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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
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.
Go to downloads
The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 25th August, 7.30pm at Birnam Arts/ Zoom... Read more
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Registration has now closed and with around 100 artists we are looking forward to our 4 week Exhibition from 4th... Read more
Sponsored by David Lindsay Self Storage, to be held at The Birnam Institute on Saturday 20th August 2022
22-06-2022 Regular Columns
After two very difficult years it’s wonderful to see return of the annual Horticultural Show on 20th August and the... Read more
22-06-2022 Regular Columns
The local elections are a distant memory already and this is the first opportunity that I have had to thank... Read more
22-06-2022 Regular Columns
There is an old Jewish proverb with a few variants, that goes something like this – ‘if you want to... Read more
26-05-2022 Regular Columns
All the excitement surrounding the Queen’s Platinum jubilee has set the hamsters in my brain sprinting around the old memory... Read more
26-05-2022 Regular Columns
A Few Thoughts On Silence
The rather strange letters OCDS after my name below refer (in Latin) to my being... Read more
26-05-2022 Regular Columns
The Scottish Council Elections at the beginning of May was the culmination of a few months of hard work and... Read more
28-04-2022 Regular Columns
It’s exciting to be welcoming the return of a ‘live’ version of the Birnam Book Festival from 20th – 22nd... Read more
28-04-2022 Regular Columns
As it is an election month, as is the tradition, The Bridge will not carry a councillors column this month... Read more
28-04-2022 Regular Columns
Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in... Read more
24-03-2022 Regular Columns
Regular readers of this column will know about my husband’s bewilderment at my inability to tell a swift from a... Read more
24-03-2022 Regular Columns
Unfortunately the topic that overshadows everything that is happening locally is the terrible Russian invasion of Ukraine and the shocking... Read more
24-03-2022 Regular Columns
When the invasion of Ukraine started, I started watching some programmes on Russia Today before it was removed from Sky.
22-02-2022 Regular Columns
As I’m reading over the March copy, I’m reminded how the Niel Gow festival in 2020 was one of the... Read more
22-02-2022 Regular Columns
I just don’t know where the time goes! We are already well into February and hurtling towards summer at a... Read more
22-02-2022 Regular Columns
Once again, we are entering the season of Lent, the forty-days that lead up to Easter, a time that was... Read more
Working with local people to bring Taymount Wood and Five Mile Wood into Community Ownership. Click read more for lat... Read more
This page contains minutes and other items of interest from the Dunkeld & Birnam Community Council, from January ... Read more
Needing an extra pair of hands?
I'm an experienced, reliable housekeeper/PA/cook, moving to the area and seeking... Read more
The National Lottery Community Fund is hosting two “Meet the Funder” events in August.
The first will be at the ... Read more
If you would like to contact the Community Council you can do so by emailing: dbcc.correspondence@gmail.com
You ... Read more
This year Loch of the Lowes’ pair of ospreys LM12 (male) and NC0 (female) have 3 chicks! These boisterous youngsters ... Read more
We would like to thank everyone who was involved in entertaining or attending our Jubilee Event on the 4th and 5th Ju... Read more
School holidays come around a lot quicker when you aren’t the one in school. Every time you blink, there seems to be ... Read more
Anyone who would like to book either the Duchess Anne or the Chanonry for meetings and events should contact Jill McC... Read more
The Men’s Breakfast is also on a summer break and start back again on August 31st.
If you would like more detail... Read more
Regular meetings have stopped for the summer but there will be a meeting on Tuesday July 26th. at 7pm. In the Chanonr... Read more
High Street Dunkeld
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10-4
Donations welcome during opening hours.
Ca... Read more
The Meeting Place is in the Duchess Anne on Friday mornings from 10 – 12noon. All welcome.
Read moreOnline worship continues and can be accessed on our YouTube channel ‘Dunkeld Cathedral online.’
A huge thank yo... Read more
Keith Redwood from Blairgowrie was with us for six months last year as he considered a calling to serve the church as... Read more
After an enforced gap (because of Covid) we are once again running a summer series of services called ‘Songs & Si... Read more
Summer is a busy time for rural businesses, with increased footfall, markets and events, school holidays and more. Ma... Read more
Our Doctors Surgery will be open as normal with telephone consultations with the GP in the first instance.
To he... Read more
A festival taking place 17th – 19th June has been held to celebrate the reopening of Caputh Village Hall.
Molly... Read more
Much enjoyment was had at jubilee parties including this one in Trochry.
Photos by Adrian Blundell.
Following on from our research in 2020 and talking with older people, Gien a Haund has been working with Perth and Ki... Read more
In collaboration with the local Coop shop and other local food retailers, Climate Cafe are going to set up a Food Sha... Read more
Opening hours:
Thursday: 5pm – 7pm
Friday: 12pm – 5pm
Saturday: 9.30am – 12pm
Birnam Librar... Read more
The Dunkeld and Birnam Co-Working Space reflects the true sense of community that is so important to our beautiful sm... Read more
Firstly a huge thank you to those of you who have been in touch either offering to sponsor refugees or to volunteer. ... Read more
Since March 2020 (in those days before people had ever heard of lock downs and were not experts on Community Transmis... Read more
There is lots to update you on from the PH8 Community Action Plan!
Working groups have started to plan ac... Read more
The next Climate Cafe this Thursday will be held online on zoom due to current COVID guidance but when we can meet sa... Read more
We have now moved to the next phase where the Steering Group will transition into a formal, constituted body which is... Read more
Dunkeld and Birnam were delighted to welcome Jessica Coffield, the new President of Asheville Sister Cities, on a vis... Read more
From April 2nd the Corbenic Shop will be hosting a table of handmade local crafts to sell in aid of the DEC Ukraine A... Read more
In 2019 we investigated a small notebook, written by Rev. Wilfred Callin, from our Scottish Horse collection. This no... Read more
The date is set for Dunkeld and Birnam Santa Day, Saturday 10th December 2022.
We have set up a Just Giving pag... Read more
To mark Earth Hour the Cathedral floodlights will be switched off at 8.30pm. on March 26th. It is a moment when we ca... Read more
The 17th Niel Gow Festival will take place over the weekend of March 18th–20th.
It is now over a year since the ... Read more
Aims
To establish clear, easy to use, channels of communication in relation to members of the public, other agen... Read more
Dear Editor,
I read with interest in your November issue Mr David MacDougall’s more-than-justified plea to resto... Read more
You see them now where’er you go,
Frae Station Road to Bridge Street,
Parked vehicles: cars an' trucks an' ... Read more
In the winter the sun doesn’t come over Birnam hill, just when you most need it;
but the people still swim in t... Read more
Dear Editor,
As a country boy born and bred in Birnam, 85 years ago I am writing to you regarding the sad case o... Read more
An ecumenical Fellowship meets fortnightly on Tuesdays. The dates in November are the 9th. & the 23rd. This sessi... Read more
You may be aware that there have been a number of dog thefts in the area. One of these terrible and heart breaking th... Read more
It is anticipated that Scotland will move to level zero on July 19. If there are no concerns around rising hospitalis... Read more
The COP 26 Coalition is a civil society coalition made of groups and individuals from a range of constituencies in Sc... Read more
It’s official - It’s all about climate change and ecosystem conservation. Check out the Nature Scot website https://w... Read more
There’s a strong sense the world will be much changed when Covid restrictions finally recede. “Getting back to normal... Read more
The 330th anniversary of the Battle of Dunkeld was marked by two local residents last month.
Morag McMartin laid... Read more
Over recent years, many communities across Scotland have decided to develop a Community Action Plan which refle... Read more
Dunkeld and Birnam has a wide variety of sport clubs and activity groups which welcome participants of all abilities... Read more
The aims of the Dunkeld Deer Management Forum (DDMF) are:
To collaborate as responsible professionals in meeti... Read moreDunkeld and Birnam has been officially recognised as Scotland’s first water efficient village after collectively savi... Read more
As we move into summer, it is important to be aware of the risk of ticks and transmission of Lyme Disease.
Anec... Read more
Pupils from a Lancashire Secondary School rallied round to raise funds for the historic Birnam Oak. The tree is the l... Read more
Blairgowrie and Rattray arts showcase celebrates Scotland’s Year of Stories
Artists and creatives in Blairgowrie and Rattray will share... Read more
The Arts Society – a Society for everyone. Possibly the best, the most enjoyable and varied arts lectures available, the... Read more
As community initiatives go, the resurrection of The Birks Cinema is an inspirational story. Situated proudly on the corner of... Read more
Due to unforeseen circumstances the Dunkeld & Birnam Art & Crafts Fair will not now take place in June but... Read more
Visit The Birnam Reader in Station Road, Birnam to view/purchase copies of the books or request a special signing.
Opening... Read more
Now that the days are starting to draw out and there’s a hint of springtime on the horizon, why not... Read more
Is there an unsettled spirit roaming your neighbourhood or perhaps a witch performed their dark arts nearby? Have you ever... Read more
Birnam Arts has an amazing ongoing programme of one off performances, exhibitions and workshops. Just use the scroll bars to... Read more
01-12-2017 Young Roving Reporter
On Tuesday two of our Citizenship Groups, The Eco Explorers and The Outsiders, went to find out about tree felling... Read more
23-09-2014 Young Roving Reporter
The classes are learning in different ways to promote tourism where we live. Nursery, P1, P1/2 and P2/3 are looking... Read more
01-11-2013 Young Roving Reporter
Congratulations to Aidan, this month's winner of a crisp £10 note.
On the road opposite... Read more
01-07-2013 Young Roving Reporter
Thanks to everyone who has been supporting the idea of having a skate and bike park in Dunkeld & Birnam... Read more
01-07-2013 Young Roving Reporter
Hi everyone, Rivendell Care Services, Birnam, where my mum works decided to have a prize raffle for Alzheimer Scotland, as its such a great... Read more
08-04-2013 Young Roving Reporter
At the Royal School of Dunkeld all the P6s got to go on a ski-ing trip to Glenshee for two... Read more
08-04-2013 Young Roving Reporter
Some of you will have read my article a while back talking about a possible skate park.
I mentioned about getting... Read more
25-06-2012 Young Roving Reporter
It would be great if a skate park could be built in Dunkeld or Birnam – somewhere we could walk... Read more
25-06-2012 Young Roving Reporter
Dunkeld and Birnam Brownies went on a exciting trip to pgl in Dalguise and stayed for two... Read more
22-06-2022 Sport & Active
The Tennis Club is very grateful to have received a Griffin and Calliachar Micro Grant towards our children’s and junior... Read more
22-06-2022 Sport & Active
The budget for the MUGA is secure and our planning and preparations are well underway. We are hopeful that by... Read more
22-06-2022 Sport & Active
Why not come to a meeting this month and find out what we do? Meetings take place once a fortnight... Read more
28-01-2022 Sport & Active
(the Sports Hall project)
Agreement with D and B Sports and Leisure Hub
As announced in the last “Bridge” the... Read more
28-01-2022 Sport & Active
In November we were happy to present the annual cheque for £300 to the house captains and Nicola Williams, Head... Read more
29-01-2019 Sport & Active
Muckmedden, Perthshire’s self-styled purveyors of ‘muckin’ good mountain bike events, have announced an exciting line-up for 2019 that includes the... Read more
25-08-2018 Sport & Active
Veteran rugby team, Dunkeld Ospreys, visited Blairgowrie for their biggest and most enjoyable fixture of the season. This oldies game... Read more
09-05-2018 Sport & Active
If you would like to try Nordic Walking and join our fun friendly Adventure Walks or Workout Walks please contact... Read more
09-05-2018 Sport & Active
The new basketball hoop at the Rec Club is getting plenty of use.
The Rec Club are delighted to announce... Read more
27-10-2017 Sport & Active
On Friday 29th September the Royal School of Dunkeld again remembered former pupil Robbie Melvin who died in a tragic... Read more
31-08-2017 Sport & Active
On 18 August, a hearty squad of Dunkeld & Birnam veteran (mostly) footballers headed the short distance for an 11-a-side... Read more
01-07-2017 Sport & Active
Highland Perthshire Ladies Football Club welcomes any new players in the area who would like to join us for training... Read more
26-05-2016 Sport & Active
Our aims are simple - but great...
1: To transform the lives of people in the villages and surrounding areas through... Read more
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