Aird Community Trust (ACT)

Category: News

  • MONIACK MHOR COMMUNITY GARDEN UPDATE – DRYSTONE WALLING

    MONIACK MHOR COMMUNITY GARDEN UPDATE

    DRYSTONE WALLING COURSE WITH GEORGE GUNN

    9TH & 10TH NOVEMBER 2013

     

    Several members of the KBCT attended a drystone walling course at Moniack Mhor Writing Centre at Abriachan last weekend. They were all keen to learn more about drystone walling techniques from DSWA Master Craftsman and International Award Winner George Gunn from Caithness. The course was taught through the building of a spiral dyke that will enclose a fire pit in the grounds of the writing centre. The dyke had been started on a previous course and will take a further weekend course to complete. The trainees learned how to set out a dyke and build it from the foundations up, selecting the correct stone for the task and learning how to lay it to form the outside skins then filling the centre with ‘heartings’. The course ended with the selection and placing of the coping stones and the satisfaction of a job well done, for now. Throughout the course George regaled the trainees with anecdotes from his extensive experience and information on the different types of walling and materials he has worked with. All the trainees enjoyed this very hands-on course and were grateful for the relatively mild weather for the time of year. The setting sun on Sunday afternoon cast a warm glow on the dyke and it will make a delightful spot for presentations and evening chats over a log fire for those attending courses next spring.

    The dyke is on the west boundary of the centre grounds, below the sleeper steps and planting carried out with the help of the BBC’s Beechgrove Garden, recently broadcast on TV. The landscaping will help to integrate the various buildings on the site with paths and planting, so that the grounds will be as much a part of the courses as the buildings.

    The KBCT has supplied logs for the newest building on the site, a teaching and performance space with an unusual construction so the course was a useful opportunity to check on its progress. The building has a frame of log poles with straw bales on the outside providing insulation. The straw is finished with line render on the outside and clay on the inside so the walls can ‘breathe’. The roof is formed with a double spiral roof of logs, supporting their own weight. More straw bales are laid on top with pallets to provide a ventilation layer then a pond liner for waterproofing. It is finished with a heather turf roof that will help it blend into the landscape and minimise the amount of rainwater run-off. 2 log stoves will provide lots of heat and make this a cosy space for recitations and music. It should be ready for use in the spring.

    For more information on Moniack Mhor click here

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  • Autumn Volunteering Day

    The weather treated us kindly on Saturday and we had a good turn out to help trim the willows. Many thanks to Rob Kinghorn, Tom Paterson, Mark Forbes and Lindsey Stout. By 2pm the 3 willow structures had all the new growth since the spring trim weaved into the structure and the top growth turned over to form roofs. All the cuttings were chopped up and laid inside the structures as mulch. They now look very neat and future growth should reinforce the structure. It was remarked how dry this end of the park was, considering how it used to be a bit of a bog when the Trust took over the care of the park. This is a testament to the original design and work by Les Bates and the on-going maintenance by Trust members. It was also noted that the trees and willows provide both a visual and sound break to the play equipment in the park from the surrounding houses, apart from the cottages on the east boundary of course. They also provide a welcome area of greenery in the centre of the village.

     

    You may know that we have been looking for someone to keep an eye on the park, now that the fence repairs have been completed and the willows trimmed. I am delighted that Mark Forbes has agreed to take on this task. He lives next to the park and walks his dog Toby past it each day. He will let the Trust Board know if there are any issues that require attention and a suitable work party can be organised.

     

    I took a break from the willows to look after the Litter Pick at noon that met in the community centre car park. Many thanks to all who helped collet the several bags of litter plus concrete blocks, bricks, lengths of metal, several balls and a 10p piece! This should help keep the village tidy over the winter until our next pick in the spring but don’t let it stop you picking up any litter you pass in the meantime!

     

    Erik Lundberg

  • DRYSTONE WALLING WITH GEORGE GUNN

    Interested in finding out about drystone walling? This local event will give you a taste of what is involved.  More information here.

  • Wardlaw Mausoleum

    The Mausoleum took part in the Inverness Doors Open day on Saturday 7th September. An excellent attendance was boosted by a local re-enactment group in full historic costume led by Paul Lang from Alba History in Inverness. Paul was dressed in 15th century half-armour with helmet and weapons that his wife Julia, also in 15th century costume, assisted with. They were joined by a Jacobite and a Redcoat in their respective outfits and weapons. Paul gave a fascinating review of the history of the Lovat Frasers and the Kirkhill area and the Redcoat Captain Ferguson gave a flavour of life in the British Army during the Jacobite period and afterwards, including the harsh life of the wives of soldiers who followed their campaigns. The group also answered many questions about the outfits and weapons from the visitors, both locals and those touring several buildings as part of the Doors Open Day.

    Wardlaw Mausoleum Trust member Simon Fraser and local keyholder Erik Lundberg explained the history of the building to the visitors and gave them the opportunity to look into the Crypt and to climb the tower that gave an excellent view over the surrounding countryside. They were ably assisted by Freja Lundberg and her dog Pip. The event was definitely a success and it is hoped Paul’s group will be able to come back again next year.

    The mausoleum is in Wardlaw Graveyard at the top of Wardlaw Road in Kirkhill. It was built as the burial place for the Lovat Frasers in 1632 on the end of the original parish church. The church was later demolished and the stone used to help build the current Wardlaw Church in the village. The roof of the mausoleum was raised and a tower added in 1722 by the then Lord Lovat, the ‘Old Fox’ of the Jacobite rebellion who was later buried in the crypt. It was used by the Lovats until the mid-19th century when they started using Eskadale Churchyard, between Beauly and Cannich. The building then fell into disrepair until the 1990’s when the Wardlaw Mausoleum Trust was formed to rescue it. This led to a restoration project with Historic Scotland and Lottery funding in 1995-97, led by local architect Fred Geddes from Newtonhill. Through their efforts this Grade ‘A’ listed gem of a building has been preserved for future generations to enjoy. The maintenance of the building depends on donations from visitors so please remember to contribute after you have been shown round and sign the visitor book. There are many names of ex-pat Scots from around the world in the book as well as tourists and locals, even the Kirkhill Cub Pack!

    If you would like to look around the mausoleum contact Erik Lundberg on 831742 or call in at Pilgrim Cottage on the right at the entrance to the graveyard.

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  • Land’s End to John O’Groats Cycle Challenge

    My daughter Laura MacNeil from Newtonhill has recently completed the Land’s End to John O’Groats cycling challenge for Marie Curie,with a friend Marion Greig. Our family had the help of Marie Curie nurses when Laura’s Granny was ill with cancer and they were a great support. To date she has raised over £1500 through her JustGiving web page: https://www.justgiving.com/Laura-MacNeil which is active until the end of September.   The cycle took 14 days and it was a total of 947 miles trying to avoid the busier roads.They had a rest day halfway through, in Chester for a wee break and a massage before they hit the long road north. They were ahead of the really hot weather and never needed their waterproof gear at all – quite a surprise in the British summer!

    Ally MacNeil, Newtonhill

     

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  • AUTUMN VOLUNTEERING DAY SATURDAY 26TH OCTOBER 2013

    Kirkhill & Bunchrew Community Trust is holding an Autumn Volunteering Day on Saturday 26th October. We will start with a tidy-up of the Willow structures, trees and shrubs in the Playpark at 10am. Tools will be provided and many hands will make light work so come along for an hour and help to keep the park looking its best.

    This will be followed by a Litter Pick starting at 12 Noon in the Community Centre Car Park. This has become a regular feature in our village calendar and is ideal for children and adults to attend, Picks sticks, bags and gloved will be provided and groups set off to cover the Community Centre Grounds, Playpark, Millennium Garden, Farm Track to Fingask and Groam, the streets around the centre of the village and the bus stop. The cycle paths from Kirkhill to Inchmore and Inchmore to Moniack will also be included, as well as the ‘Back Road’ to Beauly. This is a very worthwhile community event and we look forward to your help to keep our village tidy and litter free.