DRUMOAK & DURRIS NEWSLETTERThe days are drawing in as Granny would say. Summer’s almost over,. where has the time gone? Holidays are but memories, the children resume school and the tempo of life begins to adjust to the winter routine as we look forward to Autumnal colours as the yearly cycle draws to a close .

Time to think about some achievement for the dark nights perhaps a class or some more active activity. There is plenty on offer as you will see from the Diary at the end of this newsletter.

Perhaps you want to brush up on your linguistic skills in preparation for next year’s holidays or you decide it really is time you restored that old battered chair from uncle Harry that would really look very nice if it was done up, or maybe you would like to sing or some of the men would like to cook. You might also decide to take some gentle exercise through swimming or become a master bridge player.

Whatever your ambition now is the time Class enrolment has started. So do it now - Join up and have rewarding evenings this autumn.

The National TrustRanger’s Corner

Fabulous Fungi!

We humans may not like the wet weather we’ve been having but it’s not all bad news. Warm, damp weather is perfect for fungi. A walk through the countryside in autumn is always brightened up by the bright and often bizarre looking mushrooms growing from the ground and the trees.

One of the questions I am most frequently asked is “what’s the difference between a mushroom and a toadstool?”. The simple answer is there isn’t one! Britain is the only country I know who use two different words to describe these ephemeral oddities. People tend to use the word mushroom to describe edible fungi, while the word toadstool is associated with deadly poisons and fairies!

Fungi fascinate me. They play such a vital part in the wellbeing of our woodlands, helping in the removal of fallen leaves, dead wood and animal bodies, not to mention what live animals leave behind them! There are even some which attack living creatures – athlete’s foot being one of them! But where would we be without Stilton cheese – yes the blue veins are fungi!

There are around 3000 different types of fungi visible to the naked eye in the British Isles. There are actually very few deadly fungi, although many will make you ill if eaten. The problem is knowing which ones are edible and which ones are poisonous. The golden rule is if you’re not sure what it is then don’t eat it!

Unlike bright colours in the animal world – think of the yellow and black in wasps and bees – vivid colours on a fungi do not serve to warn you whether a fungi is poisonous or not. One of the most poisonous fungi in this country is an inoffensive white colour, aptly named the Destroying Angel! Another one to steer well clear of is the Death Cap, which to an untrained eye looks like a chestnut mushroom you could buy from the supermarket! In stark contrast the bright purple Amethyst Deceiver is delicious.

One of the easiest mushrooms to identify is the Fly Agaric – this is the red one with white spots which often appears in fairy stories. It’s name comes from the past practise of placing one in a bowl of milk to act as a fly killer – a bit like leaving a jam jar out as a wasp trap.

If you would like to know more about the fascinating world of fungi why not join the rangers on our “Fungi: Fact and fiction” guided walk on Sat 15th September at Crathes Castle. For full details and to book your place call us on 01330 844651.

Fiona Matheson Senior Ranger

Three craws sat upon a wa

This is a story of three rooks in my neighbour’s garden. This summer they have developed a new game. They attack and peck at the black rubber seal next to the double glazing glass in the windows. The noise is fearsome - especially as they arrive with the dawn chorus and waken the house up at 4.30a.m. Then during the day

anybody in the house will be startled by the thump of their arrival on the window and the resulting peck peck peck. Its like something out of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Birds”

Many remedies have been tried netting, screens, traps, even shooting (mind the windows) - but all to no avail. The best deterrent so far has been a liberal dollop of soft soap laced with pepper which leaves them screeching with quivering rage but at least the windows are left alone.

If any readers can throw light on this strange behaviour, or can suggest a more palatable deterrent (for the rooks) please let the editor know!

News fromDrum Castle Gardens

The bulb catalogues started appearing in triplicate at the end of June, seemingly rather like Christmas decorations in shop windows in July – a promise of brightness and excitement to come. I put the catalogues to one side, to be looked at a less hectic moment in between spraying routines, event programming and seasonal work schedules.

Before I knew what was what, it is bulb planting time again and orders should have been in three months ago. In the past, I may have had to make do with garden centre leftovers. This can be very lucrative if you hit the right timing. However the choice of leftovers can be dire – You really wanted a pure white late flowering tulip to contrast with your dark green Skimmias, underplanted with Stachys byzantine and now you are stuck with one called ‘ Mickey Mouse’, red with ‘vibrant’ yellow stripes. Cheerful yes, but annoyingly irritating after a while. Luckily, this year, I have had the added pressure of having to prepare for our September bulb sale, so my order had to go in by the deadline.

I have selected tulips that I knew performed really well, like ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, excellent for pots with the added bonus of decorative leaves. Then I chose a few from each group, to have a broad selection available, from the medium height Fosteriana tulips, flowering

early in April with large oriental flowers to mid season Triumph Tulips, brilliant for cutting and lasting well up to the end of May. A few selections were also picked from the rarely seen groups of Parrot and Viridiflora tulips, the Lily flowered and the Fringed.

Hundreds of yellow trumpet daffodils everywhere, so I have gone for one of the new shell pink trumpets; it would add a novelty to the flower arrangements, although it has to be cut fully open or the colour doesn’t develop well.

I have also selected some of the orchid flowering narcissus. These flower late and always attract a lot of attention. Then I like Jonquillas for their scent and miniature size.

I am a great lover of Alliums, even down to the humble leek, which is left to flower in my own garden. It produces these weird flower buds, ice-cream cone shape, that dive off in all directions and excellent for totally radical flower arrangements, without the cost of being imported from South Africa, via Holland. The buds explode open to reveal huge purple- white blobs, a mecca to every hovering insect at Drum. Allium seed heads go on for ever and are fantastic, covered with dew coated cobwebs or the first frosts of winter.

The other bulb that made a name for itself at Drum in the spring, was the grape hyacinth- this multiplies profusely, but is also loved as fresh greenery early in May by those cute grey bunnies. They leave it alone later into May, but they never leave enough of it to keep the flower arrangers happy – I need spikes to complement all the ‘round’ daffodil shapes! I tried a different two tone muscari in the courtyard tubs this year and this is what drew everyone’s attention. It was just perfect with a pale pink tulip by the name of ‘Apricot Beauty’.

If you would like to come to our Bulb Fayre, it is being held on September 23rd. Castle Fraser hold theirs on the 9th September. Both fayres raise money for the gardens of these properties. Children are welcome to join in the bulb planting at Drum on the 23rd. This year, we hope to plant bluebells (a donation of surplus bluebells from a garden owner) in the wooded part of the lawns below the Tower. Talking of surplus, if anyone out there is thinning out herbaceous material, please bring it along to the Autumn Bounty weekend on 6/7th October.

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We sell unpotted herbaceous chunks off at bargain basement prices and it is an excellent way of filling up those gaps in your garden. There is also a jam and chutney stall with tasties and a mushroom table with experts on hand to help you to develop gourmet tastes in wild mushrooms. The flower arrangers, this year, a group of five ladies, all at differing stages of the college flower courses, are pulling out all the stops to decorate the castle rooms with wonderful autumnal displays, a magnificent sight. I will always remember one display done in one of the great fireplaces of bronze bracken, curling like flames, with orange chinese lanterns laced through the fronds.

Come and see for yourself, Drum is a wonderful place to be in the autumn and it is just on your doorstep!

Diana Robertson, Head Gardener.

Drum Castle EventsThroughout September and October there will be something going on at Drum every Sunday afternoon:-

Sunday 2nd September 2.00 - 4.00p.m.Children’s Harvest Festival

Sunday 9th September 2.30 - 4.30p.m.Fochaber Fiddlers

Sunday 16th September 3.00 p.m.Promenade Concert

Sunday 23rd September 2.00 - 4.00p.m.Children’s bulb planting & Bulb Fayre

Sunday 30th September 3.00 - 4.00p.m.Promenade Recital

Saturday 6th/Sunday 7th October 1.30 - 4.00 p.m.

Autumn BountySunday 14th October 3.00 - 4.00 p.m.

Promenade ConcertSunday 21st October 2.00 - 4.30 p.m.

Festival of Young MusiciansSaturday 27th October To be confirmed

Halloween! For more details phone 01330 811 204 or visit the castle web site www.drum-castle.org.uk

Medical Notes

Another summer nearly over – this year has seen a slightly higher than usual incidence of

seasonal allergic problems and hay fever, with eye allergies seemingly quite troublesome. For a non-serious condition, the symptoms are surprisingly disabling in terms of day-to-day functioning.

The ‘flu-vaccine programme will be underway again this autumn and, as before, the groups recommended for this will include those with chronic heart or lung disease (including asthma), kidney failure, diabetes, those on treatments which suppress the immune system and any individual over 65 years of age. Do watch out for media coverage of this year’s programme of immunisation and check for details at your local surgery.

At Peterculter we had our formal opening of the new premises in June, with Dr Mac Armstrong, Scottish Chief Medical Officer, performing the official part of the event – a proud day for all of us after many months of trauma during the building works. It is so much more pleasant for our patients to be in spacious and comfortable surroundings, well designed for the various tasks of today’s Primary Care service. For the Doctors and staff also it has definitely enhanced the working day. Interestingly, I heard only this week that Health Secretary, Alan Milburn, had considered seeking the opinion of Feng Shui experts in order to improve the office karma at the Department of Health!Best wishes

Dr D C M Harris

Health Fair

BNDG, The Banchory Network Development Group, are holding their first ever Health Fare in Banchory Community Education Centre on Saturday, 8th September, from 10.00 a.m. to 4.15p.m.

The fair consists of a number of workshops:-Aroma therapy; healthy cooking; meditation; exercise class; singing; T’ai Chi Ch’uan and Chi Gung.

The cost for the day is £5.00 and attendees should bring their own lunch. Booking is advisable. Please contact

Linda Gray 01330 825 966

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Drumoak School News

We re-opened on Tuesday 14th August with a much reduced school roll of 83, as 19 pupils have now transferred to the academy and only 8 little ones are entering P1- Having four classes has meant that we now have a spare classroom, which is really useful as we are always needing more space. We also have the pleasure of it being in a brand new portacabin and, although a permanent extension was the ultimate dream, it's good to be in a fresh, clean, carpeted, non - leaking building!

Our Millennium shed conversion continues to make progress and is at the stage of being painted, ready for the shelves and cupboards to be installed. The building is unrecognisable from the dark, Junk room shed of its past life and the staff are looking forward to having all the teaching resources in one accessible area. The PTA are making an excellent job of the conversion and the cost of materials has been covered by extra cash from Gordon Brown's last allowance to schools.

Having only been back at school for a few days, there is little news at this time, apart from the excitement of being asked last term to provide a choir for a wedding in Drumoak Church. So, on Friday 14th August, I accompanied fourteen singers across the road where Mrs Webster, our violin teacher, conducted them whilst Mr Bruce, Head of Music at Banchory Academy, played the keyboard. The children sang a version of The Lewis Bridal Song, substituting Lindsay's name for Mhairi and that sounded special and personal for the day. Then, as the bride walked down the aisle, they sang One More Step Along The World I Go, which was very suitable as it contains the lines, " and it's from the old I travel to the new." The children really rose to the occasion and their singing was very sweet and tuneful. I was also able to use the experience as part of the Monday morning assembly and take weddings as part of our religious festivals theme!

Autumn Adult Education Programme

Would you rather spend an evening or two learning some new skills and meeting new people than staying in to watch TV? Then some of the

courses at Banchory Academy Community Education Centre might be just what you are looking for.

There are 31 different courses on offer ranging from Learning a foreign language; various art courses; cooking courses (one for men only);Bridge: Ballroom Dancing; Astrology; Swimming; Furniture restoration; Skiing; Trampolining; Tai Chi; to Tales of the North East, to name but a few.

In addition there are some Saturday Workshops on Camcorder and various aspects of computing.

Programmes for the forthcoming term for all Adult Education classes and workshops can be obtained by calling in person at the Community Education Centre but for further information please contact Julie Cheesewright (01330) 825966

Over 50’s Autumn Programme

This sessions courses consist of an Art class, French Conversation and a short tennis class, and six computing courses of various complexity from absolute beginners to desktop publishing. There is also an aquafit class (Tues.)and an over 50s swimming session (Fri.)The postal enrolment date is 3rd September. Programmes for the forthcoming term for all Adult Education classes can be obtained by calling in person at the Community Education Centre but for further information please contact Ann O’Malley (01330) 825966

Under 12 Autumn Programme

By now all parents in the Banchory Area should have received the above via their schoolchildren! Our booking evening has already passed but there still a few spaces left on most courses which range from French, Art and Tennis to Paper Airplanes, Green Fingers and Action Origami. For further information contact

Avril Clark on (01330) 825966.Junior Youth Night

The Junior Youth Night for this session will take place on Friday, 14th September; 16th

November and 14th December.Activities on offer will include Uni-hoc, disco, pool, table tennis, crafts, face painting and playstation.

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Admission will be £2 and buses will collect thePrimary 6 & 7's from the Kirkton Hall, Durris, Keithmuir Gardens and Crathes Hall. Flyers will be circulated to the primary school in advance of this event as usual.

Carol Melvin on (01330 825966)

Grampian Decorativeand Fine Arts Society

Interested in Art? Then you might like to take up this invitation to attend one of a series of art lectures given by first class speakers who are authorities in their subjects:-

AN INVITATION to join us on a complimentary basis for one of our regular lectures to see if you find it interesting and might want to become involved in our society. As a member you can enjoy a year round programme of lectures, study days, visits to art galleries, museums - plus gardens and private houses often not open to the public. By joining us you will be sharing with others who enjoy the decorative and fine arts and who wish to learn more about them. No previous knowledge is needed - only enthusiasm !The current programme is detailed below.

12th September Old Mistresses: Great Women Painters & Their Themes by Colin Bailey lOth October Gift of the Gods: The Inca Trail by Stewart Coulterl4th November Frost Fairs on the Frozen Thames by Nicholas Reed Sth December Pilgrim Routes to Santiago De Compostela by Caroline de Estradas 9th January Chinamania by Adam Schoon

Meetings are held in The Queens Hotel, 51 Queens Road Aberdeen Time 6.45 for 7.30 p.m.

To claim your free visit bring this copy of the newsletter with you.

The Historyof Drumoak

The Parish of Drumoak

Education. – There are three schools in the parish, the parochial school, the session’s school, and Miss Irvine of Drum’s school. The branches taught in the parochial school are, English reading and grammar, writing, geography,

arithmetic, mathematics, and Latin. The quarterly fees are, for reading, 2s. 6d.; reading and writing, 3s 6d.; arithmetic, 4s 6d.; Latin, 5s. – nothing additional being charged for English grammar and geography. The teacher has the legal accommodation, and draws yearly about £20 as school-fees, £30 of salary, 8 bolls of meal for teaching poor scholars on Drum’s mortification, and what may be awarded him by the Trustees of the Dick Bequest. The session’s school at Glashmore is in that part of the parish which lies in the county of Kincardine, and is under the patronage of the kirk-session. The branches taught in it are elementary, and the scale of fees is the same as at the parochial school. The teacher has at present only a free house and small garden, the privilege of procuring fire from a neighbouring moss, a salary of £5, which is raised by subscription, and school-fees, which may amount to about £8 annually; but his situation will soon be more comfortable, as a legacy of £200 has been left by a benevolent parishioner for the endowment of this school, (under the management of the treasurer of the kirk-session,) the interest of which will be available to the teacher after it has accumulated to the amount of the legacy tax. Miss Irvine of Drum’s school was established last year, and is intended chiefly for affording instruction to girls in needle-work. The mistress has a free house, and draws a quarterly fee of 2s 6d. for sewing, and of 3s. when the first lessons in English reading are added. The number of scholars at present attending this little but useful seminary is 22. In the parochial and Glashmore schools the religious instruction of the young is attended to on the week days, and in the latter, also, on the Sabbath.

Literature. – A parish library was instituted in 1827, and contains about 300 volumes. Subscribers are supplied with books of a historical nature every Monday evening at the parochial school, and with religious publications at the church, every Lord’s day after sermon. The terms of subscription are 6d. per quarter.

Fairs. - Five fairs are annually held in the parish, chiefly for the sale of cattle; but, being of recent appointment, they are exceedingly ill-attended, and consequently little business is transacted in them.

Inns. – We have two inns, both of which are in some measure necessary, the one being a stage between Aberdeen and Banchory-Ternan, the

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other between Aberdeen and Kincardine O’Neil.

Fuel. – The fuel most commonly employed is peat and wood, but coals carried from Aberdeen are frequently used, especially in the lower part of the parish, where the mosses are nearly exhausted.

Written February 1840. Revised August 1842.Revd Dr Adam Corbet

[This concludes the extracts from the 1840 Statistical Account, and a special thank you to Robin Jackson for compiling the many interesting facts that it contains.Its interesting to note the cost of children’s education. The 3Rs cost £1.40 per child per year in days when a teacher was well placed with a salary of £50.00 per annum!)]

The Parish of Drumoak By Robin Jackson

Readers Might like to know that Robin Jackson was commissioned by the Kirk Session of Drumoak Church to write a history of the Parish as one of their Millennium Projects. His book is now published and has been so successful that all copies have been sold!! So aspiring readers will need to beg or borrow a copy to read all about it.

The book is provides a fascinating insight into the history of the parish, the Church, and indeed aspects of Scottish history that are not common knowledge.

There is a tremendous sense of continuity in Drumoak parish illustrated by the unbroken line of ministers going back to 1407 Thirty eight in all - with an average tenure of 16 years.The impact of the reformation and the Presbyserian Church is also beautifully illustrated as is the power of the Kirk Session as amoral force in the land. There are wonderful cameos of the predicaments of erring sinners (presumably the ones who were caught) and the punishments meted out. None the less, besides “religious policing”, the Church made a tremendous impact on the future wellbeing of Scotland by ensuring each parish had a church and a school. - something it can be justly proud of.

The relationships between the local Landowners -

the Heritors - whose unbroken lineage are as long as the ministers, is also beautifully illustrated, and some of Dr Corbet's letters to the owner of Park Estate are very amusing in today's context.

The author has also managed to unearth a fascinating local family, The Gregorys. Their most famous son John ranks amongst the greatest mathematicians of his day as the inventor of calculus.

In summary, the author has taken a great mass of ancient historical archive and produced a very readable account of Drumoak' s past that paints a wonderful picture of the evolution of this small corner of Scotland. If you can get a copy you will find it a rewarding read

Editor

Drumoak and Durris WRI branches meet on the second Monday of each month (excluding July and August). at 7.30p.m. prompt

The Drumoak Branch meets in the small hall at the rear of Drumoak Public Hall. The Durris Branch meets in the Kirkton Hall

Throughout the season, a variety of demonstrations, talks, and entertainment is on hand and all female members of the community and surrounding area are welcome to join us.

At each meeting there are usually 2 competitions to be judged and points earned for the year. At our 'Open Night' in March there are 6 different subjects. Drumoak members also have entries for the Annual Kingswells Group Show, Echt and Banchory Agricultural Shows.

The programme for this quarter is;-Monday 10th September

Craft DemonstrationMonday 8th October

Talk by Local CouncillorMonday 12th November

WRI Birthday Party - Irvine ArmsMonday 10th December

Christmas CraftsMonday 14th January

Members Night (Haggis Neeps & Tatties)

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Lena Sim Drumoak Branch Secretary

Monday 10th September Stitching with flowers

Monday 8th OctoberRadiant Health Programme

Monday 12th NovemberCoping with Extras

Monday 10th December 76th Birthday Inchmarlo Golf Centre

Monday 14th JanuaryBurns Nicht Entertainment - Mr Sandy Reid

Patricia Law Durris Branch Secretary

Drumoak Durris Crathes Bowling Club.

Bowling season progressing well with good attendances at Hat nights.

Dee/Don League matches now completed. Congratulations to the ladies for being Runners up in the League.An open mixed triples competition sponsored by NVC Construction is to be held on 25th /26th August and a mixed pairs competition on the 16th September sponsored by Kevin Strachan. Friendly matches are to be played with Cults & Grandholm. A dance is to be held in the Pavilion on Saturday 15 September Music by club member David Russell. Tickets available from Committee members priced £2. 50 All welcome to attend.The Green closes on Sunday 23rd September, and indoor bowling commences on 26th

September.

Bill Abernethy President

News from the Halls

There is a new committee for the Drumoak Public Hall.

The Chairman is Anthony Hilton.The Treasurer is Nikki Watson, The Secretary is Sally Wight.

Other members of the committee represent a wide group of activitiesKeith Cromar Brian Smith Ian Pirie Duncan Wight Gardon Wall Alex watson and Brian Chalmers.

Their first event was a repeat of last year’s Fun Day. This was a highly successful event - even the weather was impeccably organised and it is understood that the event will have raised around £1500 towards hall refurbishment. Well done!

Forthcoming Hall Committee Events

Drumoak27th October - Casino?Disco evening TBA Halloween Night

Durris29th September Race Night & Disco8th October Doric Concert

1st Drumoak Scout Group

Scouts and Cubs joined Brownies and Guides for a walk up to Cairn mon Earn earlier in the year. Camping has been restricted by Foot & Mouth precautions, though the scouts have managed at least one camp. A small group of scouts went to the Scout water-sports centre at Lochgoilhead, where they engaged in canoeing, sailing, burn-running, hiking, abseiling and other activities.The scouts and cubs meet on Friday evenings. It is hoped to start a Beaver colony soon.

Mark Hagger

Crathes Drumoak & DurrisCommunity Council

New Constitution

Aberdeenshire Council have introduced a new scheme for Community Councils, which gives the councils a little more autonomy and allows them greater financial independence than previously through permitting fund raising for specific projects.

This is a welcome development as it permits Community Councils to develop some longer term projects in their own right, so in future it

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might be easier for CDDCC to run more projects like the footpath to the Glebe.

The new constitution will be introduced at the next AGM on Thursday 15th Nov at Crathes Hall.

There is currently a number of vacancies in the council. (Crathes 1, Drumoak 1 and Durris 1) Anyone interested in serving on it will be very welcome. To obtain further information, please contactHamish Taylor (Crathes) 01330 811 484Donald Keith (Drumoak) 01330 811 763Maureen Watt (Durris) 01330 811 411

Current Planning Issues

60 Additional Houses in Drumoak

There has recently been an application for outline planning permission for 60 additional houses. This outline permission has no details attached to it other than designating two sites, one for 30 houses in the field below the School House, the other -also for thirty houses in the field bounded by the North Deeside Road and Manse Avenue.

CDDCC held a public meeting at which 35 members of the public unanimously agreed to object to the application, and the Community Council therefore written to the Planning Authority to object on behalf of the community.

It should be stressed that this is early days yet, and that the outline application is as a result of the Scottish Executive Reporter’s recommendations in relation to the Consolidated Aberdeenshire Local Plan (CALP). CALP originally designated 10 additional houses, but the objectors made a plea for 60 to fill the two sites which they claimed were really gap sites within the Drumoak Settlement boundary. The Reporter agreed to the objection. Now the Reporter can only make recommendations in this case, and it is up to Aberdeenshire Councillors to decide whether to accept the recommendations in part or in whole.

CDDCC have therefore also written to Aberdeenshire Council to request that they reject the findings of the Reporter in this case. - Watch this space!

Brodie Counrtyfare Shopping Complex

There have been mixed feelings throughout the community on this application On the one hand many welcome the facilities proposed and the potential jobs it will create, on the other hand many more people are concerned at the scale of the venture. In addition existing businesses are concerned that the size and draw of the facilities will ruin their trade. For this reason the Planning Authority required the developer to commission a Retail Impact Assessment (RIA) to establish whether the existing businesses fears were justified.

The study was duly completed and concluded that there would be negligible, and the Planning Authority therefore recommended that the application be approved.

Unfortunately, the RIA contained many flaws in its approach, and the case of negligible impact on local traders was totally discredited.

Again CDDCC are also concerned that the number of exceptions to CALP and its policies are so great that agreement to develop could create a dangerous precedent for development of the fields surrounding the application, resulting in a Westhill type of industrial/retail area on Deeside.

Because of its proximity to Banchory, the Proposal had to be reviewed by the Marr Area Committee prior to being presented for approval to the Kincardine and Mearns Committee. The Marr Area recommended it be rejected, and on the day of the Kincardine and Mearns Committee meeting the RIA and the application were withdrawn from the agenda. watch this space!!

Park Quarry - The Latest

As mentioned in our last issue, Chap Quarries have appealed to the Scottish Executive Reporter’s Office against Aberdeenshire Council’s decision to refuse further expansion of the quarry West of Park Bridge Road.

CDDCC have presented strong arguments against Chap’s stated case for appeal, and for once it seems strange that we are strongly in support of a decision by Aberdeenshire Councillors!

The date for the appeal is not yet announced, but it is heartening to note that against the

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preferences of Chap, and Aberdeenshire Council for written submissions only, the Reporter has decided to have a public enquiry in view of the public interest. This decision is due to the many letters of objection to the appeal that local residents have sent to the reporter. A big thank you to all concerned for writing to the Reporter.

Footpath to the Glebe

The footpath from Drumoak to the Glebe is now in place. Grants came from Scottish Natural Heritage and Paths for All. The latter funded trees and seeds, which help to make the path integrate into the environment more quickly. Thanks also to George Wight and the Cordiner family for allowing use of the land. The Drum Tree Nursery provided some native trees, and the Scouts and the Drumoak Duck Pond group* helped with planting. There are many others who contributed to this modest enhancement of the Drumoak environment. * This group of helpers are part of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)

BTCV Scotland

BTCV Scotland is part of the UK’s largest charity dedicated to practical conservation work. Over 8000 of BTCV 130,000 volunteers carry out traditional conservation activities throughout Scotland each year. They are always looking for new volunteers, so if you are interested read on…….

They work with a whole range of individuals and groups on Nature Reserves, country parks, upland - and lowland- footpaths, traditional buildings, school grounds, canals and rivers. These activities are led by trained conservation professionals and voluntary officers from six area offices or as residential conservation holidays. The Aberdeen office runs a mid-week group which undertakes projects on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week. If you would like to know more about how BTCV can help you or your community become active conservation volunteers and realise local environmental improvements, call 01224 724 884 e-mail Aberdeen@btcv.org.uk or visit their web site www.btcv.org

Neighbourhood Watch

Lesley Moore, Patchways Drumoak is the new Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator.

Lesley is still finding her feet and will have more to say in our next edition. In the meantime she would remind us all that Neighbourhood Watch is the foundation to keep crime away from Drumoak. It is not nosiness and prying on each others business, but it is keeping an eye on our neighbour’s interests, particularly spotting the strangers in our midst and passing on the information either to the Neighbourhood Watch Wardens - or directly to the Police.

The low crime rates in our area is due in no small measure to Neighbourhood Watch and gives us all a sense of security. Also in these days where post codes mean everything, it also helps to keep all our insurance bills down.

Our local community police officers Jurgen Wahle and Audrey Main have also moved on to other locations and we wish them success in their new assignments. Their replacements have now arrived PC Allan Tennant for Drumoak and PC Kevin Skivington for Durris. We welcome them and hope to hear more from them in further Newsletters. Meanwhile:-

Be vigilant and drive safely!

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