The Alford BULLetin 28 - Winter 2022

The BULLETIN

A Community Magazine for Alford

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A unique event which showcases Doric language and culture through the medium of film is encouraging filmmakers to submit their ideas by December.

The 2023 Doric Film Festival will culminate on May 26th next year, but entrants need to get their thinking caps on ready to submit their film proposals by December 15th before bringing their ideas to life in time for the May finale showcase.

The acclaimed Doric Film Festival, which is supported by the Scottish Government, is the brain-child of award-winning Scots Radio Director Frieda Morrison who created the pla�orm to celebrate the Doric language and its cultural identity.

This year’s theme: “Dinna Pit Aff ” is on track to stimulate another diverse body of creative short films by individuals, groups and schools in celebration of the richness

and diversity of the region.

Frieda said: “The standard and creativity of entries pushes boundaries every year, and 2023 is set to be no exception.

“With more and more people keen to explore cultural identity, pla�orms such as the Doric Film Festival become ever more important and we are pleased with the level of interest which has already been shown in the next Festival.

“We now encourage prospective participants to get their ideas to us by December 15th.”

Unique Selling Points

How much do you know about your Hall? Keep an eye on Tullynessle Hall’s Facebook and Instagram to see a series of Unique Selling Points (USPs) that the Hall is proud to provide to its community.

Questionnaire

There will also be a questionnaire in the run-up to Christmas, which has been designed to give our community the opportunity to share their opinions on what they would like to see at Tullynessle Hall.

50/50 Club

What a success this is! Every month there are 3 winners. Recent prizes have been £100/£60 and £40. We have just accepted new members so in the future draws the prize money will be more. Each month half the amount paid in goes to Hall funds and half goes out in prize money. (50/50!). We welcome more members. Contact the Secretary secretary@ tullynesslehall.org if you would like to join. It costs £5 per month per draw number.

Blended Meetings

Local clubs/organisations continue to benefit from using our blended meetings equipment if some members cannot attend in person. All equipment is provided and help and support will be given.

Tully Bus

The Tully Bus has been a busy bus in the last few months. It ferried the Summer Ceilidh dancers to and from the dance, children to the Critter Keeper Event, was busy on Producers’ Market day and we are planning to hire it for the Hint O’ Hairst Concert, the Xmas Wreath workshop and the Hogmanay Ceilidh. It helps cut down on car use/saves fuel and does our bit to help the environment. And it’s

free for you to use. Donations are always welcome, of course.

Resilience Hub

We are delighted to announce that we have been successful in receiving £20k of funding from the SSEN Resilient Communities Fund. The money has been provided to enable the Hall to develop a Resilience Plan towards becoming a Resilience Hub for our rural neighbours in the event of future incidents like Storm Arwen. We are in the early stages of planning so watch this space.

Hiring the Hall

The Hall is a busy hall. It is regularly hired out for activities like yoga, boxfit, zumba, bell ringing, gentle exercise classes and old time dancing. Local clubs and organisations use the meeting room, it’s a perfect venue for a party, a ceilidh, funerals and weddings. Blood donors use us as a venue at least twice a year and we love hosting the Tullynesssle Toddler Group. Every village hall needs toddlers!

For more information on booking the Hall, look on the website www. tullynessleandforbeshall.co.uk and/ or email Maureen at bookings@ tullynesslehall.org

Governance & Representation

DCC

Community County Scotland UK

ALL of our meetings are open to the public whether you want to raise an issue or just come along and hear what we are talking about first hand.

The meetings are attended by our local area Community Council representatives (who are all volunteers) and by Aberdeenshire Councillors for Wards 14 and 15.

We meet every second Tuesday of the month, except for July and December. Most of our meetings are held at Alford Community Campus but we will be holding at least two meetings in other parts of our area during the year.

Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date. If you have a question or want any information, contact us by email: chair@ donsidecommunitycouncil.org.uk

Tullynessle Hall Film Club

with Annette Wright

The Film Club committee were thrilled with the good attendance for the showings of their first films of the season: Belfast, and Operation Mincemeat. They are looking forward to welcoming audiences to the remainder of the programme in December and in the New Year and into 2023.

8th December: The Last Bus (12)

With Timothy Spall

29th December: Downton Abbey: A New Era (PG)

Directed by Simon Curtis

12th January: Little Miss Sunshine (15) Directed by Jonathan Dayton 26th January: Animal Kingdom (15) Directed by David Michod

9th February: The Duke (12)

Directed by Roger Michell

23rd February: After Love (12)

Directed by Aleem Khan 9th March: Licorice Pizza (15) Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson 23rd March: Boiling Point (15)

Directed by Paul Barantini

On 16th February there will be a special evening of Short Scottish Films.

The Film Club Committee have kept the entrance to their films at £5 per film.

Film showings start at 7.30pm, refreshments are available but the audience is welcome to BYOB.

The Club will also host, on behalf of the Tullynessle Hall Committee, Community Films on 20th January and 17th March. The choice of films is still to be confirmed. For further details about the film programme please go to www. tullynessleandforbeshall.co.uk/filmclub.asp

The BULLetin relies on advertising to pay for its design and printing and I am so grateful to our regular advertisers.

I am also always delighted to welcome new ones, and you can see details of costs and deals etc on p30.

At Myriad Pro Publishing, advertisers are not just a space on a page. Your investment allows the publications to promote the activities of local groups and event organisers at no cost to them.

New customers can also benefit from introductory features, and there are perks to being a long-term advertiser too, as well as discounts for featuring in the Aboyne publication, The Fountain.

The business landscape and publicity methods are changing all the time, and especially at the moment! So if you have any ideas on how The BULLetin can further support you, do let me know.

No matter if you are on the main street, out in the sticks, working from your spare room or just operating online, I can help.

Have you started a new business in the Alford area? Want a mention? Get in touch.

When times are tough, don’t stop ADVERTISING!

The BULLetin represents a unique opportunity for you to promote your business to a targetted area at reasonable cost.

Ad rates start at just £30 for a quarter page

Around 1,000 copies are distributed through the doors of residences in the village, prominent spots in the local community and within businesses willing to stock it. Geographically it covers Alford and the surrounding areas. All Myriad Pro Publications are also available to read online at issuu.com

Thanks to the varied range of events which took place this year, visitor numbers were higher than in 2019 – the last full year when the museum was open.

From open air markets to toddler storytelling and craft sessions; from the return of the Hamewith school concerts to the special Night at the Museum; from bale decorating to leather tattooing, all events were well supported and enjoyed by the local community.

Behind the scenes, some volunteers worked on conserving objects and recording the collections, whilst others concentrated on more administrative tasks such as negotiating for future developments and improvements to the building.

The Architectural Heritage Fund have awarded the museum a grant

to enable further building surveys and architect input to support this project.

Work will continue over the winter closure period as the museum looks forward to opening again in April 2023. The team were delighted to be featured recently on BBC Radio Scotland Out of Doors when the new Memory Boxes were discussed.

These can be borrowed by local schools or other groups and will still be available during the closed period – just send the museum an email on info@ alfordheritagemuseum.com.

Wonderful Willow

Willow trees are very easy to grow and grow quite fast. They are beautiful looking trees and have a wide range of different and wonderful uses in your garden, on farms and in the wider environment. Willow trees from just a small copse to larger plantations provide a valuable asset and wherever they grow provide us, wildlife of all kinds, from birds to bees with an abundance of a natural totally sustainable resource. They have many uses, eg:

• Firewood

• Ground stabilisation

• Wildlife habitat

• Reducing & Cleaning Water Run-off

• Garden Trellises and Structures

•Baskets, hampers and wreaths

• Furniture

• Medicinal

A little extra patience is required as the wood requires longer to season/ dry out because of its high water content but this can be ‘offset’ by

the quick growing nature of the willow and abundant annual harvests once the trees are established and produce multiple shoots when coppiced.

Where to Grow Willow

Willows are generally more tolerant than most trees of varying growing conditions being very tough and adaptable in a wide range of soil conditions and variable weather. They will grow by the sea and grow in exposed high altitude, best with full sun or limited partial shade but not below the canopy of larger trees. To ensure the success of growing, good weed control is considered very important in at least the first season’s growing.

Coppicing

The willow trees need to be cut to harvest and stimulate growth. This is called ‘coppicing’ where the trees are cut right down to almost grown level continually stimulating rigorous re-growth, extending the life span of the tree and year on year increasing the yield for harvesting suitable logs for splitting and drying for firewood.

Harvesting and Drying

To dry the willow for the most efficient burning, the coppiced 3 to 4in thick logs should be cut into uniform long lengths, approximately 4-6 feet long, and stacked off the ground with one end facing the prevailing wind. After 2-3 months the wood pile should be covered (top only) to prevent further wetting from rain but still allowing air and sun-light to circulate to continue to season the wood. After a year the logs can be cut and split to suitable length ready for burning.

Willow planting season is December to April. For further information about delivery of ready-to-plant willow cuttings email sawmill.willows@gmail.com

with Sarah McGregor