The Dùn Coillich Community Land Project: progress 2010 onwards
Spring 2010
A successful Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 20th March 2010 in the Grandtully Hall. Following the formal 2010 AGM, at which new Trustees were elected, many people enjoyed a a talk by Syd House, Forestry Commission Conservator for the Perth and Argyll Conservancy, author, film maker and originator of the Perthshire 'Big Tree Country' concept.
June 2010
The new stepping stones will help to improve access and keep our feet dry when crossing the burn. Previously, the burn was difficult or impossible to cross when in spate.
November 2010
The tree planting season is with us again. Some oaks have been planted on the southern face and some ash below the pine plantation. Tree planting on the hill has now been interrupted by deep snow but already the few hundred Scots pines that have been waiting in the deer- and rabbit-proof enclosure have been planted out mostly on the western slopes, and many of the two thousand birches recently purchased from Woodbury Estate in Glen Isla have been planted on the northern slopes. They should grow away well in the spring.
We have willows and alder ordered: these are expected to thrive in the wetter areas. The majority of the planned planting will have been done when this phase is complete. A variety of other native species-oaks, bird cherry and ash- from members' gardens have been transplanted to appropriate positions on Dùn Coillich. If you have any tree saplings you would like to contribute please let us know (contact details are here).
Large areas of the hill will of course never be planted, including the flower-rich limestone outcrops, other rocky areas, and the very boggy places.
Stepping stones were put in position across the Goulandie Burn earlier this year. This should result in fewer wet feet! Planned changes in fencing will make the route up the hill simpler and more obvious.
March 2011
AGM 2011: Despite yet another fall of snow, and a morning of indecision about whether to postpone the AGM, there was an enthusiastic turn-out for the AGM in the Locus Centre, Aberfeldy on Saturday afternoon, 12th March 2011. There was about half-an-hour of formal business; four new Trustees were elected. Victor Clements, Scottish Native Woods entertained and enlightened his audience with his talk on 'Tales of the Tay 2011'. Where exactly is the source of the river? Victor produced photographic evidence! It is located at one of three possible sites on Ben Lui. And then to the question of the beavers on the Tay; are they 'good' beavers or are they 'bad' beavers? Victor (and the audience) was in no doubt - they cost nothing; they are doing no damage; they are accepted by local people; and they provide better opportunities to observe their behaviour in the wild than do the intensively monitored and costly individuals introduced at Knapdale.
The talk was followed by a social period of chat and wine and nibbles.
April 2011
Standard 2 students from PHS visited Dùn Coillich to carry out various tasks which will count towards their John Muir awards. Here, Ellen, Katie, Grace and Margaret are hard at work planting trees. The visitor hut was carefully creosoted and several other jobs were done. A big thanks to all the students who participated.
Luckily, the weather was good so the students could get a lot done, and have good fun too.
October 2011
Jubilee Wood - about 300 native tree seedlings were planted on Dùn Coillich by enthusiastic Pitlochry High School S1 pupils on 31st October: This worthwhile project, set up by the Woodland Trust, will count towards the John Muir Award. Despite the wet weather, our Jubilee Wood tree planting day was successful, with many pupils enthusiastically taking on the challenge of planting trees in the rain. Waterproof clothes were a 'must'! Read about Jubilee Woods.
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Trees are chosen, then planted with a | Considerable progress has been made. |