Monachyle Mhor
We were pleased to receive an invite from the Monachyle Mhor hotel management in Balquidder to take part in a rural skills weekend on Saturday 30th March. Stephen Donne, professional waller, had agreed to demonstrate hedge laying and I agreed to take up the challenge of a wall demo.
Craighall Den Training Course
We returned to Craighall Den in mid October to continue the wall begun in July. On Saturday there were five members working alongside five Countryside Trust Volunteers with Calum instructing.
Central Scotland Branch AGM, 2018
Nine members attended this year’s AGM at Luncarty Church Hall on Saturday 3rd November.
Cambo Members’ Weekend
Having got over our initial disappointment that we weren’t going to be able to finish off the work on a retaining wall begun by Stuart McDonald and 8 apprentices on the Friday, there being no earth to fill in the bed and not enough stones for covers, we got started on a further section of the car park wall, lining up with the trainees’ section.
Cambo Training Weekend
The second visit of the year to Cambo was the last of our Beginners Training Courses in Dry Stone Walling for 2018.
Calum Williams, instructor for the event, led an enthusiastic group of nine trainees during a rather cold September weekend.
Rait Games
Our stall at the Rait games in 2016 was a great success with members of the public showing considerable interest in our work, so we were happy to return this year and asked Steve Donne if he could come along again with his miniature walls.
South Mains
We’ve been to South Mains farm near Forfar twice this year continuing working on the long stretch of wall from the entrance.
Boundary Wall in Dunkeld
It was lovely to return to Dunkeld to work on the boundary wall at Hamish and Ginny Carlton's.
50th Anniversary Walling Competition 19th May, 2018
Congratulations to Trish Waite and Gregor Smart of CSB for taking part in DSWA's 50th Anniversary Walling Competition
Presentation of Long Service Award to Ian Dewar, May 2018
Fourteen members attended this event at Huntingtower Hotel to meet Ian Dewar again and honour his energy, breadth of vision and long commitment to dry stone walling.
Burmieston
August 18th and 19th saw the branch walling at Burmieston in Perthshire. This coincided with a cooler and on day two wetter moments in our amazing summer.
Cairnbrae Eco-Burial Ground
Early in the year the branch was approached about becoming involved in an exciting new venture: Cairnbrae Eco-burial site near Kellas. This project is the vision of Alma Kettles, whose family farm nearby.
Large Branch of the Year Award
GREAT NEWS: Central Scotland has won the DSWA Large Branch of the Year Award.
Boundary Wall at Craighall Farm, Ceres
If you look up Craighall Castle, Ceres, online, you’ll see photos of the 18th century castle which until 1957 stood near the site of our July wall rebuild. The remains of the castle were near enough our site to be a source of stone. There’s also an old limestone quarry nearby, and limekilns in a state of good repair.
RM Condor, 31st March
It was icers for Billy, John and Iain this weekend as they headed for RM Condor, the home of the 45 Commando Group, to carry out repairs to the whin stone wall within the Woodlands Garden.
The Japanese Gardens at Cowden Castle, 25th March
With the snow behind us and the clocks ahead, Spring finally felt like it had arrived as we returned to The Japanese Gardens at Cowden Castle.
Letter from the Chairman
Just a short note to let you know that my Nomination to be a Trustee of the DSWA has been accepted and I will become a Trustee at the AGM in March 18.
How dry stone walls stay upright, Radio 4 in Four - BBC Radio 4
Richard Love talks to Farming Today's Nancy Nicolson on Radio Four in 4, highlighting the worrying lack of skilled craftsmen and women, particularly in Scotland, able to meet the growing demand for building and maintaining dry stone walls.
The CSB AGM 2017
The end of the year was marked with the AGM which was held in Luncarty Church hall. After a delicious soup, sandwich and cake lunch the group got down to business.