This time round we have an update on forthcoming local events (including one important change of date), info and lots of photos from previous events, an update on our very local recycling in response to changes on PKC’s kerbside collections, info about PKC’s bid to create a National Park in our area, and some book reviews. A bumper Blog, in fact!
Diary Dates
Pop-Up Coffee Shop:
The 31st October is Halloween, and the Village Association will be holding a not-too-spooky PoP-Up Coffee Shop on the day at 11.00. We have it on (fairly) good authority that neither witches, warlocks, ghouls nor ghosties come out in broad daylight, so come and join us for fresh coffee, excellent home baking and good company.
Remembrance Sunday 12th November:
There will be a Service of Remembrance at the Fearnan War Memorial on Sunday 12th November, starting at 10.50. If you require a lift to the memorial, please be at the hall car park in time to depart at 10.45.
Afterwards, the Village Association will serve tea and coffee in the Hall, and a collection for Help for Heroes will be taken.
**Change of Date** – the FVA’s Mulled Wine and Mince Pies event will now take place on Saturday 16th December at 4pm. This is to avoid a clash with the Kenmore Christmas Market which we understand will now be on the 9th December.
Winter Warmer Afternoons
Lesley writes:
Funding has been allocated to our Village Hall by the Perth and Kinross Warm Welcome Fund to provide comfortable spaces for social interaction this Winter.
We extend a warm welcome to all in the area to join us for monthly, relaxed activities in convivial company.
Games Afternoon Session 1- Thurs 9th Nov. 2-4pm. McLean Hall, Fearnan
Have a go at: Table Tennis, Quoits, Skittles, Dominos, Draughts, Snakes & Ladders, Tiddly Winks……and more!
Tea, Coffee and home baking. Bring a small Raffle Prize, proceeds from which will go to SCAA
Session 2 will take place on Thurs 7th Dec.
MacMillan Coffee Morning
Linda writes:
The Hall Committee recently held a very successful coffee morning in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support.
It was well attended, hosting 55 adults and 5 children.
The total amount raised so far is £601.50 which includes donations on the day, takings from the sales table, raffle and competitions and on-line donations.
The hamper, which was kindly donated by the Kenmore Bakery, was won by June Riddell and Robert Woodford was delighted to win the Colin the Caterpillar cake by guessing almost exactly how many ‘Colin’ faces were on a poster.
Our guests from Fearnan and beyond were very complimentary. They enjoyed the ‘buzz’ and thought it was “lovely to see so many people chattering away”.
Many thanks to all our enthusiastic and generous guests and to the great team who contributed with setting up, baking, helping on the day and clearing up. Your efforts were appreciated by all.
Warm Connections, who set up an information stall, also send their thanks to those who chatted to them and accessed their support and advice.
Tay Forest National Park Public Consultation
The Scottish Government has announced plans to designate at least one new national park in Scotland by 2026 and is now inviting communities to submit their proposals for consideration.
Perth and Kinross Council has announced their intention to lead a bid to create Tay Forest National Park. This park would encompass much of Highland Perthshire, taking in loch, forest, and mountain, while also linking the two existing national parks, Cairngorm National Park and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
As part of their bid, the Council are encouraging members of the public to submit their views to help shape the plans and ensure that a future Tay Forest National Park reflects the views of those that live and work in the region. The consultation is open until 1st December 2023 and includes in person drop in events as well as an online survey. Full details of the Council’s consultation can be accessed HERE and they encourage everyone with a stake in how our landscape is managed to take part.
National Park status could potentially provide increased opportunities for nature restoration, sustainable travel, visitor management, and landscape change. More specifically, there would be opportunities for:
- a joined-up strategy for sustainable tourism in the park and its approach routes;
- a National Park Planning Authority, with a role to be defined but currently envisaged as having ‘call-in’ powers similar to those of Cairngorms National Park Authority;
- additional funding from Scottish Government to provide the core resource for a national park authority;
- additional capacity to help achieve climate change targets, for example through nature restoration and sustainable travel.
A key aim is to ensure that the bid submission and the vision for a National Park it sets out, reflects the views of the many different people that live and work in the area. You can help shape the bid and help design a National Park that will represent our heritage, environment, communities and promote our wonderful landscape in the best way.
There will be a local drop-in consultation event at Breadalbane Community Campus, Aberfeldy on 9th November 2023 from 15.30 to 18.45.
The online consultation can be completed here https://consult.pkc.gov.uk/communities/tay-forest-national-park-consultation and closes on 1st December.
This is a competitive bid, and 9 other areas having expressed interest in securing the National Park for their community. In Spring 2024, all nominations will be appraised against the criteria set out in the appraisal framework. This will inform the decision about which area or areas should go forward for designation as a new National Park.
Legislation is expected to be brought forward in order to designate at least one new National Park by 2026.
Changes to Local Recycling – Kerbside and at Clach an Tuirc
From 1st November, PKC will be accepting an increased range of items in their kerbside collections. The Council is issuing details of the changes and in summary, collections will be as follows (more information on this site’s Local Recycling Opportunities Page):
Due to the increase in what PKC will be taking for recycling from Nov 1st, Jenny is changing what she collects at Clach an Tuirc to the following:
- Ink jet cartridges (virgin plastic only, please) i.e., same as before
- Dental care products – Electric toothbrush heads and covers, Electric flosser nozzles, Flossing sticks and interdental brushes, Dental floss containers, Manual toothbrushes i.e., same as before;
- Air, home and laundry packaging – now ONLY: Lenor tumble dryer sheets; Plastic air freshener containers; cartridge caps and car air fresheners (but NOT glass ones or electric plug-ins); and all brands of trigger/spray heads. Please put everything else in the PKC Grey Bin please, as specified by the Council.
- Coffee pods
- Writing implements – see info below. NEW!
And some great news! Jenny has been accepted onto the BIC Writing Implements Recycling Scheme, on behalf of Kenmore Primary School (who will get all funds that this recycling programme generates). So, from 1st November, she can accept and recycle the following:
Accepted waste: all brands of writing instruments, whether in plastic or metal – ballpoint, gel and fountain pens, marker pens, mechanical pencils, refills and cartridges, eraser pens (cap included), correction instruments (bottles, tapes and pens), highlighter, felt tips, whiteboard and permanent markers.
Waste that is NOT accepted: wooden and colouring pencils, glue sticks, erasers (rubbers), rulers, chalk sticks or sharp/cutting objects.
Fearnan Book Club Reviews
Linda writes:
A recent club read was The Girl with the Louding Voice by Nigerian writer Abi Dare.
This is her powerful, debut novel which tells the story of Adunni, a teenage Nigerian girl from a rural village, who faces many poignant struggles growing up, including her limited education, poverty, physical and sexual abuse.
There was unanimous support for this book which was considered a compelling story and a great book club choice, providing opportunities for discussion of a range of issues and themes. It was fast paced but an easy read. Its colourful descriptive prose created images of Nigeria, giving insight into aspects of its culture, countryside, cities and its people. Class and gender struggles were well portrayed. The importance of education for girls is a theme that dominates the novel.
Most club members loved this well-presented story but found the attitudes to, and treatment of, girls and women heart-breaking especially as this is still happening in modern times. This highlighted what is going on in this part of the world and the social change that is needed.
The pidgin English was found charming by some and enjoyable once we got into it. Initially some found difficult to follow and would have liked an explanation of African words. However, it added to the rich atmosphere of the story.
Adunni was a shining light, a positive, determined and amusing girl who was set on getting an education despite adversity at every turn. Her setbacks were heart-breaking. We found her analysis and descriptions of other characters amusing and were amazed by her ability to make friends and gain support due to her infectious enthusiasm and joy.
The other characters and their actions made the ending slightly predictable and the actions of a rich woman who saw Adunni’s potential, hopefully, resulted in a happy ending and a bright future for her. We felt sure that she found her “louding voice”, had a good education and was then able to speak up for herself and other women.
Our most recent read was Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, a great choice for a book group with opportunities for in-depth discussion both of the text and the issues raised.
We found it quirky and enjoyed the humour in the witty, polished prose and empathised with the descriptions of the effects of grief.
The story was a fun way to illustrate how women were side-lined and during this period (50s/60s) and were expected to be confined to roles as a wife and mother. Elizabeth Zott, a chemist, is frustrated by the social conventions that contain her both personally and professionally. She faces many challenges, including attitudes to unmarried mothers and the tragic death of the love of her life, her soul mate and live-in partner Walter. Most of us didn’t see that coming!
Her research is stolen, and she is forced to resign. She reluctantly becomes the host of a cooking show “Supper at Six” through which she opened the eyes of women to change and possibilities and contributed to women’s struggle for equal opportunities. The chemistry and formulae and references to the constituents of food items that she cooked on the show, were cleverly woven in, much to the disapproval of the show’s producer.
There were many interesting characters including Six Thirty, the precocious, philosophical dog, who provided an amusing but far-fetched background commentary and was very protective of his family. Elizabeth’s daughter (also precocious), and Harriet and Walter (both supportive and sympathetic), were well portrayed.
Some found it too long and thought it needed tightening up. Others thought there were too many ideas crammed into the book. As a group, we are often critical of book endings, however in this case, we felt it ended on a hopeful note and was wrapped up well.
Following this theme, our next read is a factual book, Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez.
Award-winning campaigner and writer Caroline Criado Perez brings together for the first time an impressive range of case studies, stories and new research from across the world that illustrate the hidden ways in which women are excluded from the very building blocks of the world we live in, and the impact this has on their health and wellbeing.
Fearnan Village Association 