Crannog-Winter-2007

Winter 2007 Read it first online at www.kirkhillandbunchrew.org.uk

Crannog Winter 2007 1

CrannogCrannogLentranKirktonClunesReeligInchberryKirkhillInchmoreEnglishton Muir

DrumchardineAltnacardichNewtonhillKnockbainBunchrewCabrich

Community CouncillorsIan Weir, Groam Farm, Kirkhill 831750Chris Heaton-Armstrong, Kirkhill PO 831779 Ally MacNeill, Tigh Cala, 4 Newtonhill 831339 Fred Geddes, Newtonhill 831324 Cameron Kemp, West Altnaceardaich, Lentran 831552 Karen Young, Glen Rowan, Bunchrew 234128 Iain Urquhart, 58 Newton Park, Kirkhill 831278 Ian Cowan, Tigh-na-Beithe, Kirkhill 831344Caroline Crawford, Gardener’s Cottage, Achnagairn, Kirkhill 831503SecretaryJim Ogilvie, 22 Newton Park, Kirkhill 831316

Crannog is published four times a year by Kirkhill & Bunchrew Community Council. The dates of the meetings of the community council for early 2008 are 8 January, 19 February, 1 April, 13 May and 24 June. All meetings of the community council are usually held in the Old North Inn on a Tuesday evening at 7.30pm and are open to members of the public. If you have any concerns you would like raised please come along or alternatively speak to one of the coun-cillors.

New community councillorsKirkhill and Bunchrew Community Council is delighted to welcome Caroline Crawford and Ian Cowan who have joined as members fol-lowing the recent elections.

Caroline has lived in Kirkhill for 13 years and has children aged 9 and 12. She is organiser of Kirkhill Krew, the local youth group, a Director of KBCT, was involved with improvements in playpark, and a member of the Parent Council at Kirkhill Primary School. She is currently working to improve facilities for young people in the area, through KBCT. She liaised with Highland Council to implement new road signs and speed limits on the approach to village to make Kirkhill a safer place, particularly for children walking or cycling to school.

Caroline says: “As a member of the Community Council, I would like to be able to do something about issues which affect residents of Kirkhill and area, and hope that they will feel they can approach the Community Council about these - maybe we can make a differ-ence!”

Ian has lived in Kirkhill for seven years with his wife Helen and son Henry. He works for SEPA as a lawyer, and helps out regularly with football coaching on Saturday mornings.

Ian says: “The Community Council has an important role. It has to be consulted about all sorts of things, so it can have a huge influence on how the community develops. I want to hear what everyone who lives here has to say about its future, because the Community Coun-cil is meant to represent you all.”

The Handyman aims to provide a service for those small jobs which don’t fall neatly into trades’ categories. It’s for the jobs tradesmen either can’t be bothered to do, or for which they charge too much. We offer a range of services from minor outdoor jobs such as garden tidying, gutter cleaning, tree and shrub pruning to basic plumbing, electrical and carpentry jobs. We also love the flat packs you hate! Most of our jobs take between an hour to half a day to complete. For bigger jobs we’ll give a quotation.

For information on what we can do contact:

Mobile: 078877 00725Email: [email protected]

Best wishes for the festive season & a happy &

prosperous New Year from all at Kirkhill & Bunchrew Community Council &

CrannogSee you in 2008!

2 Crannog Winter 2007

Class of ‘79Former pupils of Charleston Academy, “Class of 79” met for a School Reunion at the Loch Ness House Hotel on 29th September 2007. The event was a huge success where former pupils and ex teachers, (one currently still teaching at the school) got together. The reunion was organised by Lorraine Skene, Steven Anderson, Rosie Miller, Donald MacRae & Mandy Flynn. A total of £231 raised from the raffle was donated to Moray Firth Charity Trust.

Interested in getting your prescriptions delivered?Crannog has been approached by Donal Bolger from Kinmylies Phar-macy in Inverness to see if any residents of Kirkhill and the area surrounding the village would be interested in the possibility of a pre-scription pick up service from the two doctors’ practices in Beauly.

The pharmacy would pick up prescriptions and repeat prescriptions from your doctor and deliver them to you after dispensing at Kin-mylies.

If you’re interested please call the pharmacy on 01463 221094 or pop in, they’re adjacent to Charleston Academy.

Competitive RatesLocally Based

tel 07766 [email protected]

private

Bast RousTree Surgery Parks, Gardens, Site ClearancePhone: Hugh on 07845 [email protected]

Stock/Timber FencingPhone: Hamish on 07841 [email protected]

01463 713245Free Quotations

Operators trained and insured

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H & H Brown

service

Kirkhill Toddler GroupWe meet every Wednesday and Friday during term time in the com-munity hall from 10am - 12 noon. The group have a wonderful vari-ety of toys, from soft play and climbing frame activities, to ride-on buggies and role-play equipment.

We also have stimulating, bright and colourful toys for tiny babies.

You can have a cuppa, relax and chat with friendly and supportive mums and dads from our local area. It’s a great time for pre-school children to socialise and have some fun - as well as enjoying our special events, craft, songs and parties.

Why not pop along and give us a try! For more information call Anne 831638 or Madeleine 831063

Kirkhill WRI winter sessionThe WRI winter session is underway with a very varied selection of speakers and demonstrators. In September we had a talk plus slide show from Fiona Chirnside representing Tearcraft. Followed in Octo-ber by a most interesting presentation by Donna Chisholm, project leader of the Eden Court development. We are looking forward to seeing the newly revamped theatre when we have our annual visit to the panto this month.

Our September Coffee Morning raised over £670 and we thank all of those who attended, donated goods or helped us in any way. Two thirds of this sum goes towards the senior citizens’ party held early this month in the community centre - I hope you received your invita-tion and had a fantastic time!

What about coming along to join us in the New Year? We are always looking for new members and you’d be made very welcome. Meet-ings are held on the first Thursday of the month in the Community Centre, Kirkhill at 7.30pm


Save Kirkhill Post Office....your community needs you!

YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS

YOU

•Local Service in Kirkhill•Digital printing and publishing (no job too small)•Bespoke hand made design service•Commissioned art•Greeting cards and Exotic papers•Wedding Stationery (hand printed on a Victorian press)•Elephant Poo paper/Christmas tree planters

Products made from fair-trade, recycled and organic materials

10% of all liberty bligh profits are donated to amnestyinternational and Scottish women’s aid

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER20% DISCOUNT ON ALL PRODUCTS AND

SERVICES WITH THIS ADVERT

Contact: 07913 626102Email: [email protected]

Liberty bligh Ethical art and design

Ardfearn Nursery & Gift ShopBunchrew, open 7 days, 9am-5pm

Tel: 01463 243250We are proud to present our 2007 Christmas gift range.

Our shop is full of unique, stylish and unusual gift ideas, catering for all tastes from traditional to modern with a large selection of ethnic handcrafted goods also! We aim to provide an exclusive selection of gifts, many

of which are fair trade and very reasonable prices.Bring this advert to receive 10% discount in the shop.

Handmade fresh Christmas wreaths available now

Large selection of bare-root stock now in the Nursery

(ornamental & fruit trees, hedging, shrubs & soft fruit)

We would like to wish our customers & community a very Merry Christmas and a happy & healthy 2008!

This is our last chance to get together as a community and save our post office. Post Office Ltd has already announced that up to 2,500 post office branches are going to close in 2008

The 12 week local consultation by Post Office Ltd and overseen by Postwatch on the future of the post office network in Highland will begin on 8 January. We have to make our voice heard as a community or we will lose our post office and have to travel to Beauly or Kiltarlity for postal services.

Kirkhill and Bunchrew Community Council want all our residents who want to keep the post office in Kirkhill to sign the petition below - everyone in the house-hold - and return it to either the school, the Old North Inn or Kirkhill Post Office.

I/we support the Kirkhill & Bunchrew Community Council’s campaign to SAVE Kirkhill Post Office.

Name 1 ................................................................................. Address ......................................................................................Name 2 ................................................................................. ......................................................................................Name 3 ................................................................................. ......................................................................................Name 4 ................................................................................. ......................................................................................

Or if you’d rather get involved personally - you can download information about the proposed plan for our area from the Post Office Ltd website from 8 January. You then have the opportunity to provide written feedback, letting the Post Office know your views on their plans.

Address: National Consultation Team, Post Office Ltd, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM (no stamp required)Telephone: 08457 22 33 44 Email: [email protected]

#

Robert KinghornTree Surgery

Fully qualified and insured Arboricultural contractor

All aspects of tree care undertaken.

Small garden trees to full site clearances

Felling large and small treesTree dismantling

All aspects of tree pruningHazard trees

Deadwood removalSite clearance

Urban / woodland forestryHedge trimming

Tree and hedge planting

[email protected] 22374307717194567


This section is left intentionally blankplease fill in our petition on page 3

Merry Christmas & a Happy New YearThrough the pages of Crannog I would like to wish all our residents Good Health and Best Wishes for the coming year. Since my re-election in May I have regu-larly attended Kirkhill Community Council meetings and left each one with a list of ‘things to be done’.

If you have anything you want to discuss, or a problem I might be able to help with, or something to report which is happening in your locality, please contact me,

Helen CarmichaelThe Haven, Ferry Lane, Beauly IV4 7EBTel: 01463 782555email: [email protected]

Our other Highland councillorsMargaret DavidsonAbriachan Nurseries, Loch Ness Side, Inverness IV3 8LATel/Fax: 01463 861424 Mobile: 07818 015689email: [email protected]

Hamish Wood14 Kennedy Drive, Inverness IV3 8QRTel: 01463 714844 email: [email protected]

Drew HendryOld Kilcoy House, Tore, Muir of Ord, Ross-shire IV6 7RZTel: 01463 811480 email: [email protected]

Our Highland Council ward managerGraham StrachanTown House, Inverness IV1 1JJ Tel: 01463 724215


***Over 100 Special Offers in-store***Lottery, Paypoint, Off-Sales, DVD Rental, ATM’s. Local Products

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Wishing you all a Merry ChristmasSPAR Conon (Main Street, Conon Bridge)SPAR Dingwall (40 High Street, Dingwall)SPAR Thornbush (45 Thornbush Road, Inverness)SPAR Kinmylies (2 Charleston Court, Inverness) [Instore Post Office]

Vacancies

ShopAssistantsIf you would like to become part of our progressive and enthusiastic team apply with CV to:

RecruitmentSpar Dingwall40 High StreetDingwallIV15 9SN

Please give details of preferred location, previous work experience and days/hours you are available for work.

Christmas & New Year Special OffersTennents Lager 12 Pack cans 440ml Only £6.99

Selected Spar Wines 3 FOR £9 Stella Artois 10 pack 330ml nrb’s £8.49 - £5.99

Budweiser 10 pack 330ml nrb’s £9.15 - £6.99

Glenlivet Malt Whisky 12 YO 70cl Only £16.99

Smirnoff / Gordons / Bell’s / Black Bottle ONLY £9.99

Old English Cider 12 Pack 440ml Cans 2 for £12

Various Quality Wines – Mix ‘n’ Match 3 for £10 and 2 for £8

Glens Vodka 1ltr - £9.99 , 70cl - £7.49

Smirnoff Ice / Bacardi Breezers / WKD’s Any 2 for £570cl

eachWhyte & Mackay / Baileys 70cl’s

Gravel, Sand, Wood Bark etc Supplied & Laid

Clunes Garden ServicesGrass Cutting any size large or small domestic & commercial

Hedge Trimming, Strimming & Weed Control

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All types of Fencing work also undertaken

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friendly & reliable serviceGive us a call for a fast,

OJ SPORTSTONING ANDFITNESS CLASS

KIRKHILL HALL EVERY WEDNESDAY8.30-9.30

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TAKE A FITNESS MAT AND HAND WEIGHTSIF YOU HAVE THEM

HAVE A WATER BOTTLE FOR REHYDRATION

WEAR SENSIBLE CLOTHING AND SHOES

IF INTERESTED CALL JOHN-ALASDAIR MACAULAY ON

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News from the Community TrustWe still get lots of people asking “what is the Community Trust -is it the same as the Com-munity Council?” The answer is no – we are an entirely separate organisation, although we work closely with the Community Council wherever we can and invite the Community Council to nominate a Trust Director (Ally McNeil at present). The Community Council is an elected body with particular functions which are limited by statute.

Kirkhill and Bunchrew Community Trust is a member-based organisation which is constituted as a Company limited by Guar-antee and which files annual accounts to both Companies House and the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator. Membership is open to everyone who lives in the Crannog circulation area and it’s FREE!

Provided what we do is for the greater good of the community, we have considerable scope to get involved in all kinds of activi-ties – enhancing the environment, running community businesses, improving amenity and lots more besides. We function through a Trust Board which meets six times a year, but most of the work of the Trust is done through the various Groups who are able to focus on issues which interest them. This allows people to get involved to the extent they want to or are able to. We’re really keen to get more people involved in the work of the Trust, so if any of the activities below tickle your fancy, please get in touch with the named contact. If you want more information on the Trust, the best contact is George Hogg on 831674 or [email protected]

The Woodland Group ...is active in upper Reelig wood every second Saturday – 8th and 22nd are the dates in December. We are continuing to thin self-seeded beech trees, thus improving access and encouraging regeneration; it also allows us to sell firewood! The Group is in discussion with the Forestry Commission about the Forest Design Plan for Reelig Glen, and we hope this will result in the Trust being a key partner in the future management of upper Reelig wood. We had a very successful xylophone workshop in the wood on 24th November in association with Les Bates under his Reforesting Scotland project and involving Steve Sharpe of Happy-ness Drums. We hope to follow this up with other events which will encourage local people to see what’s going on. If you want to know more contact Annie Griffiths 831600

The Transport and Path Group ...has responded to the draft Core Path Network proposals drawn up by The Highland Council. We are particularly keen to see a route for walk-ers, cyclists and horse riders between Beauly and Inverness and are pressing the Council to make that the centrepiece of the Core Path Net-

work, with other routes linked into it where possible. Much detailed work would have to be done in relation to the line of any such route, and local land managers would be a key part of that discussion. Ged Church on 831306

The Environment Group ...continues to monitor the recycling site at Inchmore Hall. This site is well used, but once again we have to remind people not to leave other rubbish behind – including containers used to transport bot-


Would you like to work for a fun, vibrant company leading the way in providing amazing outdoor

Stores Person / Driver required

We require a flexible individual to work with us preparing outdoor activity equipment, drying/cleaning and maintaining kit and transporting clients and canoes around the Highlands. You must have no more than 3 points on your driving licence and be able to lift a 25kg canoe unassisted. You need to be a naturally friendly and helpful individual willing to work flexible hours. Knowledge of outdoor activities would be an advantage but is not essential

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tles and cans! Rubbish is not only unsightly, it can be unhygienic or even downright dangerous. Please only use this site for the purpose it was designed for - recycling of paper, bottles and cans. if you want to get involved in the Environment Group contactErik Lundberg on 831742

Following on the success of the refurbished Community Park in Kirkhill, a Trust Youth Group is now looking at different activities and facilities for the youth of Kirkhill and Bunchrew. As part of this, Char-leston Academy students have been involved in a series of consulta-tion events at the school to find out what they feel the area needs. If you’re interested in helping take this work forward, contact Caroline Crawford 831503

Kids’ FootballFootballing youngsters from Kirkhill and Kiltarlity are enjoying nearly £350 worth of new training equipment, thanks to donations from their parents. The new gear includes indoor and outdoor goals, foot-balls and coloured bibs. Training takes place from 9.30 to 11am every Saturday during school terms, usually at Kirkhill Community Centre, but this winter the Primary 1-3s have the use of Kiltarlity Hall. Parents’ donations also fund the hire of the hall.

“What we really need now,” says Ian Cowan, one of the volunteer coaches, “is a few more adult volunteers to help out with coaching on the odd Saturday morning. We could also do with a few more girls playing – they’re just as good as the boys.”

If you have a child at Kirkhill or Tomnacross, and you, she, or he wants to get involved, please phone Ian (831344) or one of the other volunteer coaches: P1-3 – Neil Watson (741876), David Kerr (741575), Alan Dobie (831212); P4-5 – Scott Armstrong (831558), Gordon Streets (831464); P6-7 – Grant Stewart (831636).

Kirkhill KrewIf you are in S1 - S4 at Charleston and live in Kirkhill and Bunchrew area, you are welcome to come along to our youth group at Kirkhill Primary School on Wednesday nights, 7 pm - 9 pm, during term time. There is lots going on, including football, badminton, games, pool, darts, arts and crafts, baking, music etc. Our last session for this year is 12 December when we are going to Rollerbowl. We will start back on 16 January 2008 with a Circus Skills Workshop. Each ses-sion costs £1.50.

Kirkhill Krew Drama Group has just started up again from 6 pm - 7 pm Wednesday nights, at the same venue. Come along for some fun, and the chance to appear on stage next year!Caroline Crawford 831503

Kirkhill Primary School newsChristmas FayreA massive thanks to our fundraising committee for all the prepara-tion and organisation that went in to running such a smooth event.At the last count we raised approximately £3,600. Thank you also to everyone who donated items assisted or just turned up on the day.Klondyke (Howdens) Gardens for Schools VouchersWhen anyone spends more than £10 at Howdens Garden Centre,

they will be offered a voucher for every £10 spent. Please hand the vouchers into the school.

If we collect 500 vouchers we can send them to Klondyke Head Office and they will swop these for £100 of vouchers to spend in Howdens! This would be very useful for our Garden Group!Cris Ford 831543

Binoculars in the parkIf you’ve mislaid a pair of small/kids black binoculars in the playpark in Kirkhill callSeonaid Johansson 831761

Ardfearn Macmillan Coffee MorningCongratulations to all the folks at Ardfearn Nursery on another suc-cessful Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Cancern Care. Your hard work is appreciated and raffle winner Susie Mackintosh is delighted with the plants for her new garden.

kirkhill post officeGreeting CardsStationery Local NewspapersInternet CafeCold DrinksPhotocopying 5p

Opening hoursMon, Tue, Thur & Fri9am - 1pm2pm - 5.30pmWed 9am - 1pmSaturday 9am - 12.30pm

LAST posting date for Kirkhill could

be coming sooner than you think.

If you want to save your local post office get

everyone in your household to sign the petition

on page 3... TIME’S RUNNING OUT!


Thanks for reading CrannogBest wishes for the festive season and a happy new year when it comes. The next issue - Spring 2008 will be out in early March - deadline for contributions 29 February. If you have any news, views or adverts (only £10 for a quarter page or £35 for four issues!) please get in touch with the Crannog Editor:Alison Hay, 1 Groam Court, Kirkhill IV5 7NWtel 831042email [email protected] As our community continues to expand, we are always on the lookout for more volunteers to deliver Crannog. If you can help contact Ken MacColl 831617

FIRST CHOICE DECORATIONSPAINTINGDECORATINGWALLPAPERINGTILINGPLASTERING

ContactJIM GOODMAN

tel01463 831301

mob07922 038868

CONON WATER COTTAGEKIRKHILL, INVERNESS IV5 7PG

Take CarePlease remember to drive care-fully through the village during the winter months, particularly when children are walking or cycling to or from school. Poor visibility and slippery roads increase the risk of accidents. Allow a few extra minutes for your journey so you don’t have to rush.

Kirkhill Village MarketThe new Kirkhill Village Market has become a regular event in the area – every second Sat-urday morning in the Pri-mary School Hall.

“The whole project gives opportunity for young people from Inverness High School and Kirkhill Primary to have a busi-ness experience,” explains Iain Clyne of REAL (Real Education Active Lives) at Inverness High School.

“Tea, coffee and cakes are offered by the parents and the two hour event is a great focal point for a relaxed chat in the middle of shopping.”

A wide range of food, plant, and craft suppliers are now regulars at the market, which features a whole range of items from mainly local growers and producers:

•REAL Organics: Mixed leaves; Mixed salad; Rocket salad; Hot mixed salad; Mizuna; Lettuce; Rocket; Kale; Baby Turnips; Beetroot; Chard; Spinach; Courgettes; Alfalfa; Bean Sprouts•Connage: cheese and oatcakes•Balmungie: chicken eggs; duck eggs; quail eggs;•Cromarty Bakery: various lovelies •Rose Cottage: preserves•Croft 7: Fruits; plants and crafts•Simon Fraser: vegetables•David Hendry: plants & shrubs•Ness soaps

Next markets 15 and 22 December 10am-12noon.

REAL Organics at Inverness High School“The school should be thinking innovatively, with the aim of sensi-

tively developing as a centre of the local community, well beyond the practices and norms of the typical secondary school,” explains Iain Clyne With these realities in mind, REAL Organics, as a social enterprise, is a venture to grow organic vegetables on an acre plot of school ground. The harvest is to be sold at a premium to office workers and others whilst sold at a lower rate to the local school catch-ment which includes the eighth most deprived ward in Scotland. So far this season, we have grown a large range of salad crops, potatoes, beetroot, herbs and carrots. Labour has been supplied from junior and senior pupils and in particular the Project Scot-land team who are among other things have really discovered the

meaning of the phrase ‘tattie holidays”!

We are also looking to establish selling points across the city. The cache of city grown produce would be a really posi-tive selling point.

This business also offers very practical business and devel-opment skills (marketing, selling, financial control, etc.) and work experience to pupils. The project also offers varied integration with the school syllabus through direct teaching opportunities, the development of new thinking in eating habits, product development and association with the in house nutrition group. We are also developing a range of training opportunities including visits to other horticultur-

alists, the supporting of primary school projects and community based outreach work.

Iain ClyneREAL (Real Education Active Lives)Inverness High SchoolTel: 01463 783595

Crannog-Winter-2007

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