The Dùn Coillich Community Land Project: progress 2004 - 2006

Spring 2004 to Spring 2005:

Woodland Grant Scheme. Work has begun in earnest on the Woodland Grant Scheme. During the summer we negotiated a bridging loan, and between mid-October and mid-December, 2004, 90 hectares of ground on the west side of Dùn Coillich have been mounded. We received advice with respect to the contractor from Hamish Murray (FC, Invar, Dùnkeld), who took an ongoing interest in specification and progress of the mounding. The contractor has taken a sensitive approach to the local topography and vegetation, so that the resulting distribution of the mounds meets our requirements. The mounds are being left to settle until late autumn 2005, when tree planting will begin.

Rural Stewardship Scheme. During the year the Environmentally Sensitive Area designation (ESA) came to its end and was replaced by the rather more ambitious Rural Stewardship Scheme (RSS), managed by the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD). Our application for designation under this scheme was approved and we now have a 10-year agreement with SEERAD, with a break after 5 years for reassessment. Under this agreement, we have two major projects to enhance biodiversity, for which we are receiving payment. We are committed to managing 8 ha of species-rich grassland at White Bridge, and 2.5 ha of wetland and 0.5 ha of unharvested crop in the vicinity of the Goulandie burn, near the present entrance above Glengoulandie. We were previously managing the grassland at White Bridge under the ESA with a grazing regime and that will continue. The exciting, innovative scheme now proposed for the former ESA areas of grassland near the Goulandie burn involves removing the old sheep fank and creating 700 m² of shallow ponds and scrapes in roughly the same area, to encourage aquatic wildlife of all kinds. Secondly, unharvested seed crops are to be planted between the road and the wetland area to encourage seed-eating birds in autumn and winter. Somewhat further ahead, we aim to install a 'hide' in the vicinity to observe both the wetland and seed-crop areas, and link it to the car park with a good path. We expect that work on the ponds, scrapes and removal of the sheep fank will start this spring.

Publication. Robin Hull's book 'Ravens over the Hill' on the natural and cultural history of Dùn Coillich and the surrounding lands was published by Perth & Kinross Libraries in November and a very successful launch party was held in the Molteno Hall, Fortingall. The book is for sale at £9.95 in local bookstores and is also available with a substantial discount to members if purchased through the Trust.

Wildlife surveys. After three years of wildlife recording on Dùn Coillich by Members and Trustees, Robin Hull has produced a substantial 54-page, baseline report - "Report on Natural History of Dùn Coillich". This report is a summary of wildlife observed and is particularly comprehensive with respect to the birds.

Archaelogical survey. We commissioned a comprehensive archaelogical survey of Dùn Coillich by Clare Thomas, and received an interim report in the autumn. Clare has found evidence of extensive field systems, hut circles and a house, almost all on ground on the east side. View photos.

The Keltneyburn Hydro-Power Scheme. Last year we reported that we were in ongoing discussions with Keltneyburn Hydro Ltd. (KBH), to explore the possibility of a small-scale, 2 MW, "run of-river" hydro-electric scheme, with intake on the Allt Mor on our ground. During the year Trustees have met on three occasions with the four other potential landlords in the offices of J. & H. Mitchell W.S., Pitlochry, under the chairmanship of Colin Liddell, to consider draft 'Offer' and 'Contract' documents from the KBH solicitors. We have also taken independent advice on appropriate rental from CKD Galbraith, Inverness. In the meantime KBH has produced a fully illustrated, inch-thick, Environmental Statement and is awaiting final responses to its 'Scoping Study'. We are now satisfied with details of the scheme, and with details of the Offer and Contract documents. The Trustees have previously agreed support for the project, in principle. We shall shortly be calling an Extraordinary General Meeting of Members to consider a proposal that the Trust should give a lease to KBH for the inlet.

Browser management. There have been a number of incursions of deer through the fence particularly on the south-west side of the Allt Mor. The response by the stalker has been rapid with the aim of keeping the density of deer on the area as low as possible. The fence is particularly vulnerable to penetration because of the very uneven nature of the ground along the south-west boundary. Whilst we have maintained the fence repeatedly during the year, it is clear that substantial work on it will be needed regularly, particularly when trees have been planted, and we are approaching a fencing contractor to take on responsibility.

Car Park. Despite a visit to the site by a staff member from the "Fresh Futures" programme "Transforming your Space", and further encouragement to apply again, our second attempt to obtain funding for the car park was again unsuccessful. We now have an application in and are in discussion with the Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust.

Access. To enable the mounding contractor to access the site easily with his machines, the forest road through the FC plantations to the north has been extended up to the boundary between the properties. By arrangement with Hamish Murray (FC), a 12 ft wide deer-proof gate, as well as the previously arranged kissing gate, is in the process of installation. This will provide a new access point for visitors from the north side and enable vehicle access for tree-planters, and for the stalkers removing intrusive deer.

Guided Walks. Bill Hoare has continued with a programme of guided walks to familiarise visitors with access, to show them the land and to hear their views. This programme will continue and dates and details will continue be announced in Comment and on the notice board in the Aberfeldy Square.

Publicity. To maintain contacts with the communities of Highland Perthshire, Robin Hull has contributed regular monthly articles in Comment. Copies of the Minutes of the Trustees' meetings have been sent to the ten Community Councils in Highland Perthshire and to the Highland Perthshire Communities Partnership. Paul Jarvis has continued to represent the Trust at the Scottish Biodiversity Forum, the Scottish Forestry Forum and the Tayside Local Biodiversity Action Plan Committee.

Relationships with our neighbours. We have maintained good working relationships with JMT to the west and particularly through Lynette Borradaile, Chair of the local Schiehallion Group, and Andrew Campbell, their Conservation Manager. Our relationship with FC to the north, is also flourishing through Charlie Taylor, Tayside Forest District Manager, at Invar, and forester, Hamish Murray, who has been very helpful with respect to the mounding and access to the site, as noted above. The joint approach to access, incorporating paths and kissing-gates inter-linking the three properties is slowly taking form.

Treasurer's report for the year December 1st 2003 to November 30th 2004. Membership fees, Donations and Gift Aid repayments during this period have amounted to £1557, which more than covers the management and administration costs of running the trust for the year. Eligibility for agricultural grants on parts of the land has been updated so that Environmentally Sensitive Area payments for this and the previous year have been received, and payments under the new Rural Stewardship Scheme have commenced.

A professional archaeological survey was commissioned and her report, added to the extensive botanical and biological survey reports already undertaken, now provides an educational archive, which will be further increased as the Trust's activities continue. The local historical research necessary for the publication of 'Raven's Over the Hill' also adds to the records available for future members or researchers; the Trustees approved a donation toward the cost of publication.

As the Statement of Financial Activities shows, this year has ended with a surplus of £1169. The Trustees are again grateful to Tim Ambrose for his preparation and presentation of the accounts this year.

The 2005 Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 9th April at the Grandtully Village Hall. Various exhibits relating to the Dùn Coillich project were on display and trustees gave short summaries of the latest developments and answered questions from members. The guest speaker was Sir John Lister-Kaye, the reknowned ecologist and author. Sir John came to Scotland in 1969 to work with Gavin Maxwell at Camusfearna. In 1976 he opened the Aigas Field Centre in Inverness-shire, which has since become the premier environmental education field centre in the Highlands. His presentation outlined how the typical Highland landscape we have come to think of as natural, is in fact a seriously degraded habitat, largely as a result of the coming of the sheep in the post Culloden era, and as a consequence of the subsequent Balmoralisation of the Highlands, and the growth of the shooting estates. Images of contemporary Highland landscapes were complimented by stories and excerpts from his books [Song of the Rolling Earth and Nature's Child] and the resulting presentation was both enlightening and inspirational. The trustees would like to thank Sir John for his time, and for taking such an interest in the Dùn Coillich project.

After the presentation the main AGM business was conducted [view AGM minutes]:

The Trustees' Report and Accounts for the year to 30 November, 2004 document was approved as a whole. Three trustees retired and did not seek re-election: Robin Hull, Marjorie Finlayson and Ruth Atkinson. The following Trustees retired and were seeking re-election: Paul Jarvis, Andrew Pointer and Julie Gardiner. Six nominations, each proposed and seconded by Members, were received: Tim Fison, Clare Thomas, Phillip Campbell, Paul Jarvis, Andrew Pointer and Julie Gardiner. Since there were six vacancies, they were declared elected. The trustees would like to sincerely thank Marjorie, Robin and Ruth for all their efforts and time they have given to the project in the past few years.

The Chairman called attention to the display about the Keltneyburn Hydroscheme and announced that an Extraordinary General Meeting and/or Postal Ballot would be called in the near future to put forward a formal proposal to grant a lease for this project on Trust land. All members would be balloted in this respect, in accordance with the Articles of the HPCLT.

Once again, Malcolm Appleby very generously donated a silver brooch for the Members raffle, and this was won by Julie Gardiner. Thanks to all who attended and contributed to the very successful afternoon.

Spring 2006

The 2006 Annual General Meeting was held on the 30th of March. View AGM minutes. The Chairman presented the Trustees' Report and Accounts. Three trustees retired and did not seek re-election: Hamish Nicholson, Lynnette Borradaile and Marjorie Keddie. The following Trustee retired and was seeking re-election: Bill Hoare. Two nominations, each proposed and seconded by Members, were received: Bill Hoare, Margaret Jarvis. Since there were four vacancies, they were declared elected. Two vacancies remain. The trustees would like to sincerely thank Hamish, Lynnette and Marjorie for all their efforts and time they have given to the project in the past few years.

Winter 2006

Visitor Access, including Car Park. The car park is now finished for the time being, and everyone agreed that it is a success. The roadside wall to the west of the entrance, however, still needs to be lowered, to allow drivers leaving the car park a clear view of oncoming traffic.

Observation and Education Facility (OEF) An OEF building, which would be situated below the car park facing the scrapes is at the planning stage. This building should be an attractive observation and education facility, which would contain materials about the archaeology, geology, natural history, etc. of the area, as well as providing views of wildlife on the scrapes.