FDF have set a date in partnership
with Durris Primary School and FCS for their next tree planting event at
Pitcowdens, planned for Monday 16th March at 11am. The previous tree planting took place on 3rd
December 2007 and native tree species included gean, oak, holly and rowan. The majority of these trees have survived
and established well.
One of our objectives for
Pitcowdens is to continue to increase the biological richness of the site, so
we are introducing some different native species in the second phase of
planting. These will include wych elm, willow and ash.
North East Scotland Local
Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) takes action to conserve important species and
habitats. The wych elm is one of these
important species which has been identified as being at risk. Factors causing the loss or decline of the
species are, for example, Dutch elm
disease and a decline in planting.
Wych elm seeds are an important
source of food for many animals, especially the green finch and red squirrel
(also a priority LBAP species), as well as providing a valuable habitat for
lichens and invertebrates.
Biodiversity LBAP’s are part of
the Durris Primary School’s Eco- schools curriculum, so on Monday 16th of March the whole school will take
part in planting 100 native tree species, with 30 of them being wych elm. We
also hope to arrange a visit by Estelle Gill from the Macaulay Institute to
talk to the children before the tree planting about the importance of LBAP’s.
Local Interest
Julia Mckay, one of the FDF board
members, had a lovely chat recently with 99 year old Mrs Donald and her
daughter Maureen Petrie, South Brachmont Farm, Durris. Mrs Donald recounted as a young girl she
lived next to the Smiddy on Denside, and her father, Charles Kidd, worked as a
farmer at Home Farm, Durris Estate, which was owned by Laird Henry Baird. After her mother died she kept house for her
father and worked in the shop at the end of Denside, which is now
Swallowvale. Her father then left the
estate in the 1930’s and they moved to work a croft in Cookney. After Mrs Donald married in 1934 she and her
husband moved to Nibbetstane, Durris which was owned by Alan Riddoch. Mr Donald was a road man and Mrs Donald
worked at Nibbetstane. They then moved
to Craiglug farm which was rented from Alfred Johnston, a pottery manufacturer
in Staffordshire. Alfred Johnston had
purchased Craiglug in the 1930’s from the Baird Trustees.
On the subject of Pitcowdens she remembered a forester, possibly Matthews,
who lived there after Mr and Mrs Smith in the 1950’s. Does anyone know his name, when he left and where he moved
to? Julia would be grateful for any
historical information regarding Pitcowdens or of local interest.
Contact Julia Mackay 811576 – m4cay@gofast.co.uk
Update on Pitcowdens Project
On Thursday 19th February FDF had a
site meeting with Julia Trusott, FCS Community Ranger at Pitcowdens. The main objective of the visit was to
finalise exactly where the multi-user trail, picnic area and wildflower meadow
will be situated. John Mackie, FCS, scheduled machinery which was able to start
work on the site soon after. Planned
work includes clearing away brash, stump removal and creating the path and
picnic area.
The
AGM re-elected the board as shown
below.
Friends Board 2008-2009
If you have any suggestions, or would like to
contribute to one of the working groups, please contact any committee
member. ((: 01330-…)
Mark Ansell (811371)
Petra Vergunst (811576)
Julia Mackay (811576) (Membership
Officer)
Helen White (811435)
John Coyne (844787)
James White (811756)