ANNUAL REPORT 2018

BIRSE COMMUNITY TRUST BCT TRUSTEES

Alison Bell - Nancy Davidson - Guy Haslam - Finzean John Hector - Finzean Jonathan Kitching - Birse Toby Rider - Ballogie Hedge Shand - Finzean Pam Taylor - Ballogie

Cover Image: . Looking north west toward Lamahip.

Inside Front Image: Young hardwoods planted in Forest of Birse

2 Introduction This Annual Report will provide a summary of what the Trust achieved in 2018, the current financial situation of the Trust and also give an overview of our plans for 2019.

History of BCT The Trustees have decided to start the Annual Review with a short summary of how and why BCT was set up, as many people have come to live in Birse Parish in the 20 years that BCT has been operating.

BCT was formed in 1999 to promote the common good of the inhabitants of Birse parish and deliver wider public benefits and in particular:

• To represent the local community rights over the Commonty an area of 1,000 hectares of land in the Forest of Birse which had a complex history of ownership.

• To provide the community with an organisation which would work alongside the 5 local Community Associations and Councils and other local organisations to manage projects and sites on behalf of the local people in order to support community development and to promote the natural and cultural heritage of Birse parish.

The Trust now owns or manages 14 sites which are important to the identity, well-being and development of the community. These include a range of historic buildings and monuments (Birse Kirk and Community Hall, Finzean Old School, Soutar’s Shop, the Finzean water mills and Corsedardar) and also over 800 hectares of woodland - The Commonty Pinewoods (400 ha), Balfour Forest (241 ha), Slewdrum Forest (167 ha), and Finzean Community Woods and School Wood (15 ha). Slewdrum and Balfour Forests are managed by Birse Trading Company (BTCo), an independent company owned by BCT, which generates income to support the Trust.

The Trust is a Company Limited by Guarantee. It currently has eight trustees and employs around 10 part time contractors from time to time, mainly from the Birse Parish Area.

3 Birse Parish BCT is directly involved in the management of fourteen sites in Birse parish.

BCT (a) holds certain land use rights over: 8. Finzean Old School 1. The Forest of Birse Commonty 9. Birse Parish Archive Building 10. Ballogie Soutar’s Shop (b) owns nine properties: 2. Slewdrum Forest (c) tenants four properties on 3. Balfour Forest long-term leases: 4. Finzean Sawmill 11 . Corsedardar 5. The Bucket Mill 12. Finzean School Wood 6. Birse Kirk 13. Finzean Community Woods 7. Birse Community Hall 14. Finzean Community Path

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4 Management purpose: To manage the Forest to produce the social, economic and environmental benefits that sustainable forestry can provide for the inhabitants of Birse parish and the wider community.

Forest of Birse Commonty

1. FOREST OF BIRSE COMMONTY Background: Local concern that ancient shared land use rights over the Forest of Birse Commonty might be lost. Basis: The ancient shared land use rights Balfour Forest over the whole Commonty (c.4000 ha) were vested in BCT in 1998. BCT has had 3. BALFOUR FOREST a management agreement over the North Hill (c.528 ha) of the Commonty with Birse Background: Local concern over the and Ballogie Estates since 1999 in order to management of Balfour Wood by the manage the native pinewoods on the North Forestry Commission, including concern Hill. This Agreement runs to 31st that the Wood might be sold. December 2021. Basis: BCT purchased the Wood in May Management purpose: To manage BCT’s 2010 and changed the name to Balfour interests and land-use rights over the site Forest. The Forest has been leased to on behalf of the local community and for BCT’s trading company, BTCo, since July wider public benefit, including conservation 2010. of the native woodlands in the Commonty. Management purpose: To manage the Forest to produce the social, economic and 2. SLEWDRUM FOREST environmental benefits that sustainable forestry can provide for the inhabitants of Background: Opportunity to ensure that Birse parish and the wider community. this former ancient local Commonty contributes greater social, environmental and economic benefits in Birse. Basis: BCT purchased the Forest (168 ha) in December 2006 and leases the Forest to BTCo, its trading company. In 2016, BCT purchased the additional 5 ha of land between the Kettock Burn and the Shootings Greens forest road from Forestry Commission of . Slewdrum Forest 5 Finzean Saw Mill David Duncan at Finzean Saw Mill

4. FINZEAN SAWMILL 5. BUCKET MILL Background: Local concern that the Background: Local concern at the lack of deteriorating and dangerous condition of use and deteriorating condition of the Mill. the Sawmill threatened its survival. Basis: Ownership of buildings, site and Basis: The Trust took on ownership of the weir were donated to BCT when the Sawmill site south of the public road, Finzean Water Mills Trust was wound up in including the Turning Mill land and the weir 1999. The ownership of the kiln room and in the Feugh in 1999. The Sawmill, Turning fixed equipment was subsequently Mill and associated structures are Grade A donated to BCT by the National Museums Listed Historic Buildings. of Scotland, together with tools and other items that BCT retrieved from Edinburgh. Management purpose: To ensure the The Mill (and associated structures) is a conservation of the Sawmill and Turning Grade A Listed Historic Building. Mill and their use for educational purposes and to examine options for the future of the Management purpose: To ensure the Mills. conservation of the Mill and its use for educational purposes.

Drying Kiln at The Bucket Mill, Finzean the Bucket Mill 6 8. FINZEAN OLD SCHOOL Background: Local concern over the fate of the two historic Old School buildings when Council decided to sell the site on the open market. Basis: BCT purchased the site in December 2003. Birse Kirk Management purpose: To maintain and 6. BIRSE KIRK (Leased to ETBK) conserve the main Old School building and Background: Local concern over the future make it a usable community space (more of the parish’s historic Kirk when the Church detail later in this report). of Scotland decided to sell the Kirk on the open market. Basis: BCT purchased the Kirk and the grass parking area south of the old graveyard on the open market in September 2003. The Kirk is a Grade B Listed Historic Building.

Management purpose: To safeguard and The Old School conserve Birse Kirk, including its condition and continued use by the community. 9. ARCHIVE Management purpose: To maintain a 7. BIRSE COMMUNITY HALL (Leased to community archive in order to safeguard BACA) many old local photographs, documents and other artefacts. BCT continues to Background: Local concern over the future expand and develop the Archive with of the Church Hall because of its further research and new donations. importance for use with the Kirk and as the community hall for the Birse area, when the Church of Scotland decided to sell the Hall on the open market. Basis: BCT purchased the Hall, the associated grounds and former farm steading building on the open market in May 2003. Management purpose: To maintain the Hall as a community facility for the Birse Area, and to support the continued use of

Birse Kirk. Birse Parish Archive 7 The Soutar’s Shop

10. BALLOGIE SOUTAR’S SHOP Memorial is a Listed Historic Building Category C. The Dardanus Stone is a Background: Local concern to ensure that Scheduled Ancient Monument. the building and its contents should be safeguarded for local and wider public Basis: Twenty five-year lease of site on both interest following their rediscovery at the sides of the road from Finzean Estate. end of 1999. Subsequent research showed Management purpose: To safeguard the that this appears to be the only surviving 'in stone monuments on the site and maintain situ' traditional rural Soutar’s shop in the the existing character of the site to a high UK. The building is a Listed Historic standard of amenity that reflects its special Building Category A. importance to the inhabitants of Birse and Basis: The building and contents were its more general use by members of the donated to BCT, but not the land upon public. which it stands, which is owned by Ballogie Estate. Corsedardar Management purpose: To ensure the conservation of the building and its contents and their use for educational visits.

11. CORSEDARDAR Background: The importance of the Birse Parish War Memorial to the community and local concern about condition of the site, including the parking area. The War 8 12. FINZEAN SCHOOL WOOD Background: Local concern at the condition of the former School Wood. Basis: BCT has a lease over the School Wood and the path that BCT constructed between the School Wood and the School in 2011. Management purpose: To manage the School Wood as a high amenity environment, and to encourage and assist the School with its continuing involvement with the Wood as an education resource for Finzean School pupils. Finzean Community Woods

13. FINZEAN COMMUNITY WOODS 14. FINZEAN COMMUNITY PATH Background: To enable long-term Background: Local demand for a safer community use of the Woods around route than the public road for walking and Finzean Village and to maintain the path cycling between Finzean Village, Finzean around the Woods in usable condition. Church and Graveyard, the School Wood, Farm Shop and Primary School. Basis: Two twenty five-year leases of the Woods (c.15 ha), including the land Basis: The School Wood lease was occupied by the Finzean Community Path. expanded to include the 900 metre route between the Wood and the School. These Management purpose: To manage leases run until 2024. Finzean Community Woods as a high amenity environment for their continued Management purpose: To maintain the use and enjoyment by local residents. Finzean Community Path in a good and safe condition for its continued use and enjoyment of local residents.

Finzean Community Path 9 Chairman’s Report

Introduction This report, which is sent to every household in Birse Parish, provides an overview of the Trust’s activities in 2018 and includes a summary of the Trust’s financial position, prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in May 2019. The Trustees see this report and the AGM as important opportunities to outline our progress and our plans for the next few years. 2018 was the 20th year of operation for BCT and has been a year of stabilisation. During the first 20 years of operation, the Trust focused on acquiring land, buildings and woods. The Trustees have agreed that it is time for the Trust to step back and ensure that we are making the best use of these assets and buildings. This will be a main focus for the Trust in 2019. Activity at the BCT Sites During 2018, the Trust has focused on four areas which are covered in the following pages:

Processing firewood for the community in Balfour Forest 10 might be brought back to life. Themes which emerged strongly were around aspects of community, heritage and learning. There are challenges ahead. It is clear that any re-development of the buildings will OLD SCHOOL require substantial funding, and a sensitive redesign of the interior of the NEW USES Old School itself. It is thought that elements of the original endowed school, Old School Complex at Finzean built in 1732 and funded by a legacy from The Trust has owned the Old School Dr Gilbert Ramsay, may still survive within buildings for over 15 years. It has the fabric of what on the surface appears maintained the site (the school itself and to be a late Victorian building dating from the soup kitchen) through several years of 1901. under-use. Currently the site provides There is a determination on the part of the library space for the present primary Trust to ensure that if the buildings are re- school, office space for the Trust and a designed for community use that they will home for the local archives, all of these be very much a facility for the parish as a functions limited by the difficulties of whole. The drawing below shows a heating unmodernised buildings and possible design for the area from the providing little access to the wider architect. community. A decision last year to explore a future for the site as a real asset for the parish of Birse resulted in a consultation exercise. All residents of Ballogie, Birse and Finzean were invited to contribute and it became clear that on the whole, local people had no real sense of ownership of the buildings and some newer residents didn’t know they existed. The Trust secured some £17,000 of grants from the Architectural Heritage Fund and Aberdeenshire Council to enable a feasibility study by a firm of architects (ARC) to propose options for the site. The exercise, led by the Trust’s consultant for the project, Sian Loftus, was very much a two-way process with ARC, throwing up many interesting suggestions about ways in which local residents felt the buildings 11 “Aye, it was aabody” One of the major projects undertaken this year by BCT has been the Slavery Project.

With the help of £25,000 of grants from partnership with pupils from North Street the National Lottery Fund and School in Kingston Jamaica. This Aberdeenshire Council, the Trust has been partnership has been supported by Sir able to support pupils from Finzean Geoff Palmer, professor emeritus at School and residents of Deeside to Heriot Watt University and Jamaica’s first explore the Birse area’s and Scotland’s honorary consul in Scotland. By the end links with the Caribbean slave trade of the school session the pupils in both through the history of Finzean School. The schools will learn about their different project, which is being led by Sian Loftus, cultures and heritage. Sir Geoff visited the is very topical as it aligns with the series school at the end of March and will also of current programmes and studies return to Finzean later this year to attend showing Scotland’s links to the slave trade the launch of the graphic novel. He will which have long been covered over or also give a public talk on the evening of ignored. “It wasnae us” has been shown the book launch and the work undertaken not to be true as in fact “it was aabody”. by the school will also be on display on that date. Finzean Primary School was established in 1732 with a legacy from Rev Gilbert Left to right: BCT Trustee Nancy Davidson, Ramsay which was funded by the sale of Sir Geoff Palmer and Finzean School his slaves in Barbados. The legacy also Head Teacher Vivien Moorhouse supported a parish poor fund and eight bursaries at Marischal College, which later became part of University, for pupils from the parish of Birse. Current pupils from Finzean school are working on a variety of activities which include creating a timeline of major events in the history of the school and producing a graphic novel. The school is working in 12 A small group of adults interested in undertaking research into the connection with the slave trade and the Parish of Birse has been established. They have had the opportunity to attend a workshop on research skills run by Alex Wood, a researcher from Edinburgh. Their research will include the life of Thomas Craig Ramsay, a mixed- race Jamaican boy and son of slave-owner Francis Ramsay, who was unrelated to Gilbert. Thomas came to Birse in 1824 and was educated here from the age of 10 before returning to Jamaica in his twenties.

Finzean School Circa 1900

The Mills In 2018, Davie Hector, Roddy Duncan and Stuart Gordon completed the remaining work required to repair the lower weir after the damage caused by Storm Frank as the last stage of a £21,000 repair. Water is now flowing down the main lade which means that the mills can be operated again. We are looking to apply for funding to allow us to identify the best way forward for the mills, both in terms of the buildings themselves and how they are operated. The aim of this funding is to complete a thorough review of the building to ensure that we fully understand the work required to maintain the buildings and to identify potential options for their future. Our main objective remains to keep the mills in operating condition.

Completed lade repairs at Finzean Saw Mill. Photograph taken during very low water drought conditions of the summer 2018 Downstream side of repaired lade 13 Timber harvesting at Balfour Forest

Slewdrum and Balfour Forests Slewdrum and Balfour forests are managed by BTCo whose objective is to manage the two forests and generate income through timber harvesting. The main activity in 2018 has been a thinning in Balfour Forest. The Trustees are looking to improve access for walking etc. in the two forests in 2019.

Out in all weathers! Maintenance day on young tree protection on the Forest of Birse Commonty

First phase of work on a new access path being built on the western side of Balfour Forest

Other sites While the Trust has focused on the four sites above in 2019, the Trustees continue to ensure that the other sites which we own or manage are maintained as required. Anyone requiring more information on any one particular project or site should either contact the Trust on [email protected] or one of the Trustees. 14 Staff, Trustees and The Trust is always looking for new Trustees to represent the views of the Volunteers community and have a say in what the In March 2018, the Trustees were very Trust does and its development. If you pleased to appoint Eoghan Cameron to be are interested in becoming a Trustee the Trust’s part-time manager on a 1-2 day please contact a week basis. His appointment has [email protected] provided much needed stability to the or one of the Trustees. Trust, as he has been able to look at some We also hope that as many people will be short term and long-term issues which able to attend the AGM as possible in face the Trust, whilst reducing the order to get an update on the Trust’s Trustees’ workload. activities and also give their views on our The Trust was also pleased to welcome future plans. four new Trustees to the board in 2018; Alison Bell, Nancy Davidson, Pam Taylor and Toby Rider. The new Trustees have hit Finance the ground running and have already got Financially, the Trust remains in a very their teeth into various projects. solid place. The Trust had a total income of As the Trust’s Chairman, I would like to £38,914 in 2018. The main elements were thank the staff, volunteers and Trustees a £20,000 donation from BTCo and rental for all their work and support during the income from the forests and the last year. They are key to the continued telephone mast of £11,000. success of the Trust and the Trustees and The total expenditure in 2018 was I are extremely grateful of their support. £39,756 (a loss over the year of £842). The main items of expenditure in 2018 were the management of the Commonty (£6,845), the repair of the water mills and Eoghan Cameron, weir (£5,871), maintaining the buildings new Trust Manager and paths (£8,338) and the cost of administering the Trust (insurance, accounts and general running costs etc. - £18,702). The Trustees continue to be focused on keeping administration costs Engagement as low as possible. The Trust will continue to engage with the A summary of Trust’s 2018 finances is community to try and deliver as much as included at the end of this report. The it can, noting that it is only a small detailed accounts are available from our organisation with a very wide ranging website. Please feel free to contact the mandate covering both natural and Trust if you need any further information. cultural heritage. The Trustees’ goal is to steer a path which reflects the broad view of the community. 15 BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2018

2018 2017 Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total funds funds funds funds funds ££ £££

FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 80,090 498,905 - 578,995 579,604 Investments 2- -22

80,092 498,905 - 578,997 579,606

CURRENT ASSETS Stocks 2,350 --2,350 2,989 Debtors 1,410 --1,410 883 Cash at bank and in hand 41,936 - 116,860 158,7962 159,672

45,696 - 116,860 162,556 163,544

CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year (1,570) --(1,570) (2,325)

NET CURRENT ASSETS 44,126 - 116,860 160,986 161,219

NET ASSETS 124,218 498,905 116,860 739,983 740,825

FUNDS Unrestricted funds 124,218 123,957 Restricted funds 498,905 500,645 Endowment funds 116,860 116,223

TOTAL FUNDS 739,983 740,825

16 BCT 2018 Financial Summary

Income Area Amount Comment

R e n t Balfour & Slewdrum Forests 6 ,000 Birse Trading Company Ltd Slewdrum Forest 5 ,000 EE Telephone mast G r a n t s a n d BTCo donation 20,000 donations Donations 3,630 From individuals Sales and services 2,999 Book sales, wooden products, etc Other income Subscriptions 405 Associate members Gift aid 243 Interest 637 Total income 38,914 Expenditure Commonty Pinewoods 6,845 Planting and maintenance Balfour & Slewdrum Forests 174 Tree removal for mast Mills (General) 5,871 Weir repairs and work at the Mills Comm Woods & Path 1,373 Upkeep of the paths/tree thinning L a n d a n d Corsedardar 116 Memorial service and upkeep b u i l d i n g s Finzean Old School 5,419 Fire & PAT test/ roof repair/viability report Soutar’s Shop 6 Maintenance Parish Archive 1,250 Updating Archive/initial grant applications Total project expenditure 21,054 Office admin/book keeping 7,434 Insurance 4,191 Buildings and forests Accountant fees 2,670 Community events 1,456 Inc. cost of AGM/producing Annual Report A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Stationery, postage, phone 990 Includes mailing Annual Report Website 272 Laptop Legal & professional fees 475 Electricity 281 Depreciation 933 Total administrative costs 18,702 Total expenditure 39,756 Net total Surplus -842 17 AN ACCOUNT OF THE PARISH OF BIRSE by Robert Dinnie Published by BCT Paperback, 170 pages; £8.50 BCT's edition of Robert Dinnie's classic 19th century history of Birse Parish. Originally published in 1865, Dinnie's book contains a wealth of information about the parish, including chapters on Birse, Ballogie and Finzean.

HISTORY IN BIRSE by Robin Callander Published by BCT Paperback, 180 pages; £9.75 BCT's edition includes all four original volumes of History in Birse published in 1981-85. The book contains over 60 articles on many different aspects of the parish's history, with over 40 old photographs and many other illustrations.

Copies post free in Birse Parish, £2.50 postage elsewhere in UK BCT, The Old School, Finzean, AB31 6NY email: [email protected] 18 Donations and Legacies

This Report describes some of the work done by Birse Community Trust (BCT) to conserve historic sites in Birse parish and carry out a wide range of other projects to promote the common good of the local community and deliver wider public benefits.

BCT is a local charity (Scottish Charity Number SC028220) and donations make an essential contribution to helping BCT conserve the heritage of Birse parish and its three communities of Birse, Ballogie and Finzean.

Please help BCT conserve the heritage of Birse Parish by making a donation.

BCT is also very grateful to those who leave a legacy to BCT for the Birse Parish Endowment Fund, which was established by BCT to help provide long term support to maintain the historic sites that BCT looks after on behalf of the local community.

For more information, please contact:- BCT, The Old School, Finzean, Banchory AB31 6NY email: [email protected]

Cover Image: View across the natural re-generation in Balfour Forest.

Copyright: Photographs in this Report are the © of the individual photographers. 19 Birse Community Trust exists to promote the common good of the inhabitants of Birse parish and deliver wider public benefits. Everyone on the Electoral Register covering the parish is eligible to be a member of BCT and responsible for electing up to seven local Trustees who run BCT on behalf of the community. BCT undertakes a wide range of local projects. BCT’s core partners are Birse parish’s three Community Associations and two Community Councils.

BCT is a company limited by guarantee (SC188799) and a Scottish charity (SC028220) with its registered office at J&H Mitchell, WS, 51 Atholl Road, Pitlochry PH16 5BU.

Birse Community Trust BCT The Old School, Finzean, Banchory AB31 6NY

Tel: 01330 850200 Email: [email protected] www.birsecommunitytrust.org.uk