THE SOUTH DEESIDE VIEW

March 2010

We have been almost overwhelmed with information and CONTENTS articles for this issue. This shows the enthusiasm of around fifty contributors who represent their clubs, groups, societies 1 Plant Sale and Coffee Morning and schools in our area - a big thank you to you all. Some reports had to be carefully pruned and many photographs 2 Youth activities omitted to give room for the wide range of interests and 3 Scouts and Guides activities. We have also reduced print size in places to 4 Lairhillock School squeeze as much in as possible.

5 Banchory-Devenick School All phone numbers are Aberdeen listed (01224) unless Home deliveries otherwise indicated. The back page, with its Events Diary and 6 Clubs and Societies list of useful contacts is arranged for handy reference. Other contact information is at the end of each section. 7 Leisure activities 8 Community Halls Advertisers fund about half of our printing costs, so we are grateful to them all, including a few newcomers. We hope to 9 Resurrection time see you at our annual fundraising Plant Sale and Coffee 10 Maryculter-Cookney Church Morning - see below. 11 St Ternan’s Church We liaise with, but are independent from the Community St Mary’s Chapel Council (NKRCC) whose members and their families do most Grampian Police of the newsletter distribution. Please let us know if you can 12 Ragwort assist with articles, ideas, local information or deliveries. You will find our contact details on the back page. 13 “ “ 14 Driving for the Disabled MP and MSP PLANT SALE 15 Local councillors and 16 Community Council COFFEE MORNING 17 “ “ Saturday May 15 18 “ “ from 10.30 till noon 19 Road Sense Corbie Hall, Maryculter 20 Handy contacts We are holding a sale of garden plants: herbaceous, Events calendar rockery, herbs, salad vegetables, annuals, bushes etc. These are all grown by local amateur gardeners, so should thrive well throughout our area.

Coffee, tea, juice and home baking will be available too.

Please let us know if you can offer any plants, baking, or assistance on the day. All contributions will be welcome, and do bring along your friends and neighbours.

Contact Rob Winmill about plants Tel: 01569 730308 or Pam Robertson about the coffee morning Tel: 863887

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Maryculter Babies and Toddlers Maryculter Rainbows Girls aged between 5 and 7 meet on Thursdays from We meet in Maryculter Church Hall, Kirkton of 4.30 to 5.30pm. They have been busy this term and the Maryculter on Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 project for their badge is ‘the world’. So far they have during term time. It’s a great chance for mums, made penguins, carried their dolls in ‘kangas’, grandmas, dads or any other carers to meet for a coffee celebrated Chinese New Year and made passports and and a chat. The children benefit by getting to know suitcases. others with whom they will start school later on. We We are still at full capacity and have a waiting list. welcome anyone with children from birth to 2 1/2 from Contact Alison Stephen , Tel: 899703 for more details. Maryculter, Netherley, Banchory-Devenick and the surrounding areas. Mandy Tulloch, Tel: 01569 730577 Maryculter Brownies or Tanya Simpson, Tel: 01569 730352 The Brownies meet at the Scout Hut on Thursday evenings from 6.30 to 8pm and Maryculter Playgroup have been busy over the last six months. In September we attended the Maryculter Playgroup is proud to be providing care to a Centenary Launch Party of Girlguiding at second generation of local children! It began 36 years Crathes Castle where we celebrated with over 600 girls ago, starting in the Church Hall and moving to Corbie and leaders from Kincardine and Deeside. We had a Hall in 2001, where we still meet 5 mornings a week. great joint Halloween Party with the Guides. We’ve Playgroup has always been a non-profit charitable had a visit from the Road Safety Officer who taught us organisation, run by parents, with trained playleaders how to keep safe in the dark. John the local SSPCA caring for the children. We are regulated by the Care Officer told us about rescuing animals in distress and on Commission and approved by Aberdeenshire Council to the same night we donated the contents of our 100 provide funded pre-school education for children pennies jar to the SSPCA. We’ve planted daffodil between 3 and 5. bulbs for Marie Curie Cancer Care as part of their ‘Little pots of care’ challenge. We enjoyed our outing to We specialise in ante-pre-school care (up to 4 years), our the Arts Centre panto Little Red Riding Hood and saw friendly group and individual attention helping each one of our former Brownies perform on stage. child to become independent, confident and capable of Since Christmas we have been busy exchanging socialising with their peers. We have embraced the new postcards with Brownies and Guides from around the Curriculum for Excellence which is now used in all world as part of our Thinking Day celebrations. To date Scottish schools and have enjoyed its child-centred we have received over 80 postcards and it has been a approach in exploring topics as varied as minibeasts, brilliant way to learn what girls around the world get up pirates, Chinese New Year and rhythm in music and to as part of Girlguiding. We are looking forward to the language. We would all like to thank the donor of the summer months and getting out and about and taking piano which has been a fine addition to Corbie Hall and part in more special events which are being planned as is well used! We have been enjoying investigating and part of Girlguiding centenary celebrations. playing in the snow and ice this winter and are looking At the moment we are operating a waiting list and forward to working in our wee garden and outside play give priority to girls moving up from the Rainbows. area even more when spring arrives. However new faces are always welcome. Lynn Murphy: Tel: 01330 825936

Council funding for playgroups (like everything else) has been scarce this year so we are busy fundraising. The District Commissioner’s Report children raised over £200 and had great fun doing a 2010 is an exciting time to be involved in Girlguiding as sponsored obstacle course earlier in the year. We are you can see from these unit reports. With Girlguiding’s planning a Family Ceilidh on May 15, so do contact Centenary celebrations in full swing until October and Tanya Simpson, Tel: 01569 730352 for full details and with so many events planned for all age groups, there bring along a group of friends. We would be delighted to has never been so much interest in Guiding in the area hear from any local businesses or individuals who would for quite some time. be interested in supporting us or perhaps providing raffle With all units running either at capacity or very close to prizes, and would like to thank Ardoe House, Maryculter it, now is an ideal time to consider becoming involved. House Hotel and The Old Mill Inn for their support this Please remember more volunteers are always welcome. term. If you are female aged between 18 and 65 and feel that you could help out at one of the units - it doesn’t have to We welcome new children throughout the year – get in be every week; then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us on 07765 525 317 (Mon-Fri 9am-12) or touch for an informal chat. contact Kate Martin, Chair, Tel: 739 843 Lynn Murphy, Tel: 01330 825936 or E-mail [email protected] 2

Maryculter Guides 1st Maryculter Cubs

What a fun packed time we have been having at Guides since Maryculter Cubs pack has had an active time since the last the summer. First was the launch of our Centenary Year at newsletter with a camping weekend at Templars’ Park in Crathes Castle - see the picture below. We’ve been working September, a cycling outing in the Kingcausie Estate and two towards our World Guiding badge - making campfire night hikes to make the most of the the snowy conditions in Maryculter Woods. We also had a second visit to Grampian blankets and friendship pins, learning about our world flag by playing games and singing Guide songs from around the Fire Service, this time to their Altens base for a tour around world. At the Kincardine and Deeside AGM in October we their facilities and fire-fighting equipment. Indoor activities were invited to entertain the group so some of us went along have included building dens and making guys to be thrown on and presented a small show. We had a joint Halloween party the bonfire during our traditional Halloween / Guy Fawkes with the Brownies, making decorations and menus themed for sleepover at the Scout Hut. The Cubs have also completed the occasion. We played games in the dark, sang spooky their Cyclist and Road Safety badges and have embarked on another round of Chef and Home Help tasks to complement songs but the best bit has to be the sausage sizzle! Two Guides went to the Scottish World Thinking Day those achieved by the older boys last year. celebrations held at the Royal Highland Showground in Ingliston, Edinburgh. We celebrated the day with 1500 other Looking forward we will have a visit by an expert on birds of Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Senior Section, learning prey along with some of his charges and we will be making about Guiding around the world as well taking part in dance the overnight trip to Muir Cottage near Braemar again after workshops. the Easter break for some more outdoor activities. We are also trying to make sure that the senior Cubs cover the full range of tasks to qualify them for the six main Challenge badges leading to the Chief Scout’s Silver Award before they move on to Scouts or elsewhere.

Numbers have fluctuated recently with some members leaving and then a new intake coming from Beavers and beyond, but we would particularly like to encourage more Cubs from Banchory Devenick to join the group, so that the distribution is more evenly spread across the catchment area and associated schools.

The Cubs meet on Mondays from 6.15 to 7.45pm. The pack is currently close to capacity and we give priority to boys We plan our own activities at weekly meetings, so for moving up from Beavers. For further information contact: Pancake Day we tried making pancakes on an old tin can with David Kirk Tel: 869006, Bill Caffyn Tel: 734080, Dave only a tea light for heat. It did sort of work. The last Promise Burslem Tel: 732819, Chris Grinyer Tel: 732324, John Night we held had an international theme tasting different Henderson Tel: 07810 327999 or Andrew Warnock foods from around the world. The busy schedule is going on Tel:739602 with a trip ice skating in March, a visit to Aberdeen airport in April, a swim at Stonehaven outdoor pool in June and finally summer camp in July! What a year! 1st Maryculter Scouts Morag Lister, Guider Tel: 07849 315203 Email:[email protected] After the long freeze the Scouts are looking forward to some spring camping and hiking. The winter months have been spent practicing First Aid, cooking, knotting and all the other skills needed for outdoor adventures. This summer's main Beavers camp is planned for Harris in the Outer Hebrides. I am The Beavers meet every looking forward to the solitude already and have a feeling Tuesday from 5.30 pm to mobile phones will not be required! Look for Scarista west of 7.00 pm in the Scout and Tarbert on Google Earth - the site is thereabouts and looks a Guide hut behind Maryculter wild and windy place! Next year we hope to arrange a trip Church. We enjoy a abroad so will be doing some fund-raising towards that in the programme of crafts, cooking, stories and games and are near future. Please support us. currently working towards our Hobbies badge. When the light nights arrive we will get out at last to the Glebe Park and the woods for some more adventurous activities and games. Our new trailer arrived in November following a successful lottery application. So far it hasn't had much to do but it will We always seem to need more leaders. Here is an be a great asset for camping and other activities. opportunity for a multi-talented, extremely fit graduate in child psychology with a never-ending supply of programme Although numbers are healthy and we are expecting five ideas to join our team.....or we would be delighted with Cubs to join us at Easter, we are always open for new anyone over 16 with enthusiasm and who is available on a members. Tuesday evening. Information about Scouting on Deeside and Maryculter can Please contact Kathleen Paterson Tel: 868676 for more be found on the website: www.deesidescouts.org or from details on Beaver activities, myself, Les Paterson, Scout Leader Tel: 868676

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Lairhillock School

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ECO NEWS The whole school – nursery to Primary - visited Satrosphere A Waste Aware Assembly was led in February and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. The by Melanie Baldwin from K’Next workshops, kindly paid for by the Parent Council, Aberdeenshire Council and was were very well received by the children and staff. P4 – P6 followed by workshops for P5 – P7. pupils took part in the K’Nex Challenge which involves the Weekly eco lunchtime meetings children working in pairs to produce a specific design continue. Thank you to everyone solution for a problem and then build it using K’Nex. Craig who handed in yoghurt pots for our Anderson, P7 and Matthew Stewart, P6 were chosen to go bird feeders. They were filled with bird seed and fat and are forward to the next stage of the Challenge. All classes, hanging on the bird tables in our garden to help feed the birds. including nursery, continue to learn about Forces through fun The rest of the pots will be used for planting. This month we learning activities. are starting to plant the vegetable seeds. CAN YOU HELP US? We are looking for containers which we can use as mini SCOTS POETRY WINNERS propagators such as the plastic boxes that muffins come in Mrs Mary Swinton judged the competition recently and was from the supermarket or boxes with lids which contained impressed by the quality of the recitations. The whole school fruit. If you have any, don’t throw them away because we celebrated Burns Day with a traditional meal of haggis, can re-use them. There is a basket under the Eco table for any neeps and tatties. Leigh Anne McIntre played the bagpipes suitable boxes you find. and Lachlan Kirk, Kiera McNamee, Ryan Silvers and Yasoda Winmill-Hermann gave the ‘Address to the Haggis’ - see SCHOOL GARDEN picture A Tree Planting session was held on Saturday 13 March 2010. The school takes part in the RHS campaign for school gardening and received £500 in gardening vouchers when it reached level 3. We also take part in the Generation Green project www.generationgreen.co.uk and have just achieved our ‘leaf” goal and so will shortly be receiving various gifts including a bird box with a camera in.

Monday Morning Community Gardening Sessions start at 9.30am with a coffee break at 10.30 and finish around 11.45. In addition, there will be two open sessions on Saturdays May 8 and June 5 from 2 to 5pm and all are welcome to come and take part. There will be an official opening of the school RELIGIOUS AND MORAL EDUCATION garden in the last week of June. Classes are learning about different faiths and beliefs. Primary 1 children celebrated Chinese New Year by cooking Over the next term we will be gardening with the school noodles, then using chopsticks to eat them, making Chinese children each week, planting fruit, vegetables and flowers. dragon and lion masks and performing a dragon dance to The Maryculter Brownies will also be coming to help in the traditional Chinese music. A colourful display is on show garden to work towards one of their badges. outside their classroom. Mrs Blair’s class have been finding out about Judaism and Further information from Nicola Oakey, Tel: 735385 have a variety of artefacts on display in their classroom. or Kate Martin, Tel: 739843 Marian Youngson, Head Teacher Tel: 01569 732520 E-mail: [email protected] HEALTH Pupils, parents and staff were asked to complete Lairhillock School Football questionnaires to enable the school to draw up a Health There is not much to report on the school football teams this Action Plan. The priority areas identified from the season because we have managed to play just two league questionnaires were Accident Prevention, Food and Health games since September. In over 10 years of schools football I and Drugs. PC Harry Russell, School Police Liaison Officer have never known so many games be postponed, first at the has started working with P1 - P4 on ‘Stranger Danger’ and start of the year for waterlogged pitches, and then more will work with Nursery children next term. PC Russell will recently for snowed-under or frozen pitches. focus on Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking with P5 - P7 after Having the games hall at the school has at least meant that Easter. P6 will be doing Cycling Training when the P7 we have been able to carry on training indoors every class are on their Residential Trip. Thursday evening, and all that practicing the fancy footwork in small-sided games paid off in the one competition that was FOOD TECHNOLOGY not cancelled. The Mid Deeside Small Schools League New resources have been ordered to enhance the weekly indoor 5 aside tournament was held at Banchory Sports cooking sessions which continue to be extremely popular Centre in February and the Lairhillock A-team ran out with pupils. Nursery children recently made feta and chive deserving winners against Kincardine O’Neil in the final. scones! The children in P2-3 prepared a meal from start to We have some very promising players this year from P2 finish and have learned so many skills as a result. We are through to P7, so here’s hoping they get the chance to allow very grateful to the parent volunteers who give up their time our backlog of games to be played. to enhance the children’s learning Stephen Davies

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you are disclosured and would like to help with this

Banchory-Devenick School please contact the school office. Nicola Harper, Road Safety Officer, will co-ordinate this and support The Christmas Clear Out ran very volunteers. smoothly and was thoroughly enjoyed Joyce Hill, Head Teacher , Tel: 875237 by all the pupils. A grand total of E-mail: [email protected] £57.89 was raised for Marvin. Shell Science Workshops School Garden There will be a different workshop for The Banchory-Devenick School Grounds group plan to each class as follows: P1/2 – Toys, P3/4 – Toys, P5/6/7 grow our own flowers, some for the garden and the – Balloon Buggies. remainder for the end of summer term sale. Melodrama Nasturtiums and sunflowers, which gave lots of colour The P5/6/7 class performed a melodrama for parents on th last year, will be planted just before the Easter holiday Tuesday 9 March. I would like to thank Mrs Petrie, and we will take cuttings of osteospernums and pink Drama Specialist, for putting together the show with the daisies when we return to school. We will also produce children and helping them with props/costumes and potatoes, orange, yellow and purple carrots, onions, make-up. The performance went very well and was beans and lettuce in the vegetable garden. thoroughly enjoyed by all. A collection was taken for We are going to make bug hotels from recycled wood the Eradication of Polio through the Rotary Club. The and using hollow plant stems from our garden. This will sum of £50.02 was raised and was presented to Mr give the insects somewhere to live next winter. We plan Sproul from the Rotary Club. to publicise our efforts by producing a garden report for Active Schools local circulation. Christie Milne (P7) Run Balmoral: Saturday April 24 Calling all enthusiastic parents and children to book Saturday 24th April in your diaries and come along and HOME DELIVERIES take part in Run Balmoral. If you don't fancy signing up for the running come along and support all the Fruit and Vegetables participants as well as taking part in the fringe events Neil Gammie, Fernieflatt Farm, Kinneff delivers and activities that will be running throughout the day! vegetables, eggs (and fruit in season) on Tuesdays and Please go to www.runbalmoral.com for more event Fridays. Orders must be in the day before delivery. information and to process online applications or Tel: 01569 750374 or 07790 558880 Tel: 01467 628283 for more event information or an E-mail: [email protected] application form. Fish Active Schools - Cricket Scotland Volunteer George Fairweather delivers west of the B979 road on workshop Thursday mornings and east of the road on Friday A Cricket Scotland workshop has been organised for mornings. Tel: 07974 311326 Monday 19th April in Newtonhill School 4.15pm- Coal 6.15pm. If you have an interest in cricket and would like J.H. Roberts from Auchenblae can deliver orders in our to give a helping hand when cricket is run in the school area on Monday mornings. Tel: 01561 320335 for the children, then please contact Sarah Fettes, Active Schools Coordinator for more information or an informal chat. Attendance at the workshop does not Mud Pies commit you to delivery at the school. The workshop will look at the basic skills and games that can be Weekly woodland activities for 2 to 5* year olds played with children and will increase your confidence and their adults to discover nature and explore when delivering to a group of children! and play outdoors. Choices for Life Tollohill Woods, Banchory-Devenick ‘Choices for Life’ aims to help equip children with the Come for some adventures around this wonderful right information so they can make the right choices at wood to find out about Spring wildlife, make things the right time. It is an information programme around to take home and have fun playing in the great different substances including some illegal drugs, outdoors! Course 1: Mondays 12 April to 17 May alcohol and tobacco. Supporting materials are provided Course 2: Mondays 7 to 28 June to schools to complement work already ongoing and to Times: 10-11.15am, 12.15-1.30pm, 2- 3.15pm. act as discussion points around what pupils will see and hear at the event. Contact Mandy Tulloch: 07929 465680 or visit SFL Staff www.mudpieadventures.co.uk to book Mrs McCrimmon, SFL Teacher, will be leaving at the Easter Holidays. I would like to thank her for all her In partnership with Banchory and Leggart Estates hard work. and the North East Forest Education Initiative. Further sessions running in other City and Shire Cycling Proficiency woods throughout 2010. * 5 year olds not yet in P1 The cycle training for the P6 pupils will start in May. If 5

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Maryculter WRI Glendale Football Club Meetings are at 7.30pm on the second The 2009-2010 season – has it started yet? Here we are Wednesday of each month in the in early March and yet again it is stop/start/stop with Corbie Hall, Maryculter between only four games having been played since December 6. August and May. We look forward to Firstly floods then frosts and then we were deluged by monthly competitions, a variety of snow. With only twelve league games played and speakers and a Bring and Buy sale. See our programme fourteen still to go, this, combined with Cup on the back page. New members will be very welcome. competitions will undoubtedly mean the season lasts Secretary, Christine Middleton Tel: 861513 well into June. This may lead to the shortest close season for many a long time. Netherley WRI On a sadder note we report the passing of Charles We meet in the Lairhillock School on the third Monday Abel Summers - Charlie or more simply Mr Glendale. of each month at 7.30pm, excluding June and July. See Charlie, a very well known local resident for many a the Events section on the back page for our summer year, was the founding father of the Club back in 1972. programme. New members will be most welcome. He slowly built up the Club from meagre beginnings Secretary, Margaret Carmichael Tel: 01569 764330 over thirty plus years, taking teams through Juvenile, Under 27 and finally into Amateur Leagues. Friendship Club Along the way the team has played out of various Council pitches, before Charlie finally managed to We’ve had a successful winter programme although the secure tenure of a pitch at his long term home of Blairs snowy weather caused us to cancel the January meeting. College. This pitch, hated by opponents for its sheer The winter session will end on April 1 with a soup and size and slope, saw many interesting games and sandwich lunch in the Maryculter Church Hall at outcomes, but never the League title that he craved. 12.30pm. Our fundraising whist drive is on Friday April However, Charlie did manage to see his beloved 23 at 7.30pm in the Corbie Hall - so do come along and Glendale lift their first League title back in May 2009, join the friendly atmosphere and banter. and though no longer actively involved in the weekly Our summer bus outings on the first Thursday of the workings of the club, took great pride in celebrating this month start in May when we plan to visit Pluscarden feat. Abbey, a garden centre, Culross in Fife, Glenesk As the wee man always said, “If success is portrayed Museum and a heather centre. The syllabus will be by the amount of trophies that are in your cupboard, available soon. then we have not done too well. But if you measure it Contacts: Anne, Tel: 732071 and Peggy, Tel: 734888 by the camaraderie, loyalty and affection that has been

cemented over the years by this club, then we must be a Cookney Bowling Club Super Club indeed”. We meet in Cookney Hall twice a week at 7.30pm to Jim Grant, Tel: 867512 enjoy games of carpet bowls. Monday is competition evening while Thursday is a ‘hat night’. The club is Yoga thriving with 29 members now and we are all delighted Yoga instruction is available with improved hall facilities. Our season finishes at the both privately and in small end of April, starting again in mid September and new groups on Tuesdays and members are always welcome. Thursdays at Blairs. President: Arthur Durward Tel: 319701 For more information contact Ilse Elders Tel: 868301

Dee Vale Ladies Football Club Dee Vale Ladies FC switched home pitch to Corbie Dog Clubs Park for the 2009 season. This proved to be a good Ardoe Hall’s fate has not yet been move as the team won the SWFL North Divison 2 determined. Until then two clubs League for the first time in their history. With a current continue to meet there at 7.30pm. squad of 25 players aged from 18 to 40 new players are always welcome. The team currently train indoors on a Tuesday The Bon Accord Kennel Club Wednesday evening at Cults Primary School and play Tel: Susan Stewart, 01330 860569 league games on a Sunday afternoon at Corbie Park. If Thursday Training for Showing Group you are interested in finding out more about the team Tel: Betty Munro, 632856 either as a potential player, committee member, sponsor or fan please E-mail Rhoda at [email protected] There is also a Dog Training School in Cookney Hall on Wednesday evenings Yvonne Reid, Tel: 865249

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LEISURE ACTIVITIES Aberdeen Aeromodellers Club

The club owns a 6.5 acre grass flying field at Hare Drum Castle Moss, Banchory-Devenick and is permitted to fly from Our nearest National Trust property with grounds and 9am to 7pm on weekdays, and 10am to 7pm at woodland walks open all year from 9.30am until sunset. weekends. The midweek fliers get together on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Castle opening dates and times: Visitors are always welcome, but please contact a April 2-5 Easter weekend from 11am -5pm member on arrival and ask for an explanation of site May, June and September - 11am - 5pm but closed on safety procedures. Tuesdays and Wednesdays The Scottish Model Helicopter National Championship July and August - 11am - 5pm daily will be held there on June 12-13. www.aamfc.org The Garden of Historic Roses will be open from 10am to 6pm daily between April 2 and October 31. Storybook Glen

With over 100 nursery rhyme and fairytale characters in Sunday events include: 28 acres of rolling parkland, self-service restaurant, May 2 May Day: Alice in Wonderland theme garden centre and gift shop, this is an interesting and June 6 SSPCA dog event attractive venue for a family outing. July 4 Rose Garden Party Opening times are from 10am to 6pm daily with season July 25 Jaguar car extravaganza tickets available. Sept. 3 Bats at Drum Tel: 732941 www.storybookglenaberdeen.co.uk

There will be two outdoor performances by the Illyria Touring Company, when you should phone to book. Kupso Martial Arts Thursday June 24 Romeo and Juliet Classes for primary-age children are held from Friday July 30 Pride and Prejudice 4.30-5.30pm on Wednesdays in Lairhillock School. Bring a picnic with you for a memorable evening. £4 per session but one trial lesson free. Tel: 01330 811204 www.nts.org.uk Emma Lester-Smith, Tel: 0776 125 7965 www.kupso.com Gardens open for Charities Reading Circle We are a small group who meet every six to eight weeks Two gardens in our area will be open by appointment to discuss selected books in each other’s homes over under the Scotland’s Gardens Scheme this summer. afternoon tea. Our tastes range from the classics to new Please phone to arrange mutually suitable visiting times. publications and varied opinions prove stimulating.

If you are interested please contact; Muriel Blairwood House Garden, June 21 to late September Tel: 01569 730302 or Sheila Tel: 01569 731608 This is a lovely medium sized garden, designed to sit comfortably in the surrounding countryside, providing colour and interest throughout the year without Blairs Museum requiring too much maintenance. It contains a small, This has been closed due to water damage decisions on well packed herbal garden, a sunken patio, and an area to re-opening are expected soon. Contact the manager planted on a landfill site. or access the website for further information. Location: Just off the South Deeside Road (B9077) Blairs Museum, South Deeside Road, Aberdeen opposite the entrance to Blairs Museum. AB12 5YQ No toilet facilities or teas but refreshments are available Manager/Curator: Ian Forbes, Tel: 863767 in nearby hotels. E-mail: [email protected] Mrs. Elders, Tel: 868301 www.blairsmuseum.com

Gregellen House May 10 to June 13, 2-5pm This former Victorian manse has one and a half acres of garden encompassing herbaceous borders, lawns, We are trying to buy a house in this area (Netherley, rockeries and an alpine house with a wide range of Cookney, Durris, Rickarton etc.) to be close to our family interesting and unusual plants. These include azaleas, who have been here for over 20 years. A relatively small or old house or one needing work with 2 or 3 bedrooms meconopsis, peonies and rhododendrons - all at their would suit . best when the garden is open in late spring. Location: Turn off the South Deeside Road (B9077) by If you know of anybody selling a suitable property any Banchory-Devenick Church and head uphill to the T- time this year, please let us know. junction. Turn left here and the garden is a short distance along on your left. Teas and toilets. Margaret and Guillaume Winmill-Hermann Tel: 07900 963095 [email protected] Mr and Mrs W. McGregor, Tel: 861090 7

Corbie Park and Community Hall Maryculter MARYCULTER COMMUNITY HALL

This year so far has been a struggle. The field has been AND CORBIE PLAYING FIELD flooded repeatedly, bridge embankments washed away situated on and moles undermined the pitch too! With that and the South Deeside Road next to the Old Mill Inn additional cost of upgrading our fire alarm installation and emergency lighting our finances have been going An ideal venue for backwards of late.

Children’s Parties, Meetings, Ceilidhs,

It is even more important therefore that we have you, Coffee Mornings, the Community's, support and that the hall is used as Concerts, Dance and Exercise Classes fully as possible. We have prepared the advert on the right that gives ideas of what the hall can be used for. Available afternoons, evenings and weekends. Please consider this local facility if you are arranging an event. Facilities include Kitchen with Cooker,

Microwave, Kettle/Urn, Crockery and Cutlery Maryculter Playgroup continues to make daily use of the Hall and we hope the children enjoy the space and freedom at Corbie. Tables and chairs for 80 people

Toilets (including disabled)

We expect a busy football season from now on as all Disabled entrance to Hall. the postponed games will still have to be played. You The Changing Rooms and Showers are separate are always welcome to come down and support our and can accommodate 2 teams of 15. home teams. We are delighted that Deeside Girls won their league last year using the Corbie Park as their For further information or to book an event home base. Carol Masson, booking secretary Tel: 733583 Please contact Booking Secretary Carol Masson Telephone 01224 733583 Friends of Cookney Hall Since the last edition of the South Deeside View, the progress on the Hall has continued. The work in Please help to support Maryculter Playgroup the refurbished kitchen and toilets is virtually complete and raise much needed funds for FREE when shopping with the finishing touches being attended to. Attention online with over 600 popular retailers including Amazon, has now turned to the interior of the Hall itself, with Next, Argos, M&S, John Lewis, Comet, Curry’s, Vodafone, the focus being on the wall cladding and floor DELL and many more - they give us up to 15% surfaces. At the time of writing potential contractors http://easyfundraising.org.uk/maryculterplaygroup are being contacted for quotes.

Despite all the work that has gone on, the Hall has been used in recent weeks for bowling, dance Maryculter House Hotel classes, birthday parties and a Burns Supper. We are Forthcoming Events 2010 having a Stovie Dance on Saturday April 24 with music from Ian Isaac’s Sound. Tickets costing £9 from Joyce Murison, Tel: 01569 731236 or any committee member. Gourmet evenings If you have any suggestions for facilities which you Sundays 11th and 18th April 2010 8 course Gourmet menu - £32.50 pp would like to see incorporated into the Hall, please let Special offer - If your food and beverage bill comes to more than us know. They say more hands make light work and £85.00 for 2 people, stay the night free in our luxury 4 star we would always welcome any new folk to assist, so if deluxe bedrooms including breakfast (based on 2 people sharing) you feel you have a little time to spare and would like Wine tasting Evenings to get involved, please feel free to get in touch with me Friday 23rd April 2010 for further details. 5 course dinner with wines to compliment each course and our Wine Expert only £69.95pp including Bed & Breakfast Do consider Cookney Hall for future events. Availability, further information and booking can be Free dates for corporate Barbecues in 2010 obtained from Willie Angus. Tel: 01569 730123; Sundays June 6 and 20, Saturday June 12, Sunday September 12 [email protected] Bob McKinney, Tel: 01569 730706; To book places or for further information, call 01224 732124 [email protected] or E-mail: [email protected]

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was erected on the south side of the churchyard. As many poor people could not afford to pay the expense of “watching”, the late Mr. George Barclay builder, Cults, designed and got cast two massive iron chests or safes – coffin-shaped – each weighing about nineteen hundredweight*, for placing around the coffin when lowered into the grave. The iron safe was lowered by block-and-tackle, and being correctly set, the grave was filled up. Six weeks later, when it was considered that decomposition had made such progress as to preclude the chance of a visit from the “body-snatchers”, the grave was again opened and the safe removed. These safes of Mr. Barclay’s were likewise used in many of the neighbouring churchyards, but by the passing of the Act of Parliament, ordering all unclaimed bodies to be RESURRECTION TIMES AT BANCHORY- delivered up for purposes of dissection, their further use DEVENICK PARISH KIRK was happily unnecessary.”

During the first half of the 19th century, the practice of Note: One of the iron safes (* around 970 kilograms) body lifting prevailed to a considerable extent. People and the watch building remain in the cemetery. abhorred such proceedings and they erected watch- “History of the Parish of Banchory-Devenick” is houses in churchyards and used various means to available to borrow from Stonehaven Library, Evan prevent grave desecration. Banchory-Devenick Street, Stonehaven. churchyard, being near Aberdeen, was among those that were frequently visited by body snatchers.

The following is an extract taken from “History of the Parish of Banchory-Devenick” by John A. Henderson, dated 1890: “In the beginning of the century, owing to each student of medicine being required before qualifying as a doctor to furnish a body for dissecting purposes, various expedients were fallen upon to meet the demand. The usual one followed, however, was that of exhuming and stealing newly interred bodies out of the country churchyards. The persons engaged in the nefarious trade went by the name of “Resurrectionists” and such a feeling of terror and alarm did they instil in the minds of the common orders throughout the country that in the end it became imperative, not only for the Legislature to pass strong measures of repression, but for each parish, independently, to take steps for guarding the graves of their newly buried dead. So expeditiously and at the same time so secretly were the thefts committed however, that in spite of all the vigilance of watchers, NORTH BURNSIDE KENNELS bodies were repeatedly lifted and carried off. On a dark AND CATTERY and wintry night in the year 1813, three medical students from Aberdeen visited the churchyard of Banchory-Devenick for the fixed purpose of removing a body, which had that day been interred. The relations of the deceased however were on the outlook and secured the three, after a stiff tussle. They were carried to Stonehaven and committed to prison on the double charge of attempting to steal a dead body and for an assault upon the watchers. At the trial, which “where part of your family afterwards took place before the sheriff, their guilt was clearly established and they were ordered to pay a fine becomes part of ours” of £20. This amount having been recovered, the procurator-fiscal handed over a considerable proportion Tel 01224 733474 of the fine for behoof of the poor of the parish. For the Netherley Road, Burnside, Maryculter comfort and protection of watchers, a small building

9

Banchory-Devenick & Maryculter-Cookney Parish Church Minister: Rev. Heather Peacock Tel: 730150 E-mail: [email protected] Alpha Course

The Church Office Tel: 735983 An opportunity for anyone to explore the E.mail:the [email protected] Christian faith in a relaxed setting over ten thought provoking weekly sessions. The Morning Service and Sunday School at 10.30am most recent course has been a great 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays of the month at success with 4 leaders and 11 guests, some Maryculter-Cookney Church and 2nd and 4th of whom were church members and some Sundays at Banchory Devenick Church not. Different volunteers from church and community cooked and served the two course meal each week, and we were extremely well satisfied. As well as Easter Services enjoying food and fellowship we also enjoyed food for our April 1, Showing of the film ‘The Passion’ in souls. It was great to see all participants grow in their faith as Maryculter church Hall at 7pm, entrance free they found out more about what it is to live a Christian life April 2, Good Friday 7.30pm, Maryculter Church and shared their own thoughts and doubts in the small April 4, Easter Sunday 10.30am, Maryculter Church groups. The Alpha Course will be running again from September 2010. To make enquiries or register please contact Joan Rebuilding Lives Thorne Tel: 783834 God has a plan for the physical, emotional and spiritual reconstruction of the Fair Trade shop community we serve. In the Sunday services after Easter Open Monday to Friday 9am-noon we will be studying the Bible for coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, books of Ezra and Nehemiah dried fruit, biscuits and more. for God’s insight into how we can reconstruct the church; that is the buildings, and the people and the community which we are called by God to serve. Maryculter Kirk Hall and its extensions are available Bible Study and Prayer Group for hire to local groups for only £5 an hour. Wednesday from 7.30-9.30pm in the Happy Lounge

Contact Rev. Heather Peacock The half acre Glebe Field is being used by the church

community and uniformed organisations. If anyone House Groups nd th wishes to hire the field, please contact the minister or meet on the 2 and 4 Monday of each month from Anne Massie, Tel: 732071 7.30pm-9.30pm for bible study, prayer and fellowship

Contact Joan Thorne, Tel: 783834 for the B-D group Keep up to date with church news on our website or Joyce Mackintosh, Tel:733495 for the M-C group www.bdmc-parish.org.uk and by reading Church Corner

in the Deeside Piper and Mearns Leader. The Guild

We meet on the first Monday of the month at 7.30pm Scottish Charity Number Sc013648 CCl 573608 from September to November and February to May. New members always welcome to come along and hear interesting speakers, enjoy fellowship and a cup of tea. The annual supper rally will be held on May 5 at Ardoe Community Coffee House Hotel , and national AGM on August 28 in the Caird Hall, Dundee Fresh coffee and home bakes £2 Further details from Sheila Bissett, Tel: 01569 731708 Maryculter Church Hall Every second Wednesday from April 14 Youth Café 10am till noon Thursday 7-9pm in the Church Hall. Why not come and join us for a chat over a cup Fun, friendship and snacks for P 7 to S 6 pupils. of tea or coffee and a fine piece in a warm and After a successful outing last year, we are returning to friendly atmosphere the Compass Christian Outdoor Centre at Glenshee for Everyone welcome the weekend of May 28-30.

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Grampian Police

As I have been unable to meet some of you personally, I thought I had better introduce myself. I am Constable Neil McHattie your Police Liaison Officer based at the Portlethen Police Office and took over from Kirsty Lawie in late 2009. I am 41 years old, married with two daughters and have been a Police Officer for 22 years. During this time I have been fortunate to experience policing in many different areas of the region including Banff, Ellon and Deeside and city ST. TERNAN’S SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL areas such as Torry and Fonthill. For the past twelve CHURCH, MUCHALLS years I have been in the Traffic and Specialist Support Departments in Aberdeen and returned to front line St. Ternan’s is the northern-most Scottish Episcopal policing in Stonehaven in September 2008. Church in the Diocese of Brechin. We are part of the world-wide Anglican communion. The Church is to the Since taking over from Kirsty late in 2009 I have taken west of the A90 about a mile from Muchalls village on time to have a look around the North Kincardineshire the Causey Mounth, where the road branches off to area and to familiarise myself with what makes the area Cookney and Netherley. thrive. Whilst it may be a combination of many factors,

the one overriding aspect is the sense of community. St. Ternan’s continues to operate with a Ministry Team under the direction of Rev. Michael Sabell as Priest in So what can Grampian Police do for you? We recognise Charge. The Ministry team is made up as follows: that consensual policing is critical in meeting the

expectations of our communities and that only by Rev. Michael Sabell 01569 730625 working closely in partnership with those we serve can George Masson 01224 733583 we achieve long-term community reassurance and well- John Usher 01569 731608 being. We strive to make the most effective and The church is open every day from 10am until 3pm. efficient use of the resources available and will engage You are welcome to join us in worship at the 10.30am in regular dialogue with our communities to utilise our Family Eucharist on Sundays. Weekly services are held own experience and knowledge to prioritise our on major Saint Days and are advertised on the Church objectives. I attend Community Council meetings when Notice Boards and in the magazine. possible or send them monthly updates of police activity

in the area. Our new heating system has been a great asset over this very cold winter. As soon as the weather allows, we Grampian Police do not issue magic wands but I will try will be in a position to start building our extension my best to ensure that you enjoy your community in which will consist of kitchen, toilets and a Community safety. Please do not hesitate to contact me: Meeting Room. This should be complete by the end of [email protected] July. or Tel: 0845 600 5700

A Quiz and Meal has been organised in Muchalls Village Hall on April 24 and our Annual Garden Fete will take place on June 19. Please contact any of the 14 above Ministry team for help or information on , Aberdeen Tel: 01224 632464 Ballater Road, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire Tel: 013398 87665 marriages, baptisms, funerals, pastoral visiting etc.

St Mary’s Chapel, Blairs

Easter services are: Thursday April 1 Holy Thursday at 7pm Friday April 2 Good Friday at 7pm Saturday April 3 Easter vigil at 8pm Sunday April 4 Easter Day at 9am

Mass is held every Sunday morning at 9am to which all are invited. Father George Hutcheon Tel: 876704 Deacon Peter Macdonald Tel: 780351

11

RAGWORT

The Ragwort plant, Senecio jacobaea is a pretty risk posed by growing Ragwort e.g. prevailing winds, yellow, knee-high plant which flowers from July to topography, shelterbelts and soil type must all be September, but is absolutely deadly to livestock, considered when assessing risk. The key point to be especially to horses because it contains pyrrolizidine borne in mind is the likelihood of Ragwort spreading to alkaloids. The one saving grace is that it doesn’t taste land used for grazing, and/or the production of feed or good but once cut and dried is edible and still retains its forage. toxicity. These toxic compounds principally cause damage to the liver that can lead to death. It is most important, therefore, that humans take precautions when handling the plant i.e. wear gloves and face mask.

When a horse eats Ragwort, the pyrrolizidine alkaloids it contains are absorbed and pass to the liver where they produce toxins that damage liver cells. When these cells die they are replaced by fibrous tissue and a point is eventually reached where there are not enough liver cells left to maintain liver function. By this time, liver failure is inevitable. Therefore, consuming small amounts over a long period of time is just as dangerous Ragwort rosette in late spring as consuming a large amount in a single session. The Code of Practice states that, where a high risk is Sadly, for the horse displaying clinical signs, bizarre or identified, immediate action to control the spread of depressed behaviour, jaundice, weight loss, diarrhoea Ragwort must be taken, and that where the risk is and photosensitisation (inflammation of unpigmented classified as either high or medium, an appropriate areas of skin when exposed to sunlight) it is too late – control programme should be implemented to ensure liver failure has occurred. that the level of risk does not escalate. No immediate action is required where the risk is low but, given the That is why it is imperative to control Ragwort and it ability of the wind to disperse Ragwort seeds, it can be comes under two Government Acts – The Weeds Act considered good practice to implement a control

(1959) and The Control of Ragwort Act (2003). The programme even on low risk sites. responsibility for the control rests with the occupier of the land on which it is growing. Similar legislation exists under the devolved administrations. Under the latter named Act, DEFRA produced a Code of Practice, giving guidance on how to prevent the spread of Ragwort – this should be essential reading for all of us involved with farming or horses, and copies can either be ordered directly from DEFRA or from the British Horse Society.

The British Horse Society in its Ragwort Awareness Campaign gives a Code of Practice as follows:

“The Code of Practice sets out three categories as Ragwort flowers - July to September guidelines for assessing the risk posed by Ragwort. When the presence of Ragwort poses a high risk to Where Ragwort is present on land, the occupier should horses, other livestock or the production of conserved use these categories to determine the extent of action forages, DEFRA will take enforcement action under required: The Weeds Act (1959). Before DEFRA take action, it High Risk: Ragwort is present and flowering/seeding is expected that an informal approach will be made to within 50m of land used for grazing by horses and the landowner or occupier by the complainant. Should other animals or land used for feed/forage production this fail to elicit remedial action, the relevant DEFRA Medium Risk: Ragwort is present within 50m to 100m Rural Development Service Office should be notified.” of land used for grazing by horses and other animals or land used for feed/forage production Every year, we dig out Ragwort from our fields making Low Risk: Ragwort, or the land on which it is present, sure we extract all the root and although the fields are is more than 100m from land used for grazing by clean when we finish – back they come again the next horses and other animals or land used for feed/forage year as the Ragwort is a biennial plant. So it is a never production ending job – although reducing in the amount of plants These categories must be seen only as guidelines, coming through each year. Burning is the preferred however, as there are many factors that determine the option for disposal of the pulled plants. 12

The other alternative is to spray with herbicide, although this works best when the plants are young and at the rosette stage. Spring is the ideal time especially if the land is to be used for grazing – however, if it is to be used for forage production, spraying should take place earlier, in the autumn prior to next season’s haymaking.

A list of approved chemicals can be found at www.pesticides.gov.uk Spraying should only be carried out by a competent person and a risk assessment MARYCULTER CARRIAGE undertaken if there is a likelihood of herbicide DRIVING CENTRE contaminating a water source. Pasture should be rested following spraying according to the guidelines issued by Learn the art and tradition of carriage driving the herbicide manufacturer. Arrive in a horse-drawn carriage for your wedding Enjoy a farm tour and riverside drive All grazing animals can be contaminated by the plant Visit our unique carriage collection Bring disabled friends for a drive and although sometimes sheep are used to “clean up” a Let us take you for a drive to mark a special occasion field – this doesn’t mean that they are immune to the Ragwort – it’s just that their life span is short and the We can do all this and much more with our toxicity doesn’t get as long a period to damage the liver. experienced horses and ponies. We also have a self-contained flat overlooking the If you have land, please think about the problems River Dee - ideal for business visits or short breaks. that the Ragwort causes and implement some sort of control. Jane and Ewan MacInnes, Home Farm, Maryculter Tel: 01224 732710 and 07889 340362 Think of the hundreds of horses which graze in our Email: [email protected] area and could be affected. www.marycultercarriages.co.uk

There is a positive side to Ragwort - at least 30 insect species (and 14 fungi species) are entirely reliant on it, and about a third of the insects are scarce or rare. Ragwort is also a critically important nectar source for hundreds of species of butterflies, bees, moths, flies and other invertebrates, helping to maintain what remains of their much declined populations in the UK countryside. However there is plenty of Ragwort on road verges and in places far away from grazing animals, so do not feel guilty about cleaning up your own land. Lynda Keeler

For further information and advisory literature on Ragwort, contact The British Horse Society Welfare Department on 01926 707791 or via e-mail: [email protected]. DEFRA may be contacted on 08459 335577

PILATES CLASSES

SOLVEIG DAHLE SMITH Cert. Pilates. Inst. MAPPI Chartered physiotherapist

PETERCULTER SPORTS CENTRE Mon & Tuesday afternoons Tues, Wed & Thursday evenings

CULTS CHURCH Friday mornings

Contact details [email protected] www.pilatesaberdeen.com

13

Maryculter Driving for the Disabled REPRESENTATION

Sir Robert Smith MP

We have certainly faced a real winter this year. The continuous periods of cold and amounts of snow have been a real test for those that try to keep our roads open. Not only is there the immediate cost of extra gritting and ploughing, but there is clearly a long term issue of the extensive damage the weather has done. Simple patches The aim of the Maryculter Driving for the Disabled will not cure many of the potholes. Whole sections of Group is to give the opportunity of driving a pony/ road are going to need to be rebuilt. horse-pulled carriage to any disabled person who might benefit in general health and happiness. We are This disruption is a reminder about how dependent we an independent charity registered in Scotland and a have become on the car in rural areas. In urban areas member of the Federation of RDA (Riding for the there is more choice of transport options. That crucial Disabled including Driving). role of the car in rural areas is why I have argued that environmental taxes should be flexible. The long term Our season starts on Wednesday April 21 for the first solution, if introduced fairly, would charge more for of two pre-season training days for helpers at the using a car in an urban area where there is a choice and Maryculter Community Hall (Corbie Hall) at 1pm. less in rural areas where there is none. The second is on April 28 at Maryculter Home Farm courtesy of Jane & Ewan MacInnes again at 1pm, Certainly at times the police have closed roads to all but where we will be working with George Masson’s 4x4 vehicles during some of the more extreme weather. horse ‘Corbie’ and Anne’s pony ‘Xantha’ practicing This has confirmed that such vehicles are sometimes a loading and unloading wheelchairs etc. and also necessity and not always a luxury. Of course the use of checking all the safety equipment. New helpers will be cars does cause concern in many rural communities. very welcome to attend. Traffic calming and speed restrictions in the settled areas would certainly help local residents feel safer when out as The Driving season starts on Wednesday May 5 at pedestrians. 1pm at Maryculter Home Farm, weather permitting (we cancelled a few sessions last year due to inclement I would certainly like to hear from readers of the South weather, which was unfortunate but necessary for Deeside Review about their experience of our local roads safety reasons). These Wednesday sessions continue and any concerns they have on this or any other issue. Let weekly throughout the year until September 22 and are us hope we are rewarded for this winter experience with a made possible by our team of volunteers who consist good spring and enjoyable summer. of Able Bodied Drivers, Helpers, Carers and our team Contact details on back page of Tea Ladies who dispense fine home baking and hot and cold drinks. Mike Rumbles MSP Most drives are from Home Farm apart from three through the Maryculter Woods when we start from the Once again this has been a busy period at the Scottish Maryculter Scout Hut. The last day is our barbecue Parliament with the key development for our area being when we invite another group for a Cone Driving the announcement just before Christmas that John competition and Treasure Hunt, a fun day for all with Swinney, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance had accepted rosettes presented to the winners. Last year our friends in full the Reporters' recommendations following the from the Garioch Group joined us. The final day of the Public Local Inquiry into the Aberdeen Western driving season is a general clean up and inventory of Peripheral Route. The Cabinet Secretary had had the all equipment in preparation for the next year. Reporters' findings since last Summer so I expected that some alterations would be made, but this was not to be. Our fundraising sale at the Plainstones, Stonehaven One of the results of this is what I consider to be a very will be on Saturday August 28 from 9am till noon. unsatisfactory junction arrangement at the Southern end Last year’s event was a great success thanks to all who of the ‘Stonehaven Spur’ which will prevent the people donated plants, home baking and tombola prizes and of Stonehaven getting the supermarket they had hoped all who were involved. for. The Cabinet Secretary has said that the road will be If you want to volunteer or have more information built using Public Private Partnership funds and that work contact: George Masson, Chairman, Tel: 733583 or is expected to start next year, although question marks Caroline McTaggart, Secretary: Tel: 734093 remain on both these points.

14

REPRESENTATION cont.

Councillor Carl Nelson Councillor Ian Mollison

It is far better to take action to Tough times lie ahead for prevent something serious Aberdeenshire Council. We are happening – particularly loss of not immune from the economic life – than to take action after the turmoil. However, it will be a event. When the action required year before difficult decisions costs millions of pounds, it have to taken when we face a requires careful consideration, reduced government grant. but it can be foolhardy to leave it Meanwhile this year council tax in the hope that nothing will has been frozen for a third time. happen. Aberdeenshire will have the 12th lowest council tax in Scotland. That’s a good achievement when you consider Two ongoing events come to mind. One is the Bervie that Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Aberdeenshire receive Braes in Stonehaven and the other is road traffic the lowest government grants among the 32 councils. accidents. I recall when I first became a councillor on Kincardine and Deeside District Council in 1992 that Nonetheless the council has had to agree almost £4.5 there was a problem with the Bervie Braes. Several site million of savings for 2010/11, including: visits were made by councillors. Every effort was £682,000 from Community Wellbeing through non- made to raise money to make the Braes safe, including filling of vacant posts, a review of services approaching the Government. Hundreds of thousands commissioned through partnerships with external of pounds were spent on surveys and minor works, but agencies, and a review of the range and scope of day it wasn’t really solving the problem. provision services; £250,000 from Life Long Learning through a review Eighteen years on the situation is more serious, but we of the Support for Learners Auxiliary provision; are still waiting for a permanent solution. Now the £60,000 from Sustainable Environment by a more Scottish Government is taking an interest in recent efficient use of offices and non-filling vacant posts developments. I only hope for the sake of the residents £100,000 savings by accelerating the transfer of who live in the shadow of the Bervie Braes that they do frontline services to the council’s contact centre. something before it’s too late. The council administration of Lib Dem and Tory As for road traffic accidents, over the years I have been councillors is not supporting an increase in nursery requested to have action taken at many junctions. provision, or the introduction of free school meals for Sadly when I try to get something done I am always all primary one to primary three pupils. asked the same two questions: How many serious However we will increase primary class contact time for accidents have there been? - and - How many people more than 8,000 children by creating up to 50 teaching have been killed? Unless the road or junction is an jobs. This increase will cost £1.6 million. accident black spot there is little that can be achieved. One notable success I did have was on the bends at the Savings in education will be made through staff Bridge of Muchalls. After many accidents over a turnover, community learning and development, library number of years major safety improvements were services, reductions in budgets devolved to schools for introduced. There are still accidents there, mostly repairs, continuous professional development, and travel caused by speeding vehicles, but thankfully far fewer and subsistence. than in the past. To finish on a cheerier note, a further 74 rented council houses are to be built in Aberdeenshire, though the nearest to us will be six in Stonehaven. The government is providing £25,000/unit with the total cost put at £8,800,000.

Each of the four councillors for our area were invited to contribute up to 250 words.

15

Chairman’s report Changes to the Scottish Planning System Well here we are, Spring 2010 in bloom, having Now that the new system is in operation, it is worth survived the worst wintry weather we've seen in reminding ourselves of some of the details and recent years. Since the last edition of the South highlighting one or two possible snags and what to Deeside View in Autumn 2009, several things have look out for - whether as applicant, neighbour to a changed for the North Kincardine area. One of the development or as interested resident. The intention, highest profile is that the go-ahead for the AWPR has of course, is to speed things up, giving planning been given, fast link included, though at the time of officers the power to determine many of the writing the exact route is still unknown and concerns applications previously made by the Area Committee are being expressed about timescales, where the (AC). funding will come from and what the final cost will To recap: the Council now issues Neighbour be. The saga rolls on and is no less a thorny issue Notification, not the applicant; individuals now have now than in the past. How it will all end, time alone only 21 days to object; more than 5 objectors will will tell but the political will to see the project mean that the AC makes the decision, not the planner; completed seems more determined than ever. appeals against planners’ decisions will be to a Local Review Body (LRB); Local applications must be Another important area where changes have occurred, determined within 2 months; where permission is though of a lesser profile, is in the planning granted, a start must be made within 3 years. Those system. In September 2009 the new rules came into are the bare bones of the new system, fuller details of effect, with the intention of streamlining the planning which, including the various exceptions, can be found process. It has been the concern of this and adjacent on our website www.nkrcc.org Community Councils that the downside of these changes is the strict enforcement by Aberdeenshire The important change for most of us is the time limit Council of the 21 day rule for objections. We feel this within which we can object to planning applications. is too short a period and puts a considerable burden The period has – theoretically – been increased from on Community Councils, who may only meet once a 14 to 21 days. In practice, this is actually a very month, and on individuals to submit their objections much more restrictive deadline because, in the past, on time, especially where the information provided the Shire Council was extremely lenient and did not by the applicant is scant. As I write, the views of enforce the 14 days. There was effectively no time Community Councils are being put to Aberdeenshire limit. The Community Council (CC) has also been Council to see if this period can be reviewed and we granted 21 days in which to object or raise concerns, wait to see which course matters take. Fuller details but whereas the Council is prepared to allow ‘some can be found on the NKRCC website: www.nkrcc.org flexibility’ where a CC’s objection is concerned, that as well as in the following reports. will not apply to individuals, the 21-day limit will be enforced. Unfair? Perhaps, but most CCs also see I am a great believer in everyone having a say in and their ‘21 + flexibility’ as insufficient and are actively about their community. To that end we are always lobbying for an extension. keen to have members of the public attend Community Council meetings and, should they wish, What is clear is that we must all stay alert and check become Community Councillors. We speak/ very carefully on all new planning applications. If you correspond on behalf of residents to statutory bodies are a ‘Notified Neighbour’ you will know of any such as Aberdeenshire Council, Grampian Police, development next door, PROVIDING your house is SEPA and others as well as on such matters within 20 yards of the application’s site boundary. If as planning and licensing applications which affect there are no neighbouring houses, you will only find the area. NKRCC meets at 7.30pm at the Corbie out about planning applications if you take the Mearns Hall (next to the Old Mill Inn) on the third Monday Leader, or if you check the Shire’s website - they are evening of each month, except July and December. not published elsewhere. There is no meeting in July and in December the meeting is usually on the second Monday. So this is a warning that we should all be alert and check regularly, or any one of us could be caught in Please feel free to come along, perhaps learn a little the 21-day trap. It is also clear that, where the new more of what is going on in your community, and rules are concerned, the Scottish Executive (as in so have your say too. many other things) is taking a very hard line and Bob McKinney, Chairman 16

insisting that Councils apply the rules rigidly, with year. At that stage we shall all have another chance to discretion not permitted. Central Diktat Rules, OK ? give our views on any or all aspect(s) of the Plan during the 12-week formal consultation period, after which it You can find the plans on: will be further amended and then adopted at some point ww.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/planning/index.asp, then click in 2011. Your Community Council has actively on Weekly List, Kincardine and Mearns. These are contributed to the consultation process so far and will available by Saturday each week and within that (Shire) continue so to do in what we believe to be the best list can be found any relevant applications for the North interests of our residents. As with the last Plan, we Kincardine area. In addition, NKRCC will be soon be again urge you all to take the opportunity to make publishing this North Kincardine weekly list on our your views known to the Council during that 12- website and should be in operation by the time you read week period, either individually or during debate at this. meetings of the Community Council: we CAN make a difference! Note : One other aspect of the changes - to eliminate the need for planning permission for the more Developments in the Area straightforward domestic alterations and extensions - As we go to press there are one or two outstanding proposals has not yet been implemented and will be introduced in the area which are of interest. Alba Power has submitted a later. planning application to test gas turbines, basically jet engines, Meanwhile we must all be on our toes. Your at Mill of Monquich, but Alba has submitted no supporting Community Council will be interested to hear your view information that would ease anyone’s natural anxiety about potential nuisance. We hope that such information will soon of how the new system is working, whether as be produced to enable the Council to make an informed applicant, Notified Neighbour or bystander, as we shall decision. Meanwhile the Communuty Council cannot view be making submissions when (if ?) the Council and the this proposal with equanimity and has objected to it. (21-day Executive review its first year of operation. limit well past !).

Local Development Plan (LDP) Around the Lairhillock School, the initial bid for 300 houses Since the last ‘View’ the Plan has slowly progressed was amended to 220, and has now been further reduced to 60. further towards its publication and eventual adoption. That still appears a very ‘suburban’ development - a The original (new) policies were amended, some quite commuting town - completely at odds with the established radically, and all six Area Committees then debated pattern of housing in this area as well as being contrary to the Local Plan. (With 280 houses committed at Blairs, it also them. The recent development bid meeting reached means that the Lairhillock School would be over capacity.) A what was, for many, an astonishing decision. There full planning application will presumably follow in due had seemed to be so much time and effort invested in course. In respect of the changes to the Planning System the Banchory-Leggart proposal that it would go through mentioned elsewhere in SDV, if this proposal for 60 houses on the nod: not so. There was clearly a feeling among were to become a planning application, it would have to be the elected members that a major new town was needed decided by the Area Committee, not the planners, as it would so as to avoid the piecemeal development of the past, be a Major Development – see our website. though the planners and officers said that B-L had significant advantages over Elsick. In the final analysis The Community Council naturally checks the Weekly Lists however, the councillors’ decision, based in part on but we would ask that you all do the same, to ensure that any comment you wish to make, on ANY application, is made what their constituents told them, was to go for within the time limit. One final point; at present none of the Elsick. So, as stated above, you CAN make a 23 bids in the North Kincardine area has reached the stage of difference; consultation does have a part to play; local becoming a formal planning application – not even those democracy is alive and kicking. The most striking which were ‘Preferred’ by the Council. aspect of the affair was how little discussion was involved in placing 4,500 houses. Stonehaven’s 200 Community Council Letters prompted a far more agitated debate, not to mention 10 Our meetings are open to the public and the Minutes are in Findon. published on our website and Notice Boards. In addition, and for the convenience of all residents, we have now decided For those of you inclined to celebrate, it would be that any letters that we write should be published on our website. Recently, that would include the objection to the gas prudent to keep the champagne on ice for the moment, turbine application, a complaint about ragwort at the school though. The decision has now to be ratified by another site, road repairs and so on. Thus everyone will be able to see committee, then the full Shire Council will review both what the CC has written on his or her behalf. The most the bids and policies of the LDP during May or June recent letters should be posted by the time that you read this. and the whole Finalised LDP will be published later this 17

Lembas Organics

We have possibly the largest range of organic fruit and vegetables in the N.E. at

Lorieneen Farm Shop

The 300 Club - our local fundraiser including local and Scottish produce, plus Community councillors and some helpful friends organic cheeses and our own eggs managed to wade through snow, slush and rain in The shop is open January and early February to sell 372 £5 tickets locally. Wednesday 12.30—6pm Yes, this is our best effort yet with £1,860 banked. Just Saturday 9.30am—5pm to remind you, £685 will be returned to purchasers as monthly cash prizes of £5, £10 and £15, plus £25 in You will find us signposted on the road between February, May and August, £50 in March, June and Bridge of Muchalls and Netherley. October and a huge £100 in December. Draws take place in public during each monthly Community Lorieneen, Bridge of Muchalls, Stonehaven AB39 3RU Tel/Fax: 01569 731746 Council meeting and cheques are sent to winners . Do look up our website for further details Cash prize winners since last September are: www.lembasorganics.co.uk E. Birch, Banchory-Devenick; J. Cowie, Maryculter; T. Fry, Banchory-Devenick; G. Glennie, Netherley; J. Haigh, Netherley; T. Heale, Maryculter; N. Law, Netherley; E. Mann, Cookney; N. Mauthner, Maryculter; M. Milne, Newtonhill; I Mollison, The Lairhillock Inn Newtonhill; T. Mutch, Banchory; J. Ness, Banchory- Devenick; K. Pride, Maryculter; M. Scott, Maryculter; and Crynoch F. Simpson, Maryculter; D. Smith, Banchory-Devenick; S. Smith, Maryculter; T. Storey, Maryculter; I. Tulloch, Maryculter; M. Tulloch, Netherley; G. Robertson, Restaurant Aberdeen;

Thus around £1,200 is available for local good causes Netherley so local clubs, societies and groups are invited to apply Nr. Stonehaven, AB39 3QS for grants, giving good reasons. Chances of success Tel: (01569) 730001 are always improved if applicants can outline their case Fax: (01569) 731175 at a meeting of the Community Council. Email: [email protected] Grants have been given recently to Maryculter Web: www.lairhillock.co.uk Community Hall Association for lighting THE LAIRHILLOCK INN IS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK improvements, Maryculter Driving for the Disabled for trailer repairs, Maryculter Senior Citizens Christmas Party and the Banchory-Devenick and Maryculter- Cookney Church Youth Café activity weekend fund. Dingle Dell Gift and Garden Centre Community Council Secretary: Storybook Glen, Maryculter, Aberdeen Robert Keeler, Howieshill, Netherley, Stonehaven Tel: 01224 732941

AB39 3SN Tel: 01569 764436 OPEN ALL YEAR, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK E.mail: [email protected] Garden equipment Website: www.nkrcc.org.uk Good quality hardy plants Children’s toys and gifts Pet food Large selection of cards and candles Large free car park

No entry charge for visiting the Garden Centre or restaurant

Free coffee on production of this advert

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The Scottish Government announced in December, just after the Copenhagen climate talks had finished, that it intended to go ahead with the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. The new road will, by the Government’s own FOR YOUR RENEWABLE ENERGY NEEDS figures, bring about a nine percent increase in emissions Ground Source Heat Pumps of carbon dioxide as well as causing massive Under Floor Heating environmental damage. Figures from Transport Heat Recovery Scotland’s own analysis show that the by-pass will not Central Vacuum Systems solve the traffic congestion problems within the city of Aberdeen and that it will generate severe congestion Paragon Systems (Scotland) Ltd offers a free design within Peterculter and other entry points into the city. and quotation package for supply only or supply and The government has not yet announced how it will installation on receipt of drawings. pay for the road. The proposed cost is £295-395 Phone: 01224 735536 Today to discuss your particular million, but these figures were estimated six years ago. requirement. Judging by the cost of other similar road schemes the cost is now likely to be between £8 million and £1 e-mail: [email protected] billion. Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils are Visit our web-site ~ www.paragon-systems.co.uk each to pay 9.5% of these costs, which will bring the Paragon Systems (Scotland) Ltd, Corbie Cottage, Maryculter, Aberdeen AB12 5FT budgets of both Councils to the brink. These heavy costs will also rule out other proposals which might Other products/services include: Bore-holes/Insulation/UFH improve traffic flow within the city. Road Sense, which has consistently opposed the AWPR as a solution to Aberdeen’s traffic problems, is now likely to challenge the by-pass in the courts. In addition, Road Sense has complained to the European Commission that the environmental damage caused by the road is a breach of European law. Road Sense has maintained that the way the road was approved breaks the Aarhus Convention, which guarantees environmental justice to us all. Representatives of Road Sense have now been invited to attend a meeting of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee in March to present their case. Details of the campaign against the road can be found on the Road Sense website: www.road-sense.org Secretary - E-mail:[email protected]

BOOKING OF HALLS AND GROUNDS

Maryculter Community (Corbie )Hall and Field C. Masson,Tel: 733583 [email protected] M-C Church Hall and Glebe field Anne Massie, Tel: 732071 or office: Tel: 735983 Scout and Guide Hut Les Paterson, Tel: 868676 [email protected] Cookney Hall Willie Angus Tel: 01569 730123 [email protected] Blairs College Hall John Evans-Freke Tel: 867626 Lairhillock School Marian Youngson, Tel: 01569 732520

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REPRESENTATION EVENTS CALENDAR

MP Sir Robert Smith April Tel: 01330 820330 Fax: 01330 820338 Monday 12 School term begins E-mail: [email protected] Wed 14 Community Coffee begins, M’culter Kirk Maryculter WRI: Local History MSP Mike Rumbles Monday 19 Community Council Tel: 01330 820268 Fax: 01330 820106 Netherley WRI: Keep fit class E-mail:[email protected] Friday 23 Friendship Club whist drive Saturday 24 Stovie Dance, Cookney Hall COUNCILLORS St Ternan’s quiz and meal at Muchalls Alastair Bews Tel: 01224 784594 33 Bruntland Court, Portlethen AB12 4UQ May E-mail: [email protected] Wed. 5 Church Guild supper rally Saturday 8 Friends of Guiding Daffodil Tea Paul Melling Tel: 01224 784534 Wed 12 Maryculter WRI, Business meeting, Bring 51 Broomfield Road, Portlethen AB12 4SU and Buy sale E-mail: [email protected] Saturday15 Plant Sale + Coffee Morning, Corbie Hall Playgroup Ceilidh Ian Mollison Tel: 01569 739087 Monday 17 Community Council 11 Greystone Place, Newtonhill, Stonehaven AB39 3UL Netherley WRI ‘Family History’ E-mail:[email protected] June Carl Nelson Tel: 01569 730733 Saturday 12 Scottish Model Helicopter Championships 21 Dunnyfell Road, Muchalls, Stonehaven AB39 3RP Sunday 13 “ “ “ “ E-mail: [email protected] Saturday19 St Ternan’s Church Fete Monday 21 Community Council AGM Aberdeenshire Council Viewmount, July Arduthie Road, Friday 2 School term ends Stonehaven. www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk AB39 2DQ August Wed. 11 Maryculter WRI POLICE Monday 16 Community Council Emergencies Tel: 999 Netherley WRI All non-emergencies Tel: 0845 600 5700 Saturday 28 Riding for the Disabled sale from 9am - Crimestoppers Tel: 0800 555 111 noon at the Plainstones, Stonehaven Drugs Information Line Tel: 0800 371553 September Wed. 8 Maryculter WRI SERVICES Monday 20 Community Council Bluebird buses Netherley WRI No. 103 Aberdeen to Laurencekirk via Banchory- Devenick and Netherley No. 204 Aberdeen to Strachan via Maryculter & Blairs Tel: 212266 or 591381 E-mail:[email protected] Editors: Hazel Witte Tel: 732738 Dial a Trip Monearn, Maryculter AB12 5GT Bus service with tail lift for concession card and taxi [email protected] card holders. Tel: 01569 765765 Pam Robertson Tel: 863887 Library 2 Little Banchory Mews, The mobile van visits Netherley, Maryculter and Banchory-Devenick AB12 5XS Banchory-Devenick fortnightly on Wednesday or [email protected] Thursday. Jaqueline Geekie Tel: 01651 872707 Please send copy for the Autumn issue of YOUR NEWSLETTER by August 22 Window cleaning Martin Pilley Tel: 01261 815411

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