The Ancient Tree Hunt

In 2004 the Woodlands Trust created a project to identify ancient trees in the UK. The aim of the project, which is called the Ancient Tree Hunt, is to create a register of the UK's ancient trees. It is hoped that 100,000 trees will be recorded by 2011. If you know of an old tree in your area you can record it. You can also locate ancient trees in your area. Their website is very well constructed and easy to use www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk.

In parallel with this there is also The Tree Register www.treeregister.org.uk which lists all the ‘Notable and Ancient Trees’ recorded by its members. An interesting fact is that 35% of these ‘Notable and Ancient Trees’ registered for the whole of Aberdeenshire are found in Durris. This will be the background of the talk  ‘Durris – The Scottish National Arboretum That Could Have Been” given by Callum Pirnie, Head Gardner, Crathes Castle.  The talk will be given at our AGM, details further below.

Breathing Places at Durris

Some of you may have noted Bill Oddie  promoting ‘Breathing Places’ on the recent  Autumn Watch on BBC2,  (see also www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces )

To quote the BBC: 'A Breathing Place could be almost anywhere'.

We in Woodlands and adjoining villages are well provided for in having acres of FCS forest, perhaps not on our doorstep, but near enough to walk to.
We have registered Pitcowdens in Durris Forest as our Breathing Place, and the project is already progressing, and we are applying for Big Lottery funding to aid with the project. Besides creating a place to encourage and promote all BBC and Lottery aims, our big added feature is promoting local history.

In future maybe we can also input to the 'Woodlands development' with a view to creating a Breathing Place within the village?

A brief update on the project will be given at the FDF AGM 29 Nov.
 

Annual General Meeting – to be held at Kirkton Hall 7.30 pm Thursday 29 Nov.

The meeting will open with a talk

“Durris – the Scottish National Arboretum That Could Have Been”

by Callum Pirnie, Head Gardner at Crathes Castle.

There will then be a special public meeting (already announced to all FDF members) for interested parties on the topic:

“The Future of the Forestry Commission Scotland Site at Kirkton of Durris”

The Closure of the Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) offices at Kirkton of  Durris has opened up a debate on the best possible use for the Kirkton of Durris site. Earlier this year FCS hired a consultant to investigate the possible changes of use with a view to the sale of the site with planning consent. FDF has prepared a questionnaire to allow members of the local community the opportunity to express their views on how this site could be used. The purpose of this special meeting is to discuss these alternative uses.