introduce their new Team Leader, only one bird at a time has been spotted, along Alice Howell (no relation). Bookings for the stretch of the South Loch Road, between Sunday lunch are strongly advised as they’ve

A nuthatch (with what looks like the remains of a banana), courtesy of Tina Phillips at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

had to turn some folks away, and doggy owners who like running will be very excited to hear they’re hosting a “fun run” (6km) on Sunday 21st May in aid of Dogs Trust. Give the hotel a call for more details.

Finally, a reminder that the Great Loch Earn Boat Race will be held on Sunday 17th April.

The race starts at 12:30 pm from Lochearnhead, finishing at the Achray House Hotel’s jetty, with prize giving around 5:30 pm. Brad and his team at the Achray are generously providing a barbecue, to which all are invited. Please go along and support the teams and enjoy some grub and refreshments afterwards. I’ve heard rumours that a group of St Fillans ladies are entering the race – no pressure, but I really hope you beat the chaps.

Good luck to everyone taking part, including our “San Fillan Village People” veterans team – should the going get tough, they won’t be short of intellectual stimulation as our esteemed Professor John Forty is part of the four man crew. He’s only 88, so should find it a breeze. A sponsorship form is available in The Village Store with donations going to the Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance to give thanks to their service to John Murray.

Please send me your news snippets or interesting stories for inclusion via email to foxknowe@btinternet.com Here’s a recipe for a delicious and deceptively simple soup - one of the stars at a recent Wine Tasting Dinner at the Four Seasons!

Caramelised White Onion Soup I N G R E DI E N T S

Butter, White Onions Brown Sugar, Milk

Simmer everything together for 45 minutes on a low heat Add salt & white pepper to taste.

If you’re using full fat milk – simmer for 20 mins.

Double cream – simmer 5 mins.

That’s it!

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SEEING STARS

Ursa Minor

by Keith Wilson

The Plough

APRIL 2016 Did you find Jupiter last month? It’s still there if you missed it.

One of the most well-known of our constellations is ‘The Plough’, however, you might be surprised to learn that it isn’t a constellation at all! ‘The Plough’ is actually a pattern of stars in the constellation Ursa Major (The Great Bear). The seven stars of ‘The Plough’ are known by many different names including ‘The Big Dipper’, ‘The Saucepan’ and ‘The Wagon’ - you can see from its shape why it got those names.

The two stars on the right side of ‘The Plough’ are known as ‘The Pointers’ because they provide a good signpost to the north. If you draw an imaginary line straight up from the pointer stars (roughly five times the distance) you will arrive at the star Polaris (The North Star) in the constellation Ursa Minor (The Little Bear). Many people expect Polaris to be the brightest star in the sky but that’s not the case - it’s faint but important!

Polaris has been used for navigation since the earliest of times. Because of it’s position in the sky relative to Earth it remains stationary as all the other stars swirl around the sky each night so travellers know exactly which way is north when they see it.

When looking at ‘The Plough’ take a close look at the star second from left on the handle. It might look like a single star but it is actually two stars.

The brighter one is called Mizar and the fainter one just above it is called Alcor - ancient Arabs called them the ‘Horse and Rider’. If you have good eyesight and a very dark sky you should be able to see them both, otherwise they are easy to see in binoculars.

So, your challenge this month: Find ‘The Plough’, the North Star Polaris - and if you have binoculars, take a look at Mizar and Alcor. Good luck!

Members who went on a trip to Venice are back now and eager to tell their story and show their photos to the Travellers’ Tales group.

The Poetry group enjoyed the National Theatre production of ‘As You Like It’ which they saw transmitted live at the Macrobert Cinema.

The Sunday Lunch group has increased in size as it continues its round of local restaurants.

Once the Easter break is over we look forward to summer events and many of our groups arrange something special as a final fling before the holiday break in July and August but in order to get everyone together the committee has organised a day’s outing to Pitlochry Theatre in June and there will be a more local event later on.

Our membership has continued to grow throughout the year and details of all our groups can be found on our website ‘Callander and West Perthshire U3A’.

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Strathyre News Update: The Black & Yellow Fields, Strathyre Slow progress has continued on the negotiations to secure the Black and Yellow Fields of Strathyre, and associated very small parcels of land around the village.

Requests for detailed plans to define the boundary lines on the small parcels of land are still awaited. A recent adjoining land sale containing a derelict structure opposite the Strathyre Inn, adds to the importance of having this clearly defined. Plans provided on the Black and Yellow fields are straightforward but the small strips referred to as area 3. are confusing as the shaded areas on the plan cover existing property grounds and rights of access. It is hoped a higher detailed plan will be forthcoming to resolve this issue.

There is a 20-year condition governing the sale where a clawback clause applies should the village ever apply for change of use on the land areas offered. Any such attempt would require a revaluation of land after its change of use, with a 33% revaluation value being payable to the seller.

Due to the nature of the land being unsuitable and not considered for development by the National Park. It is unlikely this would become an issue. In any case the whole point in securing the land is to honour the stated wishes of its former owner the late Miss Buick, whereby the land was to be left for the children and people of Strathyre to enjoy as recreational land.

Once the confusion over the Plan boundaries affecting Area 3 are resolved, the transaction should be complete with title moving to the Village of Strathyre through the governance of Strathyre Village Association as a registered charity.

Hopefully, this will have been concluded by the publish date of this update.

Kenny Higgins

Co-Ordinator on Land Negotiation

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Strathyre Emergency Response Team Following Flood Risk Assessments on the River Balvaig and Tigh An Eas burn, the Flooding of the Broch area and Emergency Services evacuation of guests at Balvaig Cabins, Kenny Higgins, who has been engaged on this study, was approached by Stirling Council Flood Management Team and the Council Emergency Planning to produce an Emergency Plan to serve the Village of Strathyre.

The plan was presented to the Council and it has been well received. It is also likely the format will be adopted by the Council for other Stirlingshire Villages that do not yet have Emergency Plans in place. Messages were circulated by email and social media to find volunteers willing to be part of the Strathyre Emergency Response Team.

The new team came together on 1st and 16th March to fine tune the plan, which is now ready to deploy if required.

The emergency team represents a wide cross section of the village and members are: Wullie Dalziel, Davey Allan, Jason Allardyce, Colin Adams, Lesley and Bill Lindsay, Lindsey Revie (First Aid co-ordinator) Ceana Heron, Tommy Anderson, Gary Lowes, Grant Gibson, Steve Nixon, and Kenny Higgins. The response team first point of contact with the Council and Emergency Services is Kenny, and the team has agreed a flat structure with each member of equal status. Support and direction is provided from PC Will Diamond and Stirling Council Emergency Planning.

The Response Team has a telephone cascade system to pull members together to attend at any unexpected major incident affecting Strathyre. This could

be as a consequence of flooding, severe weather condition such as a major storm or snowfall resulting in the village being cut off. This could extend to longer term loss of power, or any other major incident affecting the village. The team has a priority to look after the older, infirm or disabled residents or those that live alone to ensure they are safe, warm and dry.

We will also offer support to the primary school if required. Emergency refuge will be provided at the Strathyre Inn Broch Café, or the village hall if power is available. The response team will cover from Immervoulin Camp Site to Rusgachan and Beannach, and will cover any guests at self-catering establishments to offer updates on any emergency.

Kenny wanted to stress that the Emergency Response Team is not an alternative to 999, which should always be the first call on any major incident or serious accident. The team can however be called upon to assist during such emergencies and to offer support after any incident, if requested by the Essential Services or Stirling Council Emergency Planning.

The Strathyre Emergency Response Team hope to do a couple of training exercises each year to test the plan and make updates as required. Further information is available from any of the above members or kenny@ strathyreoutdoors.org The team hopes to undertake First Aid Training to be arranged by Lindsey Revie.

It is hoped that similar Emergency Response teams may be formed in Balquhidder and Lochearnhead in future.

Real Ale - Real Music

2016 Stuc a’ Chroin Hill Race, April 30th!

With the clocks going forward and losing an hour, and spring in the air, thoughts turn to the great outdoors. For the Stuc a’ Chroin Hill Race, you can run it as a cherished part of the Scotttish hill runners’ annual calendar, or you can spend a great day out being a marshal along with one of our many marshals who administer water, chocolate, jelly babies and other ‘energy snacks’.

We always get a large number of accolades from the runners, many of whom cite it as being their favourite race of the year because of the course itself, and because of the encouragement from the marshals.

For the marshals, it’s such a great

day out renewing acquaintances from previous years and meeting new faces.

If you’d like to help, there’s a variety of places to help out on the course itself, and there’s always help needed at the Start/ Finish.

This year, we’ll have over 150 runners, all of whom will need water and sustenance, guidance, cajoling and encouragement, and a smile or a laugh. If you’d like to help on the hill or anywhere else, drop me an email at stuc5000@gmail.com.

We’ll need help on Friday 29th May to put up Marquees, Saturday 30th April for Start/Finish setup, marshalling out on the hill and dismantling Start/Finish, and Sunday 1st May to disassemble the

Marquee and final tidy. As ever, there’ll be music in the evening after the race at the Inn and food from 6-ish.

We’ll publish details on the web (www. stucachroin.org.uk) closer to the day, but there will be a Marshals meeting on Fri 29th April at 9pm in the Inn at Strathyre.

If you can’t make this, please assemble on Saturday morning (30th April) at the Inn at 8am.

The race itself starts at 13:00, with race registration from 10:30 till 12:30, and for those wanting to cheer the runners as they finish, the first runners usually come in around 15:00 – 15:15 and prize-giving will be on the field at around 16:30.

This year will be another fantastic day!

Steve Respinger

Ingredients 1 ripe avocado, skin and seed removed 1 ripe banana, peeled 3 tablespoons cocoa powder 2 tablespoons maple syrup (Free from dairy, gluten and eggs) 2 tablespoons dates This is a wonderfully chocolatey pudding that is 2 tablespoons of cane sugar (optional) based on banana and avocado. It is very healthy 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and heavenly! It’s easy to make - like most of 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional) my recipes. It is very creamy, but no cream or 1/2 cup water or coconut milk butter have been added.

2 -3 tablespoons chopped almonds or other nuts (optional) It is raw, so no cooking or heating is involved. The original recipe calls for Desiccated coconut or raspberries to garnish no sugar, but the recipe can be adapted according to your taste or needs. The choices are endless. To make the muss sweeter I added two tablespoons of Chocolate Orange version: cane sugar. Add any fruits or nuts you like. Desiccated coconut or raspberries Follow the steps using those ingredients: 1 avocado, skin and seed removed will make a lovely topping to the pudding.

1 ripe banana, peeled Blend all ingredients (apart from coconut or raspberries used to garnish) in a blender 3-4 tablespoons cacao/cocoa powder until creamy, scraping down the sides as needed to incorporate everything. Add more 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup water as needed for desired consistency. Place in bowls, decorate, put it in the fridge 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or eat immediately. to Enjoy!

1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice, Kasia Sujanova 1 teaspoon or so orange zest

My favourite recipes...

Raw Chocolate ‘Muss’...

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7

Pin-Feathers* by Old Nyati

*Once in demand by Victorian miniaturists, the tiny pin-feather comes from the leading edge of a woodcock’s wing and only two such feathers occur on each bird (one on each wing). This month Pin Feathers has sent his own version of “A Letter From America” with a friend attempting to explain his objections to the Obamacare programme. We hear a lot about this but are probably ignorant about its actual workings. It could be seen as a controversial view but may explain some of Trump’s popularity. It also should make us very grateful for our NHS despite some of its current problems.

Notes from an Engineer in California I’m a 54 year old consulting engineer. I make between $60,000 and $125,000 per year, depending on how hard I work and whether or not there are work projects out there for me.

My girlfriend is 61 and makes about $18,000 per year, working as a part-time mail clerk.

For me, making $60,000 a year, under ObamaCare, the cheapest, lowest grade policy I can buy, which also happens to impose a $5,000 deductible, costs $482 per month.

For my girlfriend, the same exact policy, same deductible, costs $1 per month. That’s right, $1 per month. I’m not making this up.

Don’t believe me? Just go to www. coveredca.gov, the ObamaCare website for California and enter the parameters I’ve mentioned above and see for yourself.

By the way, my zip code is 93940. You’ll need to enter that.

So OK, clearly ObamaCare is a scheme that involves putting the cost burden of healthcare onto the middle and upperincome wage earners.

But there’s a lot more to it. Stick with me.

And before I make my next points, I’d like you to think about something: I live in Monterey County, in Central California. We have a large land mass but just 426,000 residents - about the population of Colorado Springs or the city of Omaha.

But we do have a large Hispanic population, including a large number of illegal aliens, and to serve this group we have Natividad Medical Centre, a massive, Federally subsidized county medical complex that takes up an area about one-third the size of the Chrysler Corporation automobile assembly plant in Belvedere, Illinois (per Google Earth).

Natividad has state-of-the-art operating rooms, Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging, fully equipped, 24 hour emergency room, and much more.

If you have no insurance, if you’ve been in a drive-by shooting or have overdosed on crack cocaine, this is where you go. And it’s essentially free, because almost everyone who ends up in the ER is uninsured.

8

Last year, 2,735 babies were born at Natividad. 32% of these were born to out-of-wedlock teenage mothers, 93% of which were Hispanic.

Less than 20% could demonstrate proof of citizenship, and 71% listed their native language as Spanish. Of these 876 births, only 40 were covered under (any kind of) private health insurance. The taxpayers paid for the other 836.

And in case you were wondering about the entire population - all 2,735 births less than 24% involved insured coverage or even partial payment on behalf of the patient to the hospital in exchange for services. Keep this in mind as we move forward.

Now consider this: If I want to upgrade my policy to a lowdeductible premium policy, such as what I had with my last employer, my cost is $886 per month.

But my girlfriend can upgrade her policy to the very same level, for just $4 per month.

That’s right, $4 per month. $48 per year for a zero-deductible, premium healthcare policy - the kind of thing you get when you work at IBM (except of course, IBM employees pay an average of $170 per month out of pocket for their coverage).

I mean, it’s bad enough that I will be forced to subsidize the ObamaCare scheme in the first place. But even if I agreed with the basic scheme, which of course I do not, I would never agree to subsidize premium policies.

If I have to pay $482 a month for a budget policy, I sure as hell do not want the guy I’m subsidizing to get a better policy, for less than 1% of what I have to fork out each month for a low-end policy.

Why must I pay $482 per month for something the other guy gets for a dollar?

And why should the other guy get to buy an $886 policy for $4 a month?

Think about this: I have to pay $10,632 a year for the same thing that the other guy can get for $48. $10,000 of net income is 60 days of full time work as an engineer; $48 is something I could pay for collecting aluminium cans and plastic bottles, one day a month.

Are you with me on this? Are you

Callander Rambling Club

Sponsored by Caledonian Country Wear

The Club consists of a group of enthusiasts who meet regularly throughout the year to participate in a programme of strolls, rambles, hill walks and a Long Distance Path. Details are published on http:// www.incallander.co.uk/r a m b l e r s . htm in the Ben Ledi View and on posters around Callander.

New members and guests are always welcome. Here are some dates for your diary: April 2016 • Sat 2 April 08:30 Hill: Mor Bheinn & Ben Halton (640m) contact 01877 331067 • Wed 13 April 09:30 Ramble: Kenknock & Batavaime (upper Glen Lochay) (7.5miles) contact 01786 825249 • Wed 20 April 09:30 Stroll: Kinlochard to Milton (6 miles) contact 01877 382682 • Sat 30 April 08:30 LDP: RRW(1) Pitlochry to Aberfeldy (11 miles) contact 01877 330032 May 2016 • Sat 7 May 08:30 Hill: Beinn Each & Beinn Bhreac (813m) contact 01877 330059 • Wed 11 May 09:30 Ramble: Cashel & Inchailloch (8miles) contact 01877 382661 • Sat 21 May 08:30 LDP: RRW(2) Aberfeldy to Acharn (10miles) contact 01877 330032 • Wed 25 May 09:30 Stroll: Dam Circular Walk (6 miles) contact 01786 475075 June 2016 • Wed 1 June 09:30 Ramble: Cochno & Loch Humphrey (8.5miles) contact 01786 841240 We meet in Ancaster Square, unless otherwise indicated. Please bring wet weather clothing, appropriate footwear and a packed lunch.

And please let the walk leader know if you plan to join the walk via the contact number given. Thanks!

starting to get an idea what ObamaCare is really about?

ObamaCare is not about dealing with inequities in the healthcare system. That’s just the cover story.

The real story is that it is a massive, political power grab.

Do you think anyone who can insure himself with a premium policy for $4 a month will vote for anyone but the political party that provides him such a deal?

ObamaCare is about enabling, subsidizing, and expanding the Left’s political power base, at taxpayer expense.

Rusty McD is back with another 5-minute interview featuring someone in our community - and their furry, feathered or scaly friends!

5 minutes with...

Anna & Frisbee

This month I met with 8 year old Anna and her very fluffy rescue cat, Frisbee.

So tell me about Frisbee, Anna!

She was a rescue cat. My grandfather brought her home last summer from a cat shelter in Comrie. We were in Spain when the cat arrived but we found out she was coming to live with us when we were at the airport.

Did she already have a name or did you choose one?

I gave her the name because she is all frizzy and because she’s very frantic and skids through the air.

Do you know how old Frisbee is?

No, we don’t know - but we think she’s a young cat. We don’t know much about what happened to her before she lived with us….maybe her owner dumped her… maybe the owner was fed up with her. When she got kicked out by the owner I think she must have thought “what have I done wrong?”

Is she friendly?

Well she lives outside – she’s a bit frantic.

I think it’s because she’s a rescue cat. She jumps out of our hands, skids and runs away. She’s more frightened of adults than children. When she first arrived she ran away and was quite wild but she has slowly become more friendly. (Anna’s mum explains that it was Anna who managed to tame Frisbee and encourage her to get used to being around people but it is clear that she most definitely prefers girls and children).

What makes Frisbee a good pet?

I like that she’s very fluffy and that she’s more calm with me than my brother. She does sit on my lap and purr but runs away when my brother comes along.

What does she like doing during the day?

She loves rolling around in the sun on her back and she likes sleeping. She loves being warm. She’s quite clumsy for a cat – she’ll get into the car or the washing machine. She jumps up on things and knocks them over. In my Grandmother’s house she jumped up in the kitchen and ate Grandmother’s soup.

She likes hunting for birds. We had to get her a collar and bell – to stop her from killing the birds. It has a pink tiger design on it.

How does she get along with the chickens you have in your garden?

She doesn’t care about them . She gets stressed around Daisy the dog though.

I think when we’re not at home the dog chases the cat.

What games do you play with Frisbee?

We pIay a game where I open the door a little bit and put my hand round and then she puts her paw round. Every morning when I get on the school bus she comes to say goodbye to me.

Do you have other pets as well?

I used to have a deerhound called Gilbert but he died and we used have a cat called Kenny but he died. I have 5 chickens – there’s a young one that my Mum named ‘Birdy.’ She nevers gets the food as the others always push her out so I go and feed her. The others don’t have names – just Birdy because she’s special.

When I’m 10 I’m going to get a dog from Hope for Paws.

I used to have a black dog called Coco when I lived in Georgia but she had to go to another home when we moved to

Scotland. (Anna’s mum explains that Coco went to live with a bodyguard so she now has a very interesting life travelling around in cars and looking after people).

Who would you like me to interview next, Anna?

Maybe Abigail and Angus...!

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A Note from

St Angus’s

As I write this we are still in Holy Week but by the time you read this Easter will have passed. It’s not too late for all of us in St Angus’s to wish the readers and the production team of The Villagers a very Happy Easter because Easter is not a one off event - the resurrection of Jesus is forever and that is what we celebrate.

All around us at this time of year are signs of “resurrection” in the budding of plants and signs of new life everywhere. I don’t suppose it’s coincidence that the Christian church has chosen to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus in the spring but I’m sure someone more knowledgeable than I am can confirm or refute that?

Now, I think it’s time to stir the pot again and encourage a bit of debate. If any of you watch the programme “The Big Questions” you will know that one of the debates concerned the presence of Church of England bishops in the House of Lords. Their “big question” is should all faiths be represented in the House of Lords? Please don’t be side-lined by whether or not the House of Lords should exist at all but, bearing in mind that it DOES exist and we live in a multifaith society should we have Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus etc. represented there?

Do please think about this and send your replies to the Editor. I look forward to reading them!

Church News

BalquhiĐĐer •bls Reg. Charity No. SC012316

How this year is flying past. Suddenly, Easter is upon us which is always special to Christians, and not just because we can enjoy eating chocolate eggs with a clear conscience! It is good that we shall welcome Strathyre School for its service on Maundy Thursday after a special Palm Sunday service with Killin congregation and the Community Choir. The Easter Sunday service will be with Communion, as will be the service on 3rd April, it being the first Sunday in the month.

The problems with severe damp following the storms at the turn of the year are being dealt with. Not all the damage will be covered by insurance and we face a large bill for roof repairs. Luckily the internal damage is covered by insurance.

The number of folk attending church remains extremely low as is the case in many churches. It is a great pity because so many people are missing out on the lovely services which our locum minister, Revd June Johnston, gives us every Sunday. It is not as though our services are very long, about 45 minutes starting at 11.30 am. It is a worry for the future. We could end up being a church for not much more than weddings and funerals.

As far as I know, there has been no great flood of applicants to fill the vacancy. There are many vacancies throughout the Church of Scotland and in other denominations as well. And, we have to bear in mind that whoever comes here will have a heavy work load simply travelling between the two parishes of Balquhidder and Killin as well as frequent trips to the Presbytery of Stirling.

On the other hand, when the sun shines and the lochs and mountains look so stunning, it is a wonder they aren’t queuing at the gates to come here!

Jean Edwards

Book of Remembrance

A Book of Remembrance has been generously donated to Dundurn Parish Church in St Fillans by Geoff Carter and his family in memory of his late wife Rachael Hardman Carter. The Kirk Session invite all those people whose loved one had their funeral in the church, or who have a connection to the church, to contact us if they are happy for an entry to go ahead.

This is also to ensure that the deceased person’s details are correctly spelt and accurate. You may also like to add a personalized message such as may be inscribed on a gravestone.

For example: John Henry Smith (known as Jack)

29th August 1960 – 15th March 2014 “Beloved son and brother “ Please feel free to get in touch by email: throughtofrances@hotmail.com or ring me, Frances Brown on: 01764 685268 Thank you on behalf of the Kirk Session of Dundurn Parish Church. FB 10

“Are you... getting married and want to do things a bit differently?

Or simply local - and curious about weddings at the Croft?

Either way you are welcome to...

Have a Wee Nosey!

Sunday 17th April, 1 – 4pm

See the NEW old Cow Shed!

Meet unusual and unique local wedding suppliers • Live music Nibbles and refreshments • Discuss your plans with Ellen Completely FREE Comrie Croft, Braincroft, Comrie, Perthshire PH7 4JZ

Remembering Dunblane

When the dreadful tragedy happened in Dunblane the whole glen in Balquhidder was overcome with sadness that such a terrible thing could have happened.

We asked everyone in the glen if they would donate a small plant pot of snowdrops to enable us to plant our own small memorial to the children, which is visible to all who drive by the village hall, they are spreading beautifully under the cherry trees.

A lot of the people who donated snowdrops are no longer with us but it was a wonderful gathering in the church to pray for all who suffered that tragic morning. They will never be forgotten.

Callander Photo Club Please join us for our next meeting of Callander Photo Club to be held Wednesday, 13 April. We are planning a day out with an opportunity to take photos of the critters at Blair Drummond Safari Park during the day and a visit to Camphill in the late afternoon evening. More details will be sent by e-mail prior to the day.

The photo word for April is ‘GOLDEN’. Send your photos (no more than 4) to callanderphotoclub@ gmail.com All are welcome. Members £1/ Guests£3. For more information, email callanderphotoclub@gmail. com. See us on Facebook at Callander Photo Club.

May meeting - 11 May May photo word - ‘TANGLED’ 11

McLaren High School Feis Rois Ceilidh Trail 2016 Callum Convoy, S5 bodhran and banjo player, recently auditioned for - and was chosen to be part of - Feis Rois - a ceilidh trail which takes place this summer from 11 July to 13 August.

Callum travelled to Cromarty for his audition which took place in the Old Brewery. He played some jigs, reels and strathspeys on his bodhran, along with a fiddler. He was asked questions about ceilidhs and asked to call a Gay Gordons.

One of the questions Callum was asked was ‘what albums would you take with you on a desert Island?’ Callum replied, “Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan, Harvest

by Neil Young and Astral Weeks by Van Morrisson.”

Callum also had to take part in a group work session which was led by highly regarded musicians in the ‘trad’ field.

During the session Callum was learning, arranging and playing tunes with the others in his group.

Fifteen young people aged between 16 and 25 were selected for the ceilidh trail. From these fifteen, three bands containing five players have been formed.

One band will stay local in the Black Isle, and tour the area. Another band will tour Scotland focusing on Scots repertoire.

The final band will tour Scotland focusing on Gaelic repertoire – this is the band Callum will play with. We are very pleased for Callum and hope he enjoys this experience.

“I would highly recommend the experience of auditioning for Feis Rois.

Even if you don’t get selected, you will still meet many like-minded people - and get immersed in trad!”

McLaren Pipers On Friday 26 February, Cameron Dinwoodie, Robin Turnbull, James Douglas (all S1) and Callum Hall (S5) were invited to pipe in the delegates at the Young Reporters for the Environment Conference which was held at the Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow.

The boys played three tunes which were enthusiastically received by delegates from across the globe.

Then on Saturday 27 February, Cameron McLay piped in guests at the evening reception for the same conference, once again to the delight of the delegates.

Well done boys!

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Callum also plays the mandolin

Pipers line up. From left to right: James Douglas, Cameron Dinwoodie, Miss Amy Bilsborough (Music Teacher), Marc Fleming (Headteacher), Cameron Hall and Robin Turnbull

A Taste of Italy at McLaren Early March saw the S6 Practical Cookery class make and cook their own Tagliatelle in the Home Economics room!

It was like a taste of Little Italy as they used the pasta machines for the first time - with many of the pupils showing a competitive streak. The class also made their own very garlicky Tomato and Red Pepper Sauce to go with their creations.

This healthy dish proved that home cooking can be tasty and fun to do - and will stand many of the youngsters in good stead as they head off to pastures new later this year. There were plenty of laughs all round.

Well done to all!

Tagliatelle gets the S6 treatment!

S2 Physics We took part in the dissection of a bull’s eye recently in Physics. To start with we removed the cornea which is a clear and protective layer - giving us a clear window to see through. It felt very thick and rubbery to touch. We then carefully removed the iris which is the coloured part of the eye, but for the bull’s eye it was black. Next we removed the lens from the protective jelly in the middle of the eye and put the lens over some writing to show how it magnifies things. We then turned the eye inside out to examine the retina which is the point where light focuses on the back on the eye.

The last part of the eye we looked at was the optic nerve, when we squeezed this with the tweezers we were able to see each individual fibre which sends signals to your brain.

Archie Duff and Grace Dennehy S2

Getting to grips with ‘scoring a bull’s eye’...

Erudite Muse “Life isn’t easy. If it was, everyone would do it.”

Frank Bruno, quoted in The Times “The Conservative Party has two states: complacency and panic.”

William Hague, quoted in The Guardian “The toughest thing about success is that you’ve got to keep on being a success.”

Irving Berlin, quoted on Forbes.com “Atheists take religion too literally.”

Nassim Nicholas Taleb, quoted on The Browser “The stock market has called nine of the last five recessions.”

Economist Paul Samuelson, quoted on Forbes.com “Time spent arguing is almost never wasted.”

Christopher Hitchins, quoted on The Browser “A difference of taste in jokes is a great strain upon the affections.”

George Elliot, quoted on Forbes.com

The

AGM for the

Annual Country Show will be held on

Tuesday 12th April at 7pm in The Inn at Strathyre

Glenorchy Farm

Free range rare breed pork for sale

We sell fresh pork as 1/2 pigs (20kg) and 1/4 pigs (10kg) every 3 months, next available - early 2016.

We also sell frozen sausage and bacon packs - £25.

We can arrange drop off points in the local area.

Contact: Fiona MacLennan t: 07783116399 e: fiona.glenorchyfarm@gmail.com facebook: Glenorchy Farm 13

O B I T UA R Y 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.

Dave Campbell 14.06.46-20.02.16

David Stewart Campbell was born on the 14th June 1946 in Aberfeldy Hospital to parents David and Jessie Campbell and he became a younger brother for his late sister Elizabeth. He was brought up in the family home at Balnearn, Fearnan. He attended Fearnan Primary School and then Breadalbane Academy, Aberfeldy leaving at around age 15 years.

His first shepherding job was with the late Jak Kinnimouth at Fortingall. His shepherding work took him all over the country, Killin, Dingwall, Crieff, Dunbar, Aberdeenshire and Glenshee, and only a few years ago he crossed the border in to England and on to Wales to help with a lambing, something which was not to be repeated.

In 1965 while working in Dingwall, his first daughter, Joan was born, followed two years later by Jenny in 1967, who was born in Stirling, the family having by then moved to Killin.

At a mutual friend’s party in 1983, he met Jane McLuckie and the following year she became his wife, a partnership which lasted for the next 32 years.

Dave enjoyed a game of curling, dominos and indoor bowling. He also loved to watch sport on TV, particularly football, Hearts and Manchester United being the teams he supported.

When he was forced to give up shepherding because of failing health, he took up mole catching and as with everything he did, he excelled at this, on some jobs completely eradicating the mole problem.

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Jane Campbell would like to thank all her neighbours and friends for the support and sympathy she has received since her sad loss of Dave and all those who paid their respects at Perth Crematorium on the 1st March.

The collection for COPD and Arthritis Charities raised £745.

Perhaps you sent a lovely card Or sat quietly in a chair Perhaps you sent a floral piece If so I saw it there.

Perhaps you spoke the kindest words As any friend could say Perhaps you were not there at all But thought of me that day whatever you did to console my heart I thank you so much whatever the part At this time he began to take an interest in gardening, and the knowledge he had kept hidden came to the fore much to Jane’s despair as up until then Jane had been in charge of gardening and had done a pretty good job of it. But now it would be done differently and as was always the case Jane conceded that he was right again. So this year the gardening will be done by Jane as near normal as possible but always with Dave’s instructions going around in her head.

Dave’s great granddaughter Sophie was born in April 2015 and his great grandson Robert was born in June 2015.

Dave died peacefully but suddenly after an illness bravely born in Forth Valley Royal Hospital on 20th February 2016.

We currently have over 550 rented houses and flats. Around 50 of these become available for rent each year. We hope to have new properties in Strathblane and Balmaha soon and currently have properties in the following communities

Aberfoyle Deanston Gartmore Lochearnhead Balfron Doune Killin Strathyre Buchlyvie Drymen Kinlochard Stronachlachar Callander Gargunnock Kippen Tyndrum

We may be able to build in other communities in the future – please let us know to 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.

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 Telephone: 01786 841101 Email: enquiries@rsha.org.uk www.rsha.org.uk

Registered as a Scottish Charity No. SC037849

Scottish Wildlife Trust Callander Local Group Diary 2016 Talks start at 7:30pm Kirk Hall South Church Street Callander April

Title by

EVERYONE WELCOME! Admission £2 members, £2.50 non-members Free to full-time students.

Includes tea/coffee & biscuits.

Please book with Lesley Hawkins

01877 339080

or mlhawkins@tiscali.co.uk

Scottish Wildlife Trust Salmon and Trout movements in our local rivers Joanna Girvan of the Forth Fisheries Trust (FFT), SWT’s February speaker, described the mixed distribution of salmonids in the Teith, Forth and Allan Water. This class of fish has an extra fin behind the dorsal and includes salmon and sea trout (same species as the ubiquitous brown trout but have spent time at sea). Both species lay eggs in small, clean gravel in upper streams and, if they evade a plethora of predators, develop through a confusing nomenclature.

Eggs hatch into alevins that feed on their large egg sack before becoming fry that swim up out of the gravel to hunt.

At 12-18 months the parr move into deeper water, seeking shelter between rocks from predators like heron, kingfishers, goosanders and cormorants. Smolts then travel to sea, running the gauntlet of Longannet Power Station. As grilse they spend a year at sea, feeding on sand eels and krill then returning to rivers if they escape the seals and otters. As if the natural predators weren’t enough of a challenge, man may also pollute streams/rivers or create physical barriers such as roads, dams and lochs that prevent migration to spawning grounds with trapped fish making for easy poaching.

FFT carries out surveys using electrofishing to (harmlessly) stun fish and allow numbers and species to be counted. Fish counters may also be used to give the number of returning adults, informing whether catch can be kept or should be released and whether additional restored habitat is needed. The 4 tributaries of the Teith have a high density of salmon and trout but in-line lochs and Venachar dam are obstacles. The Allan Water has good tributaries but barriers include culverts for the A9, the railway line and the distillery. The Upper Forth has been less surveyed but across 20 sites has not shown high numbers; upstream is quite acidic due to the geology and conifer plantations while downstream agricultural areas have high sedimentation.

Several projects to restore habitat are underway; the Allan barriers are to be changed and Dunruchan Peatland Restoration bunds that slow water to store it in the peat will also reduce downstream sediment. In the Loch Lubnaig SSSI a project should start this summer to make the water margins fresher. This should not only increase fish numbers but will help the endangered fresh water pearl mussels whose larvae develop while attached to fish gills. The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Headwater project will employ a range of options for river restoration, including re-meandering, re-profiled & protected banks, replacement of conifers with native trees along river banks to reduce acidity.

This project will be looking for community engagement from volunteers and schools.

However, the increasing frequency of winter floods can be devastating and the Spey, Tay and Dee are expected to suffer a negative impact over the next 2-4 years.

Dredging of rivers is often mentioned as a solution to flooding but, not only can it just pass the problem downstream, it would cause devastating and irreparable damage to fish rivers.

Top: Salmon leaping, and above: brown trout

Lots more information on the FFT website: http://www.fishforth.co.uk/rfft/.

Lesley Hawkins

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BLS – Where Business Does the Talking

Interview by Iona Mchedliani

Kenny and Barbara Higgins started their company “Strathyre Outdoors” with the aim to develop and improve the range of activities available to both residents and visitors in the area. Using their experience gained over lengthy and interesting careers, Kenny and Barbara successfully run their business from their home in Strathyre, as well as promoting various local initiatives and upcoming projects.

What made you decide to start up Strathyre Outdoors?

Kenny: We’re quite a new company, formed officially in June of last year, 2015. We had looked at market research and investigated how successful we might be for about six months prior to then. Before that we had maybe three years of experience organising and helping to establish the Strathyre Music Festival. During the music festival we did a lot of market research with people coming to the area. The general feedback was that it was a great event, and they loved the area of Strathyre, but the resounding feedback was that there was nothing much to do; there were no facilities and nothing really for people to do if they ever came back here. So that got us thinking. Having heard this for three years and then doing our own research, we thought there was good justification to create an outdoor activity business.

Is it a family-run business? Do you have any staff employed other than yourselves?

Barbara: It’s mainly ourselves, but our boys do help. We have four sons. We ran a ghost tour last November around Guy Fawkes Night, which went quite well - we scared all the local people! Our son Michael was in a scary outfit and daughter-in-law Yvonne was dressed as a friendly witch and their children Erin as dancing fairy and Joe as monster and they had great fun scaring everyone who attended.

Son Stephen became a frightening Grim Reaper and his daughter Rachel a rather scary zombie. We have four grandchildren mostly as daft as we are so this helps. Our Ranger Jack joined the fun as the Black Macgregor, our local ghost. All quite scary stuff in the dark forest of Strathyre. The event helped raise £80 towards the village children’s Christmas party.

Kenny: Our ranger Jack Black is a qualified

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guide and canoe instructor. Jack is very popular and great fun to work with. Our guests like him. Jack has great experience on all sorts of things. He’s climbed Mount Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro. He’s wellexperienced and gives great support.

As a “Community Interest Company”, what are the main aims of Strathyre Outdoors?

Kenny: We’re very much orientated towards attracting tourists to Strathyre to help the local economy. If we make a little bit of pocket money on the way then that’s a bonus. We’re conscious that the village doesn’t have a lot going for it; there isn’t a lot of things to do in Strathyre. We’re therefore trying to gradually build more activities and give people more reasons to come here. It’s a place with great potential.

In what way are you involved with the Loch Earn Tourism Initiative (LETi)?

Kenny: We’re both members of LETi as Strathyre Outdoors. We are happy to support LETi initiatives, which are very much dedicated to promoting tourism in the BLSS community.

I’m also a volunteer ranger for Sustrans, on route 7 bicycle track. I look after the stretch between Killin and Kilmahog. I also provide support to the Strathyre Village Association helping to secure land for the village and have helped establish Strathyre’s Emergency Response Team.

Barbara: Kenny and I are engaged with various things in the village. I still help out with the music festival, helping run the ticket office.

What are the main activities that Strathyre Outdoors offers?

Kenny: We have a wide range of different activities available. We have a general umbrella description of “Mini Adventures”.

It’s the general concept of encouraging people to come out and experience things that they maybe wouldn’t do at home: like going for a walk in the forest; going on a trail to spot local wildlife; going out at night into the forest with night vision goggles to watch for bats flying about or other wild creatures that we might see. Any equipment, like night vision goggles, is provided for any guests that come along. It’s just part of the experience that we offer for the different activities.

Barbara: A lot of people don’t realise that there’s an abundance of wildlife right on the doorstep in Strathyre. It’s a matter of us pointing that out.

Kenny: We have a friend in the village who provides bike hire and we support him with referrals. We also run a canoe safari.

Barbara and Kenny

We’ve used Loch Voil and adjoining Loch Doine before but most trips usually start at Immervoulin caravan site, travel one mile down the river Balvaig, then they go into Loch Lubnaig, go ashore for a picnic and then return. That’s very popular. The former campsite owners were very supportive and the new owners thankfully wish our activities to continue.

Our water based activity can be weatherdependent. We would never let anybody go out if there were dangerous or risky conditions. We operate a full refund policy if we have to call off a pre-booked activity because the weather or imminent forecast is bad, in the interest of safety.

Barbara: We’ve been doing activities with Strathyre and Crianlarich Primary Schools supported by teachers and some parents, doing Treasure Hunts, Bush Skills and Orienteering with them. The school has engaged us to do a series of orienteering days again this year. The kids love being outdoors and are great to work with.

Kenny: Our son Stephen also runs children’s football on Saturday mornings here in the village, which is another popular activity.

Local children come along with Mums and Dads and enjoy up to an hour and a half of football coaching and it ends up with a game.

Often the parents join in – Dads often become goalkeepers! It’s a boys and girls event, mainly primary school age, from about five years old up to 14. It’s been popular and if there are any children staying at campsites, self-catering accommodation or visiting the area, they can also come along and join in. Whilst the kids are playing, the parents can sit and watch the fun from the Broch Café with a cup of tea or coffee.

Where does the term Micro Adventures come from?

Kenny: It’s a widely-used term. There’s a famous explorer chap called Alastair Humphreys who’s promoting the term “Micro Adventure” worldwide. He’s trying to encourage people, of all ages, wherever they stay, and whatever their budget is, to go outdoors and enjoy themselves. You don’t have to go on safari to Africa, or visit the Grand Canyon in the USA, to experience fantastic things, because there is loads to see here on your doorstep.

It’s about trying to encourage people to go out and realise all that is available right here in Strathyre.

Iona’s interview with Kenny and Barbara continues next month!

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With another polling day fast approaching, we thought we’d reprint Jonathan’s take on how you should vote... Enjoy!

You Want Growth?

Vote for Gardening!

by Jonathan MacDonald

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There are only weeks to polling day and options have widened. Have you ever considered voting for the Gardening Party?

This is not some posh soirée to which you might get invited - to stand around in white high heels, slowly aerating the lawn as you gorge on vol-aux-vents.

No, this is a real party with real policies opposing the status quo. But don’t bother looking for this party on the ballot paper.

We have decided not to stand for any constituencies as we’re too busy in the garden.

This is a green covenant that rises above politics. Our manifesto is a rich ossuary of horticultural significance and, if followed closely, will make the nation great once again!

It has at its heart a set of small effulgent principles which will raise the meek to a high state of happiness and political satisfaction.

Policy 1: Amend the Allotments Act of 1925. Everyone who pays council tax should be given a plot to grow things on. This is in addition to the present law, specifically Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 in which local authorities have a duty to provide allotments where there is a demand.

So, dear voter, if you want an allotment, all you have to do is ask the local authority and they are legally obliged to provide one.

Our soon to be launched bus advert: “Get three fancy coloured wheelie bins for your two grand a year - and a free allotment” summarises it perfectly.

Policy 2: A local authority budget should be allocated for every council ward to employ a full time gardener for every 10,000 per head of population to work in their local community, making it a brighter and more garden-esque environment.

Policy 3: All food provided in schools should be sourced and grown locally and healthy nutritious menus provided. All schools should have a small holding to grow their own food and farm animals.

Policy 4: Horticultural research institutes in Scotland (e.g. the Hutton Institute) should have their funding increased to develop new crops and promote Scottish Horticulture.

We are world leaders in seed potato and

top fruit. Fifty per cent of world raspberry crops were produced by scientists in Dundee and we are familiar with such potatoes as Lady Balfour, Anya, Vales Sovereign, Vales Emerald and Mayan Gold – all bred at the Hutton Institute.

Policy 5: All deer, rabbits and slugs will be prohibited from entering gardens.

Policy 6: Create a Secretary of State for Horticulture (as in Ireland and Holland) - and end government inefficiency.

Presently DEFRA deals with thirty five different agencies and government bodies. The current Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has a degree in philosophy, politics and economics. Our policy is to employ only qualified people for the top jobs who have an understanding of horticulture.

Policy 7: Approval for small scale whisky distillation and an increase in funding for the Scottish Craft Distillers Association - a new body set up to develop spirits in Scotland. A whole new world exists out there; you only have to try gorse infused gin from Caithness and the hop gin made in St Andrews to see the connections between growing and distilling.

Policy 8: Free secateurs and lawn mower sharpening for the over 75s!

Policy 9: All garden machinery will carry colour authentication stickers.

This will be known as the Orange Clause Act 2015, which we aim to introduce in the first week of Parliament. Our party believes the public deserve the right to differentiate between “cheap orange tools” and “quality orange tools”.

Only quality orange tools can carry the “Certificate of Orangeness” marker. Tools of a substandard quality disguised by an orange colour must clearly state on the machinery the likelihood of blowing up or breaking down within the guarantee period.

Policy 10: All annoying weeds, insects and plants e.g. ground elder to be banned.

And let’s have a ban on nasty horrible weather that gets on your nerves when you try to do anything in the garden.

GARDENERS – USE YOUR VOTE!

Jonathan Says Farewell At The Riverside Garden Centre, near Comrie, it’s all change as owner (and Villagers contributor) Jonathan MacDonald is packing up and heading off for a new life on the Isle of Skye.

“Thanks to all my customers for your support over the years,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to some new challenges on Skye!”

He is pictured here with his faithful pal Fraoch. We’ll miss you, Jonathan!

Clearance Sale

50% off all plants Veg. seeds etc.

25% off everything else!

On Now - everything must go! mail@scottishgardens.info www.scottishgardens.info

Tel: 01764 670800 19

Farm Forum: The In/Out Debate carries on Last month I majored on the

forthcoming EU referendum and make no apology for doing so again - why? Because this is a momentous event that will affect all our lives and perhaps our jobs too - and once the decision is taken there is no going back.

By the time you read this article there will still be ten or eleven weeks until the big event - that is a sobering thought.

The In and Out groups are becoming more active and one is inclined to wonder what everyone will talk about when it is all over.

Recently, a group of forty two farmers, led by former English NFU President, Sir Peter Kendall, calling themselves Farmers For In, was launched with a letter in The Times.

They argue that leaving the European Union would mean farmers would have to abide by EU regulations without a say in their formation, and pay in to the EU budget without receiving EU payments in return. We’d ‘pay but have no say’.

Mr Lyon, who for a number of years was an MEP (Member of the

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European Parliament), said: “As a seventh generation farmer , I know how much stronger and better off our farming industry is as a result of membership of the EU. “The CAP is far from perfect, but at least it gives us a level playing field on farm support, safety nets in times of crisis, access to markets and the same rules on the basic payment scheme and marketing.”

“It ensures that farmers in Scotland and across the UK are not disadvantaged against the vast number of heavily supported and protected agriculture sectors around the world. It is my firm opinion that we must not put all of this and more - at risk, by walking away from Europe.”

Mr Kendall went on: “Being part of the world’s biggest trading block is crucial to the future of our farming and food industry. Not only does it give us direct access to 500 million of the richest consumers in the world, but EU free trade agreements with more than fifty countries means we can sell into burgeoning markets across the globe.

“Environmental threats cross borders; so do the animal and plant diseases

which endanger food supplies. Market volatility isn’t just a problem for British farmers,” he stressed.

“It is pointless trying to tackle these problems unilaterally at a country level; only by working together, with other member states with common standards and thresholds, will we give farming the security it needs in today’s uncertain landscape. I won’t pretend the EU is perfect - but I’m convinced that as farmers, we’re stronger, safer and better off inside.”

As I said, the In and Out groups are becoming more active, and this will increase over the next few weeks. The problem (as I see it) is that a lot of what we hear, especially from the Out camp, has to be mostly supposition - and it seems to me that, unless we get more assurances about the implications of an out vote (for all of us as well as farmers), it would be a dangerous leap in the dark. Phrases like ‘the devil you know’ come to mind.

Agricola

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Other Contacts...

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

Gill Allan Waugh Production Manager Stronvar Farm Balquhidder FK19 8PB 01877 384203

David Johnston Production Gardeners Cottage Balquhidder FK19 8PB 01877 384227

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

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

contac t@the -villagers.org.uk Please help us to get The Villagers to you as soon as possible!

• DIARY DATES • We e k l y A c t i v i t i e s Monday

Bowling - St Fillans Lunch Club - The Scout Station, Lochearnhead - 12.30pm - 2.30pm

Tuesday

Keep Fit - Lochearnhead Hall - 10.30 to11.30am Gaelic Playgroup - Balquhidder Hall - 10.30am to 12.30pm Country Dancing - St Fillans

Lochearnhead Contact:

Ali Ferguson 01567 830 405 St Fillans Contact:

Isobel Howell 07876 031768 Strathyre Contact:

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

Hilda Astbury 01877 384 681

The Villagers’ Photographer Jason Allardyce

www.allardycephotography.co.uk facebook.com/allardycephotography 01877 384295 07508 595211 Wedding, Portrait, Social, Pet Photography

Wednesday Yoga - Balquhidder Hall - 11.00am to 12noon (contact Ann Cobbett 01877 376291)

Youth Club - Lochearnhead Hall - 7.00 to 9.00pm Thursday

Choir Occasional - Balquhidder Hall - 7.30pm to 9pm (contact Gill 01877 384203) Darts League - The Inn & Bistro - 7.00pm

Friday

Playgroup - Lochearnhead Hall - 10.00am-12 noon (Contact Mel Brydie 01877 384668)

APRIL 2016 2 11 17 27 30

Race Nite - Inn in Strathyre - see page 6 Lochearnhead Village Hall AGM - see page 2 Loch Earn Boat Race - see page 2 BLiSS Trail Launch - The Broch Café - Strathyre - see front page!

Stuc A’ Chroin Hill Race - see page 7

MAY 2016 14 Race Night - Lochearnhead Village Hall - see page 2 27-29 MHOR Fest - Monachyle Mhor Hotel, Balquhidder - see page 21 27-29 Strathyre Music Festival - Strathyre - see page 17 Councillor Martin Earl Stirling Council, Old Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET 01786 443497

Mobile 07881 310 922 earlm@stirling.gov.uk Councillor Alycia Hayes Stirling Council, Old Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET 01786 443497

Mobile 07881 310 924 hayesa@stirling.gov.uk Councillor Fergus Wood Stirling Council, Old Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET 01786 443497

Mobile 07824 496 019 woodf@stirling.gov.uk

CHURCH SERVICES Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Strathyre and St. Fillans CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

Balquhidder Parish Church Registered Charity No. SCO12316

Sunday 11.30am Minister: Vacancy Enquiries to Interim Moderator: Revd Terry Ann Taylor 01877 382391 Dundurn Church, St Fillans Sunday11.30am Minister: Rev Graham McWilliams Tel: 01764 671 045

ROMAN CATHOLIC Callander, St Joseph the Worker Sunday 11.30am Saturday Vigil Mass 5.30pm from May through to September Killin, in the Episcopal Church Sunday 2.30pm Father Jim McCruden 2 Ancaster Square, Callander Tel: 01877 330 702

SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH St Angus’s Church, Lochearnhead Every Sunday: Holy Communion at 11.15am.

Second and fifth Sundays in the month: Evensong at 6.00pm Vestry Secretary - Mary Barclay Tel: 01567 830453