Price £1.30 Issue 35.. June 2009

Strathblane, , , , Auchineden (circulation 1000) [email protected]

Inside • The New “Blane Valley” • Why the “L” Plate? • Your Community Council • MUGA • Summer Fair • Free Energy Audit • Bird Migration • SCDT First Full Year Report • Blane Valley Players • Allotments • Mugdock Music Festival • Community Planning Survey 1

29 Among thae wha’ Gaun awa’ Alison Dryden April 1952 - June 2009 lison Dryden was born in as the principal This was proved, when a tragic on 12 April 1952. She speaker. It is a scene in the play was suddenly Agrew up in Strathblane and went to tribute to her that accompanied with loud cheerful the Strathblane Public School and then on the meeting was music: Alison had pressed the to High. She studied Social Work so well attended wrong button! Her career as a at University, and continued her that there was sound engineer ended at that point. studies at Bangor University in Wales. standing room Alison was more than a fellow She cycled a great deal, even cycling only available. As member of the Heritage Society, she for charity in the Andes Mountains, but was ever the case, became a family friend, enjoying latterly it was because of her interest Alison delivered shopping outings with Alice and in local history she was known. At the an interesting and Ruby. funeral service for her in the parish church informative talk. ‘Even in illness Alison thought Murray O’Donnell gave the following ‘Over the years of others. Alison was instrumental address: we met with many in the placement of a plaque at ‘Someone once said that the really local residents to the war memorial to the memory progressive individuals are those who base speak of days gone by and it was from of local lad Gary Wright. Alison will be their opinions on a profound respect for the such a meeting, with Arthur Muir, that we remembered fondly by the local children past. Alison had that profound respect for discovered that in 1864 there had been a for the assistance she gave to them in their the past in all its aspects, but in particular tragic explosion at the Blanefield Print studies of local history. the history and heritage of the parish of and Dye works. Alison with her usual ‘For the bi-centenary of the church, Strathblane. I shared this interest with zeal, gathered together a full report on Alison researched the history, and was of Alison and, together with Dr Harrison and the incident, and we uncovered an almost great assistance to the church at that time. the late Margaret Campbell, we formed the complete social history of the parish at It has been a pleasure and a privilege Strathblane Heritage Society. that time. So much so, that Lynne Arrol for me, along with many others, to have ‘Our first venture was part of and I were able to set it out as a play, known Alison and I have no doubt that Strathblane Week in 1993. After many performed by the Blane Valley Players in through her work on the history of this weeks of preparation, we held an exhibition the Edmonstone Hall. parish her memory will live on.` of photographs and other items of interest ‘Alison volunteered to operate the Alison is survived by her sister Joan, in the Kirkrooms. One evening that week, sound system. As many of us know Alison her brother Michael and sister-in-law Hilda we had a talk on the parish, with Alison and gadgets did not seem to go together. and her nephews Michael and Laurie.

Malcolm RITCHIE Diary Dates jUNE 1920 - mAY 2009 Village clean-up 10.00–3.00, phone 01786 442971 Geoffrey Phillips for details

any older members of our Community Council community remember with 3 Aug, 7.30, Village Club Maffection and respect Mr Ritchie 7 Sept, 7.30, School who was our Minister here from 1969 to 1982. As aptly described at his recent, Back to School inspiring, funeral service at Tayvallich, he 18 August was a gracious giant with a bone-crushing handshake and the broadest of smiles. Carbon Neutral Group Mr Ritchie came to us from his 20 Aug, 8.00, phone 771613 for first church in Broughty Ferry, having venue previously worked amongst children with the Scripture Union. This followed active Gardening Club service in the army throughout the war 18 Sept, 7.30, Kirkrooms (working his way from private to captain) the churches in Strathblane and Blanefield and serving across North Africa and in the together with those of neighbouring Heritage Society Italian campaign, including the siege of parishes. 16 Sept, 7.30, Village Clu Monte Casino. He was an avid collector of anything He was constantly to be seen moving that ‘might be useful’ and the contents of The Blane is thinking of having a round the villages on an ancient upright his garage were a revelation. When a city regular Diary Dates column that we bicycle, stopping to speak to anyone he church was being demolished, Mr Ritchie can synchronise with the What’s chanced to meet and offering a helping rescued from the builders skip a very On page on the village website. If hand in any way possible. He was involved old, dusty lecture bible, which he sent to you’d like to include the date of your in many village activities, was a trustee of for expert identification. It proved own event or club meeting, please both Edmonstone Hall and Village Club, to be a second edition of the King James get in touch with the editor, Mike a founder member of the Community (Authorised) version 1613: four years Fischbacher, on 01360 770716 or at Association, and an enthusiastic supporter older than the much prized lecture bible of [email protected]. of Strathblane Week. Cathedral. It is now in the expert The deadline for the September issue Malcolm Ritchie arrived soon after the care of the Glasgow University Special is 20 August. expansion of Blanefield, with well over 100 Collection. children in the Sunday school, meeting in In 1983 he accepted a call to become Edmonstone Hall and in the Church itself. Minister of Kilbrandon and Kilchatten He was quickly involved in the planning, in his much-loved Argyll, and the large village club construction and finally, in 1973, opening attendance at his final service here at If you want to book the Village Club for of the Kirkrooms, which have proved such Strathblane demonstrated the regard and an event, Elspeth Posnett will take your a blessing to both church and community. affection in which he, and his wife Heather booking. Contact her at 5 Kirkhouse He had a great interest in the history of were held. Avenue, tel. 01360 770113. 2 THE BLANE VALLEY INN moves up a gear

Cawley Hotels (Duck to develop it in a way that will appeal Bay and the Hungry to wider sectors of the community. The Monk). In addition to the beer garden will undergo improvements challenges of bringing up two small boys with Annabel, Stuart is a passionate snowboarder and golfer, although these pastimes are ‘on hold’ at the moment! Stuart’s vast knowledge of the industry and well-known face with suppliers and reps has made for a very speedy transfer of business. He is keen to establish new relationships and build on existing ones with The 1940s.....Then local suppliers to ensure customers pay fair prices for good quality food and drink. any readers will have noticed Stuart, David and Mark are the in recent months the ‘To Lease’ ‘backbone’ of the operation. His brother Msign fixed to the Blane Valley David has wide and varied managerial Inn. Some will also know the inn is now experience in the hotel and catering trade. in new hands and open for business again Mark, the chef, was formally trained at following a couple of days of closure. Cameron House and more recently moved to become a sous chef for Cawley Hotels...... And Now! Stuart plans to take on additional part-time staff as the summer approaches. When and there are plans to offer breakfast and Stuart took over the lease in early May a few morning coffee/cakes as well as take- very energetic days were spent by family away options, possibly even introducing and friends giving the premises a makeover a late-night menu. He’s keen to develop in preparation for the formal opening. The links with local groups, continue the ever- inside of the building was freshened up, popular Thursday quiz night, and host live minor repairs carried out; the ceilings and entertainment, TV ‘specials’ and any other walls were painted etc. events of interest to the community. Stuart has invested in new equipment Stuart’s prime goal is to create a such as a six-range cooker, industrial relaxed, friendly atmosphere where The Grays fridges and freezer, glass washer and everyone in the community feels welcome, glassware. New crockery and cutlery will be they regulars, passing tourists, families The building is well over 100 years old be purchased in the forthcoming months. or walkers. Whether they want hearty and has changed ownership several times. A There are plans for major improvements to pub grub, a thirstquenching pint or just forester at Carbeth Guthrie established it in the toilets, outside décor, ambient lighting, good friendly banter, Stuart and his team the 1850s. He built a small shop and house furnishings, baby-changing and audio- will oblige! Everyone is assured of good in Netherton which subsequently became a visual facilities. Several of these will have quality, fresh, home-made food and a wide public house known as the Netherton Inn. been completed by the time this issue range of drinks. Stuart is also determined In 1880 an Archibald Glendinning became of The Blane is published. Belhaven has to support and work alongside other local the occupier of the inn. It was taken over by pledged to support these and other changes businesses and this is already happening to Robert and Sigrid Gray in the late 1930s. in order to bring the Blane Valley in line everybody’s benefit. Most important, a very They passed it on to Collie and Emily Gray with top quality village pubs elsewhere in warm welcome will greet everyone when in 1957. The building was noted at the time the locality. they visit the Blane Valley. for the mock Tudor wooden decoration at In the short time Stuart, David and If anyone has suggestions for change the front of the building, but Collie Gray Mark have been at the helm, business has or development they can be confident removed this when the wood deteriorated exceeded all expectations and feedback Stuart will listen carefully and do his best and became too costly to replace. from customers has been wholly upbeat, to accommodate their ideas. In a nutshell, In the mid-1980s ownership passed to especially the ambiance and pleasant Stuart wants to provide everyone in the Alan Hamilton, who changed the name welcome that greets customers when community with what they expect from a from the Netherton Inn to the Blane Valley they walk through the door. Such positive traditional village pub. Inn. He also converted a large dresser left comments have by the Grays into a new bar – and it’s still given the boys great there today! He kept the inn for a couple of encouragement! The years before it was purchased by Jack and Blane Valley continues Helen Crawford who ran it for about 15 to attract locals who years. They sold it to Belhaven Brewery frequented it before about five years ago and their daughter Stuart took over, but in Helen took on the lease. addition, many other The new landlord is Stuart Cranna. local people and new Stuart comes from Alexandria but now customers from outside lives in Strathblane with Annabel and their the village have been two young boys Fraser and Robbie. Stuart drawn to it. has a wealth of experience in the hotel and Stuart is committed catering trade. He has worked as manager for to retaining the inn’s various reputable establishments including character and function as the Ubiquitous Chip, the Kirkhouse Inn and a village pub, but wishes David Mark Stuart 3 COMMUNITY STRATHBLANEFIELD COMMUNITY PLANNING DEVELOPMENT TRUST SURVEY Our first full year report Jeremy Quinn, Lowland Market Research George Thom, Chair, SCDT residents will be able to get a free audit and advice visit to help them work out the best n the autumn of this year you will have e held our first AGM in the way to reduce heating costs and reduce your chance to give your views on Village Club on 17 June to report carbon emissions. IBlanefield and Strathblane as a place to back to our members and the The accounts were presented and live and how you would like to see the area W community on our first successful year. approved, showing a small profit for the in the future. So what have we done? year. The Strathblanefield Community As you may remember most of the work The Board of Directors were Development Trust (SCDT), working done for the Trust is done through working reappointed apart from one resignation: together with the community council and groups of volunteers. You can read more Forrest Robertson is leaving the Board, the local authority, has commissioned an about our activities in our Annual Report, for personal and business reasons. Many independent market research company which is on the village website. thanks for your contribution to date, called Lowland Market Research to We have raised over £130,000 so far Forrest. undertake a programme of consultation with for a variety of projects, including the Next year we will be concentrating the residents of Blanefield and Strathblane. free energy audit and advice project, the on the energy project and the community This research will ask people’s opinions community planning survey, the energy survey. The survey should be completed about the area at the moment, what people debate and fair, funding for the Blane, and by the new year and will give the Board want the village to be like in the future, the MUGA. information that will influence our future including their priorities and goals for the During the meeting we had a business plan. The Board are keen to see area, and how this should happen. presentation from Ian Brown of Solas, the Trust established with an independent The main element of the research which is our partner on the energy audit source of income and useful social will be a questionnaire distributed to all and advice project. Over the winter all purpose. households with the next issue of The A great deal of thanks are due to a Blane. number of people The SCDT need your views so that who have helped your expectations for the future of the area us during the are clearly understood and the Trust can year, including take them on board. The questionnaire will Pam Campbell of be your chance to influence how the Trust Stirling Council will operate and to contribute to the factors and Rebecca Vivers which will guarantee a positive outcome of Keep for the village. Beautiful. The success of this consultation is We look forward dependent on your support and commitment to another successful and we would appreciate your co-operation year ahead. in completing the questionnaire and your continuing support as the project rolls out.

STRATHBLANE Enjoying a cup of tea at the MUGA Trust’s AGM

Linda Barclay increase the level of participation in Trust. A further £9,000 has been raised sports; improve performance across by the local community through a n the last issue of The Blane the Parent all demographics; and provide more sponsored Race for Kids; a Community Council of Strathblane Primary School organised and effective access to higher Summer Fair; and commitments from Iinvited residents to take part in a survey quality sporting facilities. We believe the Strathblane Primary Parent Council to determine the strength and breadth that this will promote health and fitness; and the Strathblane Out of School Care of support for a Multi Use Games Area increase the sense of community; provide programme. We believe that community (MUGA). There was a 12% response rate, a much-needed facility for the local school, involvement is paramount to the success which is above the average response rate other organisations and individuals; and of this project and that the raising of local of 10% for this type of survey. Feedback enhance the Strathblane area. funds has demonstrated the commitment can be classed as very positive, with 91% There have been aspirations for a of the community. We have recently of people either strongly supporting or MUGA for the community for many years, applied to Sportscotland for a further 50% supporting the MUGA; 5% were neutral but the project fell into abeyance for some of the funds and have identified potential and 4% were opposed. This confirms an time after the departure of the original sources for the remaining 20% that can be original survey by the Parent Council organiser. January 2009 marked the start applied for over the next several months. wherein parents rated a MUGA as their of a completely new initiative with no Feedback from Sportscotland should top priority for community development. established funding, but progress has been be received by the end of July and, if the The plan would be to install a MUGA rapid. We have successfully negotiated response is positive, a meeting will be adjacent to the school that would provide with Stirling Council, who owns the land, organised with the local residents in early an all-weather sports facility. The area and have established three locations where September to discuss the development of would be floodlit to provide extended use the MUGA could be positioned. the MUGA and to address any outstanding over the winter months, but only until We have about 30% of the funding issues and concerns about the facility. 9:00 pm to limit possible noise and light for the project, including a provisional This is an exciting project for the pollution affecting local residents. grant of £15,000 from the Stirling community of Strathblane and we count on The primary goals of creating a MUGA Council Local Community Development your continued support and encouragement are to increase the range of sporting Fund (LCDF) and £5,000 from the in the pursuit of this quality sport facility activities available to the local community; Clackmannanshire Stirling Environmental for our village. 4 Free energy audit and advice Ian Brown, Solas Insulation of the Strathblanefield Community Development Trust aiming to reduce he Blane Valley Carbon Neutral carbon emissions and to establish a more Group (BVCNG) are delighted to sustainable lifestyle in our community. Solas Insulation Limited announce that their bid for funding The plan includes recruiting the project fromT the Climate Challenge Fund for staff from within the community. They Energy Auditors an energy audit and advice project has will be trained and gain qualifications been approved. The group, working so they can carry out both the audit and / Advisors in conjunction with -based advice work.’ Temporary Posts community business Solas Insulation, put The project will start in the autumn, (2) together a proposal to offer a free energy with recruitment starting in July or August. Vacancies will become available audit to all local households and to follow The posts will allow for flexible working for the Strathblanefield project up with energy advice where required and but will have to include some working in in July or early August. Some free or subsidised insulation measures. the evenings and weekends. Training will evening and weekend working will The project will also provide a be provided before any work commences. be required but the hours will be thermal image of one of the main walls Although the work is local it is anticipated flexible. Training will be provided of the house. ‘The thermal images that we that the recruits will be required to drive (a prior to starting the project. No prior produce graphically demonstrate how a company vehicle will be provided). experience is required. Hourly rate house loses heat,’ said Ian Brown, Solas’s If you think you might be interested of around £6.50. Chief Executive. ‘We hope that using this in one of the posts drop Ian Brown an Applicants should hold a full exciting new technology will encourage email at [email protected] to express your current driving licence. people to get involved with the project.’ interest or write to him at Solas Insulation Phone 01389 734414 and ask George Thom, chair of the BVCNG Ltd, Westonlea House, 41 Bonhill Road, for Carol Ferrie. explains, ‘The BVCNG is a sub-group Dumbarton, G82 2DL. Solas Insulation Ltd is an equal opportunities employer.

CARBON NEUTRAL GROUP

Mary Brailey boiler that provided all the heating and hot water, and another with its own micro- he big news from the Carbon Neutral hydro scheme. Group is that the Climate Challenge Another community that is making TFund has awarded us, in the name great strides in cutting its carbon footprint, of the Community Development Trust, a Comrie in Perthshire, hosted a Climate grant of £106,885 for the village energy Change Conference at the start of June. audit and advice project. You can read No-one from the group could make this about this in Ian Brown’s article. event, but Strathblane was represented by Stirling Council is in the process the community council’s Philip Graves, of reviewing the local plan, and we who came back with lots of ideas. have followed up our initial carbon- Closer to home, we had a visit from cutting suggestions with a meeting with Steve Macken, who told us about what Elaine Fotheringham from the planning the Gartocharn Community Renewable department. We have sent in eight specific Energy Group is doing, and also about ‘expressions of interest’, which are about Part of a mini-hydro plant built in the the building of his own energy efficient renewable energy generation; energy 1970s to produce power for a house home. You can read his blog at http:// efficiency standards for new homes; getting eastcambusmoon.blogspot.com. developers to make a contribution to the reviving the ‘centre ville’ idea; and village We’ve also been out and about eco-infrastructure; encouraging local allotments (see Andrew Sharpe’s article) spreading the word in the village. Brian businesses to reduce travel to work; a cycle with communal composting and food Rae visited the school as part of its path; taking steps to preserve the option waste processing. If you are interested in Environment Day on 15 May. He talked of reinstating the old railway line from getting involved in making any of these to more than 70 Primary 5s, 6s and 7s, Lennoxtown to Strathblane, Blanefield things happen, please get in touch with explaining about carbon footprints, and and beyond to and Balfron; us. We have already started working on they even did their own investigation a local food strategy and online. Elizabeth Normand and Mary a feasibility study for Brailey have been on the compost trail, community renewable with a talk to the Gardening Club and a energy and would love stall at the school’s Summer Fayre. to have more people on Group meetings are usually held on board. the third Thursday of each month, in It’s always heartening each other’s homes. Minutes and other to find out what other information are on the village website. communities are doing, Contact us via [email protected] and we had a stimulating or phone 771613. trip to the Fintry Renewable Energy Show (FRESH) on 8 May. It was amazing what individuals have been doing to The next issue will be in generate their own power. September 2009. The deadline We visited one house for articles is 20 August. A Fintry resident puts his giant wood burning stove through with a log-eating giant its paces of a wood-burning 5 1st STRATHBLANE GUIDES Jane McCallum We’ve had several evenings of craft activities including making American Lynn Wishart, Guide Leader nother year has flown by and we flags and posters for this year’s school fair/ find ourselves getting ready for gala day. We were very impressed with t was with a sad heart that I, and Asummer holidays when it feels as how good the flags looked once strung up everyone involved with the Guides, winter has just left us! This time of year with bunting in the school hall. Apologies said goodbye to Paula Grant who has is always busy with school trips, dancing go to all the mums, though, for the paint- I decided to step down as my ‘right hand’ displays and long evenings keeping the covered uniforms that are an inevitable in the Guides. Paula has worked very hard Brownies busy. However we’ve managed side-effect of any painting activity! over the last four years in all aspects of to have a busy and varied programme with At the end of every session we say Guiding and the girls and I will certainly something for all the girls. goodbye to some of our older Brownies miss her. Thank you Paula, and enjoy your We started back after Easter with a trip and welcome in the new girls, and this is Thursday evenings. to where we tried no exception. Alice, Grace, Heather and Congratulations to Beth Grant, Sara our hand at orienteering. The park rangers Holly are leaving us and so we wish them Gibson, Julie Ross and Eilidh Howell for are always very helpful and enthusiastic all the best as they move up to Guides or being awarded the Baden Powell Award. so once again this was a very enjoyable continue with other activities. We’ll miss These girls have worked really hard over evening with no-one getting lost! you! However, we’d like to welcome Anya, the last couple of years and Paula and I are The weather was kind to us once again Emma, Jeannie and Stella, who had their extremely proud of everything they have during the annual village clean-up. There promise celebration recently and are now achieved. The Baden Powell Award is the was the usual disappointment at how little ‘proper’ Brownies. We hope you enjoy highest award a girl can achieve in the litter there was for us to collect, although your time with us. Guides. we tried hard to point out that this is a good Finally we say a big thank you to all the I would like to wish all the girls an thing! As this was a sponsored event, we parent helpers, but in particular to Ruth, enjoyable summer and I hope to see them raised some money which went towards Joyce and Tanya for their help over the again in August. If you would like to come the end-of-session party on 9 June. year. They have been an invaluable asset along and see what Guides get up to, why Thanks to everyone who gave a donation to Claire and me. Sadly for us, Joyce will not come and find out – you may wish to or sponsored the Brownies. Your support no longer be available to help out after the stay. is always appreciated. summer, so we are once again looking for The great early June weather meant we volunteers to help out on a regular basis. If were able to go to the park for a run-around you are available to help, or your daughter and a game of rounders. Several Brownies is interested in joining Brownies please Why not advertise your were overheard saying that this was ‘the contact Claire (771816) or Jane (771281). business in The Blane? best Brownies EVER’! It’s amazing what We look forward to seeing everyone next Contact the editor for details session and wish you all a great summer! an effect some warm weather and sunshine at theblane@strathblanefield. has! org.uk

BLANE VALLEY PLAYERS

Joyce Ward he Blane Valley Players would like to thank everyone who came to our Joanna Lynch Tshow on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 May. We are always looking for lovely a l f r o n warm weather, but in fact it was too warm! B a r r a c u d a s Our play ‘Curses, Foiled Again’ by BSwimming Club Evelyn Hood was a great success, and was founded in 2007 although Billie and Phillip were roasted in as a recreational club their wigs this did not stop them playing based at Balfron High their parts with gusto. Jill Allardice gave School. There are presently 64 children awards for several swimmers. In the final a wonderful performance and Joyce swimming on Mondays and/or Saturdays, race of the day, the relay team came fifth Simpson and Martin Arrol were excellent. coached by former out of 12 teams, which was a fantastic The Variety Show, compared by Jim pupil Hatty Floyd and three assistants. result for the club’s first swimming gala. Wilson, was splendid and all the acts On Sunday 31 May some of the club For further details please contact the were just great. On Saturday evening swimmers entered their first Graded Meet club via email at: info@balfronbarracudas. the local Pipe Band rushed back from an swimming gala, held by the Trojan Club org.uk or visit the club website at www. earlier engagement and just made it in at Whitburn, swimming against 13 other balfronbarracudas.org.uk. time to finish off the show with a stirring clubs. The day was a great experience for performance. swimmers, their families and supporters, I wish to thank everyone for buying and coaches. The club came away with tickets and raffle tickets and to thank the a handful of medals: Patrick Lynch with village businesses for donating raffle prizes. a gold in 50m backstroke and fifth place To contact Stirling Council, The Blane Valley Players were delighted in freestyle, Shona Michie with a gold in phone 0845 277 7000 to give the proceeds of the show to Leanne 50m breaststroke,and a 4th in freestyle email: [email protected] Peters to help her on her way to the Special and sixth in butterfly, a silver medal for Olympics. A cheque for £550 has been Rachel Morris in 50m freestyle and other given to Leanne. 6 TENNIS CLUB NEWS BALFRON WILD WOLVES Graeme Ross even more pressure of places than ever before. We are intending to run autumn HOCKEY CLUB oorah!! It’s finished. The courts coaching starting from around mid- have finally had their new lick of August, so if you are interested, speak to Graeme Ross H(expensive) paint and are looking Sally Gray (771031) sooner rather then just tickety boo. We have gone for a new later. he club has been running along nicely two-tone colour scheme of green on green Both teams are out competing in with good attendance from over and it looks very natural in the beautiful the summer leagues at the moment and 60 players. There is always a high hopefully we can bring some measure of T surroundings. I have been fortunate to play level of energy and enthusiasm on view at most of the clubs in the district and some glory to the village. Even if that is not the and the skill levels have been improving beyond, and I would have to say that we case, we should all be a little fitter (and quite a bit too. We took part in a three club have the second best location in terms of more tanned) at the end of the season than competition at the new Forthbank stadium natural beauty of any that I have been at. we were at the start. in Stirling recently, and enjoyed playing on We are only pipped by an extraordinary We hope to organize another Jazz Night the water-based pitch that they have there. It court on the island of Harris that has to be for later in the year. These are always very was a great fun occasion and even featured played on to be believed. lively nights in the Edmonstone Hall and a kids versus parents match at the end that As I write, we are just experiencing the also very important fundraisers for the produced high levels of industry on both first real burst of summer heat. The long club. We may change the format a little, sides. range forecast is for an excellent season, but with few live events in the village We continue to train on Tuesday so hopefully we will get great use from the during the year, it is definitely one to watch evenings at the astra pitch at Balfron High new flat pristine courts. out for. School. All ages from P5 upwards are The summer coaching programme has As ever, all welcome to the club. welcome to come along and try out the been running since just before Easter, with Contact Graeme on 771571. game. Contact Graeme on 771571. THE BLANE STRATHBLANEFIELD SUMMER WOMEN’S FAIR 2009 RURAL Traci Leven, Chair, Strathblane Strathblane Community Development Primary Fundraisers Trust, Richardson Murray (hair/beauty Morag Roy salon), Glasgow Science Centre, the n Saturday 23 May, the Kirkhouse Inn and Edenmill Farm. he AGM of the Blane Women’s Strathblanefield community We must also give special thanks to Rural was held on Thursday 21 May, enjoyed a wonderful American- Lorna Ash, Lynne James from Strathblane Twhen a new committee for session themedO summer fair. The Strathblane Library, The Strathblane Gardening Club, 2009/2010 was elected. Retiring President Primary Fundraisers worked together Marian Hole from Traidcraft, Angel Wines, Jean Shaw (pictured below on right, with with the Strathblanefield Community Anne Balfour from The Herald, Wendy Mary Marshall on left) was made an Development Trust to host a fantastic Ross from The Old Mill, Mrs Littler, Honorary President in appreciation of the all-day event. The day kicked off with a Ruth Reynolds, Breeze Gardiner, Scouts, hard work done by her on behalf of the sponsored race for the primary school Guides, Strathendrick Pipe Band, and to Rural for many years. pupils which raised money for the all the bands (The Elderly Brothers, The The trophy for the overall winner of community MUGA (Multi-Use Games Buffs, The Wizny Meez, Psychoattractive, the monthly competitions was presented Area) project. This was followed by an Jimmy Richard, Painfish, Megan Reid and to Marion Tyson with Marjorie Shephard American-themed parade. Honour Kills). We are also grateful to all receiving the cup for second place. At the primary school, there was a wide the school staff who supported the event, A small ‘bring and buy sale’ raised variety of activities including trade and with a special mention to Carolyn Randall over £40 to help the Rural’s funds. craft stalls, storytelling, beauty treatments, and Stuart Thom. The evening’s work over, the ‘tea games stalls, inflatables, pony rides and Not only was this an enjoyable event, ladies’ treated all members to an excellent delicious American food. This was very but we were delighted to raise around supper. well attended and greatly enjoyed by all, £4,000 which will go towards the school The first meeting of the next session despite some very heavy showers! Later, and the MUGA project. will be in September when we hope to see the Edmonstone Hall was host to a music You can see pictures of the fair on the new faces joining the ‘old’ faces. festival aimed at a teenage audience, with centre pages. Please come along and support your some fabulous young unsigned bands. In local Rural – you do not have to bake, sew the evening, we enjoyed more summer- or knit, and the programmes are varied like weather with a barbeque, and we were and very interesting. Come as a visitor if treated to some fantastic music by local cull reduces you cannot come every month. bands while the children were entertained DEER DAMAGE at a cinema. It was heartening to see all ages of the community come together and have a thoroughly good he deer cull that has been taking time! place over the past year has led We are indebted to the tireless Tto fewer accidents on the local Linda Barclay who was the driving roads and some encouraging signs of force behind the day, together with regeneration in the woods of Mugdock her vast team of helpers from the Country Park, according to the park’s school and the community. Also, we Ian Arnott. But the word is that local are hugely grateful to the sponsors residents have so far seen no dramatic who so generously contributed to the reduction in visits by Bambi and his day: Strathblane Out of School Care, numerous relatives! Pestle & Mortar, Browns, Drivers should remain vigilant, Minimart, West Coast Controls though, and report any deer-related Company (Jim MacPherson), accidents to the police. Blane Valley Inn, Stirling Council, 7 BIRD MIGRATION DHL winters. and achieved an average speed of 80 kph! Overall it has been estimated that some The bird lost 55% of its body weight on this have already referred briefly to bird 200 species migrate from Europe to Africa leg of the journey. It stayed in China for six migration in some previous articles. Let and back each year. weeks to regain its pre-flight weight before Ius now take a more formal look at this Why go to all the effort to migrate? The embarking upon a further direct (non-stop) miracle of life on earth. obvious answer is to maintain adequate food flight of some 5,000 km to the Kuskokwim Defining bird migration is the subject supplies throughout the long winter months river delta in Alaska, arriving at its of some debate in academic circles. when these may be scarce in northern breeding grounds on 6 May. By a miracle Most people now use the term to refer latitudes. Then why not stay and breed in its little transmitter survived the breeding to any regular organised movement of a the pleasant southern region? Again the season and remained functioning for the species from one answer is probably that this return journey which was if anything even place to another area will have inadequate food more amazing. This bird left Alaska on excepting only daily supplies to sustain a breeding 29 August and eight days later landed in movements for programme. For an insectivore Miranda beach near Auckland some 12,000 feeding or sleeping, especially, the delights of the km south at an average speed of 60 kph. however long these huge bounties of midges and This is the longest recorded migration of may be. With this other culinary delights during any land-based bird on Earth. Godwits can definition, migratory our Scottish summers provide a easily live for 20 years or more; I’ll leave journeys may vary major attraction to flying north you to estimate their lifetime migration in length from again for the summer. mileage. short – the descent Given that this movement It seems little short of miraculous that of ptarmigan from Arctic Tern takes place on a regular basis such a habit could arise, given the almost their summer breeding grounds on high how do these small birds achieve such a insurmountable hazards to which the birds mountain tops to lower hills in wintertime, prodigious feat? The final answer to this must be exposed during their fantastic feat a matter of a few thousand feet of height still eludes us. Some birds fly by day and of endurance. Yet each year the bays of loss and often only several miles of rest at night; others fly by night and rest New Zealand, with their largely untapped distance traversed – to the spectacular by day; and some fly both day and night to and plentiful food supply, are filled with journeys of the Arctic tern which breeds reach their destination. Some fly in flocks some 80,000 of these long-distance from Scotland north to far above the Arctic and others travel singly or in small groups. migrants enjoying the relatively peaceful Circle and spends the northern winters off Some young birds are guided by adults on surroundings for a few precious months the pack ice in Antarctica, a direct annual the journey and others – notably the cuckoo of rest. These birds are monogamous and round trip of over 35,000 km! – have to face the journey alone as they about 90% return each year. How do they Some species are partial migrants, have never even set eyes on their natural find their way across the restless Pacific for example the Common Redshank, parents, having been raised by surrogate and then find their mate once again? The a noisy medium sized wader usually birds. There appears to be no single pattern consensus is that they must navigate by resident (i.e. non-migratory) in the UK. to migration, with each species finding its the sun and the stars. Experimental work Its Scandinavian cousins breed further own solution to the challenge. has also shown that migratory birds are north, in Norway and Sweden, and migrate Before setting out on their migration sensitive to the earth’s magnetic fields and southwards to spend the winter on the most species eat furiously to put on their brains contain a small quantity of shores of the Mediterranean and coastal substantial quantities of fat to fuel their magnetite, an iron compound which could Spain and Portugal. Unusually one species, journey. This is especially important for move slightly in response to magnetic the Quail, a very secretive small member those species that migrate over oceans. One forces. The possibility that this plays a part of the grouse family occasionally reported of the most spectacular migrations seen in in the great navigation is still being studied. from south and east Scotland, comes north the world today was discovered in 2007 Suffice it to say that the great mystery from its wintering grounds in Africa and by ornithologists in New Zealand. They of migration should also be accompanied breeds in Southern Europe in spring, then studied a widespread common wader – the by a sense of wonder at what some tiny some members continue further north in Bar-tailed Godwit (about the size of a small birds can achieve during the course of summer to have another clutch of eggs in Curlew or large Redshank) – which breeds their everyday lives. So when next you see in the circumpolar regions of Eurasia and a migratory warbler as you walk around America. Some 10,000 of these delightful your garden, watch the swallows cavorting birds winter on our shores here in Scotland, overhead in the evening light or see a mainly in Orkney, along the Moray Firth Godwit down the Clyde in wintertime, and the East Coast. These birds breed in give the phenomenal feats these wee birds northern Scandinavia and Western Russia. perform a thought and be glad that all you Several of their cousins breeding in western need do to find food and shelter is pay the Alaska migrate to spend the northern rent or mortgage and call past Brown’s and winter resting in the bays of New Zealand or Tesco’s every so often! This should put around Miranda, Auckland in North Island the recession in proper perspective. and the Heathcote-Avon estuary near Christchurch in South Island. Lesser Black Backed Gull How they achieved this spectacular feat was not fully understood. But Britain and the southern Baltic countries. scientists recently captured several Another type of migration is called examples and wired them up with differential migration, in which some a small radio transmitter which members of the species move much further could send signals to a geostationary than others. An example of this would be satellite and permit tracking them to the Lesser Black Backed Gull, in which find their route and how long their trip juveniles tend to migrate much further took to complete. The results were south in winter than the adults reaching truly amazing. One female bird left West African coasts. Moreover some of its winter grounds in New Zealand the UK adults in our own area are now and flew non-stop across the Eastern avoiding migration and over-wintering in Pacific Ocean for 10,200 km to an the Clyde basin – a feature which has only intermediate stop in Yalu Jiang in Bar Tailed Godwit been seen in the last decade or so of mild China. The flight took some 144 hours 8 WHy the L plate?

he cover photograph was taken by Maurice Lee from his kitchen window in Southview Drive. However, Twhen he took it there was no L plate on the tree branch, but such is the magic of digital photography. The L plate is there to show that this is a ‘learner edition’. Mike was unable to produce the June issue and Mary Brailey and Alastair Smith have seized the opportunity to test their skills at doing the job. They are trying to master the software, Adobe Indesign, and this is the result of their first efforts. The phrase ‘how do you ...?” was frequently heard as this edition was being compiled and Mike was required to effect quite a few corrections. Comments can be sent or e-mailed to the usual address, but the negative ones will probably end up in the ‘recycle bin’!

The village energy audit will take thermal images like this, to show where our homes Water lily: a photo produced by Jonathan at a photography workshop (see back page) are losing heat. village clean-up all smiles at the Sunday 26 July 10 – 3 Spring Fair ere is your chance to give something back to the local environment by Hgiving some time and energy to a part of the village in need of TLC. Free tea and biscuits will be provided. Organised by the Council’s Countryside Team. Details will be advertised nearer the time. Call 01786 442971 to book.

Where Am I?

Gardening Club helpers look happy after their most successful plant sale ever, at the Answer on page 12 Spring Fair on 25 April. The Fair raised £1,966 for charities Water Aid and Crossroads 9 10 11 Strathendrick Pipe Band wo recent photos show our local pipe band in action. T The band’s first appearance at a piping competition for many years was at Helensburgh in the beautiful surroundings of the Hermitage Park (right). They came third out of six in the Grade 4 category and third out of four in the harder Grade 3 category, beating their best expectations. They then joined other bands in a noisy and triumphant procession down the main road into the centre of Helensburgh. Below, we see the band at Duntreath on the Open Day on 6 June.

Burns Club Gordon Posnett

On 5 June the club took 23 pupils from P6 of Strathblane Primary School, to The Burns Experience in Alloway. They were shown a film depicting the characters in ‘Tam O’Shanter’ within the Burns Experience complex. After their sandwich lunch we went to the Old Kirk of Alloway, Tam’s Brig over the Doon Water and to the Burns Monument. Thereafter we went to Burns Cottage where yet another film was shown of Burns’ Life. Afterwards the children looked throughout the cottage for ideas for their artwork project, and we returned to the school by 3 pm. The artwork project was then judged by Alastair Smith, the President. The 1st prize was given to Isobel Gray and the runner-up was Liamh Peddie. The book n 15 May the Blane Valley Burns took the vacant position of Secretary. prizes were given out at the prizegiving

Club held its AGM in the Village Two new committee members were on 25 June by Alastair Smith and Elspeth

OClub. There were 18 people in elected, Tom Craigie and Ken Campbell, Posnett. attendance. The President, Gordon Posnett and so the committee comprises them and detailed what had taken place in the last George Eastcroft, Michael O’Neill, John A

year and then handed his presidency over Donohoe, Alan Morris, Alan Robertson Where am I?

to Alastair Smith. Alastair also retained and Keith Hyam. The meeting closed and Manse the from position of Treasurer, and Gordon Posnett all went for dinner at the Kirkhouse Inn. down Track, Cycle the of start the t 12 Mountain Rescue without further incident but once winter daylight hours wandering around there it became obvious that only trying to find a way out but to no avail. His four wheel drive vehicles would wife raised the alarm later that night and the be able to get through the heavy team spent the night searching for him on snow. Police officers volunteered the mountain and in the forest. At first light, to run a shuttle service for the team we were joined in the search by the Ochils members without 4x 4 vehicles Mountain Rescue Team plus additional dog from to . handlers. The gentleman was found mid- The rescue itself was carried out in morning, tired and hungry wandering along near blizzard conditions with low a forestry road. He was none the worse for cloud and strong winds. By mobile wear after his two nights in the forest. phone, the casualties had said they There have been a number of callouts had descended the east side of the recently on due to people mountain but added they could becoming very tired and disorientated Martin McCallum make out flashing orange lights (a gritter on while descending the mountain. Some he team has been kept quite busy over the A82 on the far side of the loch). This have managed ‘self-rescue’ and returned the past few months with the majority gave us a better clue to where they were. A from the hill being given advice by mobile of the rescues concentrated on Ben brief lift in the clouds allowed us to pinpoint phone. Others have required the team T their position, enabling the team to direct to find and rescue them, including the Lomond, and each rescue has been unique in its own way. a Navy rescue helicopter uplift them. They need for helicopter evacuation. What is Late one February evening we had a were then dropped off at Rowardennan. interesting is that these people have not set call to search Ben Lomond for two male As the casualties were now safe, we out on their walk until later in the day, with walkers. Most will recall that we had snow all returned to Rowardennan and began the impending or actual loss of daylight in February and this particular Sunday was our retreat back along the lochside road. becoming a major contributory factor. one of the days when there was a substantial Just around Cashel we were brought to a Finally, in March, the team was involved snowfall late into the day, with the heaviest standstill by a car stuck on a hill. The car’s for several days in the search for a local snow coinciding with the time the alert oocupants got out and were identified as the Blanefield man. This was a most difficult came through. I was first to the rescue two hillwalkers we had rescued earlier. The time for those involved in the search and for post in and collected our new second ‘rescue’ of the night then began as the community and our thoughts are with four wheel drive transit van and started off we removed their car to the side of the road his family. towards Rowardennan. and gave them a lift home in one of the team TOP TIP Conditions were very difficult with slow Land Rovers. The gentlemen lost on Ben Lomond speeds and lots of engine braking required Later in March we had another in the snow in February had a couple of but just past Millarochy Bay, on a steep hill, unusual callout to Ben Lomond at 1 am ‘technical’ failures. The first was a flat the vehicle began to lose traction and slow on a Friday morning. On the preceding torch battery (I think I’ve gone on about this down. About three quarters of the way up Wednesday, a walker left Rowardennan enough! Check the batteries are working the hill I lost traction completely and began to walk to via the shoulder and carry a spare.) The second was the to slide backwards down the hill. I had of Ben Lomond but did not arrive at his loss of a pair of reading glasses by the only visions of the shiny new vehicle rolling over destination. He managed to complete the person who was capable of map reading and thought of how I was going to explain traverse of the mountain but became lost and navigation. If you are totally reliant on this to the rest of the team. Fortunately in the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. He glasses or contact lenses, it is always worth a combination of skill and good fortune bedded down for the night in the forest and taking along spares, ‘just in case’. Having stopped the slide without any damage being at daybreak set about returning. However, lost contact lenses at 2.30 am in an Alpine done. with the network of roads and new tracks hut one morning, I can personally vouch for I managed to make it to Rowardennan for forestry harvesting he spent the short spare lenses being useful.

LETTER FROM AMERICA up in northwest Eleanor Friel a very small vessel. Clad in Ireland and blue ponchos they set sail learned to swim or many years, people have been on their adventure. in the icy waters attracted by the force of nature that The trip took about off the Donegal is Niagara Falls – wanting to conquer half an hour and in no time coast. F My chance it by tumbling over it in a barrel or swim at all they emerged from across the raging torrent. We have watched the boat, their faces alive came when we the Maid of the Mist tour boats ploughing with excitement, soaked were invited their route up to the edge of the Horseshoe through to the skin! They to stay with Falls many times in the two and a half were oblivious to the cold old friends in years we have lived in New York State, but and were just bursting with adrenaline. The Boynton Beach in never actually thought about taking the trip journey took them past the American Falls Florida at the end of March. I was thwarted ourselves. (the smaller Niagara Falls) and they steadily in the first couple of days by high winds Eddie’s sister and her son came to approached the tumult of the Canadian but I ventured into the wonderful surf and visit us a couple of weeks ago and Sean Horseshoe Falls. found that the rip tides were so strong that immediately said he had always wanted to Their description of arriving at the I could only paddle as far as my knees. take this exciting journey. We all exchanged curtain of water was filled with superlatives. Well, maybe a bit further! I made sure the looks and thought ... well, someone should Craning their necks back to look up at the event was recorded for posterity on film and go with him ...! Then we were saved by the wall of water towering above them, they hastily retreated. arrival of Ed and Eoin from Toronto who were deafened by its roar. They reported Our host Donald wanted to send in the both said they would love to do it. (This moments of apprehension as the small craft movie of me arriving on the beach and is the generation who watched Superman bobbed on the roiling foam and then turned entitle it ‘Irishwoman claims to have swum swoop down and rescue the child before he about and headed for home. the Atlantic’ to a local television station. was sucked over the edge of the Falls.) The My own aquatic adventures occurred However, we agreed instead to go home and tours had just started for the season and the a few weeks earlier. I had been looking reward my efforts with a nice cold gin and ice had finally melted when they stepped forward to sometime swimming in the tonic laced with a fresh lime just picked off onto what seemed from our vantage point warm side of the Atlantic, having grown the tree in Donald’s garden. Slainte! 13 YOUR COMMUNITY COUNCIL Philip Graves, Chairman Stirling Housing towards the Association. It cost and the This is a shortened version of will be critical SCC has Philip’s Annual Report to the to ensure that all a s s u m e d AGM on 8 June. You can find residents who wish the £3,000 the full version on the village to be involved are additional cost website, along with dates for able to contribute, will come from future community council and we will try the unhealthily meetings as best we can to large balance represent local held in our year has gone by since residents’ views. a c c o u n t . I took over from Willie We recognise this Planning is proving a problem here – the A Oswald as chair of the will be difficult stone structure is deemed a road hazard community council, and I’ve and we are hoping despite being located high up on the verge. been looking back on what the village survey We have also surveyed the village for we’ve achieved. will give us a suggestions for the wording. stronger mandate Getting better at our job to protect the Looking ahead...any ideas? greenbelt, and put The community council is a a cap on too much It’s a great shame too that we still don’t forum for the whole community, and I agree of Strathblane’s green spaces and gardens have any effective dialogue with the youth with my predecessor’s aim to make it as turning into housing. of our village. We’re open to suggestions ‘open, informal, inclusive and accessible’ on this front and, as in other areas, should as possible. So in the early part of the Road improvements keep an eye on what is achieved by other year we made a point of reconsidering its community councils. purpose and relevance to local people. The community council’s persistence has One of the bugbears I have about the We have learnt a lot about how to be at last led to a formal survey of the A81- SCC is its low turnout at the monthly more effective engaging with the planning Station Road junction – a shockingly meetings. How can we make it more system and getting our views across. In dangerous place which has had its fair relevant and more interesting? How can part this is thanks to our experiences share of accidents this year. This would we encourage more volunteers to sit as responding to planning applications – represent the final stages of the A81 Traffic councillors? We need a young, enthusiastic, some more frustrating than others. But we Management Scheme, which has spread good-looking Chair with time on their were also helped by constructive meetings over a few years now. Speeding is still an hands! with the Council’s Chief Executive and issue in the village and some near misses We’ve tried to have visiting speakers Head of Planning and with the elected at the zebra crossing have provoked us to and presentations from a wide range of Chair of the Planning Panel. Their tips highlight the poor lighting here yet again. backgrounds, from planners to Scottish included concentrating on the ‘achievable’; Meanwhile the faulty speed detector at the Power engineers. This takes organisation, generating clear support for village Ballewan end of the village has been the and I’m keen to get more local input projects to help them gain council backing subject of endless email communication. – groups such as CNG, the MUGA and perhaps funding; using community And about those potholes! The community fundraisers etc. Any suggestions kindly development trusts to access funding council does pass on as many complaints received. I’ve even considered having the unavailable to the community council; and as possible, but do remember to please meetings in the pub to encourage more ensuring that community bodies talk to inform the council yourselves – there really interest! each other. It is encouraging to report that is strength in numbers! I’ve just come back from a weekend much of this is happening in Strathblane. conference on climate change hosted A good-looking village by Comrie CDT. There was no shortage Focus on planning of enthusiasm amongst the various What about visible improvements to the community development bodies We have been concerned about the village? The old plant tubs have been represented, and plenty of funding still continued loss of garden ground within replaced with new ones supplied last year available. It reminds me how closely we the village as new homes receive outline by the local distillery. We had a village must work with our own CDT, offer our or full planning approval. Our main efforts Christmas tree, for the second year in support and become more involved if have centred as usual on protecting the succession. We successfully engaged necessary. Major projects, such as the greenbelt, with limited success but with the Restorative Justice Programme to energy audit, seem to work well as a some lessons learnt for the future. We complete odd jobs around the village, such catalyst for further community initiatives. have had most difficulty with some of the as painting the football pavilion. To that end we will be playing a major part agricultural justifications being employed We have also made by such developments, which we feel don’t progress on new notice always hold water. boards for the village, with We secured some significant changes to a new site agreed near the the Council’s policy for development in the bank and chemist. Agreement countryside, most notably for a continued with the landowners and the presumption against development in the planning department has greenbelt. taken time, but we have the grant money (£500 won from Shaping the future the Community Pride Fund at the start of the year) and the The planning group has been readying signs should go up this year. themselves to deal with the task of We are investigating a leading the community input into the local replacement to the wooden development plan, which will become the welcome signs that are village’s master plan for years to come. We slowly rotting away at both have had two visits by council planning ends of the village. We have officers to discuss the plan, the most been awarded £1,000 from Volunteers give the new planters a lick of paint recent one linked in with a talk by Rural the Community Pride Fund 14 in the village survey with one of us (myself) sitting on the steering STRATHENDRICK group. Community spirit is always FILM SOCIETY going to be difficult in a commuter village outside a large city. On this he Society shows films in Balfron front I urge us all to contribute High School, usually on Friday to and support the great local Tnights. Membership is now open: magazine that is The Blane, and single membership £20, concession £16.50, also to use the village website. It family £36. has huge scope to inform outsiders The next session’s programme starts and insiders what is available in with the première of locally made film our community. In time it might Kirk on 18 September, followed by The even help to get more feedback Duchess on 2 October and The Reader on from local residents about how we 17 October. For the full year’s programme should be doing our job. and a membership form, visit the society’s website, www.film-society.org, or contact the Vauxhall came round the blind corner membership secretary Deirdre Davidson and the near head-on collision happened. on 01360 440585. station road It would appear that the Vauxhall was probably over the speed limit given that aCCIDENT the Honda was pushed so far back off the JAZZ UP THE road into someone’s garden. TROSSACHS Ken Smith Again this accident highlights the danger not only of speed when entering he Callendar 2009 Jazz and Blues o doubt you will have heard via the the village but also of the layout of the Festival will take place on 2–4 village grapevine of the road traffic road at this section. It demonstrates that October, featuring many special accident in May on Glasgow Road. something must be done to physically T jazz guests such as Fat Sam’s Band, N slow vehicles as they enter the village. The Although I did not witness the accident I Adrian Drover’s Slide Rule and Winston’s live in Station Road and heard the accident recent traffic-calming measures have had Pennine Jazz. Details are available at www. happen and went round to see if I could be no effect on slowing vehicles at all. callanderjazz.com, or phone the festival of any assistance. Myself, my partner and her mother helpline on 01877 339399/339455. The accident seems to have been had walked that very path about an hour For festival tickets, or pre-festival caused by a parked vehicle outside the earlier with our five-week-old daughter in event tickets for the George Penman houses on the left on Glasgow Road as her pram. I hate to think what would have 50th Anniversary Event on Sunday 26 you head out of the village. The red Honda happened if someone had been walking July , phone 01877 330342 or go to www. was, I assume, passing the parked car when past this spot at the time of the accident ticketweb.co.uk. NEWS FROM GLENDRICK ROOST Mione Morrison to start with but he is settling in now thank discovered she was not born blind as we goodness and has gone to Briarlands for the thought but became so after an undetected ost of the horses have been moved summer. infection as a puppy. This left her with to their summer grazing. Echo and Two new equines joined us in May – encephalytis, resulting in brain damage and MWispa (Shetlands) and Patches and another miniature Shetland mare and her blindness. She is making a little progress Pumpkin (donkeys) have gone to Briarlands three-week-old foal. If we hadn’t taken but it is very slow. I do see a happy dog as a summer attraction, along with Heidi them they may well have ended up amongst inside occasionally, I just hope I can get it the pygmy goat. The open day was a huge the 2,000 equines that go to the abbatoir out! success, the weather being very kind to every year in this country. Most ending up We’ve also taken on a handsome lurcher us. The ponies both on European dinner tables!!. – Milo. He has gone to live with a volunteer did very well working We have called the mare and appears to be liking his new home. hard giving rides to the Phoenix, and her beautiful foal He was found wandering in the street and many children there. Mowgli. She is a skewbald; he is has a damaged rib that has healed badly, The big horses – Sonny, at present brown but may well be resulting in it sticking out a little. He has Gwerthfawr, Tonto and black when he loses his baby coat just undergone surgery to amputate part of Meredin – have moved .He has two stunning blue eyes; his damaged tail. across the Blane to fresh she has one and one brown. More rabbits have been taken in (5) grazing. As long as the Dinky Doo, our original but unfortunately two have had to be river doesn’t flood we miniature Shetland, has taken on destroyed due to their appalling condition. can cross to check them the role of babysitter, and the two We have called the three we kept Mistletoe, every day. are constantly together. She has Knapweed and Comfrey. We do have a little also decided to teach him how Fundraising season is now well more summer grazing at but are good he has to be and we can now catch, under way and we desperately need more not quite ready to take some of the ponies lead, groom and cuddle her. She is adorable and more tombola items as we put on a there yet. This is because we have had a few and well worth the wait and patience. It tombola at most shows and events. Please changes amongst the equines. Unfortunately always pays to make haste slowly with help by collecting ornaments, stationery, our beautiful old mare Tammy died at the traumatised animals. bottles, toiletries etc., in fact any new item end of April. She was finding it more and I was asked by the Dogs Trust in suitable to put on the stall. Please contact more difficult getting up when she lay on February if I would consider taking on me for collection: 07748 351287, or info@ her right side. I had to make the decision to an almost blind greyhound. Biscuit took glendrickroost.org.uk. let her go when I was unable to help her up. up residence in March. She is a beautiful Visit the website for more information We had her for 23 years – a long time. She girl but after tests at the vet it has been and pictures: www.glendrickroost.org.uk. is sadly missed. Poor Justin the donkey, Tammy’s companion for 17 years, lost his friend and Visit the Community Website @ his home (because he couldn’t be left on his own), and had to fit in with our other two donkeys. They were both horrible to him www.strathblanefield.org.uk 15 A GROWING ALLOTMENTS FOR STRATHBLANE? INTEREST? JOIN THE Andrew Sharpe Valley Carbon Neutral Group were GARDENING CLUB! encouraged to find that there was quite a lot hroughout the UK allotments are of local interest in organising an allotment Mary Brailey enjoying a surge in popularity as site for the village. The more people who Tpeople take up the grow-your-own are interested and show that there is a need hese days, lots of people of all ages trend and look at ways to eat healthily for an allotment site, the easier it will be to are taking up gardening for the first without breaking the bank, to be outside put a case to the relevant authorities. time and getting the growing bug, so getting exercise and cut down on food If you can think of a suitable site T we hope that anyone in the village who’s miles. In many areas there is now a long for allotments or would like to register new to gardening or about to start will join waiting list for allotments and locally we an interest in either taking on a plot or the Gardening Club, as well as ‘old hands’. have no allotment sites at all. assisting with allotments in any way please The benefits of joining are monthly talks It is quite possible to start small; even contact the Carbon Neutral Group at cn@ from visiting experts; visits to interesting an area 10 ft by 10 ft can provide a sizeable strathblanefield.org.uk, or on 771613. gardens; the chance to swap tips, seeds, amount of wonderful produce including Once we know who’s interested, we’ll plants, magazines; discounts on plants, peas, beans, leeks, garlic, broccoli, spinach, arrange a meeting to decide the best way and the new email network for members. chard and salad leaves, to name but a few. to go about making allotments a reality for And all for an annual subscription of £12! At the recent School Fair the Blane Strathblane. To join or find out more, phone Tom on 771433 or Freda on 770767. On 24 April, the club’s Annual General Meeting, A visit to preceded by a talk from the village’s two official ‘master GARDENING composters’, ended the year’s SCOTLAND programme of meetings. On 2 May we visited two neighbouring, but very different, gardens in , Susan McDonald and on 27 June there was a trip to Lanercost garden at was fortunate enough to win Carmunnock. two tickets to the Gardening We made an all-out effort I Scotland show at Ingleston, to raise and sell plants for the (courtesy of Dobbies), Spring Fair on 25 April, and so my husband and I decided to go the plant sale raised its largest on the Friday when all the exhibits ever amount towards the grand would be at their freshest. fundraising total of £1,966, All three days of the show which was split between Water benefited from lovely sunny Aid and Crossroads. We’ll need weather with the temperatures to all start growing new plants being the highest so far this year. A garden that needs a title soon for next year’s sale if There were stunning displays of we’re to top this achievement! plants with something to please I looked at all the display gardens We also helped at the school’s everyone. My personal favourites are outside but I have to say that I was not Summer Fair by running the ‘Paint a Pot always the herbaceous perennials and overly excited by any of the designs, and Pot a Plant’ stall. I become like a child in a sweetie shop although a few looked as though they had The club’s new email network, kindly wanting everything I see. My husband been there for ever instead of being made set up for us by Alan Campbell, means that did his best to restrain my desire to buy, in the last few days. members can contact each other easily and but I still managed to come home with a What did impress me, however, were share information even if we can’t make it few choice specimens including a new the wee gardens created in pallets. With along to meetings. Heuchera ‘Spotlite’ which is bright yellow over 30 entries and a great number of those The full programme of talks and with red veining and is very aptly named. from schools, this really was a popular visits for 2009/2010 is on the club’s page There have been many new cultivars thing to do. The variety of imaginative on the website: www.strathblanefield. introduced in the last few years and they ideas was incredible. A lot of thought are a very useful addition to the garden and planning had gone into most of them, as they stay nice and compact. They are sporting almost every type of flower particularly good for small gardens or even from bedding plants to perennials, and a to grow in a pot for a splash of colour. great number were growing vegetables. Hostas are other plants that have come There seems to be a great renaissance in to prominence through new cultivars. vegetable growing at the moment, possibly There was a wonderful stand showing the to do with the credit crunch. incredible variety of hostas available, from I thought the garden in a pallet an idea the really tiny, for the edge of the border, well worth copying at home. Just about to some that grow almost 2 ft tall and can everyone can do this and with not much add to the tropical jungle effect that is very room required it could be made to sit on a popular just now. flat balcony. It would be easy to maintain There was a beautiful display of so why not give it a go! If you cannot get org.uk/organisations/gardeningclub.html. Himalayan Poppies creating a sea of your hands on a redundant pallet, use The first event after the summer will be blue. To see them in such numbers was four pieces of wood approximately 4 feet our meeting on Friday 18 September, breathtaking. In my own garden I feel long by 8 inches deep plus four blocks of when John Kinloch will talk about the privileged if I get three or four stems in 2’x2’x8’ nailed at each corner. Put this first ten years of his garden, Lanercost. flower. They are a heavenly shade of blue, frame in the position you would like, fill The monthly meetings are at 7.30 in and although you can get yellow and red it with compost and grow whatever takes the Kirkrooms. Non-members are very ones I do not think they have the same your fancy. If it is vegetables that you welcome to join us for any meeting, for the impact and they are also more difficult choose to grow then you will soon be princely sum of £2. to grow. eating the fruits of your labour. 16 COMPOST CORNER Elizabeth Normand and Mary Brailey but it just seems to go away to nothing. from Lower Polmaise now (see separate How do I generate a product that I can use article for opening times). Bags should be pring is sprung, de grass is riz – we in my garden? available but take your own shovel just in wonder how your compost is? case. S Since becoming Master This problem illustrates that you don’t Composters in February, we have been need to need compost to run a bin, just I put lots of grass clippings in my compost busy experimenting with our own compost a way of recycling food waste to stop it bin but I don’t think it’s working. What processes but have also had a couple of going to landfill. Generating a compost should I do? public gigs, so some of you will have met product needs more ‘green’ waste than us already. In April the gardening club most households generate from food waste Like a pet, a compost bin needs a balanced welcomed us, our worms and the bokashi alone. Beefing up the amount going into diet, air and water for the process to bins for our maiden presentation prior to your bin, e.g. with appropriate garden work optimally, otherwise it can develop their AGM. Both worms and bins were on waste, will help. Adding a suitable balance indigestion. Grass clippings are a very tour again in May, for a busy stall at the of ‘brown’ material (e.g. shredded paper ‘green’ material with high water content. school gala day. We reckon that if you learn and cardboard) will provide structure, They need to be balanced with ‘brown’ something new every day, then it might as air pockets and a more balanced in-bin material as mentioned above. This can be well involve props and practical value! It’s composting process. done at the time of filling (layers of green/ a two-way thing too, as we pick up more Once a bin is full it requires around brown, all in moderation), by stirring ideas and relevant questions as we go. 12 months (give or take) to ‘finish’. This brown material through at a later date or Here are a couple of is why people generating both. Never underestimate the capacity of FAQs that we have compost for their own use will a compost bin to regenerate – if your bin encountered so far. tend to run at least two bins, is currently choked with clippings (or for I use a compost bin sometimes considerably more. any other reason) then resurrection is still Much of the material that possible but may require a bit of muscle goes into the council’s brown work to stir or move it, balancing the bin service can be composted content as you do. at home but note: home The compost clinic can help with composting does not tend to physical labour as well as theoretical reach the higher temperatures input - just drop us an email and we’ll of the council’s process (75oC) bring our own forks: compostclinic@ so perennial weeds, and weeds strathblanefield.org.uk that have already gone to seed, can Happy composting! survive to cause problems, unless you kill them off beforehand by FREE COMPOST drowning them in a bucket of water FROM BALFRON for some time. Another option is to use home Gary Nimmo, Stirling Council composting for food waste only, and collect council compost to use astle Compost as produced by If you have the space, it’s useful to in the garden. Compost is available Stirling Council is now available have more than one compost bin from the Balfron site as well as Cat no charge at Balfron Recycling Centre for uplift by local residents. Inset: John, Paul and George hard Stirling Council’s Castle Compost at work in the wormery – but where’s is peat free with nothing added and is a Ringo hiding? quality assured product. The compost is manufactured from green waste and Letter to the cardboard collected from residents ‘ brown editor bins within the Stirling Council area, and processed at the Council’s Compost Dear Editor, Plant. The compost, certified to PAS 100 standards, is produced at the Lower A beautiful bright day and it was my Polmaise Composting Plant. Householders Thursday to help with library books for will need to bring their own bags and the housebound. At the library I seriously shovels, but are welcome to return this wondered whether a congestion charge product to their garden where it will enrich would be appropriate, as parking was the soil. at a premium. I parked the car and as The council completed improvements two of my four deliveries are near last summer to the former civic amenity the library I walked to the recipients The Elderly Brothers (aka Alisdair Fleming, Ian site in Balfron to convert it into a more and enjoyed the walk along the burn. McCredie and Alan Brown) topped the bill with accessible Household Waste Recycling Having completed my morning’s their Everly Brothers set at a charity gig in the Centre (HWRC) accepting a wider range work, I returned to an empty car park. Kirkhouse Inn on 8 May. The event raised £620 of materials for recycling. School lunch time! Stirling Council currently recycles I understand from the librarian for Cancer Research UK. over 40% of all waste collected, one of the that there is a Walk to School Week – a highest recycling rates in the country. very successful event when children walk We welcome comments on The opening times when compost to school or use their bikes or scooters. I anything that appears in the is available are from Monday to Friday wonder if anyone has considered a regular newsletter. Please write to the between 5 pm and 7 45 pm, and Saturday day per week for this walk-to-school editor, Mike Fischbacher, at: 10 am to 1.45 pm. No compost will be activity? available to uplift outwith these times. Yours sincerely, Jane Early (G.O.W!) 4, Southview Road The Balfron Recycling Centre is located in Strathblane G63 9JQ Dunkeld Court (beside the Fire Station and How about it, Parent Council? Maybe the or email: behind the Co-operative). An attendant grumpy old woman has a point? – Eds. [email protected] will be on site to provide assistance to tel. 01360 770716 residents on the operating procedures. 17 summer wine John Boyle Summer rumpot more rum. As soon as the next fruit in season is This is the time of year to start what the available do exactly the same as with the Blackcurrant, redcurrant or Germans call a rumtopf, or rumpot, a strawberries, with one difference – for whitecurrant wine (medium) truly gorgeous idea which, once you have every future pound of fruit add half a tried it, you will never fail to repeat each pound of sugar, and half a 0.7 litre bottle Metric British year. All you need is a capacious glazed of rum, or just enough to keep the fruit black/red/or 1.5 kg 3 lb earthenware jar with a heavy, well-fitting covered. Should you miss the chance to obtain whitecurrants lid, or some such container. The Germans use highly ornamented pots decorated with the fruit in fresh form, you can use frozen sugar 1.5 kg 3 lb fruit and flower designs, so that it looks fruit. Remember that some frozen fruit may have added sugar. The amount will water 4.5 l 1 gall attractive on the table, but a plain one does just as well. Mine holds just over a gallon. be mentioned on the packet. Make up the yeast and nutrient The idea is to use a mixture of soft sugar to be half the weight of the fruit. pectic enzyme fruits as they come in season, and the basic ‘recipe’ is a pound of fruit and half a pound ut the currants into a large of sugar, covered with a finger’s width Your rumpot calendar earthenware jar and crush them. Boil with Jamaica rum. In our rumpot we use up the sugar in the water and pour, blackcurrants, redcurrants, strawberries, May – June: One pound P black cherries, peaches, blackberries and strawberries, half a pound sugar, rum still boiling, onto the currants. When it has cooled to about blood heat, add the pectic plums, and one and a half bottles of rum. to cover a finger’s breadth. enzyme and a day later a wine yeast. Keep It scents the whole kitchen when the lid is June – July: One pound of cooking closely covered for five days in a warm lifted, and as for the taste …! cherries with stones, half a pound place, giving it an occasional stir. Then We use it as a dessert at Christmas and, sugar, enough rum to cover. strain into a fermenting jar, fit air-lock. Let in the unlikely event of the whole of the July – August: One pound of it stand until fermentation ceases and the contents not having been used before the apricots or peaches, peeled, destoned wine clears, usually in about three months, next summer, the next year’s fruit just goes and halved, half a pound sugar, rum to then siphon off into fresh, sterilised bottles. in on top of the remainder and the rumpot cover. gets going once more. Do try it. August – September: One pound of Blackcurrant Ribena wine This is the way to pack summer into blackberries, half a pound sugar, more your pot: rum. One pound of plums, destoned, One 12 oz bottle of Ribena blackcurrant Start with strawberries, the first fruit half a pound sugar, more rum. juice will in fact make one gallon of wine. of the summer. Wash the fruit first and October – November: Pears and/or Dissolve 1.5 kilo (3 lb) of sugar in some let it dry. Place the fruit in a dish and add pineapple, cut up, and any other fruit warm water, and add the blackcurrant the sugar: the quantity should be half the available, half a pound sugar, more juice. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 weight of fruit. Leave it for a full hour so rum to cover. minutes to drive off any preservative, cool, the sugar is well absorbed and the flower After the last inclusion of fruit in and pour into a gallon jar, filling it to the extracted. Now put the fruit and any November, leave the pot to stand for shoulder. remaining sugar into your rumpot. Pour a few days before trying. It will keep Then add your chosen wine yeast, or enough brown Jamaica rum over the fruit indefinitely. a level teaspoon of Allinson`s granulated to cover it about a finger’s width; this yeast. The merest trace of acid (one-third means about three-quarters of a bottle of of a teaspoon of citric acid) and a pinch of rum on one pound of fruit and half pound yeast nutrient should also be added. Insert of sugar in the first instance, but much blane valley the air-lock and stand the jar in a warm less rum thereafter. If you want to make floods place for fermentation to get under way. a particularly good job, place a plate over When the first vigorous fermentation the fruit so the fruit is submerged. After that close the pot and put it in a cool place. Don’t panic – we’re talking 125 years ago has died down after a fortnight or so, top here ... up the jar with water to the bottom of From time to time look to see that there is still enough liquid in the pot. Don’t The article below is reproduced from the the neck, and re-insert the air-lock; then Glasgow Herald of 13 August 1884. continue with the fermentation in the usual forget there has to be a finger’s width of rum over the fruit. If there is not, add some Thanks to John Malloy for unearthing this way. from the British Library archives.

Disastrous floods in the Blane Valley District disastrous flood has again swept over the Blane Valley. The narrow valley from Campsie Glen to Strathblane A has been submerged, and incalculable damage done to house and other property. In Campsie Glen nine houses have been almost gutted, and the occupants with their furniture have left their dwellings. Ballagan House, Strathblane, is flooded to the depth of seven feet. The river Blane has been turned from its course, and is pouring immense volumes of water down the road, flooding it to the depth of about four feet, and rendering all traffic impossible. The three o’clock train from Killearn to Glasgow lies near Campsie Glen unable to proceed, and the 4.40 from Glasgow only went the length of Lennoxtown. The damage to hay standing in fields in ricks is tremendous. Whole stacks have in many cases been swept away, and the foundations of several bridges are undermined and in imminent danger of giving way. The wreck along Campsie Road is indescribable, gaps of considerable width appearing every now and the in the dykes. 18 We wish to reflect the views and opinions BLANE TEAM of the whole community without including anything that would offend anyone. We Mike& Patsy Fischbacher 770716 would emphasise that the views expressed [email protected] in the Blane are not necessarily those of Morag Roy 770863 the editor and he retains the right to have [email protected] the final say on any articles included. Murray O’Donnell 770748 [email protected] Disclaimer While we do our best not to accept Alastair Smith 770120 advertisements from irresponsible [email protected] If you have any news items, please contact companies or individuals, we do not take Mary Brailey 771613 one of the team or the editor. If you are not responsibility for those that appear in [email protected] confident at writing but would like to have the newsletter and expect our readers to Bill Woodger 770940 an article in the newsletter, we can help by exercise due care when choosing to use editing it or writing it if you give us the one of the services found on these pages. [email protected] information. 19 Mugdock Music Festival an international event

usic fans were in for a treat at names John McCusker (right), Michael the Mugdock Music Festival Murray, and Glasgow favourites the Mwhen well known singer Eddi Battlefield Band (bottom centre). There Reader (top centre) turned up on stage were musicians and dancers from all over unexpectedly. the world. The young violinist pictured (Photos by PK Image) The festival took place on 18–21 June is from the Sighthill Project, and the in sunny Mugdock Country Park and colourful dancers are part of the Glasgow was a real family event, featuring famous Oriental Dance Assocation. Photography Workshops earn more about your digital camera … L Ballagan Studios are running basic photographic workshops at Mugdock Country Park to help keen budding photographers get the best out of their camera as well as having a lot of fun. ‘The whole point of the course is to give people the confidence to try new ideas and to look at everyday scenes in a different way,’ says Martin Shields, who is running the class. The workshop is a very outdoor, relaxed day to get the best out of whatever digital camera you have. The short time spent indoors covers how to make your pictures look better on the computer screen using image enhancement programs. For more information call Martin Shields on 01360 771090 or email martin. [email protected]. These pictures show two examples of the photographs taken by local people on the Spring workshop: Jonathan’s water lily (see page 12) and Lorna’s water scene, pictured right. This photo of a water scene was produced by a participant on the Spring workshop

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