Coronavirus Emergency - Our Community Responds

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lochofthelowes This year Loch of the Lowes’ pair of ospreys LM12 (male) and NC0 (female) have 3 chicks! These boisterous youngsters usually fledge (take their first
flight from the nest) in early to mid July. The views from our lochsde hides allow fabulous opportunities to see these majestic birds practicing take offs and landings, swooping down into the water and bravely lifting off again. They are still being provided with fish by their Dad, LM12. The juveniles will stay in and around the nest between flights, making July and the first few weeks of August a prime time to enjoy their antics before they leave on migration.
Wildlife is now displaying its summer glory! The warmer air is filled with scents, bees, butterflies and birds, with the added grace and voices of our summer visitors: swallows, swifts, martins and warblers, to name but a few. Flowering plants and foliage show off full-blown blooms, trees rustle with shade giving leaves; ferns, bracken and dozens of different grasses wave glossy seed heads in the breeze. We are fortunate to have many types of grasses in Scotland and while out walking it’s fun to spot the different ones, from smooth, silky purple plumes to delicate fronds of silvery gold.
On hot sunny days the thought of swimming in a deliciously cool loch or river is very tempting but please beware. Tragically, an average of 50 people die by accidental drowning in Scotland every year. Cold, deep water can hold many hidden dangers for even the strongest of swimmers and the increasing presence of blue green algae in lochs must not be ignored. Please be vigilant and if you see a sign on the loch or river bank, read it, it could save your life. If there is no warning sign where you intend to enter water, take time to check for your personal safety (e.g. submerged hazards, depth) and for cloudy green or sometimes reddish blooms. These can contain extremely dangerous toxins causing illness and even death to humans and animals.
We are looking forward to our first summer since 2019 without the disruptions of covid restrictions. We’re open 7 days a week, 10.30am-5pm, no need to book, tickets are available at the door, free entry for children under 16 and Scottish Wildlife Trust members. You can keep up to date with what’s going on in the osprey nest via our webcam and also find out about any upcoming events by visiting:
https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do or follow us on Facebook: Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve or Twitter: @Lochofthelowes

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The National Lottery Community Fund is hosting two “Meet the Funder” events in August.
The first will be at the Birnam Arts Centre on August 20th from 11am to 4pm and the second will be at The Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy on August 31st from 11am to 4pm.
This is an opportunity for community groups and third sector organisations to book in a 20-minute slot to speak with one of our advisors about their groups and any project ideas they may have.
If you are interested in attending, please email: rachelle.cloutier@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk to book a slot.

If you would like to contact the Community Council you can do so by emailing: dbcc.correspondence@gmail.com
You can also contact us via the messaging system on our facebook page.
Of course, if you have the opportunity, then please do chat to any member of the Community Council if you bump into them while out and about.
Meetings are held monthly at 7pm on the second Monday of the month. Date of next meetings:
11th July
8th August
12th September
Venue: Online zoom meeting.
Please email us on the above address if you would like to attend and we will send you a zoom invitation. To read the minutes of previous meetings and to find the agenda for forthcoming meetings, click here.

Lachlan MacEwan
Community Councillor
At our monthly meeting on the 13th of June 2022, it was brought to our attention by one of our fellow community council members and resident that they had been served notice to quit their home. It was agreed at the meeting that the community council would write a letter of concern to the relevant bodies to get some clarification and answers to questions. (The minutes of this meeting, like all community council minutes, will be available for the community to look at.)
This matter highlights wider housing concerns in the village including how holiday homes or second homes impact on the demographics of the community. This is having a knock-on effect in that the Fire Service is finding it difficult to recruit local crew members and also the local school numbers are down which is resulting in composite classes in the school. Many of the people that make a living in the villages are finding it more of a challenge.
On a more positive note, the Community Action Plan is well in hand and the steering group have a great handle on the proposed constitution for the successor body, whatever that will be.
Atholl Estates gave another presentation to the community council in relation to their proposals for Haugh End Farm. This presentation is available to anyone in the community. Contact the community council for more information. The meeting felt that more community engagement from Atholl Estates is vital.
The PH8 housing survey will soon be available for the community to view.
I finish off this column with congratulations to the newly elected councillors and look forward to working with them.

Lachlan MacEwan

DBUnplugged2 Due to make a return this year, the Dunkeld and Birnam Unplugged festival came out of an idea at Climate Café.
Unplugged brings together people from across the community who donate their time, space, skills and talents to generate climate chat and action. Highlights include Summerfest up at The Field, pop up Climate Cafés around the village, speakers, workshops for all ages, Friday night Swap Shop, Big Apple Day and the Sunday Blues – and always popular are early morning coffee, cakes and muffins for our commuters at the local railway station – our much loved #CakesforCommuters!
www.climate.cafe
jess@climate.cafe
Live Earth: https://www.facebook.com/LiveEarthBirnam
Look out for the full programme in the September Bridge
Unplugged… Part of Climate Fringe Week in Scotland and Big Green Week across the rest of the UK.