It is interesting to find out that helping with pulling out the invasive Balsam plant is something we can do to positively tackle climate change and ecosystem conservation. The issue of climate change is so important and enormous it is hard to know where to start out – however we are told that every small action helps.
As we look ahead to welcoming the world to the Glasgow Climate Conference in November, I am reflecting on the first Conference – the so called ‘Earth Summit’ held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. I remember Jonathan Porritt as the Greta Thunberg of the day inspiring us to take up more environmentally friendly initiatives. We were encouraged to fill in personal pledges on pieces of paper shaped like tree leaves. I wrote “We will try and recycle half of our household waste” and ever since then we have done our best.
However today, particularly with the rise of on-line retail, there still seems a lot of waste to try and manage – a small response is that I am now composting my cardboard!
Please send in your planet saving tips and I will share them with the community on an on-going basis on the new ‘A World Community’ page. I am hoping we can put more and more things – like the Balsam example – linking what we do here in Dunkeld and Birnam with protecting the world.
It is fabulous news to hear our ospreys have made it safely back from Africa. The last I heard the female has laid a second egg which is extremely exciting. You can watch the progress of the eggs and hopefully chicks from the comfort of your armchair via the Loch of the Lowes webcam.
You will see throughout the edition information from our businesses and local organisations about how they intend to re-open. After an exceedingly difficult year may I wish everyone a highly successful and safe summer season.

Sally Robertson

There is no Councillors Column this month due to Scottish Parliamentary Elections.
Please remember to vote on Thursday 6th May.
For more information see https://www.pkc.gov.uk/scottishparliament

The wooden shed outside the Duchess Anne continues to cause eyebrows to rise. In the lead up to Christmas it became the Nativity scene, complete with shepherds, sheep, a crib and a baby Jesus. Over Easter it was  transformed to tell the story of the other major events of the Christian year: the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection.
The shed, covered with roofing felt and paint became a rock tomb, complete with a large “stone” covering the entrance. From Good Friday, the tomb was still closed and unused and the illuminated cross stood in front of it, reminding us of Jesus’ death. On Easter Sunday, the cross was gone and the stone rolled away revealing an empty tomb with discarded burial cloths. A banner above it proclaimed: “He is risen! God’s love conquers death.”
Fraser Penny, explains: “Many churches have a nativity scene at Christmas and pretty much everyone has a basic grasp of the Christmas story but without Easter Christmas loses its significance so we thought we would do something new and tell the Easter story in this innovative way. Perhaps fewer people these days are aware of the meaning of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday so we also produced a leaflet explaining the significance of these events. There are some leaflets left, so please come and take one.”