The
SouthDeesideView Autumn 2020
Broadband news Discover Reflexology Autumn gardening tips Christmas Pop Up Shop 1
thesouthdeesideview.co.uk
Contents
After a strange few months things are still not quite back to normal! Some of our local groups are slowly coming back to life but many are still unable to meet. The diary of events in the run up to Christmas lacks our usual social scene of Autumn Dances, Cookney Cuppas and New Year Charity Ceilidhs for now too. Keep an eye on Facebook : The South Deeside View and local groups’ relevant pages/ websites for updates and local interest posts.
Community & Leisure
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Garden Feature with Andrea Sinclair
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Protect Banchory Devenick
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Community Halls
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Community Council, Scarecrow Festival
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Reflexology with Sylvia Smith
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Pain Management with Emma Armes
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Church Notices
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Chapelton News
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Schools, Broadband update
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MP, MSP, Solstice Nurseries
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Community Councillors
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Nature Notes
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Forecourt Art Group
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Thank you to helpers, contributors, advertisers and posties for your continued support in producing and distributing this publication. Best wishes,
Buying a home for your student
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Mandi, Lynne & Shona
With lots of working from home, internet speed can be an issue for some in hard-to-reach rural areas, and solutions are long awaited. See page 17 for news on progress locally and where to find some possible interim options. Please get in touch if you have any events, news, articles or would like to place an advert in the next publication. It will be out in Spring 2021 when hopefully everything is back to normal!
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There’s nothing quite like your ‘local’ Especially when that local is a picture-perfect riverside venue, serving top-notch food and drinks in an elegant and tranquil setting. Whether it’s a catch-up coffee, a light lunch, or simply popping in for a drink, Maryculter House has it all. Located on the South Deeside Road, we’re practically on your doorstep!
What can we offer? > Breakfast / morning menu > Lunch and dinner > The Maryculter House afternoon tea > Sumptuous Sunday Roasts > Private dining rooms > Range Rover pick-up (subject to availability)
Tempted? Give us a call to book on (01224) 732124, or email info@maryculterhouse.com
We can’t wait to welcome you!
H O S P I TA L I T Y S I N C E 1 2 2 5 South Deeside Road, Maryculter, Aberdeen AB12 5GB t: +44 (0)1224 732124︱info@maryculterhouse.com︱www.maryculterhouse.com
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COMMUNITY AND LEISURE Glendale Football Club Season 2019/20 came to a crashing end as of 23rd March 2020 with the UK Government puAng the whole country into lockdown with immediate affect. Up unEl this point, our season was going very well – very well indeed, with the team siAng in second posiEon in the league, and us through to 2 cup finals. But with lockdown conEnuing to dominate the headlines, and Eme moving on and the official end of season deadline (31st May) having been surpassed, our local Amateur AssociaEon decided to call the enEre season Null and Void. A very hard decision to stomach, given both our league posiEon, and the fact that we were siAng in 2 cup finals. However, with other teams in a similar posiEon, and other Football AssociaEons taking a similar decision, we had liSle room to complain. The conEnuing epidemic has resulted in a very long layoff for all concerned with the football club. But as I write, we have just recently commenced pre-season training, and the word on the street is that a provisional date of 31st October has been proposed for the start of season 2020/21. Home games - on alternate Saturdays – are as always, at Corbie Park, Maryculter. www.glendaleafc.co.uk Maryculter Friendship Group The Maryculter Friendship Group have temporarily suspended their monthly catch ups but will be delighted to “Haste Ye Back” when it is safe to enjoy tea/coffee, home bakes and ScoFsh entertainment together again. Please contact Peggy Paterson (01224 734888) or Anne Massie (01224 732071) for further details. North Mearns Reading Group The North Mearns Reading Group have temporarily suspended their informal meeEngs, but that hasn’t stopped the group from reading. AdapEng to current Emes, each member has chosen a book, or mulEple books of their choice, offering recommendaEons to fellow members, whilst sEll using the library service from Aberdeenshire Council. Please contact Muriel Hargreaves on 01569 730302, if you would like further informaEon on the group Maryculter Sernior ci:zens Thank you to all who support the fundraising 100+ Club. Winners of cash prizes from Mar-Aug 2020 were: K Downie, R McTaggart, I Tuddenham, C Middleton, G McPhail, A Massie, E Fraser, H Morrison, K Skinner, E MacInnes, F McTaggart, J Smart & M Mason , A Black, H Dunn, P Dunn, J Dunn, K Milne & G Reid. Unfortunately with all the uncertainty around the COVID-19 crisis we have decided not to go ahead with a Christmas party this year but will conEnue to fundraise and will make plans for next year. Fiona Tel 01224 733324 Andy Tel 01224 739646 Richard Tel 01224 867580 Caroline Tel 01224 734093 Debbie Tel 01224 730018 Maryculter SWI Sadly, like most organisaEons in these uncertain Emes, our meeEngs have been cancelled owing to this pernicious Covid outbreak, so no meeEngs for us since March and no summer ouEng this year. We do hope to resume again properly in January, meeEng once a month at the Corbie Community Hall, with perhaps a Christmas meeEng beforehand depending on the Covid situaEon. There are many things we have to consider. Social distancing should be possible, but our teas and home bakes may not. We also have to consider our speakers and the safety of many of our more elderly members. When we do get going properly again, we welcome anyone who is interested to come along to our meeEngs. You don’t have to enrol, just come along for a taster. We are a friendly bunch and you do not have to be a kitchen wizard or a handicral ace to come and enjoy an evening with us, though if you are, great! A typical meeEng consists of news and reports then our invited speaker or demonstrator will take the floor. You can join in discussions and take part in varied acEviEes including wider ranging ones from our parent FederaEon such as sports, quizzes, exhibiEons even holidays. Aler our speakers we usually have tea, home bakes and not forgeAng Eme for a good old naSer. Our president Marlene Connon would be delighted to provide more informaEon. You can get in touch by phoning her on 01224 867580. MeanEme, stay safe and hopefully we can all look forward to more normal Emes in the future.
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COMMUNITY AND LEISURE Maryculter Driving For The Disabled Sadly we were unable to run our usual d r i v i n g s e a s o n fo r o u r d i s a b l e d parEcipants this year due to the Covid restricEons and government guidance. We do, however, have our driving horse Casse to look aler and keep acEve so she is ready for next season. We would be delighted to hear from you if you’re available to help us with the horsey chores and also buddy up to exercise her. Please get in touch with George (01569 739283) or Kate (01330811615) for further informaZon or email brockman.kate@bEnternet.com
Aberdeen Aeromodellers We encourage all forms of radio controlled model flying, both fixed wing and helicopter at our grounds in Banchory Devenick. The club has been the venue for the ScoAsh R.C. Helicopter NaEonals, held annually. Training can be provided to new and exisEng members, if required. For more informaEon and membership details please visit our website www.aamfc.co.uk or email informaEon@aamfc.co.uk
Maryculter Woods The side of the tadpole pond has been repaired with turf and bentonite to keep the water level high. This is necessary to keep the tadpoles safe. The plan is to raise the road level, rather than lowering the water level as it needs to be murky and deep for the tadpoles to have a safe place to hide away from the mallards. Recently, Mucky Boots Outdoor Learning had a lovely Eme picking apples from our orchard too. We restarted our monthly workparEes in September and meet at the noEceboard shelter, assuming no return of lockdown restricEons on the day. Unlike our pre-Covid events we will need to know beforehand if you will aSend to help us prepare for the event and to create an aSendance register. We will provide clean tools & gloves but if you are able to bring your own that would be helpful. To keep transmission risks as low as possible we will not offer catering on the day so you might consider bringing your own thermos. Please avoid the event if you have any Covid-19 symptoms, been in contact with any confirmed/suspected COVID-19 case or if you are in quaranEne. Look out on our Facebook page for updates and let us know if you plan to come along.
Tadpole pond
Please don’t uproot our plants and take them away! This is thel. The plants are there for everyone to enjoy in the woods and enhance the whole area. Thank you.
Socially Distance Shoo:ng with Lethen Archers When the COVID lockdown kicked in at the start of the year and the sports centres closed, archery in Aberdeenshire was swilly brought to an end. We went into lockdown. We kept exercising, we kept our equipment in good order, we had some Zoom social events, but no archery. So when the Phase 1 guidance came out in June, allowing us to shoot outdoors, we sprang into acEon. A franEc two-weeks of acEvity saw a socially distanced range layout designed and set up, risk assessments undertaken, new shooEng rules wriSen and a range booking system set up. Detergent and hand saniEser became essenEal pieces of the archer’s kit alongside our bows and arrows. With everything in place the club returned to shooEng. Numbers at the range were limited and we had to book in advance but we were overjoyed to return to the sport that we love. Photo credit : Josh Mitchell
As the nights draw in and evening shooEng outdoors becomes more challenging, we forward look to the resumpEon of indoor shooEng at Portlethen and Newtonhill. We are not sure when the halls are opening but we are preparing for it. We shall be running some beginners courses as soon as the indoor venues open and we hope to do those before the end of the year. If you are interested in taking up archery why not sign up for our beginners course waiEng list by contacEng us via our FaceBook page. www.facebook.com/LethenArchers or by email commiSee@lethenarchers.com. 5
COMMUNITY AND LEISURE Portlethen and District Voluntary Community Ambulance Associa:on Due to this Covid-19 crisis the Community Ambulance has not been required to transport paEents to the Portlethen Medical Centre and Portlethen DenEst. Having said that, for a 2 week period, we did assist a person who required transport to Stonehaven Hospital for dialysis appointments, due to his regular transport being unavailable. During the lockdown we have implemented safety procedures to ensure we follow the Government requirements when we start transporEng paEents again. This includes the installaEon of a Perspex screen behind the driver’s seat to provide added protecEon to the driver. Again this year we have received a donaEon from the Chapelton 10K CommiSee. Unfortunately they were unable to hold their 10K event and instead had a virtual 24 hour run, which raised funds for local good causes. We wish to thank them for their conEnued support. A number of our volunteer drivers have “reEred”, due to various reasons, and we are on the lookout for new drivers. If you have some spare Eme and willing to drive, once we are back on the road, please contact Colin StraSon on 07875 179861 or e-mail colstraSon@yahoo.co.uk. The Larder Portlethen The Portlethen Coronavirus Community Care Group was set up in March, assisEng members of the community that were either self-isolaEng or shielding with varying tasks, including collecEng prescripEons and medicaEon, essenEal shopping and running small errands. Working from the Jubilee Hall, it became apparent that there was a need to have a safe space for those struggling to get any basic food items, whether that was due to financial reasons or just the anxiety of going into a large supermarket. The group is now based in the Porty Cabin in Portlethen and has been renamed as The Larder Potlethen – a safe space, to assist anybody from Portlethen or any of the neighbouring areas, with basic food and household items. Anyone can use the Larder and it is not means tested so there are no forms to fill in. Just pop in and select the items you need, including food items such as cereals, Ens and snack items, toiletries (e.g. toothpaste, shower gel and deodorant), and cleaning items including washing powder. The Larder team are also happy to receive non perishable foods as donaEons and encourage visitors to swap items they may have siAng in a cupboard at home, not being used. The group are well stocked and very fortunate with funding and donaEons in addiEon to receiving products from Cfine (Community Food IniEaEves North East) which would otherwise go to landfill, to share with our community. The group parEcipates in a government scheme and has a selecEon of sanitary items including disposable pads, tampons, menstrual cups and washable pads available. The Larder is happy to deliver any items to anybody self-isolaEng or anybody without transport. Email : c19portlethenhelp@gmail.com Facebook page: the larder Portlethen & surrounding areas, Phone: 07376133870 Cookney Bowling Club The meeEngs are usually on Thursdays from 7.30pm at Cookney Hall and the sessions last for around 2 hours. We have compeEEon nights on Mondays. For more informaEon, please call Arthur Durward on 01224 319701.
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ADVERTISING
WIN AN ANNUAL PASS! From Saturday 17th October 2020 some characters down The Glen are wearing an orange ribbon for Halloween. If you find them, there will be a leSer beside the character. Find all the le[ers and work out the “word” to stand a chance of winning an “Annual Pass” to The Den & The Glen for you and your family. Ends: Saturday 31st October 2020
NEWSPAPERS WANTED! Now the darker colder nights are here we are lighEng our coal/open fires daily - but can’t keep up with the newspapers. If you do get a ‘paper’ regulary - instead of placing it in the recycling bin, can you keep some for us and drop them in to recepEon? Thank you! Maryculter House Hotel
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GUIDING AND SCOUTING 1st Maryculter Beavers I wish I could report, as I always do, that the Beaver meet at the Scout Hut, Maryculter, each Tuesday from 5.30 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. Hopefully this will be the case again very soon, but since March we have been hibernaEng in our lodge out of sight! We have ventured out this Autumn term with some programmes and exercises that can be done at home with the help of parents, and when we do get back to regular meeEngs the Beavers should be some way towards earning their badges. One of the consequences of having no meeEngs is the loss of communicaEon with parents and the flow into the Beavers of new members. We would love to hear from children aged 6 and 7 who would like to join our acEviEes. Please feel free to call me to discuss how we might bring new member on board during these challenging Emes. Kathleen Paterson, Beaver Leader. Tel 01224 868676. or email kpaterson57@gmail.com 1st Maryculter Rainbows 1st Maryculter Rainbows has been on hold for a few months due to COVID-19. We are not sure yet when meeEngs will resume. Unit meeEngs are normally held on Thursdays at Corbie Hall 1630-1730. Rainbows is for girls aged between five and seven. They learn by doing – they get their hands dirty, do sports, arts, crals and play games. For more informaEon 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. 1st Maryculter Scouts This has been a summer like no other. AdapZng to ScouZng without face-to-face meeZngs, unable to undertake many typical scouZng acZviZes, has been a big and prolonged challenge. A number of our Scouts have shown impressive effort and enthusiasm by camping in gardens, cooking on BBQs, angling, and trying out some of the many novel acZviZes on the Scout website: scouts.org.uk/thegreaZndoors The lockdown has certainly illustrated how fortunate we are to live with the great outdoors on our doorstep, and how much we miss it when it is taken away. All being well, we should be able to resume face-to-face meeZngs, outdoor-only to begin with, in early autumn. Looking ahead, a number of our Scouts are close to achieving the ulZmate goal – the Chief Scouts Gold Award, and we will also complete some of the other badge work which was underway before lockdown. We would like to welcome more young people (boys AND girls) to join us, to learn some “Skills for Life”, develop self-confidence and, of course, have fun! Scouts (age 10-14), Fridays 7.15pm – 9.15pm, Cubs (age 8-10), Thursdays 5.15pm – 6.45pm, Beavers (age 6-8), Tuesdays 5.30pm – 7pm All groups meet in Maryculter Scout Hut in Kirkton of Maryculter. Contact Graeme Paterson for more informaZon on 07817483118. Please keep up to date with our acZviZes by following us on Facebook: 1st Maryculter Scouts.
NEW! Fairy woods along the Chapelton Trail The fairies would like to thank Brio ReErement Living and Chapelton residents for their help with this community project to make a new enchanEng feature along the trail. Explore more when you visit with the accompanying autumn aciEvity sheet which you can download at www.chapeltonnewtown.co.uk.
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GARDEN FEATURE by ANDREA SINCLAIR AUTUMN GARDENING TIPS The Autumn nights may be drawing in but there's a lot you can do now to make your garden even beSer next year! Thinking about your soil, feed it with appropriate feed / mulch where necessary and take Eme to stand back and look at your borders. What worked and didn’t work – it’s easier to look at this now before everything dies down. You can mark your border with stakes to remind you what has to be moved, if perennials have become too big why not divide and pot up for placing somewhere else in the garden or give away to friends? Once most of the crops from the greenhouse have been harvested give it a good clean out. A good job to do on a chilly day! Another job to do is wash out your plant pots, scrub garden tools and I use an oily rag to rub over all the metal work. Great saEsfacEon to see everything clean and Edy and ready to be put to use again. If you have tender plants keep an eye on the weather forecast and protect them from the frost. Most of my tender plants (Cannas, Banana, etc. which I grow in huge pots) simply get liled into a frost free area, not heated and I barely water them throughout the Winter. In the Spring, as soon as the chance of frost has passed, I feed and water them and pop them back out in their pots in the border. Indoor bulbs One of the joys at Christmas has to be the ‘indoor bulbs’. One of my favourite bulbs for this Eme of year is Narcissus 'Paper White' these are planted in their indoor pots in September. Their natural flowering period is January or February, but good quality bulbs will flower in 6 to 10 weeks from planEng. Appreciate the heady indoor fragrance of hyacinths, the exact Emings for hyacinths will vary according to the culEvar. Just follow instrucEons on the label when you purchase the bulbs, some are specially treated for growing indoors and look wonderful in a ‘hyacinth’ water vase. A Christmas favourite is the dramaEc blooms of Hippeastrum (amaryllis) you can buy these already started off (sprouEng) in lots of outlets. Looking ahead to Spring bulbs The range of Spring bulbs is huge, from dainty snowdrops to big and bright tulips. Pot up large pots with a range of bulbs, in the ‘lasagne style’, combine early, mid and late spring bloomers to give you flowers from February to May. Choose a well-drained container as this is important whenever you grow bulbs in pots, but it’s especially important when creaEng lasagne planEng. Bulbs can be packed in, but not touching, and I normally put the largest bulbs at the boSom and work up to the smallest, they all make it to the top! You can be really creaEve with bulb type and colours, subtle or bright, something to really look forward to in Spring 2021. Andrea Sinclair
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PROTECT BANCHORY DEVENICK Protect Banchory Devenick City and Shire residents stunned by City Council proposal to build over Green Belt at Gateway to Aberdeen from South DeesideProtect Banchory Devenick conEnues to work hard to preserve the environment of lower south Deeside. The City and Shire local development plan (LDP) exercise appeared to be going well, with planning officials sensibly recommending the protecEon, and where relevant conEnued “Green Belt” zoning, of Banchory Devenick throughout the process aler large amounts of feedback during the consultaEon period. However, in a stunning development, at the very last stage of the City part of the LDP exercise in March, Cllr Marie Boulton, who represents the Lower Deeside Ward, stood up in the Council Chamber and moved to amend the dral plan by including the Green Belt land at Banchory Devenick as a “Housing Opportunity”. Cllr Boulton simply stated, with reason given, that the site was suitable for development in terms of good infrastructure, school opEons, etc. This contradicts all of the carefully considered wriSen views of planning officials around the unsuitability of the site due to a series of compelling issues, not least the landscape impact of building on this green space above the Bridge of Dee. Despite reaching out to Cllr Boulton as chair of the planning commiSee, no answer has been given for the amendment. A Freedom of InformaEon request made to the Council has revealed there are simply no wriSen documents explaining any raEonale. The Shire Council strongly opposes the rezoning, for all the reasons previously set out and agreed upon by planning officials from both Councils, and has objected to the City recommendaEon to rezone for development. The City Council claimed the allocaEon is needed to meet ScoAsh government housing targets, but when this claim is fact checked, it turns out to be false, and Aberdeenshire Council have pointed this out. Residents have been lel scratching their heads as to why a foreign developer with very deep pockets gets to over-turn green belt protecEons at the first ask with no reason given by Councillors. While party poliEcs should not be involved in an issue like this, it is worthy of note that the SNP and Lib Dems voted to protect the Green Belt, while Labour, ConservaEve and Independent groups all voted to destroy it. This resulted in Cllr Boulton’s amendment being passed by just 23 to 22 votes at the Council. Given the City dral LDP is now submiSed to the ScoAsh Government, it seems there are now just two means by which this land could yet be protected. Firstly, by the ScoAsh Government Reporter agreeing with the large volumes of objecEons that have been received and removing this site from the plan, or, secondly by control of Aberdeen City Council passing from the current administraEon to the opposiEon. protectbanchorydevenick.org or find us on Facebook.
Breakfast and lunch at The Slate & Grain, Chapelton is coming back… Just wait unZl you see the new menu! Chef Greff will be returning soon, offering everything from a full ScoFsh breakfast and freshly made pancakes to a huge selecZon of hot and cold lunch opZons. Watch this space! In the meanZme, coffee and home bakes are sZll available from 10am - 3pm. Call 07483 332649 to book
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COMMUNITY HALLS Friends of Cookney Hall In line with other community halls in Aberdeenshire since the arrival of Covid-19, Cookney Hall has been in lockdown since mid-March. There have been no public events in the hall since then and none are foreseen for the immediate future, unEl lockdown is liled. That said, Cookney Hall is well placed to reopen aler lockdown due, mainly, to the solid support we’ve had from our local communiEes over the years and for that we are ever grateful. Once lockdown is liled, if you’d like further informaEon about hiring the Hall for a funcEon or celebraEon, please contact Willie Angus on 01569 730123 or by e-mail at wgangus.moc@gmail.com Corbie Hall & Field, Maryculter Since March our hall has been siAng idle. Whenever user-groups are in a posiEon to restart meeEngs we will be delighted to discuss with them whatever condiEons may be in place to observe social distancing and hygiene rules. Hopefully not too far into the future. The Corbie park has not hosted any football matches since March, but that too may change soon depending upon naEonal guidelines. However the park has been maintained over these months and we must thank our 'groundsmen' for all the work that they put in - despite the mower misbehaving frequently, failing to give that bowling-green finish they aspire to! The field has been used by the public for jogging, sunbathing, kickabouts and simply walking around. We are delighted it has been of use to the community and appreciate it has been kept liSer and damage free when so many picnic spots around have not been so lucky. Unfortunately the Old Mill Inn is now suffering neglect and detracts from the aSracEveness of the approach to the hall. It is likely to be a consideraEon in future whilst the site is developed, but we hope our users and the community will conEnue to support our faciliEes through this and into the future. For enquiries and bookings please email maryculterhall@yahoo.co.uk.
The museum re-opened at the end of August. All visits must be pre-booked and opening hours are extended into October this year. Visits available Mondays or fridays. Book well in advance as a lot of demand. Researchers can visit by appointment throughout the year. Please advise if you need longer than a standard 1hr visiEng Eme. We look forward to welcoming you to the museum soon.
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NORTH KINCARDINE RURAL COMMUNITY COUNCIL - NKRCC NKRCC - North Kincardine Rural Community Council The North Kincardine Rural Community Council con:nues to be ac:ve in your area, although for obvious reasons things have been a bit quieter recently. We ventured into the 21st Century recently with our first Zoom commi`ee mee:ng to which members of the public were invited. It was good to see some familiar faces aaer so long and I think it worked pre`y well, despite a few gremlins! As ever, we welcome the involvement of local residents who would like to aSend the meeEngs. Details are on the website or the Facebook page. We believe the Community Council serves a useful purpose, and it needs to be a strong voice for the local community. Covid The main issue that has recently affected all our lives hardly needs any comment; there is certainly some “covid faEgue” out there. But I think the various iniEaEves taken by the Aberdeenshire Council and the local communiEes have been well adverEsed and are easily accessible by those who need them. My only comment is that as we are a diverse and rural community, there is not the same opportunity for us to do “crate at the gate” or food banks, but I think there are many doing these sort of iniEaEves which are helping to support those around them. I have been involved in a number of calls among Community Councils and one of the main issues is isolaEon. I am hopeful that this is not too great a problem among us, as my impression generally is that we are a close-knit community who are looking out for each other, especially at this difficult Eme. Roads The Community Council conEnues to keep an eye on the programme for repairs to the local roads over the coming year which has been proposed, hoping for a decrease in potholes. I would recommend that residents conEnue to report potholes that need to be repaired – it does help if a number of people report the same hole, as this will push it higher up the priority list! However, it should be said that budgets are extremely Eght, so repairs may take longer than usual. Planning All local planning applicaEons are reviewed at our monthly meeEngs. Where required, these are discussed and may result in a leSer of concern, objecEon or support being sent to Aberdeenshire Council, depending on local views. You will find copies of all of these submissions on the NKRCC website. Of interest recently are the possibility of a 40-mph limit around the South Deeside Road/MillEmber Brae juncEon, an Aberdeen City applicaEon for houses, linked to the Banchory-Devenick proposals by the Comer Brothers and the on-going Park Bridge closure. NKRCC Mee:ngs Community Council meeEngs are currently being held on Zoom, but we will hope to meet as soon as we can, back at the Lairhillock School. Henry Irvine-Fortescue – Chair
SCARECROW FESTIVAL! Scarecrows appeared around Chapelton throughout the month of August. This year the fes:vals theme was “Movies and Cinema”. Visitors were invited pop to Teacake and make a donaEon to pick up a ballot paper (funds to Cairnhill Allotments, the Chapelton defibrillator project and the Newtonhill out of school club). Then wander around Chapelton and choose your favourite scarecrow before nipping back to Teacake to put your ballot in the box. For anyone shielding or trying to go contactless during the corona pandemic we introduced a new virtual scarecrow tour and online voEng system available via our website at hSps://cairnhillallotments.uk/. Social distancing was observed by all our wonderful visitors and this year a whopping 2813 votes were cast! Chapeltons 58 fesEval entries weathered two storms to raise an incredible £1600 which means we now have enough raised to have the defibrillator installed which is a fantasEc achievement as well as providing a great donaEon to the Newtonhill Out Of School Club and enough for the annual maintenance at Cairnhill Allotments. During the last week of August our esteemed judges Caroline Fyfe (Elsick developement Company), Concillor Ian Mollison and Heather Edmond (Newtonhill out of School Club) made their rounds to choose their winner-a very difficult decision as the standard was so high this year!#chapeltonscarecrowfesEval Why not join our Facebook group @chapeltonscarecrowfesEval to keep up to date with all the latest scarecrow news and pictures of the amazing creaEons as well as being the first to find out about next years fesEval plans! We have been very grateful to receive some wonderful prizes from Legasea, Teacake, Brio, Lathallan Scool, Flowers by Lauren Mackay, Tesco and Asda. Here are your winners for the Chapelton 2020 Scarecrow FesEval! Judges votes: 1st place-MacDumbo, 2nd place-Paddington, 3rd place-Marty Mcfly, Junior winner-Mary Poppins (junior entry), Best in Theme-Woody and Slinky, Wooden Spoon-Mrs Doub{ire, Allotments choice, Facourite-Ghostbusters, Most CreaEve-House of Lannister, Public Vote- 1st place-MacDumbo, 2nd place-Mary Poppins (Individual Entry), 3rd place-Forest Gump, Junior winner-Mr Potato Head, Group winner-Postlady Allison 12
REFLEXOLOGY
REFLEXOLOGY WITH SYLVIA SMITH Reflexology is believed to have originated in China around five thousand years ago, when the Chinese people prac:ced a form of pressure therapy linked to the acupressure points in the body. The Chinese also discovered that the whole body can be treated through the feet. It wasn’t only the Chinese however, the ancient Egyp:ans also prac:ced a form of Reflexology da:ng back to 2,300 BC. The therapy was only introduced into Europe in the 16th Century and became popular in the 1930s when zone therapy was introduced as a concept by Eunice Ingham, a physiotherapist who prac:ced the therapy on her students, with remarkable results. Reflexology is a form of specific massage on both feet and hands, although foot reflexology is by far the most popular. However, hand reflexology can be equally effecEve and can be pracEced on amputees and on those who have painful issues with their feet. When illness or disease happens within the body, it is believed that the body’s natural energy flow is impinged or blocked. Reflexologists regard the feet as a mirror of the body, with the right foot represenEng the right side and the lel foot represenEng the lel side, with all of the body’s systems and organs mapped out on the feet. By applying reflexology techniques to the associated reflex points, the reflexologist can detect tender or congested points and can manipulate these areas in order to allow the energy flow within the body to be restored to its opEmum, thereby allowing the body to maximise its capacity to heal itself and prevent illness. Reflexology is a preventaEve treatment rather than a cure for exisEng condiEons, although many have noted an improvement in their condiEon aler just a few reflexology treatments. Most reflexology clients of Shiling Stones find the treatment to be deeply relaxing and wholly beneficial to their overall wellbeing, with many commenEng on how well they feel for days post treatment. Having a holisEc treatment such as reflexology also channels the mind into the pracEce of looking aler yourself beSer, perhaps through improved diet and exercise, thus creaEng the knock-on advantage of increasing your overall health and wellbeing. And once you start to feel beSer, you become more aSuned to conEnuing down that path. Sylvia Smith of Shiling Stones studied a course in Reflexology with the School of Natural Health Sciences, gaining a Grade A pass with DisEncEon, and is currently studying the Advanced Reflexology course with the same insEtuEon. When asked how she feels about pracEcing reflexology, she said “each treatment is different, I never know what I’m going to find when I start massaging a client’s feet, even those who I have treated before. The human body is very complex and many things can knock it off balance, so I find it fascinaEng to find these imbalances just by massaging the feet! The course itself was preSy intense, and I had a number of case studies to complete before I was awarded my diploma, although I actually did more case study treatments than prescribed by the course because I wanted to have as much exposure as possible prior to adding the treatment to my list of therapies on offer.”. Shiling Stones offers a range of therapies, including massage with or without hot stones, facials, Hopi ear candling, Indian face massage, NutriEon consultaEons and of course Reflexology. Shiling Stones can be found at the Old School in Maryculter. See their website for treatment descripEons www.shiaingstones.com where you can get in touch to book your appointment, and follow them on Facebook where you can book your appointment direct.
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PAIN THERAPY WITH EMMA ARMES
COMMUNITY AMBULANCE
ONLINE PAIN THERAPY?! HOW DOES THAT WORK? Persistent or ongoing pain affects nearly half the adult popula:on in the UK at some point in their lives. The effects of this can be devasta:ng to some – losing their livelihood, opioid addic:on, depression and anxiety, constant discomfort, not to men:on their quality of life can become non-existent. The Na:onal Ins:tute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines draa (August 2020) has been published advising GP’s to longer prescribe painkillers to these pa:ents including opioids, non-steroidal an:-inflammatory drugs, local anaesthe:c/cor:costeroid combina:ons or even paracetamol. So, what help can these paZents get? Well one such answer could be Pain Therapy. Not your usual physical touch therapy but a relaZvely new and highly effecZve talking therapy that works with the paZent’s brain and the mind to significantly reduce and in most cases remove the pain permanently! Emma Armes is the leading specialist in this area having experienced a back injury herself that led to her medical reZrement aler 17 years as a Paramedic. When doing her training in Pain Therapy she had her 7-year pain removed and now has been pain free for over 3 years. She is now Scotland’s Master PracEEoner and Trainer and as well as working with private clients she teaches therapists this method all over the world. All of this is done online through the wonders of modern technology and means that help can be accessed by everyone. In these Emes of uncertainty, it also ensures no concerns regarding COVID-19. How does it work? Emma explains: “It has been scienEfically proven that pain does not come from your Essues, rather it’s your brain and your mind that controls pain which means it can also switch it off. I use talk therapy, teach you about pain science, find out why the pain may sEll be there and deal with that so the unhelpful messages that the brain is sending out can be changed.” “I see people over 2 sessions, but clients usually experience immediate change in the first one, using the second as a follow up check and going over any issues that may have been highlighted in between Emes.”
Emma Armes
Emma goes on to explain: “My goal is to get as many people out of pain as I can. Having been there and experienced it first-hand and now being out the other side it has given me a passion to help others get their lives back. I know it can seem scary but trust me - it’s the best gil you can give yourself and your loved ones.” Emma’s contact details: 07415-535445 emma@emmaarmes.com. www.emmaarmes.com. www.facebook.com/emmaarmespaintherapy Portlethen Men’s Shed Unfortunately, the Portlethen & District Men’s Shed sEll remains closed to members unEl further noEce, due to the ongoing C19 pandemic. However, some of our members and families have been making our sensory garden come alive, the planted seeds in our vegiepods have been tended by members and are looking good. Our front garden is also looking great, due to donaEons of flowers from members and from the Portlethen Paths Development Group. We hope to welcome member back as soon as it is safe to do so under government guidance. We hope that all our members and their families are taking care and staying safe. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need assistance. Julie Forbes, Secretary P&DMS Email:info@portlethenmensshed.com
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CHURCH NOTICES Maryculter Trinity Church Like all other churches Maryculter Trinity has had to adhere to the lockdown legislaEon which has lel us with doors shut from March to August. During this Eme Social Media has played a prominent role in keeping us in touch with one another, but sadly there have been some winners and some losers who have lost out on this means of communicaEon. Church services on digital pla{orms, Morning Worship on the BBC and ReflecEons on the Quay have all proved to be popular and a God send. Aler careful planning and much prayer, the church reopened for Sunday worship on August 9th, albeit with much reduced seaEng capacity. At the same Eme many are sEll uneasy with the current situaEon and have chosen to conEnue to self-isolate in the meanEme. For them, the opEon of receiving messages at home will conEnue. Our prayers conEnue for all caught up in the current pandemic, while at the same Eme we are most grateful to our God for some light at the end of the tunnel. On a lighter note: services did conEnue each Sunday morning during lockdown at the Manse. A congregaEon with a difference aSended and we were pleased to see the numbers increase each week (from 2-23). We conEnue to pray that that same increase will manifest itself at our new weekly services in the church. www.marycultertrinitychurch.org.uk St Ternan’s Church St Ternan’s is the northermost ScoAsh Episcopal Church in the Dioese of Brechin. We are part of the world-wide Anglican communion. The church is located in the North Kincardine Rural Community Council area, to the west of the A92 about a mile from Muchalls Village on the Cause Mounth where the road branches off to Cookney and Netherley. The Church is normally open every day from 10am to 3pm. Our Family Eucharist service is held on Sundays at 10.30am. Due to the Covid Pandemic St Ternans has been closed since lockdown in March but plans are in hand to reopen on the 4th October adhering to Government and ScoAsh Episcopal Church regulaEons. Please check our website www.sSernans.co.uk for further noEficaEons. The Church will only be open on a Sunday unEl further noEce. www.sSernans.co.uk Portlethen Chris:an Fellowship We are a contemporary church for the South of the City. As we embrace Autumn and the beauEful display of colourful leaves adorning our countryside, we can again appreciate God’s creaEon and marvel at His works. As we go through the seasons, so our Country conEnues its baSle to keep Coronavirus under control. Ongoing changes and restricEons can place us in very challenging circumstances. May you find strength and perseverance in the Lord in these Emes of uncertainty, and comfort and love to sustain you. God is good! In Him we trust to lead us safely through global pandemic. We are conEnuing to Live Stream our Sunday Services, which are hosted by Aberdeen ChrisEan Fellowship, at 10.30am. We warmly invite you to join us. Please see our website, Portlethencf.com, for more informaEon about our church and for details of other events. There is a varied programme of online acEviEes for children.
We are also on Facebook. AlternaZvely, you can email us at info@portlethencf.com. Every Blessing. St Mary’s Chapel, Blairs From 23 August, the Mass is again being celebrated in the church at St. Mary’s, Blairs on Sundays at 09:30. Please sign the aSendance register as you enter the church and wait to be directed to a seat. The maximum number of aSendees is 50 persons. Please see the News secEon of our website for details of the Covid arrangements that are in place and Diocesan news and live broadcasEng links. www.stmarysblairs.org
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CHAPELTON NEWS
The enforced temporary halt to the building programme between March and July gave a good opportunity for the Chapelton Design team to plan the next stages and take stock of what people are looking for in their homes right now. We are confident from surveys that the house types on offer in Cairnhill are on trend and indeed the level of interest, starEng from the moment people could view again, has been heartening. Whilst the builders were offsite, we took advantage of the situaEon to create the groundworks and topography for the new play area at the top of the hill. The grass has yet to establish properly but it has made a good start and we are confident that it will make a very original creaEve area for the older children to enjoy. We are now starEng to work on plans for the type of natural games that the area can offer and hope that this work can start in the Spring. Now construcEon work is underway and very evident again. Several new and varied house types have gone through planning or are currently in the process. Snowdrop are starEng to build their original homes on the larger plots at the edge of Chapelton. ZeroC are well underway with creaEng 44 of their two- and three-bedroom homes in the private affordable sector and are just about to commence another 33 slightly larger houses near Moray Place. AJC are compleEng homes around Pheppie Park and will be moving their building acEvity west to the area of Wolrige Gardens. Stephen are now promoEng more of their popular Melfort homes alongside their last remaining coSage. Brio ReErement Living has many different opEons available and the views from the apartments are breath-taking. Their Slate and Grain café has now reopened as has their showhome but like all the showhomes the viewing is by appointment only. CreaEvity had to be the name of the game in lockdown. We made sweeping changes to the Chapelton Events Programme to reflect the circumstances and keep everyone busy. CreaEvity had to be the name of the game in lockdown. We made sweeping changes to the Chapelton Events Programme to reflect the circumstances and keep everyone busy. The sense of community was palpable throughout and residents and locals responded to all the challenges. In place of indoor workshops, we had an online Escape Room. 140 teams took part and raised £1,300 for a defibrillator which will be placed outside The Hut. The Chapelton Trail was popular throughout and the annual 10k run was replaced by a 24-hour challenge which benefiSed many of local chariEes. The Bike Ride also had a new format and several families and individuals rose to the challenge of compleEng 42- and 12-mile rides on their own. At last some of our calendar took place and the two summer Farmers Markets in their new Burgess Park seAng were popular, drawing in large numbers of visitors in lovely weather. Lots of new stalls and contributors ensured each one was a liSle different. Added to this, the Scarecrow FesEval, organised by the Cairnhill Allotment commiSee, was even bigger and beSer this year. What a hard one to judge! Keep an eye on Chapelton social media because there will be more creaEvity this winter.
Chapelton Farmers’ Market 16
SCHOOLS Banchory Devenick School Aler nearly five months of remote learning, it was wonderful to welcome the children and staff back into the building. Everyone has seSled well, and we have made a good start to this term’s learning. Already, we have introduced a house system, and being a Forest School, the children voted to call the houses aler forest animals, so we are now the Hedgehogs, the OSers and the Rabbits. Our first house event was a Roald Dahl Quiz and the Rabbits were delighted to win 10 tokens for their house when they came first. We are sEll loving going out into the woods each week for our Forest Schools sessions. One of our favourite acEviEes so far, has been to make natural sculptures of forest animals. Can you guess what this one is? We have so many exciEng things to look forward to. Coming up between now and the October holidays, we will be celebraEng InternaEonal European Languages Day and also World Smile Day. We will be posEng lots of photos on TwiSer, so if you are interested in finding about more about what we do, why not follow us at @BanDevPS.
Lairhillock School Our term began in a very different way aler such a long lay-off. On the very first day that children were due back at school, we had to close due to the unsafe weather condiEons and flooding of the car park. We did wonder if it was some kind of omen! However, therealer we were able to welcome children back to school. There are some new rules, lots of extra handwashing, and new ways of doing things. We are so impressed with the way the children have adapted, and how they have approached school with smiley faces and posiEve aAtudes. Credit must also go to our wonderful staff for supporEng all of the changes and working so hard to re-connect with children to get back into the ‘learning zone’. In all parts of life, technology has helped people to bridge the gap and connect with those who they cannot see in person. At Lairhillock, we are no different – we have connected with families by holding a virtual Parent Council AGM, which was fantasEc as we had the opportunity to discuss the creaEve ways in which we move forward as a school community in the strangest of Emes. In nursery, we have developed our outdoor area. Children have been involved in the creaEon of a music area and water areas in the nursery garden, made using natural and recycled materials. We think it looks fantasEc, and the children are developing their independent learning through play, which is fantasEc to see, and a great base to build upon this year. Perhaps the most exciEng development this term, and the one that has created the biggest ‘buzz’, is the creaEon of our new Lairhillock Houses. Pupils can now earn house points as part of a our new PosiEve Behaviour reward system. We asked pupils to suggest ‘themes’ for our houses. The two most popular suggesEons were castles and animals. Therefore, we can now present our new houses: The Crathes Spiders, The Muchalls Magpies, The DunnoSar Geese, The FeSeresso Foxes. We also recently raised a fantasEc total of £190.86 for Jeans for Genes Day. Thank you for all the generous donaEons.
Broadband Update The summer of 2020 has seen a drop in ac4vity with regards to fibre broadband rollout in our area. The Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) funding program came to an end in April this year, bringing the percentage of proper4es able to access superfast broadband to 94%. A new funding program, called Remaining 100 (R100) aims to connect up the remaining 6% of the country. However due to a legal dispute, the funding for the North East of Scotland (LOT 1) has not yet been allocated. It is expected the funding should be in place by the end of 2020 (with Openreach most likely to be awarded the contract) and this should allow the rollout to get back on track. Back in April a flurry of ac4vity happened in Netherley, at the AB39 3RA + B area. Telegraph poles & duc4ng were installed, and fibre was mounted. Work seemed to be progressing without a hitch. However the works came to an abrupt halt as the funding for the project ran out. Nothing has happened since then but it is hoped that the work may resume in 2021 when the new funding is in place. Fibre cable reel in Netherley
For those s4ll without access to fibre, mobile broadband is proving to be a very effec4ve alterna4ve. While it may cost a bit more, using nearby phone masts via dongles or 4G routers can provide a faster service that is otherwise unavailable. For more informa4on please visit “Fibre for Netherley & Surrounding Areas” on Facebook. 17
MP AND MSP Andrew Bowie MP To begin, I’d like to thank readers for following the latest government guidance which allows our NHS to deal with those who need help the most – so that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are acEng responsibly and with paEence, holding up our end, so it is right that the government shoulders as much of Covid’s economic burden as possible. Overall, we calculate the UK Government has provided almost £15 billion to support Scotland so far. As I write this, nearly 900,000 people across Scotland have been protected by the furlough scheme, with 36,400 protected in Aberdeenshire and 35,600 in Aberdeen. The Chancellor’s separate scheme for the self employed has supported 7,400 jobs in Aberdeenshire and another 4,300 in Aberdeen, worth a total of £37.4m on this scheme alone. And the UK Government-owned BriEsh Business Bank has issued its 75,000th loan through its Start Up Loans programme, marking more than £623 million invested in small businesses across the UK since its launch in 2012. That has meant 4,703 loans in Scotland to date, £36.7m borrowed and an average £7,800 each loan. These intervenEons have held up the economy and supported ScoAsh jobs, a strong shoulder to lean on as we get back to work and support our local economy. Small businesses in rural Aberdeenshire are the backbone of our local economy, and the Government has long been commiSed to giving them all the support they need to flourish and thrive. Maureen Wa` MSP For over 14 years I have had the honour of represen:ng people in the north-east as their MSP. Since 2011, I had the special privilege of represen:ng my cons:tuents in Aberdeen South and North Kincardine. However, aler much thought over many months, I have decided not to seek re-elecEon in next year’s Holyrood elecEon. I feel that the Eme is now right for another woman to hopefully have the honour of represenEng this consEtuency as its SNP MSP. I am excepEonally grateful to have been chosen twice by the electorate to represent this wonderful part of the world. Without doubt the most rewarding aspect of being MSP has been in making a different to people and the communiEes where they live. It has also been an honour to be part of the ScoAsh Government as Minister for Schools and Skills, Public Health and then the UK’s first ever dedicated Minister for Mental Health. Throughout my Eme as an MSP I am especially grateful to my staff – some of who have gone on to elected office themselves – and the unwavering support of my family. At the Eme of wriEng we are eight months away from the Holyrood elecEon and there is plenty of work sEll to be done. The priority remains helping people and businesses affected by the covid pandemic. At Parliament I lodged a moEon seeking support from MSPs to call the UK Government to extend its “Eat Out To Help Out” scheme that Aberdeen businesses regreSably missed out on due to the local lockdown. We also witnessed several bouts of heavy rain recently as a result of terrible thunderstorms, which some properEes regreSably suffering flooding. I would encourage people to sign up to SEPA’s “Floodline” service on their website to keep updated with alerts. As always I am more than happy to help with any issue you may be experiencing that you think I could be of assistance with. I am best reached by email (maureen.waS.msp@parliament.scot) or telephone (01224 876743) – do not hesitate to get in touch.
Solstice Nurseries We will be having a pop-up shop in our car park from early December to sell our Christmas goodies and living Christmas trees (lots of different sizes). We are also at Drum Castle on 5 & 6th December.
Christmas Pop-Up Shop
There are beauEful gils, upcycled decoraEons, baubles, Christmas wreaths, bird and hedgehog boxes, tablecentres, Christmas fairies, yule logs and much more for sale! Please get in touch ahead of your visit to say your are coming. More details will be posted on our website and Facebook: SolsEce Nurseries.
Drumduan Walled Garden South Deeside Road Banchory Devenick AB12 5YL Tel 01224 865907 Email office@solsticenurseries.co.uk
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LOCAL COUNCILLORS Colin Pike These are difficult ;mes and no more so for Aberdeenshire Council who have had to curtail many services whilst keeping essen;al priori;es running. There is a huge enterprise of staff and associated agencies who have managed services such as care homes, child and family support along with key worker schooling and social housing needs oFen with daily changes to protocol and what ac;vi;es can be performed. Most of these “instrucZons” have come directly from the ScoFsh Government and the Council’s Chief ExecuZve is operaZng under their direcZves, he has no choice. This has also removed Councillors from much of the scruZny of decision making and allows the Council to operate under “emergency powers”. Many Council staff have had to mulZtask to keep services running and some 4,000 office based staff have been working from home since the start of “lockdown” and will probably do so well into next year. There is no magic soluZon here, Council income and grant funding is reducing and perhaps savings which should have been made over the last 20 years have been missed opportuniZes. The upkeep of roads, bridges, public spaces and school buildings has been heavily affected and the list of other assets and responsibiliZes needing urgent a[enZon grows daily. Unfortunately this impact will see significant reducZons in these public infrastructure services plus sport, cultural and leisure faciliZes. I know many people sZll like to think they can call the Council to report an issue or ask about some acZvity but those days are gone. Aberdeenshire Council have put a lot of effort into online services and at this difficult Zme this has paid dividends as so much informaZon is now available through the Council website and if you use the myAberdeenshire app many Council services can be accessed and issues reported. Registering once gives you access to a whole host of informaZon and is quickly done. h[ps://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/my/ If I can assist on any Council ma[ers, I am contactable by phone, 0777 9095385 or email; cllr.c.pike@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Alison Evison “Don’t Stay On Mute!” is a Scopsh campaign by COSLA Local Government and Trade Unions encouraging people struggling with mental health in these challenging :mes to reach out and seek support. If this is you, please do so: ScoAsh AssociaEon for Mental Health Tel 0344 800 0550 www.samh.org.uk Samaritans Tel: 116 123 Breathing Space: Tel 0800 83 85 87 NHS24: Tel 111 Reports suggest that domesEc abuse is also increasing across Scotland – help is also available for those suffering: Scotland’s DomesEc Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline Tel 0800 027 1234. If you there is other individual help and support you need, please contact the Grampian Assistance Hub www.GCAH.org.uk 0808 196 3384 If you think you have coronavirus and would like to assess your symptoms, phone NHS Inform: www.nhsinform.scot 0800 22 44 88 The ongoing work of volunteers supporEng others in our communiEes has been greatly appreciated. I recently met with Kincardine & Deeside Befriending who offer supporEve, reliable relaEonships with volunteer befrienders to people over 55 who would otherwise be socially isolated. If you could benefit from this service, or if you would like to become a volunteer, please ring 01569 765714 or email info@kdbefriending.org.uk The volunteers who manage Maryculter Woods for the community have also been doing tremendous work, and many people have found the woods a valuable local resource during the months of lockdown. It is so dispiriEng to learn that plants have been stolen from the woods, liSer dropped and parts of the woods misused. Other outdoor areas, such as in the Cairngorm NaEonal Park, have experienced similar issues recently and raising awareness of the damage being done will hopefully bring about greater respect for our wonderful environment. Take care, stay safe, and please download the Protect Scotland App from NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect to your mobile phone to help us protect each other.
We
are currently taking special orders for Christmas Stockists of award-winning honey from Alison Goss Purpose built butchery on our farm Staffords Produce Scatterburn Farm Ardoe AB12 5XX 07989 546938
Top quality beef from our free-roaming, grass-fed pedigree herd of Aberdeenshire Belted Galloways
Facebook : Staffords Produce, Instagram @staffordsproduce 19
LOCAL COUNCILLORS Ian Mollison Normally my challenge when wri:ng for the South Deeside View is cramming everything in. But life is strange now. Everything is cancelled or on line. Take North Kincardine Rural Community Council for example. I enjoy aSending … picking up on what’s happening and having a laugh. But meeEngs stopped during lockdown unEl we got the hang of a virtual get-together. It’s not uncommon for 20 residents to aSend and quesEon members; Aberdeenshire Council officers, developers, police, and local councillors. You can do that on line. The community council has a key role in keeping an eye on things. If you would like to get involved, Google will find their Facebook page or website! Aberdeenshire Council, like many others, was badly affected by lockdown. Schools are back, and services are gradually being re-introduced. Lockdown has knocked a major hole the council’s finances and not everything will return to normal, so we can balance the books. Local authoriEes are in the final stages of producing strategic development plans containing policies against which planning applicaEons will be judged. Aberdeenshire’s will go to ScoAsh Ministers once all 1,300 representaEons have been collated. Aberdeen City Council had a late about-turn to include an area for housing just across the county boundary off the South Deeside Road. Aberdeenshire Council has objected as access would be from the Causey Mounth. On a lighter note, Chapelton held a second annual scarecrow fesEval in August. I had a difficult task as one of the judges, given the high level of arEstry. Well done Dumbo! Lastly, I’ve heard of red squirrels being killed by traffic on the South Deeside Road. Please watch out for them … they are under threat across the country though making a comeback in the North East. I am one of the council’s two red squirrel champions, so if you see one (or a non-naEve grey), report them: hSps://scoAshsquirrels.org.uk/squirrel-sighEngs/
Cooking apples and plants Bramley apples from a garden in Maryculter can be ordered and collected from Aileen Roberts, Email: aileen808@bZnternet.com or Hazel Wi[e. Email: wi[e@btconnect.com or Tel: 01224 732738 Suggested donaZon- £1 per kilo. These keep well for use over the next three months. Three varieZes of primulae, Himalayan blue poppies and a selecZon of herbaceous plants all po[ed up and ready to plant in your own garden. Contact Hazel for a full list, suggested prices and collecZon point. All proceeds will go to Maryculter Woodland Trust. Thanks to all who purchased home grown plants from Rob Winmill and ourselves in May. This raised £435 for Maryculter Carriage Driving for the Disabled.
Contact Siobhan 07791865173 20
NATURE NOTES
Strange Spring Sounds Did you no:ce that the wildlife this Spring was incredible? The jury is s:ll out on whether there really was more flora and fauna around but the weeks of warm weather, lower pollu:on levels and decrease in traffic certainly helped us no:ce our surroundings more. Without bragging too much our garden felt like a mini nature reserve! A family of tawny owls nested in a sycamore tree on our drive producing three squeaky chicks with the sharpest beaks and talons around. A pair of wrens discovered the decomposing Series 1 Landrover also on the drive and used one of the rear speakers as a support to make a nest. They produced eight young that somehow all fiSed into a 15cm diameter nest of moss and feathers. Boy were they cute! We were also lucky enough to have great Ets, robins, bull finches and bumble bees make our garden their home. Local walks were also amazing with the vibrancy of colour from verges and fields and it was great to see so many people also out enjoying the views. But it was on an evening in June that we hit the jackpot! It had rained for most of the day on Wednesday 23rd June but around 10pm my husband Iain and I decided to go out for a quick walk to see the most amazing sunset. We had not even lel the garden when we heard a strange croaking noise. It sounded like an insect or a frog but we could not think of any insects that called at that Eme of night and it was the wrong Eme of year for frogs or toads to be singing. The evening calmness meant we could follow the call across a field to the woods. The midges were horrendous but we found the area the sound was coming from. It seemed to be a bird call rather than an insect. The obvious answer was a grasshopper warbler. These are preSy rare birds and a great find if you know any birders but Netherley is a grasshopper warbler hotspot to the point that we just walk past them now - I heard five on a three mile bike ride recently. They are the most drab liSle brown birds around and you rarely see them anyway. It is their call however that makes them easily idenEfiable as they sound like a fishing reel being wound in. What we heard that night however was more like a broken fax machine than a metallic ringing sound. It was then that it occurred to us that it could be a nightjar. The only thought stopping us was that you do not get nightjars in Aberdeenshire! They are found mainly in the south of England although a quick Google in the now darkness told us that the nearest resident populaEon was in Dumfries and Galloway. We managed to take a recording of the call around midnight and sent it to a knowledgeable friend. ExciEng news travels fast as by lunchEme the next day one of our local ornithological experts and nightjar specialist, Dr Alan Knox, was in touch confirming it was indeed a nightjar and could he come out and have a look! I cannot actually tell you what it looked like because we never saw it. We heard it for the next three evenings between 11pm and 3am but luck was against us as the mist and wind made it really difficult to see anything at all in the wood. Dr Knox did confirm it was a male due to its “churring” call. Nightjars are crepuscular (acEve at dusk and dawn), have a swooping, rapid flight similar to a kestrel and are insecEvorous, favouring moths, flies and beetles. Heathland (like the nearby Red Moss) and recently felled conifer plantaEons, such as where we heard this one, are favoured habitats. Their plumage is a feat of camouflage and described as “bark-like” for ground nesEng and resEng during the day. They can have up to two broods of two eggs in the UK between May and mid-August before flying back to southern Africa for the remainder of the year. So whilst these are definitely challenging Emes, one thing is for sure - keeping an ear and eye out for nature is not only good for your own wellbeing, but you might just discover new species to this great area we are lucky enough to live in. Happy exploring! Mandy Tulloch 21
FORECOURT ART GROUP
A a e r m o n t h s o f u n c e r t a i n t y regarding our forthcoming NEOS exhibi:on, we were delighted to actually be able to hold the event. This very nearly didn’t happen though as our original venue cancelled on us the week before we were due to open and aaer all t h e p re p a ra: o n s , t h e g ro u p fe l t ve r y disappointed. I chanced an SOS call on social media and we were delighted when Peter Walker from Maryculter House contacted me immediately to say he had a ballroom siAng in darkness through lack of weddings and that he would be delighted if we could make use of it! What followed was a wonderful exhibiEon in the most perfect venue to show off our arts and crals. Not only that, but the hotel was supplying the most appeEzing lunches that we could buy and we soon found that the ‘bake to order’ scones with jam and cloSed cream were the highlight of the week! A big thank you to all of those who came along to support us during NEOS and I am sure you would agree it was the perfect place to be; even the sun shone down on us everyday! Moving forward, that is if we can, we have planned a day of Christmas arts and crals at St. Francis Church in Mannofield on Saturday November14th. And then, due to the success of NEOS, Maryculter House have invited us back for a three day Christmas cral fair on December 11-13th. Watch out for adverEsing around these events and it would be great if you could come along and support our arEsts as well as buy some unique gils for friends and families from local arEsts and cralers. We will also be selling our popular CD original arts and our 2021 calendars which have been selling well but we sEll have a few lel if anyone wants one. Further details visit our Facebook Page ‘Forecourt art group’ or contact Paula Silvester forecourtartgroup@outlook.com Are you accessing social care in the Grampian area and want more informaZon about your opZons? Cornerstone SDS would like to remind you that their service is available to support you. Cornerstone SDS delivers informaZon, advice and guidance about self-directed support to people accessing social care in Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City. By linking their clients with a local advisor, the service ensures that individuals in receipt of social care have the informaZon they need to make informed choices about their support package. You can find out more about Cornerstone SDS by visiZng their website at www.cornerstonesds.org.uk or by phoning their Inverurie office on 01467 530520.
Gents Cut, from Clipper Cut Fades & Long Hair, from Wash, Cut & Dry
TWO’s GROUP
Beard Trim, from
£12.50 £10.00 £14.00 £16.00 £3.50
Tuesday, Wednesday & Fiona Under 2s Thursday mornings 9.15am to 11.10am. Fun, music and play for liSle ones.
Concession, OAP 65+ Child 0-12 Teens & Students, from
All other groups are not currently running.
Facebook: Culter Village Hall
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£7.50 £8.50 £10.00
BUYING A HOME FOR YOUR STUDENT?
When children embark on their student life away from home, it’s a :me of mixed emo:ons for parents. Your house will seem bigger and quieter, with fewer teenagers popping and out, but it will stay cleaner for longer and the store cupboard and fridge stocks won’t be depleted so quickly!
INTELLIGENT INVESTMENT? BUYING A HOME FOR YOUR STUDENT
It's the bank of mum and dad that olen pick up the tab for their child's accommodaEon, so instead of paying out hundreds of pounds every month in rent, you might want to think about buying a student flat for your child when they fly the nest and leave for university.
By Elaine Clunie DipPFS, Business Director and Financial Adviser
House prices are likely to fall during 2020 amid growing uncertainty among buyers as worries mount over the effect on incomes and employment from coronavirus. However, to sEmulate the housing sector both the UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the ScoAsh Finance Secretary Kate Forbes have announced temporary cuts to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) and Land & Buildings TransacEon Tax (LBTT). SDLT is payable on residenEal and commercial property purchases in England and Northern Ireland, while LBTT is the ScoAsh equivalent with different rates and rules that apply. SDLT is paid by the purchaser of property and the threshold at which this tax kicks in (for a residenEal property) has been increased from £125,000 to £500,000, a temporary measure to 31 March 2021. This should reduce the average SDLT bill by £4,500 and it's esEmated that 9 out of 10 people buying homes will pay no stamp duty at all. The ScoAsh Government confirmed a similar change to LBTT. The band at which this tax kicks in (for a residenEal property) goes up from £145,000 to £250,000, again a temporary measure to 31 March 2021. It has been esEmated that in Scotland, 8 out of 10 transacEons will fall below £250,000 and therefore will have no LBTT liability at all. These temporary cuts in SDLT and LBTT are available to those buying their own homes and residenEal property investors, both individuals and companies. However, for those buying residenEal property that is not their main home, an AddiEonal Dwelling Supplement is payable, a charge which remains unchanged at 3% in England and 4% in Scotland. These measures are designed to sEmulate the housing market, so if you do have the financial means to invest in a student flat, this could be the Eme to do it. It's true that funding children through university is an expensive business but instead of forking out a small fortune in rental payments when they leave home it’s worth considering becoming a bricks and mortar investor. When the Eme comes to sell the student property, being situated in a student area or university city should mean it maintains a good re-sale value. Elaine Clunie is Business Director and Financial Adviser with Buchan Wealth Management, a Senior Partner Prac:ce of St. James’ Place Wealth Management based at 66 Allardice Street, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire AB39 2AA, telephone 01569 765359.
Also offices at 10 Broad Street, Peterhead AB42 1BY, tel : 01779 480777 and 3 Queens Gate, Aberdeen AB15 5YL, tel : 01224 202426. Buchan Wealth Management Ltd is an Appointed Representa9ve of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/ products. The 9tles 'Partner' and 'Partner Prac9ce' are marke9ng terms used to describe St. James's Place representa9ves. 23
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Useful Numbers
J H Roberts, Auchenblae 01561 320335 BriqueSes, kindling George Fairweather 07974 311326 Durris, Netherley, Peterculter, approx 10am - 2pm Thurs Cookney Hall 01569 730123 wangus@bEnternet.com Maryculter Hall & Corbie Field 07960 231885 maryculterhall@yahoo.co.uk not currently running 01467 532929 www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk DunnoSar Avenue, Stonehaven, Emergencies 999 or 112 Non-emergencies 101 Crime Stoppers 0800 555 111 Drugs Info 0800 371 553 www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk 01467 535 333 North Kincardine Rural www.nkrcc.org.uk secretary@nkrcc.org.uk Andrew Bowie 0207 219 2791 andrew.bowie.mp@parliament.uk Maureen WaP 01224 876743 maureen.waP.mp@scoQsh.parliament.uk Alastair Bews 01224 784594 cllr.a.bews@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Alison Evison 07876 475386 cllr.a.evison@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Ian Mollison 07747 638348 cllr.i.mollison@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Colin PIke 0777 909 5385 cllr.c.pike@aberdeenshire.gov.uk RagBag Lairhillock School, Scout Hall at Kirkton of Maryculter Cookney Hall, Banchory Devenick School Stonehaven & Portlethen www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk Lairhillock Primary 01569 732520 lairhillock.sch@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Andy Murray (Head) Banchory Devenick Primary 01224 472925 banchorydev.sch@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Karen Downie (Head)
Diary Dates 2020
2021
OCTOBER 17-31 Halloween Hunt (Den & The Glen) 19 NKRCC MeeEng
JANUARY 18 NKRCC MeeEng
NOVEMBER 16 NKRCC MeeEng 22 Chapelton Farmers Market
FEBRUARY 15 NKRCC MeeEng MARCH 15 NKRCC MeeEng
DECEMBER TBC* SolsEce Nurseries Christmas Pop Up Shop 5&6 SolsEce Nurseries at Drum Castle 11-13 Christmas Cral Fair, Maryculter Hotel 13 NKRCC MeeEng *call/email ahead before visiEng - pop up shop 15 NKRCC MeeEng open early Dec - see website/facebook
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