The South Deeside View Spring 2018

The

Spring 2018

South Deeside View

Plant Sale Coffee Morning &

Daffodil Tea

Friends of Guiding in Maryculter

Sunday 29th April 2018 12-2pm Corbie Hall, Maryculter Refreshments, Stalls, Cake & Candy, Toys and Books, Raffle, Lucky Dip Entrance: £3 for adults £1.50 Children/Concessions

Facebook: The South Deeside View www.nkrcc.org.uk/sdv

Sat 19th May 10.30 until noon tea coffee homebakes

Corbie Hall, Maryculter

bedding shrubs fruits herbaceous

The SOUTH DEESIDE VIEW and NKRCC

Proceeds to Maryculter Driving for the Disabled and Mucky Boots Nature Kindergarten who will be serving the refreshments at the sale.

CONTENTS

Spring has arrived!

3

Aberdeen Aeromodellers, Ladies Football

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 31 32

Glendale Football, Reading Group Driving for the Disabled, SWI Maryculter Woods Stonehaven Paddleboarding Shifting Stones Pre-Schools, Schools Schools, Police Scotland Blairs Museum Church Notices Chapelton 10K Run Guiding Beavers and Cubs Scouts, Explorers, Music Community Halls Cults Canoe Club Nature Notes Scotland’s Charity Open Garden Scheme North Kincardine Rurual Community Council Mesolithic Deeside How Broad is your Band?

MSP, MP, Councillors Councillors Chapelton Woodman, Spare Those Trees! Part 2 Useful Contacts Diary Dates

Lots of updates from local groups and clubs plus a few others looking for new recruits.

We also have some interesting reads, including history from Blairs Museum and the second instalment of ‘Woodman, Save Our Trees!’ from Callum Stuart.

Remember we have our joint NKRCC & SDV plant sale on Sat 19th May. Pots are required beforehand, if you have any spares. Doors open 10.30 for sales and usual refreshments. This year, the recipients of the profits are shared between Maryculter Driving for the Disabled and Mucky Boots Forest Kindergarten who will be serving the refreshments on the day.

If you’ve some spare plants from splitting this year, or have too many seedlings, please bring them along to the plant sale. Contact Rob on 01569 730308 to advise. Our cover photo is a mouthwatering selection of homebakes which were available on sale day last year. Plenty more this year too!

Volunteers are desperately required for Maryculter Driving for the Disabled and some helpers for the Cubs. Blaikiewell Animal Sanctuary are fundraising right now. They lost land to the AWPR and are also suffering a downturn in business due to difficulties accessing their premises whilst AWPR work continues.

Cover photo: Locally made homebakes for the Plant Sale 2017

Garden lovers are in for a treat! Not only do we have the Plant Sale but wonderful local gardens are open to the public soon and well worth a visit. See page 21 for details.

Lynne, Mandi and helpers

FEATURI NG: RAFFLE WITH

ICE CREAM

EXTERNAL

GREAT PRIZES

VAN

STALLS

CHILDREN’S

BEAT THE

TOMBOLA

GOALIE

BOUNCY CASTLE

PLANTS

COCONUT SHY

FROM SOLSTICE NURSERIES

BBQ

HOOK THE DUCK

SCHOOL STALL

ENTRANCE ADULTS: £2.50 CHILDREN: £1.00

CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN

FAMILY: £6.00 (including tea/coffee/ juice and a home bake)

2

Community & Leisure Aberdeen Aeromodellers

Westdyke Dee Vale Ladies Football Club

Aberdeen Aeromodellers Flying Club located in Banchory Devenick, welcomes new members and public wishing to spectate or with a view to beginning in the sport. Open year round the main flying times are 0900-1900hrs for nitro, petrol & turbine models. Electric models may be flown outside these times. Members can be found at the club most days of the week when the weather is favourable for flying.

Our Aberdeenshire football club is set to sport Maggie’s branded kits courtesy of homebuilder CALA Homes. We will be debuting the kits, branded with cancer support charity Maggie’s logo, during their SWFL Division 1 North league match in Stirling.

B A N C H O RY- D E V E N I C K

A B E R D E E N A E RO M O D E L L E R S F LY I N G C LU B

A A M F C .CO.U K

CALA Homes, the Aberdeen based homebuilder, sponsor the local football team and have taken the decision to gift the branding opportunity to Maggie’s Aberdeen to help raise awareness of the cancer support charity.

Team secretary and player for Westdyke Ladies - Shona Fielding, said: “We are very proud to be wearing Maggie’s branding on our kits. My family have had personal experience using a Maggie’s Centre and I know how vital the support Maggie’s provides is for Centre users and their loved ones. The team and I look forward to working with Maggie’s in the future to support them in their role as a support for so many in the North-east.”

We also have club trainer aircraft so an initial experience flight can be offered to potential members.

The club is able to provide training as required on both fixed wing and helicopters. We welcome everyone. No experience is required.

Facilities at the club include a large well maintained grass surface for flying activities, ample car parking, aircraft & helicopter starting tables, club house providing charging facilities, tea/coffee and toilets.

There is also an outdoor seating area with picnic and BBQ area.

Maggie’s offers free practical and emotional support for all people living with cancer, and their family and friends. Sales and Marketing Director at CALA Homes, Fraser Carr said: “The opportunity to enable a local charity like Maggie’s to receive extra awareness is fantastic. We understand the important work Maggie’s Aberdeen provides for those receiving treatment for cancer in the North-east, as well as their family and friends. CALA are proud to be able to support Maggie’s by providing this exposure opportunity and we hope to be able to work with Maggie’s in the future.”

Over the first weekend of June 2017 the Scottish Heli Nationals were held at the club with pilots coming from all over the UK to compete. The weather was favourable on the Saturday and led to a good days flying with two of our local members competing in the F3C & Scale events. Members of the public came to spectate with everyone enjoying our brought in third party catering over the weekend.

Aberdeen Aeromodellers Flying Club will again host the Scottish Helicopter Nationals over the weekend of 2nd & 3rd June 2018. Please come and join us.

For further details on Aberdeen Aeromodellers Flying Club please visit our web site www.aamfc.co.uk

Cookney Bowling Club

Centre Fundraising Manager, Paula Cormack, said: “We are so grateful to CALA for their generosity in providing this opportunity to spread awareness of our charity and to Westdyke Ladies for choosing to support Maggie’s.

Their support will help even more people in the Northeast.”

Find out more information at www.maggiescentres.org/our-centres/maggiesaberdeen.

The Cookney Bowling Club resumes meetings in September. The meetings are usually on Thursdays from 7.30pm at Cookney Hall and the sessions last for about 2 hours. From the middle of October there is also a Competition Night on Mondays.

Arthur Durward

01224 319701

For information about the Westdyke Ladies contact. deevalelfc@yahoo.co.uk or find us on Facebook: DeevaleLFC or Twitter: @DeeValeLFC

Pots & PlantS required

for

Plant Sale

19th May

Call Rob 01569 730308 3

Community & Leisure Glendale Football Club

North Mearns Reading Group

Following on from our report in the last issue, a resume of the 2017/18 season so far would read as follows.

The North Mearns Reading group is an informal group that meets every four to six weeks and we take turns to host each meeting.

We started our league campaign very encouragingly, and August/early September saw us get through the usual Saturday/mid-week league games with next to no bother, and picking up quite a number of decent results to boot. Thereafter the myriad of cup competitions kicked in. These resulted in mixed fortunes, particularly in the more prestigious cup games. We did however reach the semi-final of our own divisional cup, only to fall to the league’s leading contender.

We read books chosen from a list provided by the library service of Aberdeenshire council. We are currently reading “The Things That Keep Us Here”, a debut novel by Carla Buckley. It’s about how far you would you go to protect your family and the tough choices that have to be made.

Please get in touch if you would like to be considered when places become available.

Muriel Hargreaves: 01569 730302

Thereafter “winter set in”, and the usual round of postponed matches began to mount up. This year however, seems to have particularly disruptive with no games played between mid-November and mid-January – we really didn’t have a “bad winter” during this period but games were being called off mainly due to frozen or waterlogged pitches.

When the above happens, trying to keep players motivated and training regularly is always a headache for our management team – it seems to be human nature in modern youth - if there’s no chance of a game on a Saturday, then why should I train mid-week!!!

As I write this article we are currently sitting second in the league, and there are 10 league games still to go, the biggest majority of these being at home (Corbie Park). This hopefully may well prove fruitful and to our advantage come the end of May. Footnote :- Our 2 seriously injured players from last season – Callum Stewart and Stewart Muirhead, have both successfully come through their respective operations and rehabilitation processes and are now both back “walking and working again” – albeit with various pieces of metal pins/plates/synthetic joints in their own differing body locations. It will be interesting how they explain the buzzer going off when they go through the airport security scanners when going on holiday!

Jim Grant

01224 867512

The Stonehaven land train is now operating weekends until the summer holidays.

We had a successful year, last year!

We are always looking for additional drivers (PSV licence & CPC required) and storytellers to work on the land train, if you have a day or two a week spare and interested working on the train please email projects@stpweb.org.

The land train is also available for private hires, weddings, birthday parties, school and nursery hires and group tours.

Times are

12,1.30, 2.30 & 3.30 from the Market Square.

Fares : Adult £5, 2yrs - upwards £3. Family tickets : 2x2 £14

2x3 £16, 2x4 £18 Facebook: Stonehaven Land Train

4

Community & Leisure

Maryculter Driving for the Disabled Maryculter Carriage Driving for Disabled is a Riding for Disabled affiliated carriage driving group providing a wheelchair accessible activity (but also for ambulant passengers). We meet at Home Farm, Maryculter on Wednesday afternoons from May to September.

We desperately need new volunteers. Whether you'd like to offer your baking talents as a tea lady, help maintain the bikes / carriages / trailers, support our disabled members, help exercise / transport the horses / join our committee . . . . it's a great excuse to get together for a blether with a nice bunch of people!

The recent downturn has had a negative impact on our funding support. ANY opportunities to access grants, sponsorship or other fundraising ideas are gratefully considered as Group running costs are significant, horse care, insurance, equipment, training…………

For more information, please contact either Sarah Holtom (Secretary) 01330 811094, Kate Brockman (Group Organiser) 01330 811615 or Kees Witte (Treasurer) 01224 732738. Registered Charity no. SCIO 28630

Maryculter SWI

The members of Maryculter SWI have enjoyed a varied programme over the winter months with meetings held in Corby Community Hall.

The quiz team of Audrey Lowson, Kate Napier, Sheila Stuart and Joan Thomas were victorious winning the SWI Quiz Finals held in Stonehaven in October.

There was great hilarity and excitement at a very successful Valentines themed Beetle Drive & Supper in February and the 91st Birthday of Maryculter SWI was celebrated with a lovely meal at Kippie Lodge in March. Members are looking forward to participating in the Kincardineshire Federation Show in April and Banchory Show in July. The four longest serving members Cathy Donald, Anne Massie, Mabel Maclaren and Peggy Paterson are very excited and honoured to be invited to the Queen's Garden Party in the summer.

New members and visitors are always welcome.

For more information call Sylvia Pike 01224 733821

5

SWI winners

Maryculter Woods Maryculter Woods Over the last few months we have been busy with several projects in the wood. We realise that the work may have disrupted some of your favourite walks in the wood though we are confident that the improvements will be worth the wait.

The new section of forest road in the southern part of the wood was nearly finished at the time of writing this article. This section will complete a 2.5km loop of forest road which we hope everyone will enjoy using. We are grateful to the AWPR for funding the project and to our main contractor (Alan Whiteford) for doing such a great job.

We have just completed our second campaign of thinning non-native trees to stop them taking over everything else.

The work was carried out very skilfully by Bill Munro & his team. Now that the big felling machines have finished trundling around we can tidy things up a bit. As a priority we will improve the forest road alongside the burn – hopefully before the end of April.

Rob from Robertson-Agriforest, another local contractor, has mulched the path through the larch trees (see photo) and improved the drainage. We are delighted with this path. Look out for the native woodland flowers planted by some of our dedicated volunteers.

Work has started on our community orchard and tree nursery (courtesy of a grant from the Meikle Carewe Wind Farm Community Fund). We hope to plant the orchard later this spring. Please look out for various tree-planting events that we will arrange during April, including a big event on Sunday 22nd April to celebrate Earth Day. We hope that you can make one of these events and help us plant over 1,000 native trees this season.

Many thanks to all our supporters, contractors, volunteers and my fellow Board members. Together we are creating a fabulous asset for people and for wildlife. You can follow our progress on our Facebook: Maryculter Woods Ed Thorogood , Chairman, Maryculter Woodlands Trust, mwt@maryculterwoods.com, www.maryculterwoods.com , Facebook: Maryculter Woods. A Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation SCO44224

Spring has finally arrived . . . . well at least in the fashion world!!

Proper Clobber boutique (formally of Stonehaven) have relocated to a unique purpose built log cabin in Cookney.

This fabulous bright and airy setting is ideal to showcase the latest fashions handpicked by Morag Carmichael.

Morag offers an appointment only personal shopping and styling experience and plans to host local fashion fundraisers and exhibit at local shows during the summer months.

Fashion Service with a twist!

Call 01569 731333 Email: sales@properclobber.com

Follow Proper Clobber on Facebook for the latest updates.

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Stonehaven Paddleboarding

Stonehaven Paddleboarding is a new water sports activity provider launching in May.

This will be a first for Stonehaven and will be the only provider of water sports activities available for the many tourists, visitors that come to town and locals to enjoy. What is stand up paddleboarding?

It’s basically standing on an extremely large stable surfboard and using a paddle to move around - the fastest growing water sport in the world right now! Extremely easy to learn and to progress, you will be up and moving about in no time. Fantastic for fitness and wonderful for exploring our coastline, lochs and rivers.

Based in the stunning Stonehaven Harbour area, which is an amazing safe place to learn, paddle in The Bay and see the dramatic coastline where you can perfect your technique and explore.

Stonehaven Paddleboarding will be providing • Beginner Lessons • Coastal Tours and Experiences • Coaching

• Equipment Rental • A regular club for persons to keep coming back, progress, social paddles and have fun

Great for Families, Individuals, Groups, Corporate and Private Parties. Bookings are being taken now and activities start in May!

Visit www.stonehavenpaddleboarding.co.uk Facebook: Stonehaven Paddleboarding

Kincardine & Deeside Befriending We offer support to older people who feel lonely and isolated.

The service depends entirely on the help of local volunteers visiting an old person for companionship every week or fortnight. Training is provided and expenses reimbursed. If you are interested in becoming a befriender visit www.kdbefriending.org.uk or telephone 01330 823368 for more information.

Hunt for bugs, cook on the campfire & get marvellously muddy!

Nature Classes Discover nature - play and explore outdoors. Weekly classes for 2 to 5 year olds.

Nature Kindergarten for 3-5yrs Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays during term time at Maryculter Woods Funded places available

Birthday Parties Toast marshmallows, build dens, climb trees and stomp in mud… outdoor birthday fun for two to tenyear-olds!

Contact Mandy Tulloch on 07929 465680 or visit www.mudpieadventures.co.uk for more information

Also Spring, Summer & Autumn holiday camps For details on how to book a taster session or find out more visit www.muckyboots.org.uk or contact Dawn on 07939 547016 7

Shifting Stones At the end of December 2014, Sylvia Smith’s contract as Contract Manager with an Oil & Gas Operator came to an end.

With the downturn in the industry, she found it difficult to get more than short term or ad hoc work and so saw the situation as an opportunity to study a subject which interested her, with a view to starting her own business once suitable qualifications had been attained.

She embarked upon a diploma in Holistic Nutrition course with the School of Natural Health Sciences and enjoyed it so much she continued her studies and gained Grade A passes with Distinction in that course as well as Advanced Nutrition, Sports Nutrition, Child & Adolescent Nutrition and is continuing her studies with Nutrition for Age 50+.

Along the way she has also learned how to administer some therapies, including hot stone massage, aromatherapy massage, Hopi ear candling and facials.

Sylvia Smith

Sylvia set up her business, Shifting Stones, in December 2016 with the main objective of helping clients lose weight and gain a positive body image without completely cutting out any food (including chocolate!). The important thing, she says, is to embed changes to the diet in a controlled way, so that they become habit and therefore make the weight loss sustainable and part of the client’s normal lifestyle. This way, you will never have to “go on a diet” again!

Sylvia is currently looking for a premises to work from in order to expand her therapies side of the business, so if you either own or know of a suitable premises, please get in touch with her.

Full details are on her website: www.shiftingstones.co.uk or you can email sylvia@shiftingstones.co.uk or call 07711 554347

Aberdeen

T: 01224 780649

E: enquiries@smithskiphire.co.uk

Peterhead

T: 01779 430035

E: enquiries@smithskiphire.co.uk COVERING ALL OF ABERDEEN AND ABERDEENSHIRE

Your Advert Here email sdeesideview@yahoo.co.uk for more information.

8

Schools and Pre-School Banchory-Devenick Primary School Lots of odd socks were worn and donations made for Down's Syndrome Awareness Day. We’ve had golf and rugby lessons courtesy of Active Schools Aberdeenshire recently and lots of pupils took part in the P3/4 badminton festival at Portlethen Academy.

We continued our outdoor learning by looking for daffodils, crocuses and bluebells as signs of spring arriving. There were plenty of puddles and we rounded off the day with some roasted marshmallows around a cosy firepit.

One of our recent topics was looking at how people lived in castles. We had a splendid banquet and got dressed up with our crowns and fancy costumes for the feast! We enjoyed being kings and queens for a day. We learned all about knights and how they carried their family shields to protect them (and so they knew who the enemy was), and practised our jousting.

Look out for our Summer Fair on Saturday 26th May and you can keep up to date with all our latest news and activites on our twitter page @BanDevPS.

Email: banchorydev.sch@aberdeenshire.gov.uk twitter: @BanDavPS www.banchory-devenick.aberdeenshire.sch.uk

Maryculter Babies and Toddlers

Our little group is not meeting in the hall at Maryculter Church at the moment due to low numbers. We are planning on restarting again after summer. If you’d like to join us, please get in touch! We are a friendly, informal group, who usually meet Thursday mornings from 10.00 to 12.00. Anyone looking after children from birth to preschool (and those with bumps!) are welcome to come along and join us for a cuppa and to chat, share tips and local information.

Children are able to play in a safe and friendly environment, sharing a variety of toys. It is an excellent way for children to socialise with peers and those who will become their school friends. Snack is provided for the children on a rota basis.

Join us on Facebook: Maryculter Baby/toddler Parent Group to keep up to date with our news and meet ups.

9

Schools Police Scotland Lairhillock Primary School

We have had a busy time so far this year. In March, we had our Book Fair which raised £531.56 on commission. It’s a great way to keep our library up to date and our thanks go to everyone who supported the fair. The P1-7's have had philosophy sessions with parent Mrs Weychan, who also donated £200 of philosophy books to the school.

Rotary Quiz winners

Balgownie Runners

The nursery children did a sponsored Wellie Walk and ran a cafe which raised £270.90 for the Juliet Johnston School abroad.

Unfortunately, snow arrived and meant we missed World Book Day but we held our own event so we could wear our outfits and raised enough to Honeycomb Totaliser have 4 cells completed in our honeycomb fundraising totaliser. Despite the poor weather, our runners headed off to take part in the Balgownie annual event but weren’t quite so dry as in the picture once they'd finished!

Our P7 team made up of Abby, Lewis, Rasmus, Ruby and Seumas won the local Rotary Quiz. This is the first time we have won this since Lairhillock School was established! They now go on to represent the Stonehaven area in the next round.

Head Teacher: Christeen Saward, Email: lairhillock.sch@aberdeenshire.gov.uk, www.lairhillock.aberdeenshire.sch.uk

Police Scotland targeting cuckooing drug dealers in NE We rely on members of the pulic to come forward and provide information as intelligence is like an incomplete jigsaw, and every piece, no matter how big or small, fits together to complete a bigger picture. All information is treated confidentially.

You may have heard the phrase ‘cuckooing’ in the media. This refers to drug dealers taking over vulnerable people’s homes to deal or store drugs, in the same way the cuckoo bird takes over another bird's nest. Typically this can involve criminals travelling from other areas of the country such as Liverpool, Sheffield and London to the North East to deal drugs. This is not a new or emerging trend. It is hoped that by getting the term ‘cuckooing’ out into the public domain and educating people in our local communities about signs to look out for will help us gather information on this type of activity.

We are urging residents to be aware of the warning signs that such activity may be happening in their neighbourhood and report any concerns. There are a number of potential signs of cuckooing which include the householder having new associates and increased visitors throughout the day and night, an increased number of vehicles outside the property including taxis or hire cars and bags of clothing or bedding around their property or other signs that people may be staying at the address No two cases are the same but if you think something’s not quite right, please tell us so we can look into it. Contact Police on 101 to report any information or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous. Much of our success can be contributed to the support we receive from the community, as well as the strong partnership links we have.

Pots & PlantS required

for

Plant Sale 19th May

Call Rob 01569 730308 10

Blairs Museum Grand Tour of the Eternal City of Rome Behind the scenes at Blairs Museum a new exhibition is taking shape that invites visitors to imagine themselves as 18th century tourists on the Grand Tour of the Eternal City of Rome.

The exhibition is jointly hosted by the Scottish Catholic Heritage Trust and the Diocese of Aberdeen and will showcase a collection of prints from the famed 18th century artist and architect Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778).

The prints come from Piranesi’s Vedute di Roma on which he worked from 1747 to the end of his life.

The ‘Vedute’ or Views were published as individual sheets and in compendiums as books. In total there were 135 individual views by Giovanni Battista and 2 by his son Francesco. The collection being shown at Blairs includes 60 prints. These will be divided over 2 seasons. In the first season (2018), Part 1: The Eternal City, includes buildings from and around the Ancient Roman Forum, including temples, bathhouses and triumphal arches. The second season (2019), Part 2: Monument and Fantasy demonstrates the movement from monumental buildings of the ancient city through to the more fantastical representation of the Imperial buildings of Tivoli.

Blairs Museum curator, Dr Alison Burke explained the rationale behind the exhibition. “Piranesi produced individual and books of prints of views of Rome for the tourists undertaking the Grand Tour in the second half of the 18th century and this exhibition invites you to become one of those tourists. The views however, are not an early version of a photograph, they are an impression, a recording of an emotion, a response to grandeur; they are a memory, a moment of inspiration where real, solid masonry is interpreted as theatrical spectacle. This was what the Grand Tourist was buying, a means of capturing the emotion of walking in the final footsteps of Julius Caesar through the Roman Forum, or listening to the orator Cicero making speeches on the steps of the Senate, or imagining the roar of the crowd within the Colosseum as the gladiators commenced battle, before coming back to real time, surrounded by the light, warmth and smells of the 18th century.”

Blairs Museum is also an ideal location to show these perfectly preserved prints. Alison Burke explained the connection. “The permanent collection at Blairs Museum holds a number of iconic Royal Stuart portraits undertaken when the Stuarts where resident in Rome in a palace given to them by Pope Clement XII. Tourists on the Grand Tour from the 1720s onwards, would hope to catch a glimpse of the Royal Stuarts as they either passed their palace or at the Opera. Indeed, any Scot visiting the Stuart Court would be reported to the British ambassador in Florence. Therefore, it seems appropriate to display the prints alongside the images of the Stuart Royal family.”

THE GRAND TOUR: Part 1 The Eternal City opens on 7 April 2018 at Blairs Museum.

The Museum is open weekends. On Saturday 10 am to 4.30 pm and on Sunday from 12 noon to 4.30 pm. Admission charges apply: Adults - £3.50, Concessions - £2.50, Child £1.00 For more details contact curator@blairsmuseum.org.uk or Tel: 01224 863 767 or follow www.facebook.com/ BlairsMuseum. Blairs Museum is located at Blairs Estate, South Deeside Road, Aberdeen.

AB12 5YQ Dr Alison Burke, Custodian 11

Church Notices Maryculter Trinity Church of Scotland

We are grateful that at last the refurbishment work is complete and the church and hall open for business. We now have a space that is warm and comfortable and adaptable to many uses. Various events have now been held and we are delighted at how user friendly the church and hall have become. Visitors are warmly welcome, and should you need a facility for an event you want to hold, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our dearest wish is that these church facilities will be seen as a resource for the whole community.

Church services Sunday 10.30am in Maryculter Trinity Church Activities for children who wish to come along.

Meeting Place Services with hymns accompanied by our Praise Band are held on the last Sunday of the month excluding July and August.

Please note: All events are held in Maryculter Trinity Church premises unless otherwise intimated.

May August September October

Sun 20th Service of Holy Communion followed by Buffet Lunch in aid of church funds.

Sun 19th Service of Holy Communion. Retiring collection for church funds.

Sat 8th Summer Fair in Glebe field Sun 7th Harvest Thanksgiving followed by Soup and Sweet lunch.

A Bible Study Group meet on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening in The Manse at 7.30pm.

Please check with Rev. Mel Griffiths Tel. 01224 730150 before attending. This is ecumenical and open to all who are interested. Come along and join in reading and discussing a different bible passage each week, sing hymns, pray, and enjoy fellowship over a cup of tea or coffee.

Community Coffee Mornings are held on 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesdays of the month in Maryculter Trinity Church Happy Lounge from 10.00am – 12 noon. Fresh coffee or tea and home bakes £2.50. Come and enjoy chats with friends, and make new friends. We look forward to welcoming you. For further details or to arrange a lift, please phone either Alison Stewart 01224 861048 or Dianne Brown on 01224 734687.

The Guild led by Mrs. Helen Anderson is held on the first Monday of the month at 7.30- 9.30pm in Maryculter Trinity Church Hall from September to November and February to April. New members or visitors are always welcome to come and hear interesting talks, enjoy fellowship and a cup of tea. Further details from Helen Tel. No. 01330 811754 Fairtrade: We are a Fairtrade church which means we use, sell and promote Traidcraft products, and these are available at the sales table in the church hall every Sunday after the morning service.

Christian Aid: We run events throughout the year for this organisation and have helped many projects including Water Aid, Present Aid and HIV/Aids. 01224.712976 for more information or if you would like to help.

Quay Project: During the year we joined a rota with other churches to help cater for homeless people in Aberdeen by making soup at Crown Terrace Baptist Church. Contact Shona Simpson Tel. 01224.712976 for more information or if you would like to help.

Youth Café: Looking for something to do on a Thursday night? Everyone who is in school between P7 and S3 is welcome and if you are a little older than that but still want to be involved why not come and help out?! This rewarding experience allows you to get to know the wonderful young people in our community. We meet on Thursday evenings at Maryculter Trinity Church Hall between 7pm and 9pm and follow the school term.

We currently have 60 members of Youth Café, who all live locally and come along regularly. There is plenty to do from football, table tennis and pool to board games and of course the tuck shop! Or just relax and chill out chatting with friends. Contact Dianne Brown on 01224 734687 or 07801542154 if you would like to join the Youth Café.

Minister: Rev. Dr. Melvyn Griffiths Tel: 01224 730150 thehavyn@btinternet.com Session Clerk: Mrs. Joyce Mackintosh Tel: 01224 733495 joycemackintosh@yahoo.ie Church Treasurer, Caretaker and Hall Bookings: Mrs. Anne Massie Tel: 01224 732071 www.marycultertrinitychurch.org.uk 12

Church Notices St Ternan’s Church The Scottish Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, with seven historic dioceses covering the whole of Scotland bearing witness to faith today, and tracing a history back to the earliest known Christians in Scotland.

St Ternan’s is the northernmost Scottish Episcopal Church in the diocese of Brechin.

Worship At the heart of our worship lies the regular celebration of the Eucharist (10:30am every Sunday). Through the sharing of bread and wine we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, seek strength for our daily lives and look forward to the coming of the kingdom of God. Through our liturgical tradition we seek to support people on their journey through life and to celebrate sensitively the beginning and end of life.

Ministry Team Services are led by our Ministry team. Please feel free to contact them for personal advice or assistance and for more information regarding baptisms, weddings and funerals.

Rectory 01569 730625 Mr George Masson 01569 739283 Prof John Usher 01569 731608 The Church is open daily during daylight hours for private prayer or just for a look inside.

Community Facility The church and extension can be used for meetings, community groups, private functions and concerts. There is a meeting room for up to 20 people, toilets and kitchen. The church also has large spaces at the front and rear available for concerts or large meetings and break out areas. There is disabled access and an induction loop for those with hearing impairment.

There is also plenty of off-street parking plus 3 specific disabled spaces. Donation £6.00 per hour. Contact Sheila 01569 731608. Registered Charity SC023264 www.stternans.co.uk

13

Church Notices Chapelton 10K Run Solstice Open Days St Mary’s Chapel, Blairs Masses and Services: Sunday Mass: 09:30 Holy Days of Obligation: As announced in the weekly bulletin, available on our website.

Confessions: On request, usually before mass.

Religious Education: After mass on Sundays Baptisms and Weddings: Contact Fr Mark Impson

Aberdeen Cyrenians are in urgent need of food and toiletries donations, which can be dropped off at Asda, Garthdee or brought to the church. Suggestions for food: tinned meals such as stew, chicken, ham or macaroni, also tins of corned beef, pasta and jars of pasta sauces. For toiletries, disposable razors and deodorants for both men and women.

The Parish of St. Mary, South Deeside Road, Blairs, Aberdeen AB12 5YQ Fr Mark Impson, Tel 01569 762433, Mobi 07734 529498m mark.impson@rcda.scot www.stmarysblairs.org

NEW EVENT!

Chapelton of Elsick 10K

part road/part trail race - 15th July 2018

This inaugural event is an undulating part road / part trail race through the beautiful Elsick House estate, starting and finishing in the new village of Chapelton. All profits are going to local schools and charities.

This new route is suitable for either road or trail shoes with a slight majority of the course on tarmac. All standards of runners are very welcome! It’s proving to be very popular! The race will start and finish at Hume Square. Please note there are no entries on the day and no transfer of race numbers is permitted. Online entries close midnight 8th July. You can register for the race online and get more updated information on our Facebook page: Chapelton of Elsick 10K

Solstice Nurseries are hosting and attending a number of events over the next few months.

Open Days are a fantastic opportunity to purchase our wide selection of plants, including our new selection of trees, shrubs, roses, climbers, perennials, grasses and ferns this year. Meet us and other keen gardeners, garden designers, enjoy a cup of tea and home bakes from our local guild, browse craft stalls and gardening bric-a-brac.

19 May Crathes Plant Fair 26 May Open Day & Plant Sale at Solstice 07 July Open Day & Plant Sale at Solstice Solstice Nurseries is a not for profit organisation. We work with people who are recovering from mental health issues.

We grow People and Plants! We are dog friendly! Admission by donation.

Drumduan Walled Garden, South Deeside Road, Banchory Devenick Kincardineshire, AB12 5YL Tel: 01224 865907, E: office@solsticenurseries.co.uk 14

Start

2018 Open Sat 26 May until Sun 2 Sept inclusive 50m Pool filled with clean seawater at 28°C/85°F Quiet swims, kids fun sessions (chute and inflatables for swimmers only) Midnight swims in high season.

Sheltered sun terraces Splash Café onsite for tasty hot and cold snacks and drinks Picnics also welcome For prices and info see www.stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk

Guiding 1st Maryculter Rainbows There’s already been lots of fun in 2018 for 1st Maryculter Rainbows.

We enjoyed singing traditional Scottish songs for Burns Night and played games with chopsticks, tried Chinese food and gave lucky money for Chinese New Year.

For World Thinking Day four of our new Rainbows made their promise. We built promise towers and challenged ourselves with a blindfolded obstacle course. We’ve learnt about how trees work for our Forest Challenge badge and have made bird food kebabs, explored a local forest to do bark rubbings and den building too. For Mothers’ Day we made a wooden box full of lovely surprises for our mums and we’ll end the term with a Pot of Gold party, games and rainbow cake.

Working on the Forest Challenge badge.

Rainbows is for girls aged between five and seven. They learn by doing – they get their hands dirty, do sports, arts and crafts and play games. For more information about Rainbows and Girlguiding, or to register your interest in joining please log onto www.girlguiding.org.uk. If you are over 18 and interested in volunteering please contact rainbowsmaryculter@yahoo.com. Disclosure and reference checks are carried out as part of our recruitment process.

Rachel Camm, Leader of 1st Maryculter Rainbows

Maryculter Brownies Since Christmas the Brownies have been busy. We donated Christmas Decorations to RACH and for Burns night two of our former brownies came and did a Higland Dancing demonstration and taught us some steps too. We enjoyed some Pizza and some Irn Bru. We have been working towards our Year of the Dog Challenge Badge and had a visit from a retired PAT dog called Barney who showed us some of his good manners. We trailed some of the new guiding programme and we choose a Doggy Language activity.

For Thinking Day we decorated out Guiding Lights and learned about the 5 World Guiding Centres. We have had a Dad come and tell us all about his world travels as part of another badge we are working on and what we would need to take with us. We are looking forward to taking part in a STEM fun day at Aberdeen Science Centre and some of us are away to Dalguise at Easter weekend with nearly 200 other Brownies from Kincardine and Deeside.

This year we also celebrate our 40th Birthday and we would love to hear from any former Brownies or leaders who might come along to share their memories and any photos they have with us. We also have a couple of spaces for any girls in the area aged between 7 and 10 who might light to join us.

Get in touch by email at maryculterbrownies@yahoo.co.uk

Your Home Security

G.S.I. Handyman Services

Get Someone In I provide a Knowledgeable Friendly Handyman Service: Electrical work – Replacement Of Sockets, Switches, Light Fittings, Outdoor lighting Decoration - Painting, Wallpapering, Varnishing, Tiling Other Services – Shelving, Flat Pack Building, Laminated Flooring, TV Wall Mounting, Garden Decking/Fence repairs

Alternatives to CCTV - PIR (movement detection) lights with built in CCTV cameras can offer cost-effective alternatives to fully integrated CCTV systems. Costs from £60.

Consider marking your property with UV pens, engraving, paint or security stickers.

Take photographs of your personal items or items of value like jewellery, watches (photograph next to a ruler).

Store keys out of sight in a drawer or secure location when not in use.

User light timers when you are out.

Above is just a sample of what I can do.

No job is too small, give me a call for a free quote:

Secure valuable items in outbuildings to other items or wall/ground anchors.

Ian: 07594 897754

Lock your oil tank and screen from view. Box in pipework. Alarms cost from £4. Reinforce locking areas with steel washers.

Email: gsi.handyman@hotmail.com Find me on Facebook page for pictures of my work.

Why DIY when you can G.S.I.?

Scrap items are highly sought after by thieves e.g. metals. Keep out of sight to discourage attention and people onto your land.

Remember to lock your outbuildings, sheds and garages!

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Beavers and Cubs Maryculter Beavers In 1988 Maryculter Beavers were started. We are looking forward to celebrating our 30th birthday next year. During those years we have had many members, arranged many events and awarded many badges.

In the next few weeks we plan to visit Drum Castle to explore in the woodlands and also to take photographs for the Beaver Photographer badge. We will also be attempting the Cook badge making pizzas, kebabs and waffles – all very European! This term will finish with a visit to the Panto at Stonehaven which is always an exciting night for the Beavers.

Beavers meet every Tuesday from 5.30 to 7.00 p.m. in the Scout Hut at Kirkton of Maryculter. Boys and Girls aged 6 and 7 years old are welcome to join. Parental help is always welcome – especially from parents with hobbies or interests that could be the basis of a Beaver activity at some point.

Enquiries about Beaver activities and for joining should be made to Kathleen Paterson, Beaver Leader, on 07748774535 or 01224 868676

1st Maryculter Cubs As soon as our clocks changed to summertime, the 1st Maryculter Cubs celebrated the end of winter by hanging up their head torches and trekking into the woods to build dens and cook popcorn over an open fire.

Our winter nights have been packed; the Cubs cycled in the dark woods, narrowly avoiding rodents of unusual size, built and raced chariots by torch-light and completed a fire safety night by letting off fire extinguishers outside – hardly anyone ever gets to do that!

Our spring/summer term will be busy too, with our fantastic annual camp at Linn of Dee planned for the end of April, followed by two sailing trips and a bug and reptile hunt organised by local wildlife expert, Mandy Tulloch, during national insect week in June.

Lots of our activities take place in the beautiful Maryculter Community Woodland and the Cubs will contribute to its restoration and earn some “good deed” points by organising a litter picking evening this term.

Sessions take place on Monday evenings from 6.15 – 7.45pm and we currently have four places available for boys and girls aged between 8 and 10½. We can offer “taster” sessions for children so that they can find out if Cubs is for them and we are also looking for new volunteer leaders to join us during 2018.

Iain Morrison (07738 455524) Maryculter 1st Cub Leaders

Would you like to reach all the households and businesses in the rural North Kincardine area?

This publication is hand-delivered to over 1000 premises in Spring and Autumn each year. Why not consider placing an advert here?

Tel 01569 739132 Email: sdeesideview@yahoo.co.uk 16

Scouts, Explorers and Music 1st Maryculter Scouts Troop numbers are at their lowest in a while, with seven Scouts, one Young Leader and five Adult Leaders. So, we are on the lookout for any boys and girls, ages from 10½ to 14, that want to try Scouting. The days of dib-dib-dib and singing “Ging gang goolie” around the camp fire are long gone. These days the objective of Scouting is to give young people “Skills for Life”, develop selfconfidence and, above all, have fun!

We continue to keep the Scouts busy with a full and varied programme. As well as our usual monthly camp for the Zodiac award - yes, even in January and February! – the Scouts have been focussing on creative challenges (making rafts from recycled materials and wooden reindeer Christmas decorations) and learning fun and/ or useful skills such as photography, car maintenance, cake decoration, first aid and electronics. We also sent a contingent to the first Wintercamp organised by the Deeside district, which may have been on the mildest January weekend on record, where as well as camping out, the Scouts got to try backwoods cooking, orienteering, axe throwing, inflatable full-size table football, abseiling and paracord crafts.

With the days getting longer, we hope to be out in the countryside more, practising our navigation skills, building shelters and working on outdoor survival skills. Maryculter Scouts meet on Friday evenings from 1915 to 2115 hours at the Scout Hut in Kirkton of Maryculter. Anyone interested in joining should contact Kevin Stewart (01224 861048) Maryculter Scouts meet on Friday evenings from 1915 to 2115 hours at the Scout Hut in Kirkton of Maryculter.

Anyone interested in joining should contact Kevin Stewart (01224 861048)

Auchlunies Explorers Explorers aged 14-18 years meet at Maryculter Scout Hut fortnightly on Tuesday evenings at 7.15-9.15pm For further information contact Bob Michie, Tel: 01569 764536 (daytime), 01569 762082(evenings)

Scottish Accordion Music Group This gathering of accordionists on the second Sunday of each month in the Kirkton Hall, Durris is one of the musical highlights in Deeside. Keith Duncan leads with a series of rehearsed tunes, interspersed with songs and poems and a social break for soft drinks and nibbles. It’s a bargain for only £2 entry but there are only 100 seats so come early for the start around 7pm.

The group takes bookings for additional performances. Please call to make arrangements.

Secretary Irene Fraser Tel 01224 319484

Castles

Drum Castle, Garden and Estate Drumoak Castle, Shop & Tearoom, Gardens Grounds open all year round Tel 01330 700334 drum@nts.org.uk www.nts.org.uk

Crathes Castle, Garden and Estate

By Banchory Castle, Gift Shop, Cafe, Walled Garden Estate open all year round Tel 01330 844525 crathes@nts.org.uk ww.nts.org.uk

Dunnottar Castle

Stonehaven Castle open 9.00 -18.00 Tel 01330 860223 Email dunnottarcastle@btconnect.com www.dunnottarcastle.co.uk

Are you living or working within 3.5 km of the 12-turbine windfarm at Meikle Carewe?

If so, LEDS at Meikle Carewe are offering an annual discount of £122 off your electricity bill.

Find out more on 0800 011 3341

www.res-leds.com 17

Community Halls Cookney Hall The Hall has been very busy venue for events recently including the usual dances, clubs and coffee mornings, as well as the new Metafit classes. The ceilidh on 6 January was oversubscribed for numbers and very successful. The Burns supper a couple of weeks later was also very busy with the Hall almost bursting at the seams Forthcoming Hall events will be: Friday 27 April (10 till noon) – Cookney Cuppa, Friday 8 June (10 till noon) – Cookney Cuppa, Saturday 13 October – Autumn dance, with Country Edition More events are currently being planned, for the latest news on what’s happening at the Hall and how to obtain tickets, please see our Facebook page by searching on Facebook under Friends of Cookney Hall, then hit ‘Like’ to be kept up to date with posts.

As always, if you’d like further information about hiring the Hall for a function or celebration, please contact Willie Angus on 01569 730123 or by e-mail at wgangus@btinternet.com Bob McKinney, Friends of Cookney Hall

Corbie Hall & Field, Maryculter The hall continues to have bookings but more groups and classes are warmly welcomed. So far, some of the events and lessons have included yoga, pilates, an audience with Maureen Smith Clairvoyant and a Beetle Drive. Many regular groups also use the hall for fundraising events and coffee mornings.

We now have a PA system (microphone and amp) that can be requested by hall users. It also has the function to play music from an iPod or equivalent and disco lights for an even more enjoyable experience! It’s ideal for children's parties and youth groups who want to let off steam and have some fun.

For hall bookings contact 07960 231855. Facebook: Corbie Hall and Field

Email: maryculterhall@yahoo.co.uk

Blaikiewell horses desperately need hay

Please send them £1 Paypal: mpetrie@blaikiewell.org.uk Blaikiewell Animal Sanctuary Maryculter Scottish Charity SC026054

Have you considered establishing a Neighbourhood or Farm Watch Scheme in your area?

Advice and guidelines when initiating or registering a scheme can be obtained from:Web: https://www.neighbourhoodwatchscotland.co.uk Address: Neighbourhood Watch Scotland, Office 23, Enterprise House, Springkerse Business Park, Stirling, FK7 7UF Email: info@neighbourhoodwatchscotland.co.uk.

Facebook: Neighbourhood Watch Scotland Twitter: @nwatchscotland

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Cults Canoe Club Cults Canoe Club Thinking of trying something new or taking up a new sport? Do you like meeting new people, spending time in nature, learning new skills? Then, why not come and join in with Cults Canoe Club?

Despite the name, Cults Canoe Club offers predominantly freshwater kayaking activities, though we do have a range of craft and expertise available enabling us to offer some sessions in open canoeing, surf kayaking and sea kayaking too.

Beginners to the sport can expect a friendly welcome from our group of enthusiastic members.

Introductory sessions are available at various times throughout the year and will usually begin in a swimming pool or loch. These sessions are run by British Canoeing qualified coaches and give newcomers a safe and fun introduction to the sport while providing them with the basic foundations with which to build their paddling skills.

Trips are organised by our coaches and river leaders with our main river being the River Dee, but we also travel further afield following the water! Additionally, we hold fun social events. Our most recent of these was our Halloween Paddle (which was a night paddle) and Christmas Paddle. Both events involved decorating boats, paddles and people! We look forward to welcoming you to our club!

Training on the water

Christmas paddle

Web: http://cultscanoeclub.org/ Facebook: Cults Canoe Club Email: cultscanoe@gmail.com Sarah Stephen, Club Coach

This is an annual event held at Aberdeen Aeromodellers Club, attracting top helicopter pilots from the UK, with flying competitions in the following classes:- FAI, Sportsman, F3N Aerobatics, Scale and Auto spot.

During the event food and drink will be available on site. We have a large car park for competition and spectators as this event is open to the public. Overnight parking is available on site if required.

All visitors are very welcome. For more information Ian Corse, tel 01561 378517, Email: ian@helinats.co.uk Jim Selkirk tel 01224 827162

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Nature Notes From camp fires to Coca cola It feels as if there is a lot of change taking place in our area at the moment – from roads to the weather.

None more so than in the field opposite our house, where late last year I found out that the adjacent wood had reached its maturity and was to be felled early in 2018.

This information had to be handled carefully however. Our now 12 year old was outraged two years ago during a visit with Cubs one evening to Maryculter Woods to find his favourite tunnel had been cut down. I did not know how he was going to take the news that most of the wood he had known all of his life was to be removed. We have lost wellies there, found woodpecker nests, had camp fires, sheltered in amongst the tall conifers on really stormy days and made more dams in the ditches on rainy days than I can remember. This was not going to go down well with my children and if I am being honest I was not looking forward to it either!

Planted in the 1970s the twelve hectares of woodland, to the south of Netherley House, was made up mainly of sitka spruce. Originally from the Pacific northwest coast of America and Canada and named after the city of that name in southern Alaska, sitka spruce is one of the most important tree species of the forest industry in Britain today. Introduced in 1831 by the great Scottish plant hunter David Douglas it was not until after the First World War that it became one of the timber species of choice due to its ability to produce high yields in a wide variety of site conditions, including those in wetter upland areas.

From bumping into the timber contractor in the wood one day when out for a nosey it turns out that Netherley is an excellent place to grow sitka spruce. Whilst it is just a small wood the process is an involved and interesting one. As required by law, the owner had to apply for a felling licence from the Forestry Commission. The work was then put out to tender with James Jones & Sons Ltd, one of the UK’s largest timber processors, winning the contract. At the owner’s expense, often costing thousands of pounds, a track suitable for timber lorries to turn in safely to avoid using public roads also had to be created prior to the work being started.

A team of four operators then worked for ten weeks clear felling the several thousand trees. Two John Deere timber harvesters “cut-to-length” the trees – amazingly taking only one minute to cut each tree and two timber forwarders then carried the felled logs from the stump to the roadside landing. This produced enough logs to fill twelve timber trucks - the large lorries you see on the roads - each day.

Sitka Spruce

Logs waiting for transport

The wood is then graded into three categories. The best quality, the largest diameter of logs, were taken to James Jones’ mill at Aboyne where they will be kiln dried, cut into suitable lengths and sold on to the construction industry across the UK. Medium sized logs go up to their plant at Mosstodloch for turning into pallets, including those for Coca Cola. The lowest quality logs are pulped for chipboard and oriented strand board. The remaining green branches, brash, are left to dry for around six months, until the needles start to fall off. A waste wood company such as AW Jenkinson will then collect and process them at their site near Huntly with the resulting products becoming fuel in the biomass industry. All of the existing deciduous trees were left standing and it was great to see mistle thrushes and other birds already using the posts in a now very open and light area. The wood will be replanted in Spring 2019 with a mixture of spruce and deciduous species.

And my bereft children? “Well, I’m not happy about it Mum,” said Seumas when I asked him what he thought about the work, “but that’s life I suppose. At least we’ve got a mud swamp to play in!”

Many thanks to the timber contractor James Burr who stopped working to kindly answer my questions for this article!

Mandy Tulloch

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Open & Hidden Gardens Scotland’s Gardens Scheme – Open for Charity Scotland’s Gardens, the National Garden Scheme’s sister organisation, was created in 1931, four years after the foundation of the NGS (also known as the ‘Yellow Book’). Their purpose and vision is to raise money for charity through encouraging, promoting and supporting garden openings, whilst making the whole experience inspiring, rewarding and enjoyable for all involved.

Many types of gardens open for Scotland’s Gardens, from the grounds of grand country houses to back gardens in towns and villages, the criteria is that each garden must have some horticultural interest and be of a certain standard. Some 200 charities, both large and small, benefit annually from funds raised through Scotland’s Gardens.

Clayfolds, Bridge of Muchalls

Visit their newly updated website: http://scotlandsgardens.org/ to find gardens near you and their opening date(s).

You can also visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/sgaberdeenshire.

2018 is the Year of Young People Many of the Scotland's Gardens Scheme gardens will be running activities for, and by, young people. This includes free entry and activities etc., check the website to see which gardens are participating.

Clayfolds Open Clayfolds, at the Bridge of Muchalls, is an informal country garden extending to a ½ acre, with a further six acres, still being developed, of wildflowers, native trees and a pond. The open day is Sunday 24th June 2018 from 12:30 to 3:30pm, admission £4, children free. Tea/ coffee & cake on sale.

All proceeds going to charity: Scottish SPCA 60%, SGS charities 40%.

Children’s activity Clayfolds is also running a children’s activity on its Open Day called ‘A Hunt on the Wildside’ where participants have to find real wildflowers and hidden images of local wild animals in the area called ‘the Wilderness’.

This activity was inspired by young people, who are also helping on the open day, to make this a fun activity and encourage other young people to get involved in gardening and nature. For updates please follow: www.facebook.com/andreasinclairdesigner - more details will be posted nearer the Open Day.

Three ‘Hidden Gardens’ on Sunday June 10, 11am to 4pm Blairwood House South Deeside Road, Blairs AB12 5YQ: Ilse Elders A compact garden packed with flowering shrubs, herbaceous perennials, stream and small pond, herbs, vegetables and a pleasant walk to the River Dee below, located on the South Deeside Road, B9077, opposite the entrance to Blairs Museum.

There is no disabled access. Also open by appointment from June 17 to August 26 from 2 to 5pm Email: ilse.elders@yahoo.co.uk

Tel: 01224 868301

Pinetrees Cottage Banchory - Devenick AB12 5XR: Angela Townsley A mature cottage garden set in 3/4 acre captures the imagination with a wide range of hardy plants, which include acer, rhododendrons, azaleas, topiary, roses and rock plants. Set in a backdrop of mature pine trees to the north and open fields to the south.

Directions: Take the B9077 from Bridge of Dee. After about 3km turn left uphill at Banchory-Devenick Church. Follow to the Tjunction and turn right. Next right is Butterywells Steading and when there follow the yellow signs.

Easter Ord Farm Easter Ord, Skene, Westhill AB32 6SG: Catherine Fowler The house has open views towards Lochnagar and is surrounded by mixed herbaceous borders divided into a series of 'rooms'. There is a vegetable garden, a small orchard set in a wildflower area and a wildlife pond. Directions: It is 200m from the Beechgrove Garden so take the B979 northwards from Peterculter and after around 5km take the road on the right signed Countesswells. It is on the right after one km.

Teas will be served at Easter Ord Farm from 11am-1pm and Blairwood House from 1-4pm plus light refreshments at Pinetrees Cottage. £7 tickets, which cover admission to all three gardens, are available from each one.

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North Kincardine Rural Community Council (NKRCC) The North Kincardine Rural Community Council continues to be very active in your area. I am pleased to say that attendance by members of the public is good, and we would encourage you to come and find out what is happening in the community – and also how you may be able to take part. We are now offering the enticement of a cuppa and a biscuit to encourage you along to our meetings – with grateful thanks to our secretary Mandi and members of the committee.

Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route The local community is to be congratulated on its long suffering attitude towards the continuing works in our area. I think I heard an audible collective groan when the recent announcement came that the opening of the Road was to be delayed further this year; however, some unforeseen circumstances have caused problems beyond the contractors’ power (but local cynics may take a different view?)

The Community Council has the matter on the agenda at every meeting, but we have perhaps come to the point where we are too battle weary to expect much response to our complaints about noise, mud and potholes. We now wait with what remaining patience we can muster for the last of the large vehicles to disappear over the horizon and off our single track local roads.

In any future large infrastructure project, the local populace should not be deluded that most of the heavy traffic will stay on the newly constructed haul road and will be removed from the local network – this will perhaps never be the case. It should be expected, however, that works will continue for some time after the road is finally open, so we should be prepared for this. The appalling damage to the local roads network continues to be a major concern to the Community Council, despite assurances that Aberdeenshire Council is in negotiations with the contractor to fund repairs. It remains to be seen whether the contractors will return the roads to the state they were in, before their arrival in 2015.

NKRCC continues to be in constant dialogue with the local councillors, the contractors and the Managing Agent, in relation to the issues being raised in our community.

With the road now lumbering towards completion, it has to be said that it is an engineering wonder, however grudgingly this is accepted. There are plans afoot for some sort of public event when the road is complete, which will be announced in due course. We look forward to seeing exactly what effect the road will have on local traffic flows in and around Aberdeen, and if the long-awaited AWPR actually does “what it says on the tin.”

Planning All local planning applications are reviewed at our monthly meetings.

Where required, these are discussed and may result in a letter of concern, objection or indeed support being sent to Aberdeenshire Council. You will find copies of all of these submissions on the NKRCC website.

North Kincardine Rural Community Council Contacts Visit website and facebook pages to get the latest information Website : www.nkrcc.org.uk

Facebook: North Kincardine Rural Community Council NKRCC Email: secretary@nkrcc.org.uk Meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of every month at 7.30pm, except July and December.

Venue is Lairhillock School. All welcome.

We also have our agendas and minutes posted on the noticeboards at Banchory-Devenick School, Cookney Hall and Corbie Hall.

Other matters We have had presentations on the new Local Development Plan which was very informative, and also from a team from INEOS about the fracture in the oil pipeline at Cookney. The latter was very helpful in allaying fears that no environmental damage was caused and all the appropriate safety measures were put in place to control any potential damage.

NKRCC Meetings Community Council meetings are held in Lairhillock School on the third Monday of each month at 7.30pm (no meeting in July, December meeting is on second Monday). We look forward to welcoming you along to hear what is going on and join in the discussions.

Henry Irvine-Fortescue , Chair

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Mesolithic Deeside Mesolithic Deeside Mesolithic Deeside are a group of local volunteers, students and archaeologists who walk the fields of Deeside recording the location of prehistoric flints. We focus on the Mesolithic period, 8000-4000BC, immediately after the last Ice Age when the inhabitants of Scotland at the time comprised mobile groups of hunter-fishers who left little trace of their passing so that the archaeological evidence is formed mainly of stone tools of flaked flint. The River Dee runs from the mountains and glens of the Cairngorms to the coast at Aberdeen. Ancient stone tools found along its length attest to 10,000 years of human settlement from the earliest hunter-fishers of Scotland onwards. Archaeological work has involved academic research as well as community-led fieldwalking, but there has been no systematic study to combine information into an overview of the early activity along the river. The Ancient Deeside Project aims to combine the study of known Mesolithic material with new material obtained from fieldwalking, thereby adding to our understanding of the period We are hoping to involve local primary and secondary schools and we have been doing talks in the area, appearing on River Dee Radio and we will be at the Banchory Show on 28 July with a tent, finds and an area of experimental archaeology where we will be making baskets and nettle string using basic stone tools. Visit our stall and see what we have been finding and have a go at some Mesolithic activities.

The next stage of the work is to dig test pits in the location of scatters of Mesolithic flints and see if there are traces of structures such as post holes or hearths that would allow us to collect dating evidence and find out what sort of camps they were occupying, what they were eating and other aspects of their lives.

Follow us on twitter @mesodeeside our website http://www.mesolithicdeeside.org or Mesolithic Deeside on Facebook. If you would like to join the fieldwalking or help with the group please email Diane on dweezil2d@yahoo.co.uk.

Mesolithic core found February 2018

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How Broad is your Band? Grampian Talking Therapy How Broad is your Band? Part 3 Since the last issue little progress has been made. In Banchory-Devenick two cabinets have been installed near Butterywells and Causeyport, but not all households nearby have been connected yet.

A few households in Maryculter have reported that they are within reach of a cabinet, but have been told by their providers that there are no slots available. If this happens to you, please contact your provider and insist that Openreach has a contractual obligation to upgrade the cabinet simply by inserting another 32 slot card.

There has been no progress in Netherley, Maryculter East, Maryculter West and in the Crynoch valley. The latest we heard from Openreach is that planned developments have now slipped until February 2019. You can find out from the Openreach website when you are due to be connected. https://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/home/index.do

Meantime please keep the pressure on by contacting: Digital Scotland https://www.scotlandsuperfast.com/ Community Fibre Partnership http:// www.communityfibre.bt.com Digital Scotland https://www.scotlandsuperfast.com and your provider, as well as elected representatives (MP’s, MSP’s and local Councillors) whose email addresses are in South Deeside View. superfastsouthdeeside.wordpress.com

Kees Witte 01224 732738

Neighbourhood Watch Scotland co-ordinate this resource with partners in the public sector to provide information not only on crime, but on matters of community safety and resilience. Sign up and receive email messages about local crime trends and crime prevention advice and more for your area. You do not need to be a member of Neighbourhood Watch to sign up.

Register here: https://member-registration.neighbourhoodalert.co.uk/91/Join

Grampian Talking Therapy, Netherley Keeping fit and healthy doesn't just mean our physical health, it's important to take care of our mental health too. None of us are exempt from difficulties with our mental health. This can manifest as worrying, anxiety, feeling low, feeling overwhelmed just to name a few. However awareness of looking after our mental health is growing, and with that comes the increased opportunity to talk to someone about how you feel. Talking to someone can sometimes be the difference between feeling you can cope or not.

There are many paths to getting help and support. This includes having a discussion with your GP, free phone lines such as Breathing Space or seeking a therapist.

My name is Sarah Wood and I am a registered mental health nurse and Cognitive Behaviour Therapist. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is recognised by leading experts as the treatment of choice for the treatment of anxiety and depression amongst others.

CBT aims to help make the links between difficult thoughts, emotions, physical feelings and our behaviour to help make positive change.

CBT can help with anxiety, depression, PTSD, phobias, eating disorders and others. Alongside working for the NHS I can offer some private evening or weekend appointments from my home in Netherley.

If you would like more information please don't hesitate to contact me at grampiantalkingtherapy@yahoo.com or look up Grampian Talking Therapy on Facebook.

Breathing space is a free phone line/website for support for people struggling with anxiety, depression or low mood.

breathingspace.scot

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MSP & MP Maureen Watt MSP The AWPR has received greater attention recently following the liquidation of Carillion, however I know for local people it has been an important matter for several years. I have recently completed a site visit in the Netherley area, alongside residents and representatives from Transport Scotland as well as Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL). This visit was very insightful in understanding some of the safety concerns residents have as the project nears completion.

Although this issue affects a small number of residents, it gave me the opportunity to see how the project is progressing and the impact it will have on the wider area. Following this meeting I wrote to Jim Savege the Chief Executive of Aberdeenshire Council and John Wilson, the Managing Agent of the project from Transport Scotland to seek confirmation on road maintenance and safety barrier arrangements.

I’m sure the local community will have noted Balfour Beattie’s recent announcement that the completion date of the project is now expected to be this summer. I have written to both the AWPR Project Manager and Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work to clarify when the projected opening date for the whole road will now be. The local community have been incredibly patient with the ongoing work and hope we will see the earliest possible completion date.

While parliamentary and ministerial duties require me to be in Holyrood on Tuesdays to Thursdays, I am in my constituency from Fridays to Mondays, and I encourage any residents who have concerns regarding the AWPR, or indeed any other issue to contact me to arrange a meeting, and I will be happy to do what I can to help.

Andrew Bowie MP One of the biggest issues that my constituents ask me about is broadband and the poor connections to houses and businesses in 2018.

The North East is home to some of Scotland’s slowest broadband connections, and West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine is almost at rock bottom of all the UK, sitting at 627th out of 650 for speed. After my election to Parliament in 2017, I was shocked to find out just how much of Royal Deeside has no access to broadband at all. That’s why I am delighted to join the team at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) which is dealing with these issues at all levels.

As a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) on the Government Benches I’ll be able to bring the experience of WAK to the role. That’s not to say I will stop any of my work as your local MP. I know all too well that Scotland is not keeping pace with other parts of the UK when it comes to the rollout of superfast broadband.

That needs to change. So when it comes to the next wave of broadband, the Secretary of State for DCMS Matt Hancock decided to by-pass the SNP Government and will give funding directly to local councils. But I understand how "next wave" might mean little to some of those reading this newsletter. In that spirit, a DCMS Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) scheme also put £200 million of initial funding up for bids among UK local authorities. This wasn't guaranteed money but rather depended on bids, and I hope a third wave of bids will be available soon.

I know the DCMS team are determined that the UK remains at the forefront of digital technology – and that means the whole of the country. We cannot allow any region to be left behind. We are starting to find out that many of the properties judged to be “accessing” superfast are in fact expected to pay whopping fees to put in lines to the nearest cabinet. That is not in the spirit of the 95% target set by the Scottish Government itself.

My constituents deserve the same coverage as those across the border in England, and I will continue to use my position in Parliament to work towards improving access to superfast - as well as basic provision for those currently going without.

Cllr Ian Mollison I remember last year people joking at the North Kincardine Rural Community Council about having bets on when the Aberdeen bypass will open. Well now we know it will be sometime in the summer.

At the end of February, I attend met officers from Transport Scotland and the AWPR contractors.

They were non-committal about the opening date, but said there would be another briefing in May, a bit of a giveaway. The briefing was not long after one of the three contractors, Carillion, went bust. Since then we have heard that another – Balfour Beattie – has lost £44m on the contract.

Meanwhile complaints continue about the impact on local roads. I spoke to the council’s infrastructure services director Stephen Archer who said the council is continuing to carry out emergency repairs to local roads that have sustained damage as a result of construction traffic associated with the AWPR. Of course, the winter weather has exacerbated the situation. He said that the council has carried out more substantial repairs utilising an external contractor, mainly in the North Kincardine area.

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Councillors As the AWPR project draws to a close with the amount of construction traffic greatly reducing, council officers are collating information to address the more permanent works required to reinstate the local road network. Mr Archer assured me the council is actively in communication with the construction joint venture to recoup the costs so the network can return to the condition it was in prior to the project starting - construction began on 19 February 2015.

Councillor Colin Pike and I have also taken the council’s chief executive Jim Savege on a tour of the ward to ensure he is aware of how much our local roads need urgent attention. Meantime any issues on the road network can be reported at http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/roads/contact-us.

Cllr Alison Evison The Boogie in the Bar events run by Dementia Friendly Portlethen in conjunction with The Leathan Portlethen are open to everyone in the North Kincardine area living with dementia and their families. They are held on the third Tuesday of the month from 12 noon until 4pm and give a great opportunity to dance and socialise.

In February the Council set its annual budget. The challenging financial settlement meant that some very difficult decisions had to be made, but, in the end, these came down to political choices. Amongst other things, I was disappointed that our Opposition proposals to increase funding for grit bins across Aberdeenshire were not accepted.

Before Christmas Banchory-Devenick School said good-bye to Head teacher Mr Gill. The school is now led under a shared headship by Mrs McKechnie, who is also Head at Portlethen Primary School. Having a shared headship should give Banchory-Devenick the opportunity for greater continuity. It will also bring benefits to cluster working between local schools.

Our campaign to retain the skills of visiting specialists in our schools has had some effect. The Education Service has committed to retaining as many as possible of those currently employed as visiting specialists who want to continue working for Aberdeenshire Council and has altered its policies accordingly. Thank you to everyone who helped us make this argument, particularly on behalf of children in rural schools like Lairhillock and BanchoryDevenick.

There have been several engagements run by the council recently to find people’s views on waste collections and the delivery of culture, sports and physical activity in Aberdeenshire. If you missed these, but have ideas to contribute, please get in touch.

2018 is The Year of Young People. I look forward to hearing more from our young people about what they would like to see the council doing. It is also 100 years this year since the first women got the vote in Britain. As part of our commemorations, I am looking at ways to encourage more women into public life. If you have ideas about how to

Cllr Colin Pike By using developer contributions money from the Blairs housing development I have been able to get works started on improving the Lairhillock school playing field.

Contractors have commenced a programme of surface aeration to relieve the compaction and water logging issues. This will be repeated as required and then a series of grass treatments applied to eradicate the moss. Hopefully by the end of the summer we will have a pitch that is usable.

I was pleased to get Kincardine & Mearns area committee support to give the social enterprise operation, Solstice Nurseries on the South Deeside Road, a grant of £5000. This will go towards a new building which will incorporate garage space for their machinery, storage, a workshop and a heated potting shed. This will help greatly with the training and experience for people who are recovering from mental illness who work at the nursery.

The AWPR continues to thwart many, not least the numerous diversions and road defects caused by all the construction traffic. In January I had 3 of our senior roads team out for a 40 mile tour and in February our Chief Executive, Jim Savege visited with me to see the damage and problems caused. I am continually working on getting all parties involved around the table to thrash out a repair programme which limits Aberdeenshire Council’s costs and ensures repairs are started as soon as the weather conditions improve. If resolution can not be agreed quickly, I fear a long battle of litigation that will be costly to all and local residents and businesses will suffer needlessly.

Maryculter East school has lain empty for many years so I asked our estates team to sell this to bring in some much needed funds. We have now received bids and these will come to our area committee meeting in April. The processes for acceptance of the best offer and the school sold, will probably be held at that meeting in private session to maintain confidentiality of the parties and sums involved.

If I can assist on any Council matters, I am contactable by phone, 0777 9095385 or email; cllr.c.pike@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

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Chapelton New Ideas for Chapelton in 2018 The housing market has been a challenging one over the past year, but Chapelton’s three housebuilders have adapted plans to suit the market and have bent to popular demand by providing smaller housing and single-storey cottages. They have not just altered the building types but have also brought forward new ideas for home ownership.

Stephens are close to completing their first phase of three cottage courtyards with many already occupied. ZeroC are building the remainder of Bunting Place with terraced homes punctuated by two blocks of 3 storey flats which will be for rent in Bunting Place. In addition, they have introduced a new concept to Scotland based on ‘building your own home’, giving great flexibility for house-buyers to design and manage the building of their own home and save money.

Construction is moving up the hill to the next community space, Liddell Park, where AJC are continuing with semi-detached homes on the north side at the same time as offering larger homes around Pheppie park. To the east, work on the Liberty Retirement Village, has started. There will be 94 units, a mixture of 50% flats and 50% houses alongside a main building with centralised facilities and a range of care options. Its first show homes will be open in the spring but for now ‘The Hut’ acts as a sales office prior to its intended purpose as a community building.

Liddell Place

Liberty aerial view

Plans are moving forward on the retail element of the town and on the north corner of Liddell Park there will be several business and shop units. These are designed, with flats or offices on the upper floors, to be attractive to differing sizes of companies and, for anyone interested, there remain opportunities for bespoke units. To the south side, a Box Park (this would be a novel approach to supplying affordable commercial units using cabins in a contemporary and stylish way) is proposed and will be both a solution for people looking to start or bring their business to Chapelton and provide facilities for residents.

The Hut sales office

There is a desire to bring forward affordable housing early within Chapelton and, as I write, Places For People are in negotiations with the Council to build 25 affordable units on shared equity or mid-market rent bases. The design of the area will mean the affordable housing will be indistinguishable from the private and will blend in seamlessly with the surrounding area.

The community of now 250 or so is fast establishing itself and a strong group have taken on themselves to organise a 10k fun run on 15th July. You can enter or be part of it by going to https://www.entrycentral.com/chapelton10k. Events are an established part of life at Chapelton and there is a range from outdoor activities to wellbeing and drinks events. If you want to join in or just find out more go to http:// chapeltonnewtown.co.uk/whats-on/.

Stephen’s Courtyard Cottages

And with spring around the corner, the laying out of the first of the allotment parks, down by Nether Cairnhill farm, has started. This work should be completed later in the Spring and there is plenty of interest from residents in having a plot.

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Woodman, Spare Those Trees! Part 2 by Callum Stuart WOODMAN, SPARE THOSE TREES! Part Two: A Brief History of Maryculter Time Last time, I left you in the mid-1930s when the bulk of Maryculter House policies and land were being broken up, after the death of Cosmo Duff-Gordon in 1931. However, this pattern began over a hundred years before. The last big upheaval in land ownership had been in the early 1800s. When the local minister Rev. John Glennie wrote in the Statistical account of 1792, he described Maryculter:

“Indeed, the whole district is rocky and stony, except for some small haughs and dales on the river side; and thoroughly to improve, enclose, and render tolerably fertile, a piece of waste ground here, may be almost termed a new creation.”

In those days, a day’s general labour would get you between 8d and 10d (3-4 pence). If you were in a trade, like a carpenter, you could expect 10d-1s (4-5 pence) as a daily rate. Most women were employed in spinning and stocking knitting. Hosiers in Aberdeen came out to Maryculter on certain days of the year called “Factory Days” to give out the combed wool. Knitted long hose would get you around a shilling (5p) a pair. Not exactly a tourist trap then.

Around 1811, parts of the larger Parish of Maryculter were sold off by the Menzies of Pitfodels. Most was acquired by the General, The Honourable William Gordon of Fyvie. He had been a Member of Parliament and a Groom of the Bedchamber of King George (I shall leave you to google that one!) . When he died in 1816, his son William Gordon didn’t particularly want to live at Maryculter House so left – but took the house bell with him to Fyvie.

They subsequently sold off most of this, in 1939, to James Kinloch of Jermyn Street, St James’s, London which created the separate estate of Altries. The House of Altries is believed to have been named due to James Kinloch already owning Altrie, (part of the Pitfour estate in Buchan). He also owned the Park estate. " The lands of Ashentillies, Bogfon, Muirskie, Cockley, Standing Stanes, Hillbrae, Burnside, East and West Sides, Crynoch, with the Miln and Miln Croft of Crynoch, Wettshaw, the lands of Stobhall, excepting those parts thereof formerly occupied by James Reid, the lands of Gateside, Parkhead, and Donald's Garth Fishing of Maryculter, together with the teinds and haill pertinents and privileges.”

This left the Mansion House and policies of Maryculter House which passed to Captain William Cosmo Gordon in 1847, his brother, Captain Alexander Henry Gordon, of the Indian Navy, became proprietor in 1879 – and on his death, in 1884, by Sir Maurice Duff Gordon.

“The mansion house is situated on the south bank of the Dee amid surroundings of considerable amenity.

It is approached by a carriage drive nearly a mile in length, and flanked by finely grown trees, which, in many cases, bear the marks of great age”.

In an advertisement in the local press in October 1812, he offered many of the local tenanted farms, crofts and mills on a nineteen-year lease.

“At the Mill of Maryculter the Proprietor intends immediately to erect a convenient Dwelling House with accommodation for a TAVERN on a moderate scale”.

Which brings us to his son Cosmo Duff-Gordon. He succeeded to the country estate on the death of his father in 1896. He married fashion designer “Madame Lucille” in 1900. She is best known for designing the Franz Lehar “Merry Widow” hat. Their marriage did turn up a few noble noses as she was a divorcee and her sister wrote “racy novels”, as the Barbara Cartland of her day. Cosmo, an ace with the epee, represented Great Britain in the 1906 Incalcated Games in Athens as part of the fencing team and seemed to be quite a popular chap until...they took a trip on the Titanic. Now, I won’t dwell on the details (you have probably seen the film) but Cosmo never really recovered from the scandal over it. Cosmo, his wife, and secretary were three of only twelve passengers who escaped in Cosmo Duff-Gordon Lifeboat Number one. A lifeboat which was designed to from Encylopedia Titanica hold forty passengers. “Women and Children first”, Cosmo.

Cosmo died in 1931, and the Duff-Gordon’s “Scottish Estate” went up for sale. In April 1932, a two-day Sale of Antique Furniture and Furnishings was held at Maryculter House.

‘Madame Lucille” Lucy Duff-Gordon from Encylopedia Titanica

“There was a large attendance at both sales, and bidding was keen, high prices being attained for numerous articles. The highest price paid for pictures was £5 for a set of three French figure-subject coloured engravings after Fragonard”.

The House and immediate Policies was sold to Captain Guy Innes, R.N. of Raemoir in 1936.

“Extensive renovations are being carried out, and Captain and Mrs. Innes are expected to be in residence at Maryculter in August for the Deeside season. Captain Innes, as of the old Raemoir and Dunnottar families, and his wife a Forbes of Rothiemay”.

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Woodman, Spare Those Trees! Part 2 by Callum Stuart Continued Captain Innes died in 1939. His widow let out Maryculter and moved to Queen’s Road. She later married Lord Aberdeen and became the Marchioness of Aberdeen and Tremair. She died in 1949. The Innes’ only daughter, Miss Elizabeth, married in 1943 and set off for a new life with Major James R. RobertsonMcIsaac of the Gordon Highlanders. By 1945, the House had been sold and turned into the Maryculter Deeside Hotel, under proprietor Victor Horne. By 1947, its future was again uncertain when Victor went bankrupt.

The City of Aberdeen Boy Scouts’ Association bought the area, now Templars Park, for their new camping ground. The Chief Scout, Lord Baden-Powell visited on 26th September 1936 to open the park in the presence of 3000 scouts.

“Old Scoutmasters, who had met “B.P.” in many parts of the world, cheered as lustily as the youngest Cubs who were seeing their beloved Chief for the first time”.

The Pirie family bought the Home Farm of Maryculter and Mill Inn and continued there until 1946.

“The HOME FARM of MARYCULTER, consisting of 89 acres, is now for Sale. Arrangements to view the house, steading and boundary can be made by applying to Mrs. PIRIE, Mill Inn. Telephone: Culter 12” Which leaves us (see what I did there?) with those trees and the work of Colonel Lachlann Mackinnon to preserve the area.

Lord Baden-Powell visiting in 1936

“When I spoke to you here a year ago”, said Colonel Mackinnon, “I told you of the attack that was being made on the noble trees and I asked your assistance to have the trees preserved. Well I am happy to tell you that my appeal was not made in vain, and that with the aid of money subscribed in the village and around it, of which some came from Aberdeen and other places nearby, not only have the trees been saved by purchase, but the riverbank itself, right along from the ferry up to Maryculter House, has been acquired, and is to be handed over to the Deeside District Committee of the County Council to be preserved for all time as a resort for the inhabitants of Peterculter and of the Parish of Maryculter”.

In Part Three, we finally come right up-to-date - the changing fortunes of the Mill Inn, Storm Frank; the Bypass (it might even be open!) and, seriously, what about those trees???

Callum Stuart

Come along and enjoy our 7000ft Indoor Play Den Amazing Racing Slide & 4 Lane Astro Slide, Climbing Wall Tower, Giant Ball Canyon Awesome Sports Arena, 140 seater restaurant Birthday Parties from £10.99 All weather attraction at Storybook Glen with 20 acres of active outdoor learning Free Parking

Open daily 10am - 5.30pm Den Entrance Fees Under 1yr FREE 1-3 yrs £3.95 4+ yrs £4.95 Adults/OAPs FREE

Elaine Thompson Yoga Hatha, Pregnancy, Post Natal Cookney Public Hall Tuesday 6.30 - 7.30pm Hatha class suitable for all ages Other classes and 1-1 sessions available

Glen Entrance Fees Under 1yr FREE 1-3 yrs £3.95 4-14 yrs £4.95 Adults/OAPs £2.95 During busy periods, admission is limited to 90 mins

The Den and the Glen, Maryculter, off South Deeside Road, Aberdeen AB12 5FT, Tel 01224 732941

For more information and to check availability contact: Elaine elainethompson@hotmail.co.uk 07739 745612

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www.denandtheglen.co.uk 29

Advertising TENT FOR HIRE The Maryculter Scouts Group has a large canvas Mess Tent which is available for local community members to borrow in return for a donation to the Scouts Group.

The tent measures 24' by 14' by 7' high. It is a heavy duty canvas mess tent, and as such it comes with a steel pole frame and quite a weighty canvas. It requires a minimum of 3 people (preferably 5) to erect and dismantle it. To ensure this is done correctly the Group insists their own experienced tent pitcher helps with assembly. A donation of £50 minimum is suggested in light of the effort involved, especially if the tent has to be dried after the event. To check on the tent's availability and suitability for your event, please contact: Kevin Stewart on 01224 861048

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info@paragon-systems.co.uk www.paragon-systems.co.uk Paragon Systems (Scotland) Limited The Office, Corbie Cottage, Maryculter, AB12 5FT

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Is your garage, shed or outbuilding alarmed?

A personal attack alarm can be utilised as a cost-effective (approx. £4) method of alarming a door!

Learn the art and tradition of carriage driving Arrive in a horse-drawn carriage for your wedding Enjoy a farm tour and riverside drive Visit our unique carriage collection Bring disabled friends for a drive Let us take you for a drive to mark a special occasion

Display boards available to borrow

We can do all this and much more with our experienced horses and ponies. We also have a selfcontained flat overlooking the River Dee – ideal for business visits or short breaks.

Eight Marler Hayley display boards.

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They can be self-supporting on the floor or table-mounted.

Tel: 01224 732738 or email: witte@btconnect.com

Jane and Ewen MacInnes, Home Farm, Maryculter Tel: 01224 732310 and 07889 340362 Email: homefarmmcdc@lineone.net www.marycultercarriages.co.uk 30

Useful Contacts Home Deliveries Neil Gammie, Fernieflatt Farm, Kinneff

Free range eggs, hay/straw bales. Tues/ Fri. Order before 5pm day before. Min £8.

Cash/Chq. Also at Stonehaven market 1st Sat of month.

01569 750374 /07790 558880, Email: fernieflattfarm@amserve.com, www.fernieflattfarm.co.uk

Fish George Fairweather

Delivers west of the B979 road on Thursday afternoons and east of the road on Friday from 11am. Phone orders ahead to establish approximate timing.

07974 311326

Coal J.H. Roberts of Auchenblae

Delivers orders in our area on Monday mornings. Smokeless fuels / domestic coal for stoves and open fires.Wood pellets, recycled wood briquettes, peat, soft wood logs, heavy duty plastic coal bunkers and kindling both for delivery and collection.

01561 320335 www.johnroberts.co.uk

Cookney Community Hall

Bookings

Willie Angus 01569 730123 Email: wgangus@btinternet.com

Maryculter Community Hall & Corbie Field

Bookings

07960 231855 Email: maryculterhall@yahoo.co.uk

Library

The mobile van visits fortnightly on Thursdays 12 & 26 April, 10 & 24 May, 7 & 21 June: Maryculter, Fernieslack Cottage at 9.20 - 9.30am Banchory-Devenick crossroads at 9.45 - 10.15am

01651 872707

Police

Kincardine & Mearns Community Policing Team’s dedicated ermail address: StonehavenLowerDeesideCPT@Scotland .pnn.police.uk

Emergencies 999 or 112 All non-emergencies 101 Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 Drugs Information Line 0800 371 553

Bus Services Number 204 Stagecoach Bluebird

Aberdeen/Strachan/Aberdeen via South Deeside Rd (Blairs, Kirkton of Maryculter,Durris) www.stagecoachbus.com

Dial-A-Bus Number 22 & 23 Kincardine & Mearns A2B Dial-ABus

Wheelchair-accessible door-to-door 01224 665599 transport for people who have mobility difficulties/limited public transport.

Registration required.

No.22 Thursday weekly Stonehaven - Netherley - Cookney - Portlethen Downies - Findon - Portlethen No. 23 Tuesday weekly Kirkton of Durris - Kirkton of Maryculter - Blairs - BanchoryDevenick - Portlethen

Andrew Bowie MP

andrew.bowie.mp@parliament.uk Facebook: Andrew Bowie MP

0207 219 2791

Maureen Watt MSP

maureen.watt.msp@scottish.parliament. uk Facebook: Maureen Watt

01224 876743

Councillor Alastair Bews

cllr.a.bews@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

01224 784594

Councillor Alison Evison

Twitter @alison2812 Facebook Councillor Alison Evison: Scottish Labour in North Kincardine Email: cllr.a.evison@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

07876 475386 Twitter @alison2812

Councillor Ian Mollison

cllr.i.mollison@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Facebook: Councillor Ian Mollison

07747 638348

Councillor Colin Pike

cllr.c.pike@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Facebook: Cllr Colin Pike

0777 909 5385

Farm Shop Cafe Reservations 07546 979510

Open 7 Days 9am to 5pm Mon to Sat 10am to 5pm Sundays Farm Shop, Cafe, Soft Play (ages 1-6 years) On site Butchery Milking Live from 4pm Cheesemaker Devenick Dairy, Bishopston Farm, Banchory-Devenick, Aberdeen, AB12 4RS info@devenickdairy.co.uk www.devenickdairy.co.uk 01224 782476

01224 212266

Have you considered installing a boundary alarm for your premises?

Devices like driveway alarms can be easily purchased and installed for less than £20. They will activate a unit in your home should the alarm beam be broken.

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Diary Dates 2018 April 27 Cookney Cuppa, Cookney Hall 29 Daffodil Tea, 12-2, Corbie Hall May 12 Line Dancing, Stonehaven Town Hall 7.30 19 NKRCC/SDV Plant Sale, Corbie Hall 20 Blaikiewell Dog Show & Fun Day 21 NKRCC meeting 26 Summer Fair, Banchory-Devenick School, 2-4 26 Solstice Nurseries Open Day and Plant Sale June 02 Heli-Nats, Abdn Aeromodellers 03 Heli-Nats, Abdn Aeromodellers 08 Cookney Cuppa, Cookney Hall 10 Hidden Gardens - see article 18 NKRCC AGM 21 Ury Players - Breezeblock Park 22 Ury Players - Breezeblock Park 24 Open Gardens - Clayfolds - see article July 07 Solstice Nurseries Open Day and Plant Sale 15 Chapelton of Elsick 10K Run Aug 20 NKRCC meeting Sep 07 Cookney Cuppa, Cookney Hall 17 NKRCC meeting Oct 13 Autumn Dance with Country Edition 15 NKRCC meeting 26 Cookney Cuppa, Cookney Hall Nov 19 NKRCC meeting Dec 08 Cookney Cuppa, Cookney Hall 10 NKRCC meeting

YOGA CLASSES The Hut at Chapelton Wednesdays 6.30 to 8pm Suitable for all levels and ages 1-2-1 sessions available Sally Munro munro_sally@hotmail.com 07894 505661 www.sunriselifebalance.co.uk

The South Deeside View Published spring and autumn Lynne/Mandi 01569 739132 sdeesideview@yahoo.co.uk

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