Notes from Friday 19TH Feb 2021

PKC engagement on Climate Change consultation with Communities.  https://consult.pkc.gov.uk/housing-environment/climate-emergency_phase1/  


Feedback – over 400 responses to all the surveys. The online sessions with the Climate Cafes produced lots of good idea for projects and actions many community-based. Results are expected in April. However, we can still contact Eirini and Clare if we think of any other ideas etc. Results will be out later in the year. 


List of PKC sessions - Energy and Buildings, Whole River System Catchment Management, Land Use, Rural Transport, Waste and Resources Management, Transport, Business & Industry finishing with a General one. I went to the Waste and Resources. Alison Robb had a meeting with Peter Marshall PKC and Andrew Holmes about planting fruit bushes around Pitlochry. Was anyone able to attend any of the other sessions? 

PKC Community Food Growing Strategy/Allotments meetings in February. - PKC has parcels of land around Pitlochry they would be happy for us to use to grow something like a community orchard or like and we now have the map so can see where they are.  


When Alison spoke with Peter and Andrew, she suggested the idea about using some of these parcels of land for informally growing fruit bushes and trees, just like the Walnut Trees at Tom Na Moan and they could be picked by everyone.  Peter said he would check the areas and get back to her but some kind of consultation with residents would have to be undertaken. Peter also mentioned that if he was sent a list of those people interested in allotments then he could approach the local landowner to see if they would provide the community with a piece of and for Allotments.  


PKC had organised two meetings about allotments and community orchards. There are over 25 people interested in Allotments. Andrew Holmes from the Community Council has been gathering names and there will have an update at next Monday’s CC meeting if anyone is interested in what progress has been made. 


Lend and Tend (Lend and Tend.com) An idea that came from the Community Food Growing Strategy meeting where Joyce Veheary from Croydon gave a presentation about her group Lend and Tend.  An idea similar to what Alison has also mentioned. As we don’t have allotments in Pitlochry at the moment but there are a number of large gardens where veg has been grown before, we wondered if anyone would be interested in sharing knowledge. skills and small areas of their gardens with others who would like to learn to grow veg but don’t have gardens or big enough gardens to do so. There would be an exchange support and manual help for veg or fruit grown in their gardens. But also there would be the advantage of some company too.


We can do something locally or Joyce is happy to do the hard work to match people who are looking for a garden with those who are looking for help in their garden.  She has a network of matches across the UK with only a few in Scotland at the moment.   


These could all lead onto a community garden or a community woodland somewhere close and it would be great to get all the schools both teachers and pupils involved. 

Garden Water butt idea – to recycle rainwater for watering the garden especially in summer, maybe a PKC Initiative? Local initiative? Will have to check with Jess Pepper as she suggested we apply to Zero Waste Scotland or Scottish water for funding.
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Neighbourfood market – The market is doing really well and we are hoping to get more producers on board to extend the range of products and to help more producers retain their businesses. More local businesses are still needed. And due to Brexit happening wondering if it would be a good idea to contact more local farmers and see if they could grow and sell their produce locally? 


PKC Waste and Resources Meeting. Sheila Best PKC – mentioned that PKC are trialling a communal recycling waste system in Perth City Centre and when residents do not use the bins properly members from the waste team are engaging with those residents to learn why they are not placing waste in the right bins and how they can educate them in how to recycle properly. 


We have been asking for recycling bins in Pitlochry for about 18 months now as a trial to see how well they could encourage people to stop dropping litter and recycle more in and around the town.  So we have decided as they are doing these trials then we don’t need to keep chasing them.

​Carol Aitken